Bye Bye Jupiter (1984)

While extracting water from the Martian polar ice caps, ancient carvings are uncovered describing an alien spacecraft crashing into Jupiter, postponing plans to turn Jupiter into a second Sun.

Directors:

Koji Hashimoto, Sakyo Komatsu

Writers:

Sakyo Komatsu (based on the novel by), Sakyo Komatsu (screenplay)

Stars:

Tomokazu Miura, Dangely Diane, Miyuki Ono

Cast

Credited cast:
Tomokazu Miura	...	Dr. Eiji Honda
Dangely Diane	...	Maria Basehart (as Diane Dangely)
Miyuki Ono	...	Anita
Rachel Huggett	...	Dr. Millicent Wilem (as Rachael Huggert)
Paul Tagawa	...	Peter
Kim Bass	...	Booker
Marc Panthona	...	Carlos
Irwin Ron	...	Captain Hoger Kinn (as Ron Irwin)
William H. Tapier	...	Webb (as William Tapier)
Akihiko Hirata	...	Dr. Inoue Ryutarou
Masumi Okada	...	Dr. Mohammed Mansur
Hisaya Morishige	...	Earth Federation President
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Andrew Hughes	...	Senator Shadllic (Earth Federation Congress)
Jean Karcewski	...	American Scientist
Leonard Krause	...	Tour Guide

Storyline

While extracting water from the Martian polar ice caps, ancient carvings are uncovered describing an alien spacecraft crashing into Jupiter, postponing plans to turn Jupiter into a second Sun.

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Plot Keywords:

outer space | black hole | jupiter the planet | energy crisis | overpopulation | 

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Taglines:

A black hole, Jupiter and a desperate scheme to save mankind!

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese English

Release Date:

17 March 1984 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Bye Bye Jupiter

Filming Locations:

Tokyo, Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kabushika Kaisha, TOHO Entertainment

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the last film to feature Akihiko Hirata. He died within months of this film's completion.

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Soundtracks

Aoi fune de
Performed by Yumi Matsutôya

User Reviews

Japanese Made Special Effects Epic In Search Of An Editor

SAYANORA JUPITER is a very worthy Toho studios effort about a 2010-like mission to a transmogrifying Jupiter that is hard to keep track of and runs about 20 minutes too long. I could even tell you which 20 minutes needed to go, specifically the sub plot about the Space Hippies and their mascot dolphin, named Jupiter. Coincidence? Hardly, though in all honesty the plot is so convoluted and hard to keep track of that I'm not sure if the dolphin's name was ironic or descriptive. It takes the film almost an hour before it's primary focus of contact with extra-terrestrials who have ill intent in mind actually begins to gel. The film is actually quite violent for an otherwise PG rated space adventure and features some unexpected nudity which wasn't really necessary. As a matter of fact what the movie needs more than anything else is editing: This should have been trimmed down to about 90 minutes and focused on the space adventure aspect.

It's a real shame too because the special effects are really marvelous, with some ingenious model/miniature work, a high caliber of production design and an interesting international cast that is capable of carrying the material. None of it looks unreal, the ship designs and sundries like space suit creations all look believable, but the story lacks discipline and tends to ramble. The filmmakers also foolishly decided that we'd share in their sentiment for their epic touches like a less than happy ending, which is welcome but I don't know ... a whole mission control filled with teary eyed technicians who stand up and salute at the same moment while the surviving "seen it all" scientist type delivers a solemn monologue on the surface of an asteroid in front of a space memorial? C'mon ... The film is also remarkably noisy, loud, flashy and unsubtle. It's likable and I'm sure that on repeat viewings I'll find more about it to enjoy, which leads to perhaps the kindest thing one can say about it: It will probably command repeat viewings from those who appreciate it's somewhat unkempt length. Thank goodness for DVD players remembering where to start up again after a nice long nap.

5/10: Great special effects though, I didn't know Toho was capable of work like this.