Or by the long way, anyway. The trip is divided into two parts, each with its own title: "Niya, a Test-tube Human" and "Guardian Angels of Space." The initial situation -- the Starship Pushkin discovers a derelict vessel of unknown origin and destination, with one survivor, a female humanoid of unknown purpose -- is intriguing, if conventional. It develops slowly, however, and with minimal suspense, and the return to her home planet, there to do battle with a midget capitalist who controls the air supply, comes too late. The science-fictional special effects -- the spaceships, the robots, a talking octopus (no kidding), a colony of rubber-masked mutants, and a "biomass" that looks like a high-suds detergent and devours everything in its path -- are nothing to boast about. But they do help curb the thematic pretentiousness. Starring Yelena Metelkina; directed by Richard Viktorov. (1982) — Duncan Shepherd
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