This is another monster film from Toho, featuring a solo monster named Varan (or Baran). It is basically a "monster-on-the-loose" movie, where we have a group of scientists and reporters visiting an island to investigate the death of one of the reporter's brother, who was researching butterflies on the island. The island's inhabitants is a mysterious cult that worships a sleeping monster called Baran.
The majority of the movie is focused on the humans' repeated attempts to defeat Baran; it lacks a creative plot and some of Baran's rampaging scenes are stocked footage from "Gojira." Baran wasn't portrayed as very menacing and the primitive cult was not emphasized enough. But still, this film is better than the American edited version "Varan the Unbelievable."
Aside from the critique, there are some neat effects, including the scenes where it shows the monster flying. The scene where the lead characters search for a missing kid in the island's cave while trying not to awaken the sleeping Baran is exciting. There are some great action involving the military and, lastly, Akira Ifukube gave a wide arrangement of music, which I think is some of his best music scores. His rousing marches and enchanting motifs are a pleasurable listening experience. The Main Title music is a haunting and a very catchy tune and the Giant Varan's March (played during the military's ocean assault on the monster) is my favorite of Ifukube's movie marches.
Overall, not a great but a satisfactory film to feature Toho's fourth movie monster.
Grade C+
The majority of the movie is focused on the humans' repeated attempts to defeat Baran; it lacks a creative plot and some of Baran's rampaging scenes are stocked footage from "Gojira." Baran wasn't portrayed as very menacing and the primitive cult was not emphasized enough. But still, this film is better than the American edited version "Varan the Unbelievable."
Aside from the critique, there are some neat effects, including the scenes where it shows the monster flying. The scene where the lead characters search for a missing kid in the island's cave while trying not to awaken the sleeping Baran is exciting. There are some great action involving the military and, lastly, Akira Ifukube gave a wide arrangement of music, which I think is some of his best music scores. His rousing marches and enchanting motifs are a pleasurable listening experience. The Main Title music is a haunting and a very catchy tune and the Giant Varan's March (played during the military's ocean assault on the monster) is my favorite of Ifukube's movie marches.
Overall, not a great but a satisfactory film to feature Toho's fourth movie monster.
Grade C+