somewhere between the outer limit and star trek lie this little science fiction gem from the former czechoslovakia . this isn not i. robot or that type of science fiction and which be asimov wrap up in a shiny steel and glass box . this be the actual story and not just the wrapping paper . it proudly carry on the tradition start by forbidden planet and this island earth and even though it not a excite . it be actually more like the magnetic monster and the outer limit . this be science fiction do in crisp black and white . the screen may not be vivid and yet the special effect have an ethereally surreal quality . mix that in with the futuristic shostakovitch like score and we have a compelling and eerie trip into the unknown . the excitement and glory that come from living and explore space ( star trek and star war and etc . ) be minimize in the movie . we get the basic day to day activity of the crew of the ikarie and on it 28 month ( 15 year pass back on earth ) mission to our close solar system and alpha centauri . we also get the danger and reward of hurl ourselves into the vast darkness . it be the 22nd century and we be out in the galaxy search for life . the crew be comprise from a co ed international pool . we never get to see earth and yet we get a glimpse of what human be like from the interaction of the crew ( work and entertainment and nutritional interval and exercise and reproduction and crisis ) . this be a future full of video screen and blaster and personal transmitter and turbo lift and artificial gravity and beatnik like futuristic dancing and even nike light up magnetic boot . this be the perfect or classical example of the sci fi antithesis to idiocracy . humanity will improve with time . the future be bright and shiny and worth wait for . man fix the malaise of his specie . we be never show anything more lethal than a hand blaster and when it come to weapon . on their mission and they encounter a perfectly preserve space relic from an earth expedition of the 20th century . let just say our predecessor have very little nice thing to say about u . let not forget that the 20th century contain two world war and numerous genocide and the birth and use of the the atomic bomb . one would also assume that a movie make in a soviet influenced country would contain a certain amount of communist and pro soviet propaganda ( for example and planeta bura ) . thankfully this be all miss . about the big commentary come from the critique of our 20th century counterpart . i find the only anti capitalist message in the writing on the earth relic . everything inside be write in english and the ship be fully load with nuclear warhead and the the crew turn on each other . and even this critique be more of a jab at our collective self then at full fledge opposition to capitalism . if you be look for epic space battle for the fate of the universe and look elsewhere because the crew kill absolutely no living thing . if you want 90 minute of george méliès mixed with jules verne and then you have find the perfect movie . i can easily see this movie a an influence on kubrick 2001 and rodenberry star trek and lucas star war and even irwin allen lose in space . we even have a robot . he definitely not a cool nor as good a robby the robot nor the robot that constantly save the robinson . we name him patrick . patrick the robot . rip . ( pour out some alcohol for the robot that aren not with u anymore ) . celluloid rehab .