Premiering a few months before its television anime, Space Adventure Cobra: The Movie delivers what you expect in anything Cobra related being; sexy women, stylish visuals, great soundtrack, science fiction & manly action. That being said, the movie's plot is an alternative form of Cobra's 1st manga story arc which was adapted in the anime version of that same year.
To quickly summarize the story, Cobra is a space pirate with a bounty on his head who comes in contact with a bounty hunter named Jane who then asks for Cobra to rescue her sisters Catherine & Dominique. Along the way, they encounter "The Guild" a mafia group filled with space pirates. The movie version has various differences from its manga storyline which in some cases seems almost better than its source material.
The main difference is Jane being Cobra's main love interest while in the anime it was Dominique, however this is presented better through the newly made up mythology. While the triplet sisters were human in the anime, the film decided for them to be part of this ancient alien civilization who hold the secret to the most dangerous weapon in the galaxy. Their unique traits as a species are lot more explored in the film as it presents this theme of passionate love which at the time was a recurring trend among 80's shonens such as City Hunter, Fist Of The North Star & Saint Seiya.
Cobra's villain, Crystal Boy, also makes an appearance yet he is presented a bit different from his anime counterpart. Crystal Boy is portrayed a bit more sadistic in this film as he tends to make these facial expressions & often having close ups of his read bulging eyes. Another key difference is Crystal Boy not using his signature hook but instead uses his ribs like a spear. Aside from those changes he still remains as threatening & stylish as ever.
In terms of visuals, this is a great film as it was directed by Osamu Dezaki who knows how to make eye pleasing scenes. The character designs are improved in this film such as Jane having blue hair to contrast Cobra's blonde hair & red jumpsuit. The same goes for Crystal Boy as he looks his best in this film giving a more "pop art style". As for Cobra, the only significant change in his design are his boots being black instead of red.
Space Adventure Cobra is set in a "Star Wars like" world where various aliens & robots inhabit different planets. Cobra himself is a mix of James Bond & Han Solo, although his comedic side isn't shown in the film. The movie is a good starting point to get into Cobra & its English dub is good enough, especially in its 90's release date. However, I've only seen the Discotek release which contains the Streamline Pictures dub. I've heard its Manga UK release had several changes including dialogue, names, & even soundtrack which too many viewers came off as an odd movie experience.
Essentially, it's a good movie but serves as a taste for the 1982 anime series "Space Cobra" which explores more of its universe & Cobra's character.
