The Super Inframan is a Hong Kong tokusatsu-style superhero movie produced by Shaw Brothers Studio in 1975. Based upon the huge success of the Japanese tokusatsu shows, ''Ultraman'' and ''Kamen Rider'', in Hong Kong, this film features the same type of "henshin" action and costumed derring-do, coupled with Chinese kung fu action.
This film also has some historical importance:
*The first superhero movie in China
*The first movie promotion in Hong Kong using a hot air balloon
*The first Shaw Brothers production using a storyboard
The film was directed by Hua Shan, written by science fiction writer Ni Kuang, produced by Runme Shaw and the cinematography was by Tadashi Nishimoto . There was a little help from Japan, also; Music from ''Ultra Seven'' and '''' is used here. And the Inframan/Science Headquarters/monster costumes were provided by Ekisu Productions, which had done costumes for many shows of the same period. The film also starred Danny Lee as the superhero himself, and Bruceploitation star Bruce Le in a supporting role .
The following year, Joseph Brenner brought this film to the US, and retitled it simply
Infra-Man , upon ''Ultraman'''s success on syndicated television at the time.
The plot
The Demon Princess Elzebub plots to conquer the Earth. She destroys a few major cities in Hong Kong to prove her power to a terror-stricken humanity. Returning to her lair in Inner-Earth, she awakens her army of Skeleton Ghosts and her various Ice Monsters to wreak havoc. But there is hope . . .
The high-tech Science Headquarters, run by Professor Liu Ying De. In view of the current crisis, he has at long last completed and is prepared to use the BDX Project: In the HQ's secret laboratory, he transforms Lei Ma, a high-ranking SH officer, into the bionic kung fu superhero, the Inframan! Able to perform impossible feats, as well as being equipped with death-dealing weapons, the solar-powered red & silver armored Inframan is mankind's only hope against Elzebub and her army of devils.
Characters
The Protagonists
Lei Ma/Inframan The hero. Played by Danny Lee
Professor Liu Ying De Propietor of Science Headquarters, and the inventor of the Inframan. Played by Wang Hsieh
Mei Mei The Professor's daughter. Played by Yuen Man Chi
Xiao Hu Mei Mei's younger brother.
Lin Lin Mei Mei's little sister.
Zhu Qi Guang The lieutenant of Science Headquarters.
Lu Xiao Long The seargent of Science Headquarters, and a tough fighter. Played by Bruce Le
Zhu Ming The awkward member of Science Headquarters, who is captured and turned by Elzebub into an evil spy. Played by Lam Man Wai
The Antagonists
*
Demon Princess Elzebub The main villainess, ruler of Inner-Earth. Armed with a whip, and can turn into a winged dragon creature. Her name is a pun on "Beelzebub".
**Played by Terry Lau Wai Yue
*
Witch Eye Elzebub's beautiful but deadly servant. Has a horned helmet and eyes on her palms that shoot green beams .
*
Skeleton Ghosts The obligatory generic henchmen . Dressed in black and white skeleton suits and wear horned crash helmets. They also carry staffs.
Ice Monsters
*
Fire Dragon A green humanoid dragon that shoots fire from his mouth.
*
Spider Monster A fat red spider creature that shoots web-bombs and acid from its mouth, and grows to giant size.
*
Plant Monster A teal vine-like monster that plants itself into the ground and grows into giant killer vines.
*
Drill Arm A horned blue mole-like monster with a drill for a hand and a shovel-like claw for another.
*
Long-Haired Monster A red witch-like demon with long hair and huge horns that shoot yellow beams.
*
Iron Armor Monsters Two mechanical knight-like monsters, whose heads and right-hands spring forth to strike their enemy and retract again.
The Powers of Inframan
Lei Ma throws his arms into a Kamen Rider-like "henshin" pose, and says:
*
"Change! Inframan!"
His powers & attacks are :
*
噴火彈 Erupting Bullet
**The missiles stored below Inframan's ribs. He throws them like darts, and they can also thaw him out when he's frozen.
*
太陽甲 Solar Armor
**The stream of light that Inframan shoots from his wrist .
*
追魂腿 Guided Kick
**Inframan's kick attack; This can also locate its targeted enemy like a guided missile.
*
能量發揮 Capacity Transmission
**Inframan activates his backup power source, in case of lack of solar power.
*
閃電拳 Flashing Thunder Fists
**Later attachments for Inframan; Shiny black & metallic gloves that go over his regular ones. They also shoot right off his fists and retract again . They also have the following weapons:
***
死光刀 Deadly Light Blades
****The red moon-shaped energy blades that stream from the Flashing Thunder Fists.
***
雷電光 Thunder & Lighting Aura
****Like the Solar Armor, but more bold and powerful.
*Inframan also has the amazing power to grow to giant size.
Critical Reception
On April 23, 1999, Quentin Tarantino re-released Mighty Peking Man in North America through his Rolling Thunder Pictures distribution company with Miramax. Roger Ebert gave the film three stars out of a possible four in the Chicago Sun-Times, and, amusingly, actually upgraded his rating for the thematically similar Infra-Man:
"Mighty Peking Man is very funny, although a shade off the high mark of Infra-Man, which was made a year earlier, and is my favorite Hong Kong monster film. Both were produced by the legendary Runme Shaw, who, having tasted greatness, obviously hoped to repeat. I find to my astonishment that I gave Infra-Man only two and a half stars when I reviewed it. That was 22 years ago, but a fellow will remember a lot of things you wouldn't think he'd remember. I'll bet a month hasn't gone by since that I haven't thought of that film. I am awarding Mighty Peking Man three stars, for general goofiness and a certain level of insane genius, but I cannot in good conscience rate it higher than Infra-Man. So, in answer to those correspondents who ask if I have ever changed a rating on a movie: Yes, Infra-Man moves up to three stars.
