Mission Stardust
I think I was around 12 years old back in Howell, New Jersey on a lazy Saturday afternoon when I flicked on channel 9 and this ‘strange’ 1967 Italian science fiction movie MISSION STARDUST came on. I watched a few minutes and thought I don’t like it very much and went to finish washing the dishes. About 15 mins later, I returned to watching the movie out of sheer boredom without anything else to do. As the movie progressed, I was like this is cool. I really started to love the movie. I regretted missing the first 15 minutes!! I watched it to the end and didn’t miss another moment and loved it!!
Commander Thora from Arkon was coming to earth to find a scientist who can cure her compatriot Crest’s disease. She meets earthlings who become friends and help her. They take off in a smaller ship to earth and come across many obstacles, greedy enemies, and numerous problems. The gadgets used are so cool. I use to draw these gadgets and make them out of cardboard/paper and play with them. The ship they fly in is so retro. The robot on the spaceship is very unusual-vulnerable yet powerful. I love the strange haunting music, mediocre acting and exciting plot. Since watching this movie based on Perry Rhodan decades ago, I wanted to watch it again. I am a fan. And literally decades later, I found it again for sales on Amazon. I have since watched it many times over and really enjoy it although a low-budget film, it’s excellent. I love the Italian actress Essy Persson who plays Thora to the hilt. She’s strong, arrogant but in the end becomes good friends with the earthlings she despised in the beginning. Lang Jeffries plays Astronaut Perry Rhodan and our hero. He is good too. Enjoy the movie!!
Joy, Shin, David and Andrew got together and had this Mission Stardust Ship and Commander Thora Doll made for me as a memory of one of my favorite science fiction movies pictured above. I asked them to do it and they did. When you do search online for the spaceship and Thora to purchase, it’s impossible to find. So they had an artist make the spaceship and they made the doll with outfit and all. They had the outfit sewn up to look just like Commander Thora! They found this figurine that closely resembles Thora. Wow. How creative and how well done. I really love creative gifts like this. Now this Ship and doll are in my collection with my other science fiction memorabilia in my bedroom. Do you like what they made here pictured?
Thanks Joy, Shin, David and Andrew for this fantastic gift. I really appreciate it very much. I love the spaceship and Thora.
Tsem Rinpoche
This is one of my all time favorite movies. It is on YouTube in it’s entirety in English and several languages. But I have it here for you. Do enjoy it and let me know what you think of the movie. Take the time to watch it and enjoy!!
Watch Mission Stardust here:
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/MissionStardust.mp4
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What I gathered is that we must not dismiss something off hand when we first encounter it. It may surprise us as the movie surprised Rinpoche back then. We have to learn to keep an open mind.
And, it was really caring of Joy, Shin, David and Andrew to go to such lengths to make it for Rinpoche. They must be very resourceful and persistent to make the set when the items were not available commercially. _/|\_
The essence of training in Guru Devotion is to cultivate the art of pleasing the guru in order to make him always happy and comfortable. What our caring fellow-members have done not only reflect guru devotion in words, but in action and deeds too, perfectly in this respect. Just like Rinpoche did in his young days in serving his gurus, he was always eveready on his toes standing by to serve and make his main guru, Zong Rinpoche happy and comfortable always. This is what I think our fellow-members did to put Rinpoche’s teaching into actions in this respect! It is said and proven that the practice of sincere Guru Devotion invariably results in rapid spiritual growth. Good work fellas, please keep up with the good practice!
This is an awesome gift from the team to Rinpoche, It shows the sincerity and how devote they are to our Guru. Its is inspring 🙂
It is wonderful that Rinpoche shared this movie with us to let us know about his childhood’s love and make us feel closer to our Guru although we can’t meet him often 🙂 I really appreciate it.
Its also remind me of my childhood alien’s movie The “V” hahahaha…i love the watch all this unknown beings alot hehehe.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing your new toy with us 🙂
Thanks to the team that have made Rinpoche so happy 🙂
这是一份很用心设计的礼物，挑选出来的洋娃娃也很美，这整套做得很精致。他们的用心是值得赞赏的。
By looking at the gift, we can know how much effort and sincerity has been put into making these gifts. *Salute* to all who made this space ship and Thora for Rinpoche. Watching this movie produced back in 60’s even without advanced technologies, they were able to produce movie with so many effects, I was amazed. Even though it was nothing like Star Wars or Avatar, without a doubt if nothing was produced back then, we would not be watching anything like we have been watching nowadays. By the way, Thora is the most sexy alien I’ve ever seen, (^O^) .. Rejoice for the movies and the gifts ↖(^▽^)↗
Anything that is done with sincerity is always beautiful. Sincerity is shown through the efforts, time, energy, thoughts and resources that one needs to put in to make the gifts possible.
