Invasion of the Neptune Men (1961)

Ah Japan, how good you are to me. If you haven't guessed today's movie, Invasion of the Neptune Men, is a nice little gem from Japan. This movie starred a very young Sonny Chiba, who went on to star in many a martial arts movie later on in his career, but here is playing the intergalactic super hero "Space Chief."

Synopsis: When a group of school boys watching for a returning satellite instead stumble upon a landed alien space craft, they are almost taken prisoner by the Neptune Men, until Space Chief arrives to save the day. It is soon clear that the these invaders from another planet mean to take over the world and so Space Chief, and a group of scientist (One of which is Space Chief's alter ego) have to find a way to save the world.

I love these Japanese super hero movies. They are great. They are sort of like pre-Power Rangers. This movie's WTF moment comes when we get some WW2 stock footage to show the Neptune Men destroying the city. The thing is that one of the buildings has a huge picture of Hitler on the side and you are like "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?" I mean this movie is suppose to take place in the 60's, so you are telling me that in the 15 plus years since the end of the war no one though to take that down? Well good thing the Neptune Men blew it up. Other then that, the really crazy moments in this movie aren't really that crazy when you take into account it is a Japanese kids movie.

Invasion of the Neptune Men gets 4 out 5 on the Cheese-O-Meter.

Until next time, see you on the front line.

-Matt