Review of the Week:
Japan's Finest Product
Japan has a knack for
producing some of the strangest, but entertaining monster films ever to hit the
big screen. Their movies are proof that stuff like that can only be made in one
place and I salute them for it. Some examples of such films include The Mysterians, Varan, Mothra and
the movie that will be discussed in this review: Frankenstein Versus Baragon
(aka Frankenstein Conquers the World, in the U.S.).
The heart of Frankenstein’s monster is transported from
Nazi Germany to Imperial Japan, near the end of World War II. Unfortunately,
the heart is lost during the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Years
later, a group of scientists working at the Hiroshima Hospital, discover a
feral boy who’s been feeding on small animals and causing distortions within
the city. They take the boy into their care, but as time goes on they soon
discover the shocking truth: the boy is actually Frankenstein’s monster!
Totally didn’t see that coming. The creature escapes, but not without leaving a
little bit of destruction in his wake. Frankenstein’s monster makes his retreat
towards the mountains, meanwhile a mysterious creature, now known as Baragon,
begins causing mayhem in neighboring villages and soon crosses paths with
Frankenstein (obviously, you know where it goes from here).
This is truly a
unique monster flick. The premise is just so bizarre and original it’s just
amazing. The designs of both Kaiju are very cool, this reviewer is especially
fond of the monster, Baragon. While the monsters are awesome, the humans fall
into the same routine as in most other monster flicks and only act as plot
devices. Though the movie has mediocre characters, the action scenes more than
make up for that and the set pieces are unbelievable with amazing detail put
into them, just be forewarned it does take a little while for the action to get
going.
So, if you’re looking for a bizarre monster movie from
Japan, this one’s for you.
Final
Rating:
Frankenstein Versus Baragon
is currently available on DVD, though it’s another one of those that’s hard to
find. You might have some luck looking for it on the internet, that’s probably
your best bet. As for alternate recommendations, I first point you towards, War
of the Gargantuas, a semi-sequel to FvB, though the story is different in the English
version, lastly, I suggest checking out Rodan, a Kaiju classic. That’s it for
me, if you’ve seen the movie, let me know what your thoughts on it are, in the
comment section below.
Until
Next Time, Never Mess with Nature…
