Side Order of Ninjas

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Atomic Rulers of the World (1964)

Atomic Rulers


Cast:

Ken "Starman is back to save the day..." Utsui is Starman
Junko Ikeuchi
Shôji Nakayama
Minoru Takada
Sachihiro Ohsawa


What the box says:

The Earth is threatened with atomic destruction if the people of Mirapolia are not allowed to rule the planet. Observers from a distant planet, far off in space, have been observing the Earth and see the peril it's facing. Hoping to offer aid to the citizens of Earth, the benovoloent aliens send their champion Starman to face off against the leaders of Mirapolia and take care of their atomic weapons.


Plot:

Nuclear test stock footage announces how the radiation of Earth can danger worlds in other galaxies. The aliens of the Emerald planet decide to send Starman to Earth to contend with Mirapolia.


We will send our baby to Earth where thanks to the yellow sun he'll grow with powers far beyond those of the humans..Sorry, wrong planet...
Starman has the Globe-meter with its 3 powers to fly, translate Earth languages, and detect radiation.

Starman rescues a plane from crashing. He senses a nearby nuclear device on the plane. Disguises into a 3 piece suit, Starman follows the goon with nuclear device. In a empty field, the goons try to fight Starman. A few orphans grab the briefcase and run off with it. Unfortunately, the goons grab Hiroshi, one of the kids.

Later, Starman heads to the orphanage and takes the case. He starts looking for the missing boy, Hiroshi.

Elsewhere, at the Mirapolia embassy, the ambassador is the alien planning to use nuclear weapons to attack all over the Earth for domination.


Planning the Charlie Sheen world tour...
He plans on attacking Japan unless they surrender. He learns that the goons lost the case and desperately needs to get it back quickly.

Starman sneaks into the embassy and interrogates one of the goons to find out about the boy before the embassy guards versus Starman in a slobberknocker... Later, he finds the boy and returns him to the orphanage...

Unfortunately, Starman learns that one of the boy's sister was grabbed for a hostage and the goons found the case... Searching, he finds some of the goons and demands that they take him to their secret base. The goons are shot and Starman is blamed for their deaths. The police catch Starman and put him in a holding cell...However, he quickly jumps the jail....


Thankfully, no jail bars aren't that tough...

Back at the embassy, the ambassador is preparing for the invasion.

Starman reaches the secret base where the alien scientists are readying the nuclear weapons.


We're not mad scientists just determined for world domination...
The fight is on... Fisticuffs and chaos ensues...

The orphans run into the embassy to tell about the alien invasion, etc... Starman makes his appearance. The ambassador reveals to everyone that he's an alien warlord who demands world surrender or he'll start destroying countries. Starman isn't too worried because he took out the nuclear trigger from the super-weapon. The ambassador demands the trigger to be returned for the sister's safety.

Back at the secret base, the leader orders Raiko to be executed when Starman arrives just at the last second. Those two are trapped in a blast chamber with the nuke. Starman shelters Raiko from the blast. He's able to pry the door open and take Raiko to safety before heading back to face the aliens again as the Japanese military approaches. He ties up the aliensand returns Raiko to the orphange. He hands over the nuclear device for humanity to use only in peace and flies off into outer space....


Bye kids see you for the next serial adventure...


What I say:

The George Reeves Superman or the Adam West Batman series are more known for the superhero fans. However, across the world in other countries, other super hero serials are more recognized. The superhero-serial which turned from Super Giant to the Starman versions, is back from other adventures Attack From Space and Evil Brain From Outer Space. Well, once again, Starman's adventure is cut down from the Japanese version of 101 minutes to something shorter: 76 minutes.

Without Starman, no extraterrestrials in the movie...Starman got to spend more time fighting various groups of goons that don't look like they were lame Martian goons...It is just Starman versus terrorists. The villains from Scooby Doo cartoons have more depth than the leader, scientists, and goons.

An alien planet has taken over a country on Earth and is planning to smuggle nuclear weapons across Earth to for the countries to surrender or else? Mirapolia, Mongolia? Were they just a country being ruled by a evil alien warlord for a world conquest scheme? OK, probably putting too much thought into that idea...Shame that they weren't at the Latverian embassy chilling with Dr. Doom.

The late 1950s aren't known for many impressive special effects in shows. Low budget, serial type films especially aren't in the high quality effect category. During one of the Starman versus the horses of goons, the scene when Starman is shown jumping back from out of the water onto dry land must be seen. It is easy to jump out of water if the film footage is played in reverse...

Super hero shows aren't especially known for holding onto logic or physics. Alien invaders can easily arrive at Earth in a short time. However, Earth radiation can emit throughout all the galaxies and irradiate planets thousands of light-years away in a short time... Well, looks like the warp drive has gotten a bit more dangerous.

Starman is friend to children almost as much as Gamera but not quite as much as the defendants on Law & Order: SVU on the extremely warning episodes. A super-hero serial, Starman has to have some kids on it for the viewers to have one to vicariously root for (almost a sidekick syndrome).



2 NINJAS

Quotable Dialogue

"I was created on another planet..."
"Bullets have no effect on me."
"I am a friend of all children."
"Bring everything to the secret base."
"Starman is my name."


Morals of the Story

Cabbies are used to gun-wielding passengers.
Kids are predetermined to grab all guns off the ground.
Lying is a crime punishable with jail time.
Bending over automatically changes you from wearign tights to a 3 piece suit.
"Starman" is a very common name.


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