This 1982 feature version of the manga and television series Space Adventure Cobra is a visual stunner with plenty of 1970s experimental flair and psychedelic imagery. Such a shame it is paired with a messy and problematic story, not to mention characters who barely seem to possess much agency or personality outside of their functions in the overall plot.Aside from Cobra himself, who comes across like the love child of Han Solo and Lupin III, everyone else has minimal characterization. The story is nuts, like Star Wars meets James Bond meets metaphysical weirdness. And breasts, lots of breasts. Feminists like myself will no doubt find issue with the way the love interests center their existences around obeying and serving their "one true love," but the whole thing comes across as clueless rather than malignant in whatever intent it was going for in that regard, at least I hope so.Ah but who cares about the plot? Just watch for the pretty animation and crazy sci-fi action. If that is all you need and you've got a group of like-minded chums to spend two hours with, this is a great option.

The most remarkable thing about the movie version of Cobra (as opposed to the series or the comic) is the credit of the Key Animator: Hayao Miyazaki himself was an animator for this film. One of the most talented directors of out time (probably in all categories, not just animation) was on the staff of that movie. Also, it tells basically the same story as the first season of the TV series; but the TV series was a melodramatic comedy, whereas the film has a claim to seriousness.One thing the Japanese do better than most others, I think, is going over the top. In this film, there are always planets floating in the background. (Yes, actual planets.) "Love is tangible," as one of the characters say. The galaxy is only one in several in the Universe, so it is disposable. (Yes, the galaxy is disposable.) I don't think it's fair to say that this movie goes too far. It's made to test our suspension of belief. Some stories ask that from us.The movie is more like a pretentious "artsy" film and not much of an action-adventure movie. It can afford to be pretentious. The scenery is beautiful during most of the film; the music is very anti-climatic, Jazzy and romantic; the story is very abstract. By this, I mean that the story is not about getting a treasure, saving the world or saving the girl. All this things do happen, but that's not the main point.It's more like artsy sci-fi meets Last Year in Marienbad. The strange part is that the movie is based on a series that's much more like Spaceballs than like Star Wars. I'm not sure how "good" it is, but it doesn't make much sense to judge it as an action flick.What I liked most about it is that it does not show a tiny universe. Most sci-fi stories only take place on one or on a few planets, and each only seems to have one environment and one city. Not much more is shown in Cobra, but there are constant references as to how there is an entire known and inhabited universe out there. Unlike the bluntness of the Star Wars prequels, for example, the way it is just taken for granted in Cobra makes it more believable and makes my mind wander.

This anime was underrated and still is. Hardly the dorky kids movie as noted, i still come back to this 10 years after i first saw it. One of the better movies released.The animation while not perfect is good, camera tricks give it a 3D feel and the story is still as good today even after i grew up and saw ground-breakers like Neon Genesis Evangelion and RahXephon. It has nowhere near the depth obviously but try to see it from a lighthearted view. It's a story to entertain, not to question.Still one of my favourites I come back too when i feel like a giggle on over more lighthearted animes. Not to say its a childish movies, there are surprisingly sad moments in this and you need a sense of humour to see it all.

Potentially this was a great anime. Some interesting themes were up for exploration: a hero must do battle with death incarnate to save the woman (women?) he loves. The individual vs. the corrupt state.But it's a bit of a let-down. The hero is just too indestructible and and in the English language version at least, seems emotionally disengaged from what's going on around him. The soft-porn card gets overplayed, too. Sexy girls with sexy guns? Yup. Some great visuals, as you would expect from Japanese anime, but not a great example of the genre.