Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		2.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

Voyage Into Space Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 14, 2022

For some, 1970’s “Voyage Into Space” is pure nostalgia, as the feature repeatedly aired on television throughout the decade, becoming comfort food for kids fresh out of school. The picture is stitched together from a handful of episodes of “Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot,” a Japanese series that aired for 26 episodes in 1967 and 1968. The show walked through the experiences of a young boy suddenly in command of a gigantic, atomic- powered robot, asked to join a special squad dedicated to fighting alien invaders. “Voyage Into Space” does away with any dramatic connective tissue, simply covering the basics of Johnny’s discovery and Earth’s fight against massive monsters. It’s a kaiju highlight reel, and for select viewers, that’s all it should be.

Alien menace Emperor Guillotine has come to Earth to conquer the planet, desperate to control a Giant Robot capable of helping his plans. However, mastery of the machine is handed to Johnny, a boy who manages Giant Robot through a watch-based microphone, joined by Jerry, a member of the Unicorn Squad, an elite team of planetary defenders. Emperor Guillotine is relentless in his pursuit of Giant Robot, sending his mighty monsters to claim the prize, joined by The Gargoyle Gang, a squad of armed goons helping the beast, targeting Johnny and Jerry as they attempt to stay alive and use Giant Robot to squash all incoming threats to Japan.

The basics of “Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot” are presented in “Voyage Into Space” (a strange title, considering the movie takes place in Japan), establishing Johnny and Jerry’s relationship (they meet on a cruise ship) and the boy’s connection to Giant Robot, controlling the machine through voice commands. Emperor Guillotine remains hidden from view, making plans to destroy Japan and claim Giant Robot, which sets up weekly battles with different kaiju. However, “Voyage Into Space” doesn’t have that kind of time, taking different parts of the original show to form a new narrative, which largely finds Emperor Guillotine going crazy, throwing everything he’s got at the Unicorn Squad, which makes Johnny a member, asking him to keep such information from his parents. And they probably don’t want to know how their child was drafted, fitted for a jet pack, armed with a gun, and sent in to take on The Gargoyle Gang, who openly try to murder the kid throughout the feature.

Voyage Into Space Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Listed as a "Brand New 2019 HD Master," "Voyage Into Space" comes to Blu-ray with an AVC encoded image (1.43:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Some refreshing is visible during the viewing experience, with colors appreciable, handling the distinct blue look of Emperor Guillotine and the red and silver hues on Giant Robot. Costuming is also bright and appealing, along with set-bound environments. Skin tones are natural. Source material appears to be on the older side, delivering a much softer sense of detail, diminishing the strange textures found on the monsters and miniature work. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is heavy, more chunky than film-like. Heavy damage is visible throughout.

Voyage Into Space Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA track is hit with elements of age, including heavy hiss and crackling. Dropouts are detected as well. Dialogue exchanges are basic and intelligible, preserving dubbed performances and more animated reactions to adventure. Scoring isn't prioritized, positioned as quieter support, often lost in the chaos of the film. Sound effects are more pronounced, with monster moves and acts of destruction present, but never crisply defined.

Voyage Into Space Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this release.

Voyage Into Space Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Big action is constant in "Voyage Into Space," watching Giant Robot take on a collection of growling monsters, fulfilling men-in-suit entertainment requirements. Pieces of a story emerge, but mostly this is a clip show, providing different scenes of mayhem involving Giant Robot defending the realm from rubbery fiends, and that's probably all the target demographic wants from the endeavor, keeping things relatively simple as five different episodes of "Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot" are mushed into a single film. Destruction is the main event, and "Voyage Into Space" is amusing and noisy, working to charm younger viewers with wish-fulfillment sequences involving a boy and his robot, and their shared exposure to unimaginable violence.