Atomic Rulers

Starman this time is out to thwart a country of loons who want to nuke the earth, starting with Japan! Starman is sent to Earth to give these baddies a knuckle supper and to stop radiation spreading through the universe (which is full of radiation anyway, let's not think about it).

Of course there's kids here to help Starman out, if you can call stealing nuclear material 'helping'. Also, some cops, a nun, and others you won't care about because these films are all about the arse kicking.

This one is definitely lacking in Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps). There's no lizard men or...whatever those aliens in Evil Brain from Outer Space were...or even any Evil Brains. Starman does manage to survive a nuclear blast before taking on about fifty guys at a time though.

Got to agree with the majority though...this should be one of your last Starman choices - Evil Brain and Invaders from Space are much better.

Atomic Rulers (2) (1965) -

There's no way that anyone could deny that this Japanese Superman was a terrible film. I didn't think that even one element of it was well done, especially for 1965. Take in to consideration that 'The Wizard Of Oz' was made in 1939 and its obvious that they weren't even trying to make a decent film and if they were, shame on them. Some films like 'Flash Gordon' (1980) can get away with a tongue in cheek stab at sci-fi with slightly questionable effects and acting, but it was as if the makers of this one hadn't even understood the filmmaking process or ever been to the cinema before.

But! But, it was funny because of that, although it was highly unlikely that was intentional.

There were so many flaws in it that I didn't even start to list them. I could nitpick all day and not just nits but big massive giant bugs too. Some of the translation and dubbing was really badly done though. I've noticed that with a lot of the modern stuff I've been watching so it really stood out here. That used to be a part of the charm of watching 'Godzilla' (1954) and so on as Larvell Jones (Michael Winslow) from 'Police Academy' (1984) used to take the mick out of, but this was just so bad.

The super alien planet that sent 'Starman' to Earth's rescue due to nuclear armament could have done a lot more to help and he wasn't even that clever as an individual. Also, the fight scenes were terrible and honestly I've seen better episodes of 'Thunderbirds' (1965-6).

I might have been semi entertained by this as a ten year old boy at a flea pit picture house back in 1965, however I think that even then my tastes would have been more refined by the other efforts that had been available at the time and even before.

I'm not gutted that I spent an hour and a half on it because Im interested in film and it's good to have balance. I do know that I won't be watching it again though.

420.11/1000.

Half way through this film I wondered which year in the 50s it was made? A decade-guess, based on the horrifically bad "special effects". Mid-sixties, really? Anyway if you like fight scenes in which the aggressors just give up out of sheer boredom, this is an A list movie. My favorite scene was a standoff between star-man and would be assailants who kept driving their car at him. You could go make a cup of tea while they continue this standoff and it's a standoff which ends so inexplicably as to be magical (or really bad editing). Also features an execution machine which proceeds at a pace which would ensure it's victim would die of old age. And it includes a nuclear weapon which ticks so tediously as the alleged actors try desperately to do something, that you feel your life force ebbing. You'll find you forget a lot about the film but if you teach film making, it's a must because in every scene you can just stand there and say "no". Only show this to children you don't like but if you like quality films, you could build an entire party experience around this one and it would be hilarious.

However, it is pretty hokey even by Japanese standards. This is part of a Starman series of movies. I would rather watch "The Cisco Kid" (1950-1956).

Anyhow, we get gunfights and swordfights. We see broken furniture breaking but no real blood. Flying heroes. Even underwater fights.

Oh no the bad guys have the nuclear device and the dirty swine; they took Reiko Okamoto the High School Girl. Of what use can she possibly be? The bad guys drive a ford with whitewall tires. The film may be worth watching for the technology alone.

We can be assured if everyone else dies at least Starman will survive for the next movie. What is worse is there will probably be peace throughout the universe.

Another Starman episode. I have the same criticism. The bad guys are so incompetent. Starman is too powerful. No matter what anyone does, he simply stands there and takes it. It's just a series of silly fights with him posturing. If it weren't for the kids being in danger, I can't imagine that he would have to even think about bringing down the evildoers. It's very cartoon like. The fights and the violence are bloodless and boring, and the enemies talk in a bragging way. I imagine this was popular at one time. The kids are the heroes and are upheld by their hero. They get into trouble so he is left to pull his punches once in a while. Not much worth commenting about.