Supposedly a sequel to "Frankenstein Conquers the World" (1965), this monster mash, or "kaiju" film, abandons its predecessor's recycling of clever concepts from prior narratives in favor of focusing on two guys in monkey costumes making a mess on miniature sets and being shocked with animated lasers from the Japanese army. Some movie-goers seem to be into that sort of thing, as indicated by this sequel generally being higher rated than the first installment. Admittedly, it features superior action-packed pacing, more elaborate and frequent giant monster attacks and somewhat better visual effects and costumes. The opening scene involves one of the gargantuan brothers wrestling a giant octopus, and, indeed, the Baragon dinosaur that the Frankenstein creature fought in the first picture looked ridiculous. But, all of it is pretty silly. It was the concepts that "Frankenstein Conquers the World" borrowed from "Gojira" (1954), "King Kong" (1933), Universal's Frankenstein films, and even Mary Shelley's book, that lifted that picture a bit beyond mere junk best enjoyed by laughing at it.
I viewed the original Japanese version of this, translated as "Frankenstein's Monsters: Sanda vs. Gaira," in addition to the Americanized "The War of the Gargantuas," because my main interest in it is as part of my quest to see a bunch of Frankenstein-related films (this makes 48 reviewed on my list thus far). Nothing of value is lost in the complete withdrawal of "Frankenstein" references in the English-language-dubbed version, though, which were as pointless as the names made up on the spot, for no apparent reason, for the monsters: "Sanda" and "Gaira" (or the "brown" and "green" ones, as they say in English). They are merely giant yeti-looking creatures on the loose. There's exposition and a flashback informing that one of these monsters originated in the lab, and the supposed scientific importance of the creatures is repeatedly mentioned, but none of this is of interest, nor does it make any sense. (What's the scientific value? Why did they became gargantuan? Etc.) The entire science-y subplot comes off as backstory filler. In the first film, it made sense in the tradition of "Gojira," with the Frankenstein monster being a metaphor for Japan after the devastation of two atomic bombs. His escape from captivity and climactic battle with another monster also echoed themes from "Frankenstein" (1931) and "King Kong." None of that appears in the sequel. Like the people-eating gargantuan clone here, it's an unholy abomination.
I viewed the original Japanese version of this, translated as "Frankenstein's Monsters: Sanda vs. Gaira," in addition to the Americanized "The War of the Gargantuas," because my main interest in it is as part of my quest to see a bunch of Frankenstein-related films (this makes 48 reviewed on my list thus far). Nothing of value is lost in the complete withdrawal of "Frankenstein" references in the English-language-dubbed version, though, which were as pointless as the names made up on the spot, for no apparent reason, for the monsters: "Sanda" and "Gaira" (or the "brown" and "green" ones, as they say in English). They are merely giant yeti-looking creatures on the loose. There's exposition and a flashback informing that one of these monsters originated in the lab, and the supposed scientific importance of the creatures is repeatedly mentioned, but none of this is of interest, nor does it make any sense. (What's the scientific value? Why did they became gargantuan? Etc.) The entire science-y subplot comes off as backstory filler. In the first film, it made sense in the tradition of "Gojira," with the Frankenstein monster being a metaphor for Japan after the devastation of two atomic bombs. His escape from captivity and climactic battle with another monster also echoed themes from "Frankenstein" (1931) and "King Kong." None of that appears in the sequel. Like the people-eating gargantuan clone here, it's an unholy abomination.