Skip to content

Category: Film Discussion

Episode 83: ‘Son of Godzilla’ | Ft. Neil Riebe | Godzilla Redux

Published January 25, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! Neil Riebe makes a dangerous journey to Hong Kong to join Nate for another “Godzilla Redux” with Son of Godzilla. This film was made in the “Year of the Kaiju,” 1967, and along with King Kong Escapes, was Toho’s big contribution to it. The studio’s “B team,” led by director Jun Fukuda, returned to helm this island adventure…that infamously introduced fans to “the Jar Jar Binks of the Godzilla franchise,” Minilla (aka Minya). But it also has some impressive insect kaiju. Believe it or not, this was made as a date movie…for very Japanese reasons! All this and more in the latest MIFV!

Listen to this episode’s epilogue, “Kung Fools.”

Check out “Jimmy’s Notes,” the official follow-up blog to this episode!

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, and Robert Kidd! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:

  • Introduction: 0:00-5:51
  • Main Discussion: 5:51-1:43:19
  • Outro: 1:43:19-1:54:03
  • Credits: 1:54:03-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #Godzilla            #SonofGodzilla          #GodzillaRedux

© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

Special Report #6, Part 2 – Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (Eps. 7-10 & Final Thoughts)

Published January 20, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In the part two of a two-part compilation of weekly podcasts originally made for MIFV MAX members on Patreon, Nate breaks down and analyzes the first six episodes of AppleTV+’s MonsterVerse series, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. It starts off strong, but like many Americans, it gets squishy in the middle. The flashback storyline is definitely better than the “present day” (2015) story arc, but both Wyatt and Kurt Russell are impressive playing the same character in two time periods.

Continued from part 1: https://monsterislandfilmvault.com/?p=2092.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), and Jonathan Courtright! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:

  • Episode 7, “Will the Real May Please Stand Up?”: 0:00-27:14
  • Episode 8, “Birthright”: 27:14-1:06:17
  • Episode 9, “Axis Mundi”: 1:06:17-1:42:08
  • Episode 10, “Beyond Logic”: 1:42:08-2:14:49
  • Final Thoughts: 2:14:49-2:26:19
  • Credits: 2:26:19-2:28:04

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault    

© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

Special Report #6, Part 1 – Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (Eps. 1-6)

Published January 20, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In the part one of a two-part compilation of weekly podcasts originally made for MIFV MAX members on Patreon, Nate breaks down and analyzes the first six episodes of AppleTV+’s MonsterVerse series, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. It starts off strong, but like many Americans, it gets squishy in the middle. The flashback storyline is definitely better than the “present day” (2015) story arc, but both Wyatt and Kurt Russell are impressive playing the same character in two time periods.

Continued in part 2: https://monsterislandfilmvault.com/?p=2097.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), and Jonathan Courtright! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:

  • Intro/Episode 1, “Aftermath”: 0:00-38:02
  • Episode 2, “Departure”: 38:02-58:57
  • Episode 3, “Secrets and Lies”: 58:57-1:22:46
  • Episode 4, “Parallels and Interiors”: 1:22:46-1:41:40
  • Episode 5, “The Way Out”: 1:41:40-2:21:28
  • Episode 6, “Terrifying Miracles”: 2:21:28-2:56:36

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault    

© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

Episode 82: Daniel DiManna vs. ‘Super Inframan’

Published January 17, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In MIFV’s fourth season premiere, Nate is joined by Daniel DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project) to discuss competently-made insanity: Super Inframan. Yes, it barely qualifies as “kaiju,” but Nate needed an excuse to talk about it (again). To call it a hyper-caffeinated fusion of Shaw Bros. trademark martial cinema and Japanese henshin heroes would be an understatement. Believe it or not, this bonkers movie has connections to both Kamen Rider and Mystery Science Theater 3000! Nate and Danny also discuss “Bruceploitation” and the Muppets in regards to this movie. The Toku Topic is, naturally, kung-fu cinema.

Listen to this episode’s epilogue, “Super Infra-Dan.”

