Kent Reviews “Atomic Rulers”

I begin my reviews of the Starman quadrilogy with the first film, Atomic Rulers (aka Atomic Rulers of the World). The Starman (as he’s known in Japan: Super Giant) series of films was originally a series of 9 featurette films produced in 1964. All nine of these films ran just under an hour.

When Walter Manley Enterprises purchased the films, all nine films were edited into four feature films; with the last entry in the quadrilgy: Evil Brain from Outer Space, comprising of not the usual two Starman films but three! The end result of that film is a severely cut and edited film with a story that is all over the place due to Walter Manley Enterprises attempting to make three plots work into one film.

All of these U.S. incarnations of the Starman films, as it should be no surprise to anyone who is familiar with Japanese cinema released in the U.S., are edited. The average amount of film cut for the first three films is 19 minsutes while Evil Brain from Outer Space lost 81 minutes! Unfortunately, there are no original Japanese cuts to be found in the U.S.

So what are my initial thoughts going into Atomic Rulers and the rest of the Starman films? For starters, when I first saw snippets of the second film, Invaders from Space, at G-Fest 19 two years ago, I found myself chuckling, initially, at the absurdity. However, after watching about 40 minutes of the movie, I found myself enjoying it.

It must be stated up front: These Starman films were produced on minimal budgets. While that’s not much of a surprise to most of us who enjoy Godzilla and Gamera movies, these films’ budgets were less than most of those movies. Sure, the quality may not be spectacular, but there are moments where the production is pretty decent.

Since G-Fest 19, I’ve been anxious to obtain and watch these movies. These films have their own unique charm, and, since I’ve yet to watch any of these movies in their entirety until now, I’ve been curious as to how these stories would turn out compared to many other Japanese science-fiction movies I’ve seen.

But in order to discuss the film in more detail, I need to start off with a synopsis…

Synopsis:

Atomic bomb tests on earth are unleashing radiation into outer space and infecting planets throughout the universe; including the Emerald Planet. The Emerald Planet consists of various robotic beings and aliens that live in harmony. But they can be fearsome fighters when provoked. The High Council of Emerald Planet discover that the country of Magolia (there are numerous names this country is given throughout the Web, but I’ll be using the name the film uses) is planning to take over the world  in a span of two days by detonating nuclear bombs that have been strategically placed across the globe. But in order to succeed, the Magolian Supreme Leader (in the film he has a name, but, man, it’s difficult to pronounce; let alone spell, so I will be calling him Supreme Leader in this review) needs a small nuclear device to set off the bombs. This device also contains nuclear material.

So the High Council decides to send Starman to earth with the globemeter: A wrist watch-like device that assists its owner with the ability to fly through space, detect radiation, and to speak and understand  different languages. Starman is skilled in acrobatics, mild martial arts, and has incredible strength. In fact, he is dubbed, “The Creature made of the Strongest Steel.”

Starman, now dressed in a fedora and suit, tracks down two Magolian henchmen who have the nuclear device. The two men quickly learn they, and their bullets are no match for Starman. During their tussle with Starman, the henchmen drop the briefcase containing the device and a boy named Hiroshi, who, with his friends, witness the fight between Starman and the henchmen,  picks up the briefcase and leave the scene.

After Starman mildly wounds the henchmen, he visits the children, who are living in an orphanage. Starman briefly explains that he needs the briefcase as it is an urgent matter. The children hand over the briefcase. But Hiroshi is kidnapped by one of the henchmen, and Sister Toshiko asks Starman if he’d find Hiroshi. Starman accepts and asks Sister Toshiko to keep the briefcase safe.

Meanwhile, Hiroshi attempts to escape from the henchmen but is unsuccessful. The henchmen want the name and address of the orphanage in order to retrieve the device. If Hiroshi doesn’t talk, he’ll be killed. So Hiroshi gives the henchmen the location of the orphanage. Meanwhile, the other henchmen returns to one of the Magolian secret bases and explains that the device was taken from them. He is beaten and sentenced to die by order of the Supreme Leader.

Starman infiltrates the base and locates the henchman. Starman asks him where Hiroshi was taken and the henchman agrees to help Starman. Starman breaks the man free, but a Magolian soldier witnesses the breakout and sets off the base alarm. During the escape, the henchman is shot and killed. Starman fights off a horde of soldiers and flies off to find Hiroshi.

Coincidentally, Starman hops onto a train and finds the other henchman with Hiroshi in tow. Starman quickly knocks out the henchman and takes Hiroshi back the orphanage. But the Magolians had arrived earlier and taken the nuclear device along with Reiko as a prisoner.

