Near the end of the film, it becomes apparent that Frankenstein isn't the only worry they have, as Baragon hops on screen for no other reason than to set up a campy fight between the beasts. There was potential for a minor mystery as Frankenstein reportedly causes devastation, even though it occurred miles away from his previous positions. That's also wasted since Baragon's reveal comes early, and of course the film's title doesn't leave much to the imagination.
Baragon's suit is only one of the special effects that fail, with a friendly face and fat cheeks that leads to unintentional comedy. As Frankenstein searches for food, he comes upon a wild boar that couldn't possibly look worse than it does. A horse trampled by Baragon receives worse treatment. It’s a direct contrast with the other miniature work.
The only interesting aspect of the film is the inclusion of the bomb dropping on Hiroshima, created in eerie silence with only the plane and beating heart of Frankenstein heard before the explosion. When it hits, the immense fire showcases devastation on a grand scale. It's also noteworthy since the Honda's goal with the original Godzilla film was to show the horrors of nuclear weapons though the monster, and here, the bomb itself is given a full focus.
As a film itself however, it's a routine Toho production that fans have been through before, only without a lot of the imagination or charm these films generally bring with them. Frankenstein is a lackluster monster in this form, Baragon even less so, and the meandering plot could have been condensed by a half hour or more. A few special effects highlights are the only reasons to watch. ![]()
Spread across two discs, the American and Japanese versions are widely varied in their video quality. The original language cut is faded, tinted an odd red color, and damaged quite heavily in spots. It’s fuzzy and worn, and doesn’t look like anything was done to fix it.
On the opposite disc, we have beautiful, colorful, and bright print. The American version is far more watchable even with the dubbing. It lacks the out of focus quality of the other disc, and is noticeably sharper. There are still moments of damage, and the grain is excessive, but this is a fine presentation. ![]()
Even the audio tracks are dueling it out. Again, fans of the original Japanese version lose out. While both offer a 5.1 mix, not much is done with the foreign language edition. It’s strictly a one channel affair. On the other hand, Ifukube’s soundtrack is incredible on the dub, filling all speakers with his classic music. The on-screen action stays strictly in the center channel however, and the subwoofer is left alone. ![]()
Features here are varied, including the alternate ending that was originally part of the title. After the fight with Baragon, a giant squid appears to finally put an end to Frankenstein. It's actually a stronger battle and aside from the abrupt appearance of the squid, is a more effective finale. When it was cut, so was the title that was originally Frankenstein vs. The Giant Devil Fish (and other variations on that same theme). Oddly, the ending is included in its entirety. It's a 14-minute feature for only around four minutes of new content.








Article comments