This gifts, hence, are beautiful.
I rejoice for the efforts that Joy, Shin, David and Andrew put in to make this gift possible. And I am happy that Rinpoche loves this gift!
Very nice,creative and unique, this doll we cant find outside, is not for sales : )
We can see here, team work very important ! nothing is impossible!!
What a meaningful and thoughtful sincere gift.Well done and rejoice to all of you!
It’s cool to go back in time like that and see how far we have progressed with the latest effects in movies these days.
aside to david & gang – well done on the gift.
I do love toy figurines. But I found it hard to concentrate on watching the movie. The only scene I recall is Thora changing clothes behind the glass 🙂 How film making has progressed over the decades go to show how people’s mind have changed. Just as film making needs to adapt to suit the modern day today, Rinpoche has come up with various creative and contemporary methods to teach and spread Dharma to cater for the people of this time. Why? Because it has always been about the people, it has always been about others.
Love and devotion can accomplish many wonderful things and are proven here by the 4-member team. Lovely….
Joy, Andrew, David and Shin did a lot of research looking for people who can make this 2 toys for Rinpoche. I remember they were extremely happy when someone told them they willing to make it. The Thola doll looks just exactly like the Thola in the movie! I think it’s amazing. Just like William said, nothing is imposible. It’s about how much effort we put in to make it happen. Thank you Joy, Andrew, David and Shin.
This is the first time I hear about Mission Stardust.. LOL… but from the photo, the model looks VERY nice! They are very detail and the painting is very careful.
Made here by our own people? No way! This is so well made. Wow!I was scrolling through and looked at the photo before I read what Rinpoche wrote and I thought that either Joy, Shin, Andrew or David must have bought them online. Well done people!
很特别的礼物。好用心。
要有一颗真诚的心，任何事情都可以办得到的。
Joy,Shin,David,Andrew用心制作这么特别供养的礼物给予仁波切。，而是一份很用心的礼物
也很特别，娃娃很可爱精致
呵呵呵。。没想过玩具也可以定制的如此像样，抱着一颗真诚的心和态度，任何事情都可以办得到的。
感谢Joy,Shin,David,Andrew如此用心供养特别的礼物给予仁波切。重点不在于礼物有多贵重以及大小，而是出于一份真诚之心。
这个娃娃玩偶确实很可爱精致 ：）
It’s incredible that Joy, Shin, Andrew and David (and not forgetting Pat of KSA) can assemble the story of Mission Stardust by ‘creating’ the lookalike of the Commander Thora and the spaceship. These people possess the love, creativity and the determination to make this “mission possible”. Thank you for sharing Rinpoche.
Wonderful job.joy shin david and andrew rejoice for team.this very wonderful offering to rinpoche.
I watched this movie in Rinpoche’s blog, there are many moral knowledge in this movie, there are also many part which I not really understand. I like this movie because it is out of my age. I found out something very new and fresh to me.
Ｉ ｃｕｒｉｏｕｓ ｗｏｎｄｅｒ ｓomeone stayed in other planet who visit our earth?
Ｉ ｂｅｌｉｅｖｅｄ ｔｈｅｙ ａｒｅ ａｌｗａｙｓ ａｒｏｕｎｄ ｕｓ， ｏｎｌｙ ｍａｙ ｂｅ ｗｅ ｃａｎｎｏｔ ｓｅｅ， ｆｉｎｄ ｏｕｔ ｔｈｅｍ． ＥＴ ｓｕｃｈ ｂｅ ｗｉｔｈ ｕｓ ｎｏｗ， ｍａｙ ｂｅ．．．？Ｉ ｔｈｉｎｋ．．．
Ｔｈｅ ｓｔａｒ ｍｏｖｉｅ ａｌｗａｙｓ ｍａｋｅ ｍｅ ｔｈｉｎｋ ｏｕｔ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｂｏｘ， ｅｘｃｅｐｔｅｄ ｈｕｍａｎ ｂｅｉｎｇ ｔｈｅｒｅ ａｒｅ ｍａｎｙ ｓｅｎｔｉｅｎｔ ｂｅｉｎｇｓ ｉｎ ｔｈｉｓ ｕｎｉｓｅｒｖｅ．Ｌｅｔ＇ｓ ｕｓ ｇｏ ｔｏ ｅｘｐｌｏｒｅ ｉｔ！！！！
Thank you for sharing this great story… i rejoice for Joy, Shin, David and Andrew’s resourcefulness, creativity and effort to create this special and very personal gift for Rinpoche. As other comments have mentioned, it really shows that nothing is impossible. If it doesn’t exist, make it! This is a great practical Dharma teaching. Thank you!