Starman tracks down several other Magolian henchmen and demands the device be handed over. But two nearby henchmen, who were at a drop-off point, notify the Supreme Leader of Starman’s presence. The Supreme Leader orders the other two henchmen to be killed, framing Starman. Starman is arrested, but escapes from prison that very night.

The Supreme Leader, disguised as a Magolian ambassador, holds a party at the Magolian embassy and explains he will have a great piece of news to share at 11 pm. A couple of the Japanese representatives find the Supreme Leader’s comments to be suspicious.

Starman flies to the Magolian base where the nuclear bomb is located and fights off dozens of Magolian soldiers and retrieves the nuclear device. Back incognito, Starman arrives at the party and the Supreme Leader is confronted. The Supreme Leader spills the beans of his true plans saying they want to conquer the world. In a weird bit of dialogue, the Supreme Leader adds that they have no intention of detonating the bombs, but will if absolutely necessary. He then gives Starman one hour to return the device to the Magolian base or Reiko will be executed.

Starman returns the device, but the Magolians trap him and Reiko in a metal box. Worse yet, a nuclear device is placed inside the box. Starman, unable to break free, shields Reiko with his body. While part of the base is destroyed, much of the base, and Reiko remain intact.

Starman confronts the Supreme Leader and the remaining soldiers. After knocking most of them out cold, Starman lets the authorities handle the evildoers and takes Reiko back to the orphanage. Starman hands over the nuclear device to Reiko’s brother, Detective Okamoto, and tells him to use the device for peace. Starman flies off to his home planet after saving the day.

Story:

Okay, these Starman films tended to appeal to a younger audience. Not to the extent the most of the Showa Gamera films did, but enough to water-down the story. There are elements here for an older audience, so the film makes an attempt to appeal to just about everyone.

This story reminds me of some of the James Bond films as it deals with a foreign country attempting to use nuclear weapons to destroy countries and take over the earth. It is an interesting story, but it does have numerous problems; which is part of the result of making the story palatable for a younger audience as well. The Emerald Planet seems to be a very interesting place full of various beings. Not to mention we’re told they’re fierce fighters when provoked. We never see them again after the first few minutes and I know we will never see them in action in the remaining three films. This is deeply disappointing as this mythology would be deeper and richer if the Emerald Planet, and its inhabitants, were explored further.

It’s interesting that the Supreme Leader was able to place nuclear bombs in most major countries without being detected. This, too, is never explored as to how that happen. Nor is it explained as to exactly why he wishes to conquer the world other than because conquering the world is a bad thing, thereby making him evil. And that weird line he gives at the party about having no intention of using the bombs is contradictory to what he explains his entire plan is about throughout much of the film. It makes his position automatically weak, because, if he has no intention of using any of the bombs, then he really no longer becomes a threat. It really is a head-scratcher.

Then there’s the problem with Starman. If you didn’t notice in the synopsis, Starman is Shintoho’s response to the popular George Reeve Superman serials. But unlike Superman in some cases, Starman is way too powerful for his foes; and I have a feeling this is a trend that will continue in the remaining three films. Not once is Starman in any danger. Sure, some of the characters are in danger’s way, such as Reiko and Hiroshi, but the Magolians aren’t threatening enough and Starman is far too powerful for any of us to believe either Hiroshi or Reiko will meet a horrible end.

There’s also Starman’s intelligence. When Starman sets off looking to rescue Hiroshi, he leaves the nuclear device with Sister Toshiko. We’re told, at the beginning of the film, that the nuclear radiation crisis is at its peak, yet Starman leaves the earth, and much of the universe, including his home planet, hanging in the balance by leaving the device at an unguarded location. I can’t say enough how dumb that move was. I began questioning whether he was a competent hero at that point. Even at the end of the movie, Starman hands the device over. If this nuclear device was stolen once before, there is a good probability it could get stolen again. I expected Starman to take the device into space and let it float for all of eternity or to dispose of it in a manner that wouldn’t harm the planets.

Speaking of the nuclear device, we’re never told what this device does exactly. All we know is that it contains nuclear material and the Magolians need it to set off any of the bombs strategically placed across the globe. I would assume that all of the bombs already had nuclear material in them to create a nuclear explosion, so what exactly does it do? We’re never told.

These are just the bigger problems in Atomic Rulers. There are other issues, such as nearly a quarter of the film being devoted to rescuing Hiroshi. While the film lost some focus here, I didn’t mind it as much since it gradually led back to the main point of the story.

