Evil Brain from Outer Space

This is a bad film, but enjoyable in a childish sort of way; I'm certainly willing to waste time on it after a hard night's work.

Most of the other comments on the film so far have been dead-on; it does look like a re-edited serial or TV show, it is a Japanese variant on the Capt. Marvel type serials of the '30s, it does include some of the same tonality as the later Kaiju films, and it is not very well made. But, as I say, it goes along at a pretty good clip, so its never really dull, and can be watched without using much mental muscle.

Historically, the most important thing about this movie is that it's right now the earliest example we have widely available in America of the choreography of martial arts in Asian cinema. (The IMDb date is clearly that of its American release, everything else says this was made in the early-mid-'50s.) The fight scenes are important - Capt. Marvel essentially brawls and wrassles when he fights, like every other Hollywood hero of his era; the fight scenes in "Evil Brain" are brief, well-choreographed dances; this actually makes it more advanced than similar American films of the period, and for this reason worth seeing at least once for all Martial arts fans.

The high council of The Emerald Planet—a motley collection of cardboard/papier-mâché extraterrestrials—are so embarrassed by their 'superhero' Starman (Ken Utsui) that they once again elect to send him billions of miles away to help the inhabitants of an insignificant blue planet called Earth who are under attack from Balazar, a disembodied brain, and his army of mutants.

Flying to wherever there is trouble with the aid of his clearly visible harness, Starman uses his amazing martial arts/dance moves to defeat the creatures without ever seeming to make contact (I imagine that they're more stunned by his hysterical attire than by any of his punches). Once again, Starman is aided in his quest by a couple of cute Japanese kids with whom the superhero sneaks in a few surreptitious hugs whenever possible (a strange, fully-grown man in a leotard getting pally with minors: I'm surprised he's not been picked up by the police for questioning).

If you've already been unfortunate enough to witness the horror of a Starman movie, you should have a pretty good idea of what to expect—choppy editing, diabolical dubbing, no sense of excitement whatsoever, really bad monsters—and you will have no doubt prepared yourself mentally for what is in store for you this time around. On the other hand, If you haven't already had the pleasure of Ken Utsui prancing around in the daftest space get-up since Ming the Merciless, then all I can say is, expect the worst: you won't be disappointed.

This movie seems to be edited together from episodes of a serial -- it jumps from sub-plot to sub-plot, and introduces a whole raft of new characters without developing any of them. It's Shin-Toho Studio's entry in the Superheroes from Space genre, which puts it side-by-side with those MST3K staples, "Invasion of the Neptune Men" and "Prince of Space".

Like those other movies, this one is frequently laughable. Jump cuts are used to make it seem as though the hero, Starman, and his monster opponent are jumping great distances... but the effect only works if you're under the age of ten and in a very forgiving mood. The meandering plot is juvenile; and the opening scene features an interplanetary council of some of the most hilariously unlikely aliens you'll ever see. Worst of all, I find Starman an uncharismatic and slightly stuffy hero.

What distinguishes "Evil Brain", though, is its monsters, which are genuinely disturbing: one is a swift, chattering beast, with glaring eyes (one of which is on its stomach), huge fangs and long "cobalt nails". It also has two filigreed crests on its head (like bizarre Mickey Mouse ears), breathes smoky radioactive fumes, and has the ability to turn invisible... The other mutant is a silent woman whose face resembles a beaked bird of prey. She also has special skills: she can turn invisible, and she kills with one touch from her fingertips. In fact, she kills a young mother while her two small daughters are playing (a scene which probably explains why this movie doesn't turn up on TV any more!).

Finally, as I write this, I note that IMDB recommends I might also enjoy "Tanin no Kao/The Face of Another". Hmmm... I'm afraid if I followed "Evil Brain" with Kobo Abe's intense, disturbing, and very mature fantasy, my head would explode.

As you would expect from an 88 minute feature culled from three 45-minute episodes, 'Evil Brain from Outer Space' is more than a little disjointed; combining scenes that resemble 'Flash Gordon' to those that wouldn't be out of place in a contemporary yakuza.

Our old friend Starman cuts a far more impressive figure disguised as a detective in a smart fifties suit than in that stupid costume, just as the Zemarian mutants look a lot sharper in the trench coats and trilbys they wear to mingle with Earthlings.

Hopefully she got more time in the original, but I would certainly have to have seen more of the witch-like dancing creature seen near the climax: an image truly worthy of classic Japanese cinema.

Just one question....how come there aren't ever any nice disembodied brains even when not from outer space? We watched this one last night on DVD. It might be a re-edited serial or TV show, I'm not sure. I had avoided those Japanese Starman movies over the years. He seemed a lesser version of Superman. Maybe I was wrong to avoid them. This story was obviously geared for children and gave two of them important roles in saving the earth. Yet, a few of the creatures seemed to be a bit too scary for younger kids.

The film had silly overly staged fight scenes, hokey costumes and corny dubbed dialog. In other words we really enjoyed it! Actually, to be fair, there were a few strange looking creatures in it that did freak out my wife when they were on screen. Sometimes they would flash on unexpectedly in closeup. Especially the demon like one with the weird ears and long nails. And the one that looked like a witch.

This film is worth seeing if you have an open mind.