Also thank you for the link to the movie and sharing yet another glimpse of Rinpoche’s childhood… as i was watching the movie, I was thinking that in 50 years time, people then will be looking back at our TV shows today like CSI and think how archaic…. another sign of impermanence!
Joy, Shin, David and Andrew did a real good job with the spaceship and Thora! 🙂
Well, in regards to the movie, I watched it with Moh Mei, Sharon and Li Kim. The opening scene with the very strange music made us laughed. it is a very unusual movie… i guess they don’t make it like this anymore. I must admit if not because of Rinpoche, i would not have ever picked this movie to watch.
I can see why this movie would have been very popular when it first came out. It has spaceship, sexy female alien, travelling to another planet, africa, gadgets,.. oh and the special effects must be of the first generation. 🙂 It was quite good when the alien made the gun disappeared.
Rinpoche, thank you for sharing this movie and a part of Rinpoche’s early years with us.
Thanks Rinpoche sharing this Retro movie, the opening remind me my favorite 1st generation Ultraman tv show.
and also thanks to Joy, Shin, David and Andrew for the sincere gifts to Rinpoche. it is not about how much money it costs, but how much care and sincerity.
If Rinpoche didn’t tell us, i though the gift was bought from the shop. Hehe… Its really done perfectly. Joy, Shin, David and Andrew are very thoughtful and get thing done for Rinpoche without Rinpoche telling to do it. i rejoiced for them to put their effort from time and do research to get this special gift for Rinpoche. It show how care and how devoted they to Rinpoche.
It also recalls me in one of the 50 verses of Guru Devotion.
“What need is there to say much more. Do whatever pleases your Guru and avoid doing anything he would not like. Be diligent in both of these.”
Nothing is impossible to achieve. If we really want to get something, than we must put the effort and get the way to do it. Like what William said “When there is a will, there is a way.” Very true…
The movie is great, a bit of all kinds of drama, from good guys to bad guys and some innocent guys who got caught and killed without knowing why. There was car chasing, soldiers fighting and romantic scenes. And also how friendship can be created among different “kinds” of beings.
Although earthlings are supposed to be 5 levels lower than the aliens from Akron, the same sufferings are inevitable, growing old and dying from diseases. How right the Buddha is and that there is sufferings everywhere.
Greed is also shown as the ingredient to causing great harm to others.
Besides having enjoyed the movie, it is wonderful that Joy, Shin, David and Andrew created commander Thora and the spaceship so very beautifully for Rinpoche. Thank you.
Watching the video was entertaining in more ways than one. The whole production from visuals to sounds was not merely nostalgic but it puts us in a time to connect to Rinpoche’s childhood – like time travel back in time – to be slightly dramatic.
But think about it, as I watched the video I did laugh because of the sheer fact it was made so differently but I enjoyed how I could watch something which Rinpoche watched when he was 12…
In addition, after seeing the spaceship and Thora, I really appreciate what Joy, Shin, David and Andrew have done to reproduce them. I like the detailed similarities. Thank you all for this.
With strong determination and guru devotion, the team has made the almost impossible mission possible! What’s worth rejoicing is their tenacity. They really have an eye for art, not only that, they are so resourceful! The doll and her costumes and the spaceship are so well done.
The point where Thora become good friends with the earthlings she despised in the beginning has taught me not to make hasty judgements on any situation, as they may change in the future. By the way, Thora’s skintight costume looks awesome and it’s back to fashion now:)
Its a very thoughtful and loving gift to Rinpoche. The spaceship looks cool. One of a kind gifts are very precious as the giver has put in a lot of time, effort and love to make them.
A wonderful gift…so creative of Joy, Shin, David and Andrew, thank you for all your effort. When 1st time saw the photo, i thought the doll and spaceship is ready made and selling in the market, so im quite surprise is custom made by our creative friends. bravoo..
The storyline of movie make me think about sometimes there is a people think person like us that ‘into’ dharma or we have been poisoning with religious is weird person like my family think im weird like ‘from another planet’. But dharma path just like what Thora go through : come across many obstacles, greedy,enemies ( our self ), and numerous problems. And what ever people think u are alien or from Mars, but what we believe make us go all the ways, this is our spiritual path.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this movie. We always love movie and the meaning behind send to us. May Rinpoche long life and smile always ^^
Andrew Joy and Shin did a wonderful job; They are artistic. Gifts from the heart done with love as an offering to Rinpoche.
