O Super-Homem Atômico

Let's look at INFRA-MAN for what it is:a rollicking kung fu/biker/disaster/monster flick of the highest magnitude! If you love cheap chopsocky movies and guy-in-a-rubber suit films, this is a serious contender for the ultimate trashy movie. Out of it's 88 minute running time, there are maybe five minutes where nothing ludicrous/exciting happens. How many films can you honestly say that about?

The plot in a nutshell:all hell breaks loose all over the world (in the form of earthquakes, firestorms, etc.) when the incredibly evil Princess Dragon Mom (yes, you read that right) awakens from eons of sleep. A hot Asian super-villain/dominatrix in a blond wig with a dragon's head/bullwhip for a left hand,she intends to enslave the Earth with the sorriest-looking bunch of monsters since SIGMUND AND THE SEA MONSTERS, and there's nothing we can do about it! Fortunately, Professor Chang creates Infra-Man, an utterly invincible cyborg superhero who is such a badass that he can come up with powers when he happens to need them.Much craziness and ass-whuppin' ensues, and it may just leave you dizzy! You have to watch this with a group of nine-year-olds (or drunk/stoned buddies) to get the full effect that this has on a fun-loving crowd. And how can you not love a movie where you can see the monster's hightop basketball shoes (look at Plant Man's feet during closeups)?

Two classic moments: When Infra-Man first shows up,even though he has only just been created,and absolutely no one other than Professor Chang knows about him, people point at him and exclaim "That's Infra-Man there!" And the moment when Professor Chang gives Infra-Man his newest weapons: "These are Thunderball fists! They have the power to destroy everything!" Need I tell you to rent this?

Shaw Brothers is mostly known for their kung fu films, but they did occasionally try things outside of their wheelhouse namely Mighty Peking Man and Super Infra Man. Super Inframan is your basic rubber suit monster battle but filtered through the lense of Hong Kong kung fu flicks complete with bad audio syncing and out of place sounding impact shots. In terms of plot.....Image if you had an entire seasons worth of Power Rangers plots squished into 90 minutes and compressed the storytelling into about 20 minutes filling the rest with action scenes. The movie is non stop action and unapologetically silly and if you're a fan of silly monster movies or kung fu flicks you'll find something to like. Just don't expect much of a coherent narrative.

I saw this movie when it was first released to theaters in the US in 1975 as Inframan. The mid 70s were the days of Johnny Socko and Ultraman, so Inframan kind of felt like a souped up version of those.

The fact that I remember seeing this movie so vividly, even after 28 years have gone by, should be some indication that it's at least not humdrum. Sure, the monsters are fake, and the plot is ludicrous, but you aren't MEANT to take Inframan any more seriously than you did Ultraman (if you ever watched that show). This movie is nothing more (and nothing less!) than campy Japanese techno-samurai heroics at its Technicolor best.

Inframan does amazingly gymnastic things and defeats amazingly craptacular foes, and does so with great style and lots of intense colors. Though I was too young to have tried any hallucinogens back in 1975, I can say now, after more life experience, that this IS the kind of movie you would greatly enjoy while on hallucinogens; and even if you aren't tripping when you watch this movie, you'll get some of that same feel anyway. It's just that kind of movie. ;)

Time to own up: Inframan is one of my favorite movies. This film is nothing less than an hour and a half of ferocious martial arts, monsters in costumes cheaper than you can imagine, and the fearsome pronouncements of Princess Dragon Mom - and it's a blast. I rent this movie at least once every couple of months just to remind myself how much fun a low-budget film can be. After all, how can you not love a movie whose villainess has her lair decorated with what appears to be Saran Wrap, and whose hero has to free himself from "liquid ice"?

Super Infra-man (1975) was the Shaw Brothers attempt to try and start a franchise super hero like Ultraman. Filmed in Shawscope (panavision) Super Infra-man is an enjoyable action film filled with cheesy over the top bad guys and a whole lot of sci-fi mumbo jumbo. Danny Lee is chosen to become Infra-man when Earth is threatened by a race of interstellar demons. To sum up the movie, just imagine an episode of The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers that was action-directed by Bruce Lee! That's because one of the Dragon's protégés was involved with directing the fight scenes. The whole cast seems to be in on the joke and no one takes it too seriously. Harmless family fun.

Highly recommended!

Factoid: For some reason, the Shaw Brothers like to recycle stock footage from their other films and reuse certain scenes over and over.