The story does raise a lot of questions about competency, motivation, and character trait choices among a few others. Again, with these films aimed at a wide audience, with younger demographics watching these films as well, there are bound to be plot holes and other issues.  The question then becomes if these can be overlooked and forgiven. Personally, I can overlook almost anything unless something is an obvious error. Atomic Rulers only had a couple of things that I would consider to be minor errors and the rest can be forgiven. At the same time, I still have to take all of those errors into account.

Special Effects: 

I’ve always loved Japanese science-fiction films in part for their use of practical effects. Atomic Rulers, of course, is no exception.

The effects are a bit of a hit-and-miss here. Again, smaller budgets are going to constrain these Starman films, but there are moments with really good effects work. The screen composites of Starman flying are actually flawless. Sure, his flight pattern may not exactly match up with angle his body is at, but you don’t see any blue screen coming through any of the shots. The two Magolian bases are nicely decorated sets and are two of the three most heavily used locations in the movie; and I can see why.

There are moments when reverse-footage is used to depict some of Starman’s stunts. It’s obvious that such a technique is at work in these segments, but it’s not as much of a bother as we tend to see in American serials and movies during the same period and earlier.

Starman’s suit is serviceable, but not the greatest. From a design standpoint, it’s unique in some ways, yet a bit dull. At the same time, it retains some of those classic elements that are trademarks of science-fiction outfits such as the antenna on the head, and an odd cape that is attached under either arm and not the back of the neck. The robots and aliens on the Emerald Planet are very intriguing in design, yet some of the suits come across as a bit ridiculous, but I let those pass.

There are some bad effects, too. The Emerald Planet set, while awesome in concept, is incredibly cheap. It’s the worst set in the film because it is so fake, but I will give the filmmakers an “A” for effort. The unfortunate thing is this set never gets better, and I believe that’s because stock footage, from this film, is used for the Emerald Planet set.

There are several scenes involving a miniature helicopter. These scenes are the worst in the movie from a practical effects standpoint. The issue isn’t whether you can tell it’s a miniature or not; you can clearly see that. No, the problem is how wobbly and unstable the helicopter is during flight. It makes the miniature set look even more like a miniature set due to the instability of the helicopter.

The effects, for the most part, are pretty good in Atomic Rulers. I, personally, love the practical effects and camera techniques used to pull-off some of the shots. Such shots give the film it’s own charm and I can appreciate older techniques that had to be thought through and, sometimes, put together over many back-breaking hours.

Action Sequences:

There are plenty of battles in Atomic Rulers, so there should be no one getting bored on this end of the movie spectrum.

Ken Utsui is very fit for his role and is able to do most of the fight sequences himself. There are, of course, the occasional scenes where a double is used to do stunts such as flips.

To me, what’s been a staple of Starman movies are the numerous fight sequences involving Starman with many villains. The choreography is breathtaking and a sight to behold! It’s like watching a ballet or any other well-done dance routine. It always amazes me how everyone knows where to go and how to engage one another during the appropriate times of filming. Such sequences never get old and many more are in the future!

Overall:

Atomic Rulers, despite the many issues I stated earlier in the review, is a highly entertaining film. Sure, it’s kid-i-fied to some degree which brings about some of these issues, but that doesn’t make it a terrible film.

Some Japanese sci-fi fans, though, will be turned off by this movie due to some of those issues however. Another thing that’s so great about Atomic Rulers is that it’s the least sci-fi of the Starman films. Going forward, the Starman stories will involve more traditional science fiction story elements. We’ll be getting salamander men, mutants, monsters, mad docors, space facists (no joke), and space germs just to name a few.

As the first film to the Starman quadrilogy, Atomic Rulers truly isn’t a bad film. It’s very corny and cliched, but a lot of fun if you’re able to look past most of its shortcomings.

My final verdict: I did enjoy this film for the most part. The lack of focus in the middle of the movie was a bit off-putting, but, thankfully, it didn’t last long. I rolled my eyes at the incompetency of the Magolians, but still found them and their scheme halfway interesting enough to be invested in the story. The fight sequences are very well choreographed and are numerous. The effects, for the most part, are pretty good and serve the film well for what it’s attempting to accomplish.

I have a feeling, though, it may not be my favorite Starman movie as I progress through the remaining films for the reasons I stated in the second paragraph of this section. This one may have the best story, but time will tell. I would still recommend giving Atomic Rulers a look, but also state that it won’t be for everybody. Some won’t be able to get pass the shortcomings, and that’s understandable. Others may find it uninteresting.

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