Agents from the underwater “Mu Empire” (it’s basically a Great Value version of Atlantis) are coming ashore and kidnapping naval personnel. A couple of cheesecake photographers snap a photo of one of them and wind up becoming embroiled in the intrigue. Meanwhile, the evil Empress of Mu tries to stop a crazed Captain from launching his state-of-the-art submarine called Gotengo, which she thinks can threaten her empire. She then unleashes the dragon god “Manda” upon our heroes.
Atragon is a so-so Sci-Fi flick from Toho. It was co-directed by inoshiro (Godzilla) Honda, and often plays like a Japanese knockoff of a Jules Verne novel. It kicks off with a fun scene where a silver scuba diver frightens a bikini model mid-photo shoot. Unfortunately, all the back and forth between the United Nations and the Navy and the scientists quickly bog things down. The scenes in the Mu palace are likewise draggy as the various rituals and dance numbers do nothing to help pick up the pace.
If you came hoping for a cool monster, you’ll probably be disappointed. In all honesty, Manda is not one of Toho’s most impressive creations. He’s kind of a cross between a dragon and a sea serpent. He’s also rubbery-looking and goofy as Hell. (He almost looks like a barely more competent version of Reptilicus.) Manda later showed up in the Godzilla films Destroy All Monsters and Final Wars. At least in those movies, the special effects for the creature were better. Here, he looks like he could be used as a stunt double for Cecil from Beany and Cecil.
Gotengo is pretty nifty looking though, as it’s a submarine with a spiral shaped drill on its nose. And it FLIES! The final battle between Gotengo and Manda is pretty lackluster though, especially when compared to the other monster mashes Toho was making around the same time.
The film’s chief asset is the great score from composer Akira Ifukube. Yes, I know it sounds like a slight reworking of his iconic Godzilla theme. However, in a movie as uneven as this one you have to take what you can get.
AKA: Atoragon. AKA: Atoragon: Flying Supersub. AKA: Flying Supersub Atoragon. AKA: Undersea Battleship.
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