Ok, I have given up watching the movie! I’ve been trying to watch the movie for the last 3 hours and only get to watch the first 17 mins @_@. Anyway, I like what Shin, Joy and David have done. They sure shown a good example of someone who keep their promise and get things done no matter the difficulties, most importantly doing it with such peculiar details. Thank you all for such wonderful gift.
Looking at the gift and how they done it, for initial stage we might think is impossible, however is depends on how much we really want it would change the impossible to possible. Also one person may be difficult to do it but together the job become easy.
Is a beautiful and special gift. Rejoice!
Great work guys to offer such a great and beautiful gift to Rinpoche.
The gifts are special and meaningful. It comes sincerely from their hearts. Great Job.
Looking at the gift and reading the blog post, the term “Guru Devotion” came to my mind.
Why else will any adult take the trouble to recreate the mini spaceship and the main character i.e. Commander Thora?
Joy, Shin,David and Andrew showed us that they just took on the assignment and went ahead to do it eventhough the task is not an easy one. I rejoice for their efforts; thank you for doing your best serve our Guru.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this classic (1967!) science fiction movie. In my younger days I also like to watch this kind of movies and TV series such as the “Star Trek”, “Twilight Zone” and newer ones like “Battlestar Galactica” and the “X Files”.
It is really nice of Joy, Shin, David and Andrew to get these unique figurines for Rinpoche. They are really thoughtful and sincere. Even when they couldn’t get it online, they got someone to do it. It was really nice of them to think of it and offered it to Rinpoche.
Things done with love and care is truly PRICELESS!
Wow, so thoughtful of Joy, Shin, David and Andrew. They even found a doll that looks similar to the actress.
It is not that Rinpoche wants our gifts, it is merely an avenue given to us by our Guru to gain merits. By giving thoughts and sincerity in fulfilling our Guru’s wishes, we create so much merits that we need in our spiritual practice. Well done and rejoice to all of you!
It’s great to be able to know what show Rinpoche have watched when he was a kid. This is a really retro movie and it’s merchandise, impossible to find any where. This gift is the one and only in the whole wide world. Creative and very sincere gift from the team Joy, Shin David and Andrew. 🙂
Really amazing and meaningful, sincerely gift from Joy, Shin, Davin and Andrew. Rejoice for the hard work team, that put in so much effort to offer this special gift to Rinpoche.
Congratulations to Joy,Shin,David & Andrew for putting so much time & effort in finding ways to get the spaceship & Thora done. A very meaningful gift from the heart…..
This is such a wonderful offering to Rinpoche by Joy, Shin, David and Andrew. There’s something about Thora and the spaceship on the rocky terrain that is surreal…looks lifelike. I have never seen Mission Stardust before and the only Sci-Fi movies around the same time was Lost In Space with Dr Smith being the irritating but pitiful anti-hero. And of course there was the funny Robot. Dr Smith’s character reflects all the flaws found in human beings, name self centeredness that often created dangerous situations for the Robinsons.
I like the sound of Mission Stardust’s storyline and definitely would have love to watch it.
This is indeed a memorable gift which link back to Rinpoche’s childhood favorite science fiction movie.
It’s so fascinating to collect your favorite movie figuring.
Great job of Joy, Shin, David and Andrew.
Nice workmanship with care and sincerity.
The Thora doll really looks like Essy Persson! It is always amazing how Rinpoche always creates the opportunity for us to learn and grow in creativity and resourcefulness. Joy, Shin, Andrew and David was sharing a little about how they sourced for the costume and artis of spaceship. It was quite an adventure and the sense of achievement they exhibit seem to make every challenge they encounter worthwhile. It was also very sweet to see how happy they were to be able to offer a gift from their effort and heart to Rinpoche.
I am glad the team can offer Thora and the spaceship to Rinpoche. It was fun for us to vote between dolls, discuss material for the suit, and ‘hunt’ for a supplier who can make the spaceship.
Kechara Saraswati Arts did a great job looking for the material for the suit and sewing the body-fitting suit. We tried a supplier earlier and the custom made figurine was disappointing after much back and forth for about a month 🙁
Also thanks to Joey Wong and Lily Ng who shared some ideas with us on how to create the doll and spaceship. Choi Sheem, may be we should look into making the ship with lights as you suggested 😛
The spaceship is so neat and cute!
