I have a number of quibbles with it, like the amateurish hooligan space pilots not being punished for commandeering a helicopter without permission and their leader, Kanai, being an incomparable douche throughout the entire movie yet apparently portrayed sympathetically when he's struck with amnesia, a plot point that is painfully emphasized and given an awful lot of screen time but ends up serving no narrative purpose whatsoever--I thought maybe he'd made a crucial observation that he'd forgotten and would remember at the last minute and help save the day, but no. It goes absolutely nowhere.
But despite all that, I love this movie. It's got a splendid cast, by genre one-timer Kan Ishii, a powerful message of unity driven home with relish by director Honda, and what is without doubt some of the most awe-inspiring effects work in the genre's history.
Count me in. WE ARE SPACE PILOTS!