さよならジュピター (1984)

Sayonara Jupiter (さよならジュピター, Sayonara Jiupitā, English release: Bye Bye Jupiter) is a 1984 Japanese science fiction film directed by Koji Hashimoto and produced by Toho. The script was adapted by pioneering science-fiction author Sakyo Komatsu from his novel of the same name. The special effects were directed by Koichi Kawakita.

Cast with a mix of actors speaking English, French and Japanese, the film was conceived by Toho as a rival to the forthcoming box office blockbuster hit 2010. The two films bear comparison of plot elements.

This was actor Akihiko Hirata's final film role. He was set to star in The Return of Godzilla (1984), but died of throat cancer before he was cast. In one scene, Captain Hoger Kinn watches Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, which featured a much younger Akihiko Hirata.

Synopsis

It's the 22nd Century (2125 AD), and mankind's population has exponentially expanded beyond Earth's handling. Therefore, humans now live throughout the Solar System and the total population has gone well over 18 billion. As a result, there's a severe energy crisis for planets further out from the sun and plans to turn Jupiter into a second sun have been set into motion. However, markings are found on Mars that indicates that alien life lives in Jupiter and the J.S. Project (Jupiter Solarization Project) is put on hold.

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