FCTW review by me

[Dogora]

Frankenstein vs. Baragon mini-review

Frankenstein vs. Baragon has a very creative nuclear-based plot, that starts slow and builds up to a powerful climax with the gigantic fight between Frankenstein and Baragon.
The acting is very good for a 1960’s film, with Nick Adams and Kumi Mizuno giving the best performances. The effects are accomplished better than Godzilla vs. Monster Zero and GTTHM. Due to Frankenstein’s 30 meter height, Eiji Tsuburaya had to build miniatures on a much larger scale, which for the most part, makes them feel more real. The effect cinematography by Sadamasa Arikawa is great. He even said that while filming from a helicopter, he nearly fell out! Arikawa accomplishes some great photography. The suits are good, with Frankenstein’s having great detail to the gum area. Unlike other movies with giant humans like the terrible Amazing Colossal Man, this one actually manages to look real. Baragon’s suit is less form fitting than the Godzilla suits of the time, and gives Baragon a better sense of scale (mostly due to Haruo Nakajima’s performance). The final fight is beautifully choreographed, with Tsuburaya’s miniature forest being the perfect atmosphere. The wireworks used during the final fight are very creative, and hardly noticeable. The backdrop is beautifully done, and the fight is downright brutal, with Frankenstein breaking Baragon’s neck, and Baragon leaping atop Frankenstein. The music by Akira Ifukube stands out in particular. The themes are not repeated as often as in others. The main title music is quite chilling. Baragon’s theme would make it’s way into Destroy All Monsters as the theme that plays when the monsters gather in front of the Killak’s base. Overall, a great contribution to the mostly dry 1960s kaiju films.

Alex’s score:
8.5/10