I remember watching all the robots and spaceship cartons when i was very young and i love them so much, Mission stardust really helps me recall these lost memory…and thanks to the super duper team who found and made all these toys as a wonderful gifts to H.E Tsem Rinpoche.
Thank you!
I love such posts of Rinpoche’s childhood! It is also really nice to read about his childhood interest because it is warm and it makes us feel closer to Rinpoche. It also makes us feel like we have known Rinpoche for many years. It is always endearing to know just a little bit more about Rinpoche. I look forward to read more.
It was nice to have these figurines available for Rinpoche. But really the credit should go to Joy who found a maker that could make the toy for an affordable price and the Thora doll was very much Shin’s efforts of sourcing for the doll, getting the costume sewn and matching accessory boots.
Mission Stardust was a real “MISSION”. It was not available online so only way is to make it!!! With months of research and finding the right people with skills to do it and a few rejections… finally we found the right people. Some credit thanks to Pat of KSA who helped in making the clothing and Craft Haven that helped with the spaceship really really fast!
This assignment given by Rinpoche to us I feel was to show us that nothing is impossible to do if you really want to do it, you are persistent and do not give up and work together as a team to make it happen. Even if one of two people in the team does not pull their weight, and if it is up to you to do it then you do and do it because the objective was to make someone’s day in this case it is for our Guru… hence what more can we say.
Thank you Rinpoche for this interesting assignment, from it i learnt much internally.
This Mission Stardust post is super neat! Short and sweet. Another post that reveals a little more about Rinpoche which pleases the voyeurs in all of us.
It is also amazing how Rinpoche can recount in such detail something from Rinpoche’s childhood in such clarity!
It was indeed a very challenging as there was never any merchandise made from this art house movie. All we had to go on was the movie itself and the stills we got from the internet.
KSA also helped in sewing of the clothes. The even gave Commander Thoro her signature fringe haircut!!!
I have no idea what this movie is about as I have not heard of it before. But when the gift arrived at Haven for Rinpoche from Andrew, Joy, Shin and David, I was impressed with the doll and spaceship model. It is very nicely done. And it makes me want to watch the movie. The doll does really have a resemblance to the actress.
Lesson: When there is a will, there is a way. Even though they cannot find the models anywhere, they managed to get a model maker to make it. It shows their commitment to get the job done.
Thanks Joy, Shin, David and Andrew for the sincere gifts to Rinpoche.
The figurine and spaceship is nicely done. I actually looked for them online too, went to a lot of websites that selling toys, and personal collection sites, sent out a few emails but no response.
It’s amazing that they have put their effort and time to make them, and they look exactly like the ones in the movie. Good job!
I think offering to our Guru is not about how much money it costs, but how much you want to offer to the Guru, it could be in any form like time and effort and creativeness.
What a meaningful and thoughtful sincere gift from Andew, Joy, Shin and David.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this post to us.
Its truly a creative and special gift!
Creatively done with love and in the interest of Rinpoche. Knowing very well what Rinpoche likes. And is one of the kind in the world, if I may say so. 🙂
Well done Joy, Andrew, David and Shin!
When we present a gift,we want the gift receiver to feel special and loved.Gifts should be something that are well thought out and show the person receiving them that we care.
Joy,Shin,David and Andrew showed they care with this thoughtful gift.
Wow…the spaceship and Thora really looks good…rejoice for the team who put in the effort for this fantastic gifts .anything is possible!
Dear all,
Some people always say that:” MONEY CAN BUY EVERYTHING THEY WANT! ”
But from this is differn story. Joy, Shin, David and Andrew, they go everywhere to find and resources.At the end, they found a few people the sew the outfit and craft the spaceship!
The care is always important ! Teamwork is important !
Thank you Rinpoche, always give us project to work together!
🙂
Very creative, precious and meaningful gift! Only one unit in this earth since handmade by a few of Rinpoche’s close students.
A very good example of giving a sincere gift which can’t be judged by how much they spent but the amount of time and effort to deliver it nicely.
These gifts are real special. Although there were not available for sale, Joy, Shin, David and Andrew made the effort to have them custom made.Rejoice for your team who put in so much thoughts and effort to offer these gifts to Rinpoche.
This gift was designed and created with much thought, love and care. A true gift that sincerely comes from their hearts.
A true and sincere gift is a gift made or purchased with the receiver’s likes and dislikes in mind.
It is not the cost of the gift but the thoughts that counts.
This is a lovely gift from a few students who genuinely wanted to offer something which is close to their teacher’s heart.