As Aerosmith once sang, “I’m back in the saddle again!”
It was nice getting some time off work and spending it in my garage with Jet Jaguar working on Mechani-Kong Mk. 2 (who’s almost done). I’ve only used about half of the parts I salvaged from both Mogueras. I should do something with the rest of them. Hmm….
I heard the initial broadcast for episode 29 while on my Board-mandated vacation, and I admit that Nathan did a good job without me and Jet did fine as my sub. But all of you will have wait until next week to hear it.
Anyway, on to my notes from episode 28:
- It’s “transpacific flight” not “transatlantic flight,” Nathan. Wrong ocean.
- Nick, from what the Island’s scientists have told me, there were more dinosaur and kaiju fossils up there in the Arctic than what you found. Possibly. Maybe. … I can neither confirm nor deny.
- Oops. I wrote “Harryhausen” when I meant “Bradbury” in the info dump. And yet Nathan still read it that way. Thankfully, he fixed it in post, as obvious as it is.
- A Life Day card and present? Seriously, Marchand? I reserve the right not to accept it. Even if that damn holiday is canon now. Also, I’m saving the “chill pills” for you, you hyperactive goof!
- “Red” will eat anything, regardless of “deliciousness” or lack thereof.
- Yes, I do have a Disco Space Nun flying saucer in my garage. I still haven’t gotten it opened, though. Personally, I’d rather find and examine a Xilien saucer. I’ve heard rumors there might be one of two that survived the invasion of 196X. I’ll keep you posted.
- Hmm. A music festival on the Island? Maybe I should get my band back together….
- So, funny story about how I found that orbital manhole cover: It was during the final test flight for the Gohten just before the War in Space. We were testing the Space Fighter launcher—you know, the brilliantly designed giant magnum revolver—to make sure it didn’t accidentally switch to laser cannon mode. I volunteered for the test. The launch system worked, but as I flew out, something splattered on my Space Fighter’s windshield. I thought it was a Space Bug (nasty things), but when I returned to the Gohten, I discovered that it was a fragment of that infamous manhole cover. It’d gotten stuck to my windshield thanks to some gum. I’ve no idea how it got there (what was that sewer worker chewing?!) or how it survived atmospheric entry (seriously, what was he chewing?!), and it did need to be removed with my laserknife (tough stuff). I wear it proudly as a pin, as you heard.
- It’s “Manhattan Project,” Nathan, not “Project Manhattan.” Was that what the Dutch colonists who founded the city called their endeavor?
- I do love pun times. Keep it up, Nick!
- Here’s a link to the Godzilla zip line in mainland Japan. I think there’s a proposal to build one here on the Island, although I don’t know which Godzilla design will be used.
- Nathan was wrong—Ray Bradbury did not write for The Outer Limits. In fact, he didn’t write for any TV series. However, his works were adapted by several TV series, including Tales of Tomorrow and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. He did contribute several scripts to The Twilight Zone, as Nick alluded to, but only one was produced: “I Sing the Body Electric,” which was the 100th episode and later adapted into a short story. (Who’s the lit nerd now, Marchand?)
- Yeah, a World Children’s Land on Monster Island would be interesting, but where would the Board even put it? We barely have room for all the kaiju.
- I’m not sure when I’ll finish my memoir, but I could always use your connections in the publishing world, Nathan. As for why I didn’t have you be a beta reader…well, as you’ve said yourself, Nick is the better writer. Sorry not sorry.
Now on to Nathan’s leftover notes. He’s gotten better about not overdoing his research and presenting most of his findings. In fact, he got through all of his notes on the Toku Topics.
The Film
- I thought this WB logo wasn’t until the ‘80s? (Perhaps it was added later? –Jimmy)
- Swirling drain! (insert obvious joke here). Or is it the proto-Ultra Q?
- Gamera the Giant Monster copied some of this beginning. (Much to Nathan’s chagrin. –Jimmy)
- Rhedosaurus appears 9 minutes in.
- These are impressive arctic sets. The snow is better than Daimajin Strikes Again. You really feel the cold.
- Awkward jump cut at 32:00.
- Tom knows French? Okay. Convenient.
- 43 minutes in, we get the ‘adaptation” part of the film. The attack on the lighthouse. Unlike in the story, there’s no fog horn. I think the monster gets angry at the light.
- Army/Navy game. College football, man.
- Section 8 discharge. I can’t hear that without thinking of Klinger from M*A*S*H*.
- Tom and Lee see a ballet together. Which is it? (Shout-out to Bex and Princess Tutu!) (Don’t you owe Bex video proof that you can do ballet positions? Tsk tsk. –Jimmy)
- Interestingly, they use a radioactive isotope to kill the beast. This once again illustrates the different attitudes toward nuclear things between the U.S. and Japan. Although, it could be argued that nuclear solutions are used later (Godzilla is atomic, and his ray powers the device that kills Hedorah). Then there’s KOTM19….
- The soldier is a dead shot. How about that, Jimmy? (At least he’s not a Stormtrooper. –Jimmy)
It’s short and sweet today.
As I already alluded to, next week Nathan is joined by Sci-Fi Japan writer Ben Chaffins, not for a bonus interview but to discuss the Toho classic War of the Gargantuas. Then Nathan does a mini-analysis of the semi-obscure—and quirky—Toho film, Latitude Zero. Expect lots of Batman jokes.
See you next week!
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