Customer Reviews

Frankenstein Conquers the World / Frankenstein Vs. Baragon

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

DISC ONE:
FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD "English Language Version" (84:47)
English Mono / English 5.1
2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen (contrary to the earlier reports saying it was
1.78:1)

EXTRAS:
Special Announcement (40 seconds)
Theatrical Trailer (2 minutes)
Extra International Footage (alternate octopus ending)
Deleted Scenes (approx 5 minutes)
Photo Gallery (approx 150 images)

DISC TWO:
FRANKENSTEIN VS. BARAGON "International Version" (93:04)*
FRANKENSTEIN VS. BARAGON "Japanese Theatrical Version" (89:53)
2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Japanese Mono / Japanese 5.1 / English Subtitles
Audio Commentary with Sadamasa Arikawa (Director of Special Effects
Photography) with English Subtitles
Trailers for ATRAGON, DOGORA, MYSTERIANS, MATANGO

*The FRANKENSTEIN VS. BARAGON "International Version" is the same film as
the "Japanese Theatrical Version" except that it includes the alternate
octopus ending included as an extra on DISC ONE. The Sadamasa Arikawa
commentary appears over this version of the film.

I cant believe That "Ghidorah:The Three Headed Monster", "Astro Monsters", and now "Frankenstein Conquers the World" are all (after years of waiting) finally being released in the same month. The only cherry on the cake would be "War of the Gargantuas" but I dont want to seem too greedy.
This movie rocks!! Where else can you see a giant sized Frankenstein Monster fight another giant monster called Baragon? - I tell you No Where But Right Here My Friend!! Buy this little piece of wonderment, invite your friends over, drink many beers, and let yourself endulge on a buffet of monster madness!
This is the start of a very good summer!

I've been waiting for this movie to come out for quite some time. This movie and War of the Gargantuas. You gotta love the beautiful Ms. Kumi Mizuno. Beside her, the movie is good, one of Toho's best. Add that with the features this DVD is packing. Both Japanese and American releases along with deleted scenes and commentary. A must have for all Toho and movie monster fans. This year has been a blessing for Toho fans with the rereleases of their movies on DVD in widescreen modes and with special features. Grab your friends and a six pack of beer and watch all these rereleased DVDs.

i just want to mention that this movie is one of the best that toho productions has ever made as far as science fiction and i would reccomend it to anyone

I must admit that I liked these ToHo films as a kid,but they are mostly for laughs now.I guess a little for nostalgia too. These Japanese Monster movies are just hysterical! I had not seen this one for many years and I was doubled over with laughter watching it! It is great that they released this film and I would have given it 5 stars,but I remember some different scenes as a kid that ended up in the deleted scenes section of this release. Still all and all a great buy with 3 versions of the film and lots of extra goodies. I would love to see "War Of The Gargantuas", "The Green Slime" and " Yog Monster from Space" released! TOHO FAN ALERT: YOG MONSTER FROM SPACE WAS JUST RELEASED UNDER THE TITLE - SPACE AMOEBA!

Another terrific release from this company. I'm so glad that original Japanese features are finally getting what they deserve. Subtitles too.
Great menus and extras as well.

"Frankenstein Conquers the World" (or "Frankenstein vs. Baragon") is a wonderful Japanese-American kaiju movie presented here by Tokyo Shock in a beautiful package. The package contains two discs and three versions of the movie, one primarily a Japanese release, one primarily for American audiences, and one for International audiences (which seems to be the Japanese version with the alternate giant octopus ending). Note that there are other versions out there, but three versions are plenty for me. The set has numerous extras including deleted scenes, extra footage, previews, still photos (of lobby cards, advertising materials, etc.), and a wonderful commentary by Sadamasa Arikawa, the chief cameraman and director of special effects (who appears over the International version).

The short version of the plot is that the Germans realize defeat is imminent in World War Two, so they give the heart of Frankenstein's monster, which cannot be killed, to their ally, Japan, for secret military purposes. Unfortunately, the experiments get underway in Hiroshima early in the morning of August 6, 1945, just as a B-29 drops an atomic bomb on the city. Fast forward fifteen years and a mysterious mute waif who eats dogs starts terrorizing the community, while nearly simultaneously Baragon appears destroying some oil fields. Clearly the film is headed for a conflict of epic proportions, and over the remainder of the movie Frankenstein grows enormously, tangling with Baragon in amusing fight scenes. Depending on which version you watch, a third kaiju, in this case an enormous octopus, wanders through the forest to join the fight as well.

This is a very entertaining film on a lot of levels, but mostly in a fun man-in-a-rubber suit (or lots of makeup) takes on all contenders way. The film is the first Japanese-American kaiju joint venture, and features Nick Adams as a scientist in the lead role. The supporting cast are largely Toho regulars, and the acting is above par for the genre.

For me the single most enjoyable feature of this package is the commentary with Sadamasa Arikawa, who is very informative and entertaining. He reveals many techniques of technical filmmaking and discusses working on kaiju films (and especially provides insight on director Ishirô Honda). He addresses editorial differences between the versions and attempts to explain (with marginal success) the giant octopus issue. He is also to be commended, as the lighting and special effects on this film, while not totally perfect by today's standards, are excellent for the time.

I highly recommend this set to fans of kaiju, and to people who just want to watch a great and unusual Japanese sci-fi picture from the 1960's.

Its been a great year for japanese monsters fan. To own this movie on dvd has been a dream come true. Thank you Tokyo Shock for this release. Back in the past the only way you could get these films. was on bootleg. If you love Godzilla, Gamera, ect, you'll difinite want to add this toho classic to your dvd collection. Hurry up and grab it before it's out of print.

This classic japanese monster movie finally gets a DVD release here in the states and what a treat it is!! Nick Adams and the always sexy Kumi Mizuno star in this film about a boy who eats the heart of the Frankenstein monster and becomes a giant. If you love monster bashes, this is the ultimate two disc collectors set for you.

This was always one of my favorite monster movies as a kid, and the new dvd makes it just as cool as it was then. I did not realize it was a two-disc set when I ordered it, so that was a bonus. Anyway, rockin' good movie.