Evil Brain from Outer Space
Encyclopedia
Evil Brain from Outer Space is a 1964 film edited together for American television from films #7, #8 and #9 of the Japanese short film series Super Giant
.
Contributing to the difficulties of editing these three films together was the fact that the first film was in the older 4:3 ratio, while the latter two films were shot in widescreen
format. This necessitated the use of pan-and-scan
methods to make the three films match.
with Image Entertainment
released the film and the other Starman film, Attack from Space
on a single disc on December 10, 2002. Alpha Video also released a budget-priced disc of the film on July 27, 2004.
Super Giant
is a fictional Japanese superhero featured in a successful series of serial-like tokusatsu short feature films produced by Shintoho Company, Ltd....
.
Synopsis
The film concerns Starman's efforts to save the Earth from the followers of Balazar, an evil genius from the planet Zemar whose brain has been preserved after his own assassination.American adaptation
The nine Super Giant films were purchased for distribution to U.S. television and edited into four films by Walter Manley Enterprises and Medallion Films. The three original Japanese films which went into Evil Brain from Outer Space (The Space Mutant Appears, The Devil's Incarnation and The Poison Moth Kingdom) were 45 minutes, 57 minutes, and 57 minutes in duration respectively. The total 159 minutes of the three films were edited into one 78-minute film. Since the three original films were self-contained stories, three different plots had to be edited together, and a considerable amount of all three films dropped. The result has been called, "an alternately mind-blowing and mind-numbing adventure... a non-ending cavalcade of characters, chases, captures, rescues and fight scenes."Contributing to the difficulties of editing these three films together was the fact that the first film was in the older 4:3 ratio, while the latter two films were shot in widescreen
Widescreen
Widescreen images are a variety of aspect ratios used in film, television and computer screens. In film, a widescreen film is any film image with a width-to-height aspect ratio greater than the standard 1.37:1 Academy aspect ratio provided by 35mm film....
format. This necessitated the use of pan-and-scan
Pan and scan
Pan and scan is a method of adjusting widescreen film images so that they can be shown within the proportions of a standard definition 4:3 aspect ratio television screen, often cropping off the sides of the original widescreen image to focus on the composition's most important aspects...
methods to make the three films match.
DVD releases
Evil Brain from Outer Space is currently available on two DVD releases. Something Weird VideoSomething Weird Video
Something Weird Video is an American publisher of video tapes and DVDs, based in Seattle, Washington. They specialize in exploitation film, particularly the works of Harry Novak, Doris Wishman, David F. Friedman, and Herschell Gordon Lewis. SWV videos are available on demand to Comcast subscribers...
with Image Entertainment
Image Entertainment
Image Entertainment, Inc. is an independent licensee, producer and distributor of home entertainment programming and film & television productions in North America, with approximately 3,000 exclusive DVD titles and approximately 250 exclusive CD titles in domestic release, and approximately 450...
released the film and the other Starman film, Attack from Space
Attack from Space
Attack from Space is a 1964 film edited together for American television from films #5 and #6 of the Japanese short film series Super Giant.-Plot:...
on a single disc on December 10, 2002. Alpha Video also released a budget-priced disc of the film on July 27, 2004.
See also
- Super GiantSuper Giantis a fictional Japanese superhero featured in a successful series of serial-like tokusatsu short feature films produced by Shintoho Company, Ltd....
- Atomic Rulers of the WorldAtomic Rulers of the WorldAtomic Rulers of the World is a 1964 film edited together for American television from films #1 and #2 of the Japanese short film series Super Giant...
- Attack from SpaceAttack from SpaceAttack from Space is a 1964 film edited together for American television from films #5 and #6 of the Japanese short film series Super Giant.-Plot:...
- Invaders from SpaceInvaders from SpaceInvaders from Space is a 1964 film edited together for American television from films #3 and #4 of the Japanese short film series Super Giant.-Plot:...