READ “JIMMY’S NOTES” ON THIS EPISODE: https://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/01/17/2081/.

Featuring Daniel DiManna as Dr. Dante Dourif.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), and Jonathan Courtright! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:

  • Introduction: 0:00-14:59
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 14:59-22:49
  • Toku Talk: 22:49-1:28:27
  • Podcast Ads: 1:28:27-1:29:43
  • Toku Topic (Martial Arts Cinema): 1:29:43-2:19:11
  • Outro: 2:19:11-2:30:48
  • Credits: 2:30:48-2:32:55

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault    

© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

MIFV MAX #26: Christmas Special – ‘Jingle All the Way’ | Ft. Brendan Morley (abridged)

Published December 22, 2023

Merry Christmas, Kaiju Lovers (and Autistic Lizard Productions viewers)! In this excerpt from the Patreon-exclusive livestream series, Nathan is joined by Brendan Morley of Autistic Lizard Productions to discuss a (barely) toku-adjacent Christmas movie, Jingle All Way (1996), which stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad, and Phil Hartman, among others. Perhaps Nathan just needed an excuse to use his Arnie impersonation on mic, but this is one of his holiday movie guilty pleasures. Despite being critically panned, it has become a Christmas classic. The fictional Turbo Man, whose action figure (not “doll”!) is the hottest Christmas toy in the movie, and his sidekick, the pink saber-cat Booster, and archnemesis, Dementor, are what barely qualifies this for discussion on the podcast. Nathan and Brendan give some background and trivia on the movie and discuss their favorite jokes and scenes. “It’s Turbo Time!”

To see the full livestream, join MIFV MAX on Patreon! (http://tinyurl.com/MIFV-MAX-26)

Check out Brendan’s YouTube channel! (https://www.youtube.com/@AutisticLizardProductions).

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander; Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), and Jonathan Courtright! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #JingleAlltheWay            #tokusatsu       #Christmas     #ChristmasMovie       #merrychristmas

© 2023 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

Episode 81: ‘Godzilla Minus One’ vs. Jack ‘GMan’ Hudgens

Published December 8, 2023

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! There was no way Nate could let Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One—only the most successful live action Japanese film ever released in America—go unanalyzed! So, for this special coda to MIFV season three, he’s joined by everyone’s favorite a-hole/”gatekeeper,” Jack “GMan” Hudgens, to discuss what might be worthy of the “Mount Rushmore of Kaiju Films.” They unpack everything from its rich themes, incredible characters, marvelous special effects, and more! Also, because Godzilla is good for business and worthy of “the Full Marchand,” you get a Toku Topic: kamikaze pilots.

Check out The Drift Space and Deferential Wrath of a Rusting Markalite Cannon.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip.

Additional music:

  • “Goji Beat” by Alyssa Charpentier
  • “Chant My Name!” by Masaaki Endo

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander; Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), and Jonathan Courtright! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:

  • Introduction: 0:00-8:38
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 8:38-20:20
  • Toku Talk: 20:20-2:28:53
  • Podcast Ads: 2:28:53-2:31:30
  • Toku Topic (Kamikaze Pilots): 2:31:30-3:02:23
  • Outro: 3:02:23-3:08:14
  • Credits: 3:08:14-3:09:51

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #Godzilla        #kaiju            #GodzillaMinusOne  

© 2023 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

Episode 80: The Asylum’s “Monster Island” (Ft. Raymund Martin)

Published November 22, 2023

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In the (overdue) season 3 finale, Nate is forced to deal with Cameron Winter’s “Christmas gift”: the Asylum’s infamous Monster Island. It’s supposedly a “mockbuster” of 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters, but even by the Asylum’s standards, that’s a stretch. To unravel the legal loopholes and shenanigans that went into making this…movie, Nate brings on the Island’s star lawyer, Raymund Martin, and the man’s paralegal, Gary Steward. Not only do they riff this half-competent (and therefore, boring) “kaiyu” flick into the ground, they give you a crash course in the history of the Asylum and mockbusters. Nate’s contractual obligations are now complete!

Beforehand, Nate delivers his final report as the nonexistent “media master” to Mr. Gold, who reveals a few tantalizing details about what’s been happening on the Island lately.

Guest Cast

  • Michael Hamilton as Mr. Gold
  • Damon Noyes as Raymund Martin and Gary Steward

This episode’s prologue, “Heart of Gold,” was written by Michael Hamilton and Nathan Marchand.

Additional music:

  • “This Cowboy’s Hat” (instrumental) by Chris LeDoux
  • “Pacific Rim” by Niall Stenson
  • “Circus Music” (public domain)
  • “Kaiju Rap” by Jonah Ray
  • “Chant My Name!” by Masaaki Endo

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org, including those by Brad Wesson.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander; Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), and Jonathan Courtright! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:

  • Prologue: 0:00-7:37
  • Introduction: 7:37-18:19
  • Main Discussion: 18:19-2:19:21
  • Outro: 2:19:21-2:30:21
  • Credits: 2:30:21-2:31:58

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #amerikaiju    #kaiju            #theasylum     #mockbuster   #monsterisland

© 2023 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

Episode 79: Bex vs. ‘Jurassic Park’

Published October 23, 2023

“Ameri-kaiju” concludes not with a chronological finale but a popular finale: the modern cinematic classic Jurassic Park. Bex from Redeemed Otaku (yes, the real Bex—she was tested!) joins Nate to not talk about Mothra or something girly for once—but it does involve kids! Besides Jesus and Sailor Moon, JP is her favorite thing in the world. What more can be said about the film that hasn’t already been said? It’s an iconic and revolutionary masterpiece directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the popular Michael Crichton novel. While it’s debatable if the dinosaurs in it are “kaiju” (see the infamous Kaiju Weekly episode for more on that), it had a profound impact on world cinema, including the kaiju genre. Obviously, the Toku Topic is the science in the film, which Nate says has been studied extensively by Monster Island scientists.

Afterward, with evidence collected, Nate and H.E.A.T. march into the Boardroom and confront Cameron Winter on all his shady dealings on the Island—but first they must get past the Space Beastman…and Winter’s contingency plans!  

Guest Cast

  • Dani Cruz as Monique Dupre
  • G.J. “Jack” Hudgens as Cameron Winter
  • Rebecca Hudgens as Elsie Chapman
  • Damon Noyes as Mendel Craven
  • Andres Perez as Randy Hernandez
  • J.R. Villers as Nick Tatopoulos

This episode’s epilogue, “American Made,” was written by Nathan Marchand.

Additional music:

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander; Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), and Jonathan Courtright! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:

  • Intro: 0:00-11:15
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 11:15-19:44
  • Toku Talk: 19:44-1:51:14
  • Podcast Ad: 1:51:14-1:52:31
  • Toku Topic:1:52:31-2:22:13
  • Outro: 2:22:13-2:46:58
  • Epilogue: 2:46:58-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #jurassicpark            #jurassicworld            #dinosaurs      #cloning          #science          #amerikaiju

© 2023 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

Special Report #5 – ‘Gamera: -Rebirth-‘ | MIFV x The Cel Cast

Published September 20, 2023

Yeah, I’m thinking Gamera is back! And since his return is in anime form, of course Nate invited Drew and Jacob from The Cel Cast to join the discussion. Gamera: -Rebirth- is a six-episode anime that just dropped on Netflix, and it’s infinitely better than the fake anime Nate and the Cel Cast boys covered a few months ago. Writer-director Hiroyuki Seshita gets his redemption story in this, proving it really was studio interference that held him back with the Godzilla Anime Trilogy. More importantly, this is definitely in the Gamera tradition, where the Guardian of the Universe has to settle for a second-string studio with a lower budget, so he to do his best with it. Does it rise to the heights of the Heisei trilogy or the lows of the Showa series? Listen and find out!

Watch the original livestream video on MIFV’s YouTube channel!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander; Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), and Jonathan Courtright! Thanks for your support!

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #kaiju            #gamera            #gamerarebirth          

© 2023 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed