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Category: Film Discussion

MIFV MAX #2: ‘Dragonheart’ Discussion with Michael Hamilton and Danny DiManna (Abridged)

Published February 23, 2022

Episode 59 on Mothra (1961) isn’t quite finished, so to make up for its delay, I’m sharing this abridged version of a Patreon-exclusive livestream. I was joined by Michael Hamilton and Daniel DiManna to celebrate the birthday of the late great Sean Connery by discussing the 1996 fantasy film Dragonheart that starred Connery as Draco and Dennis Quaid as the knight who hunts and befriends him. I say “abridged” because we went on a long, unrelated rabbit trail after a while. If you want to see/hear the entire stream, join MIFV MAX on Patreon. In the meantime, I’ll finish Episode 59. Enjoy!

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 and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); 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, and Ted Williams! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #Amerikaiju

© 2022 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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(Re-Upload) LET’S GET READY TO… | Rumble (with guest Nathan Marchand, Curator of The Monster Island Film Vault)

Published February 16, 2022

This is a re-upload of a crossover episode Nate did with Drew and Jacob from The Cel Cast, a podcast about animated films and TV series. They discussed the recently-released kaiju “rasslin’” movie on Paramount+, Rumble. While it’s a bit more wrestling than kaiju, that didn’t stop Nate from making all kinds of pro-wrestling references.

The original description:

Jacob and Drew welcome their guests Nathan Marchand and Jimmy from NASA into Studio B to review the 2021 Straight to Paramount+ film Rumble!

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TheCelCast

Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/thecelcastgaming

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQcGNpWEc5qP7oKkxPWQEsw

Twitter – https://twitter.com/cast_cel

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thecelcast/

Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1452118040

Google Play – https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly90aGVjZWxjYXN0LnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2ZlZWQueG1s

Stitcher – https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-cel-cast

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4ETrW9WhJ44uLhr4bU03uK

This Podcast is a part of Pop Americana, For more great shows like this one visit https://popamericana.wixsite.com/popamericana.

And…

This Podcast is a part of the Culture Box, For more great shows like this one visit https://culturebox.media.

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Episode 58: The Tourists vs. ‘Mighty Joe Young’ (1949)

Published February 14, 2022

Hello, kaiju lovers! “Ameri-kaiju” continues with three of the original MIFV Tourists—Nick Hayden, Joe Metter, and Joy Metter—returning to the Island to the “spiritual sequel” to King Kong (1933): Mighty Joe Young (1949). This classic features the special effects masters of the generations: Willis O’Brien and Ray Harryhausen. As usual, Nate did way too much research, but its almost overshadowed by the BURNING OPRHANS(!). Nate’s guests were blindsided by this film’s climax; so much so, they start the discussion with that and move backwards through the movie, Memento-style. The Toku Topic is gorillas in captivity since Mighty Joe himself was a captive gorilla.

Before the broadcast, Nate speaks with Jessica about her new job as director of tourism on his way to meet with the Island’s new PR director, Darius R. Gold, a big game hunter from Texas. Amidst a metric ton of bravado, Mr. Gold tells Nate to contact Teri Young, the current caretaker for Mighty Joe Young. After the broadcast, Nate finally gets a reply from her—and a suspicious revelation about Cameron Winter.

This episode’s prologue, “Gold and Gorillas,” was written by Nathan Marchand with Michael Hamilton and Daniel DiManna.

Guest stars:

  • Sarah Marchand as Jessica Shaw
  • Michael Hamilton as Darius R. Gold
  • Kim Hogue as Teri Young

Additional music:

  • “New Mexican Thunderbird” by Vurez
  • “Pacific Rim” by Niall Stenson
  • “Son of Chaos” by Xaleph

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 and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); 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, and Ted Williams! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

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

Timestamps:

  • Prologue: 0:00-8:16
  • Intro: 8:16-15:04
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 15:04-22:07
  • Toku Talk: 22:07-1:39:34
  • Promo: 1:39:34-1:40:52
  • Toku Topic: 1:40:52-1:58:38
  • Housekeeping & Outro: 1:58:38-2:12:30
  • Epilogue: 2:12:30-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #Amerikaiju

© 2022 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 57: ‘Rodan’ (1956) | Godzilla Redux | Feat. Kaiju Kim

Published January 26, 2022

Hello, kaiju lovers! YouTuber and aspiring filmmaker Kaiju Kim returns to Monster Island to discuss a nostalgic monster movie for her: Toho’s first kaiju movie in color, Rodan (1956). It may not have Big G in it, but Rodan debuted in this film and later became a staple of Toho’s flagship franchise. Amidst funny accents, cancelations (sorry not sorry, Jimmy), and talk of Meganula breakfast cereal, Kim and Nate discuss the film’s Japanese communist screenwriter, Takeshi Kimura, the infamous Mantell UFO incident that inspired the film, and the symbolism of the monsters. If ever there was an episode that exemplified our mantra, “Entertainment and enlightenment through tokusatsu,” it’s this one.

Before the broadcast, Nate visits the Monster Island Legal Action Team office to collect his new contract, and after getting an update from Gary, Raymund Martin bursts in and claims he was a Goranger back in the day. Let’s just say there isn’t enough salt in the ocean for Nate to take with Raymund’s story.

This episode’s prologue, “Go, Go, Goranger!” was written by Nathan Marchand with Damon Noyes.

Check out Kaiju Kim’s YouTube channel, including her Rodan review.

Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode.

Guest stars:

  • Damon Noyes as Gary Steward and Raymund Martin

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 and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); 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, and Ted Williams! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

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

Timestamps:

  • Prologue: 0:00-5:22
  • Intro: 5:22-12:00
  • Main Discussion: 12:00-1:17:08
  • Housekeeping & Outro: 1:17:08-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #GodzillaRedux

© 2022 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 56: The Omni Viewer vs. ‘The Lost World’ (1925)

Published January 12, 2022

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! And welcome to season three of The Monster Island Film Vault! We begin 2022 with a brand new series focusing on giant monster films from the U.S.A., “Ameri-kaiju.” To launch this special occasion, Nate is joined by returning guest/YouTuber/author Ryan “The Omni Viewer” Collins (and his kaiju-muppet-thing sidekick, Snazzy, who butts heads with Nate’s sidekick, the intrepid producer Jimmy From NASA) to discuss the prototypical kaiju film, The Lost World (1925). You’re about to hear one of the most MIFV of MIFV episodes: literary analysis, film appreciation, witty banter, hilarious puns, and wild history. What more could you want?

Before the broadcast, Nate meets Dr. Nick Tatopoulos, the leader of H.E.A.T., in the KIJU breakroom (and pronounces the man’s name correctly) while fighting with the coffeemaker. Nick talks about his hostile history with the Island’s new boss, Cameron Winter—and then the crooked tycoon calls them on Nate’s phone!

The Omni Viewer’s YouTube channel.

This episode’s prologue, “Dr. Tatopoulos, I Presume,” was written by Nathan Marchand.

Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode.

Guest stars:

  • J.R. Villers as Nick Tatopoulos
  • Jack “GMan” Hudgens as Cameron Winter

Additional music:

  • “Stomp the World” by Jim Latham
  • “Pacific Rim” by Niall Stenson

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 and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); 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, and Ted Williams! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

Timestamps:

  • Prologue: 0:00-6:21
  • Intro: 6:21-16:19
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 16:19-24:53
  • Toku Talk: 24:53-1:40:30
  • Promo: 1:40:30-1:41:56
  • Toku Topic: 1:41:56-2:13:06
  • Housekeeping & Outro: 2:13:06-end

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

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #Amerikaiju

© 2022 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 55 – ‘Yeti: Giant of the 20th Century’ (feat. Travis Alexander and Daniel DiManna)

Published December 23, 2021

Welcome to MIFV’s season finale, kaiju lovers—it wasn’t what it was supposed to be! No, after the Board’s envoy, William H. George III, stunguns the ever-intrepid Jimmy From NASA, he takes over as producer and forces Nate, Travis Alexander (co-host of Kaiju Weekly and Henshin Men), and Daniel DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project) to watch the infamous 1977 Canadian-but-actually-Italian kaiju movie, Yeti: Giant of the 20th Century. Though Nate survived watching it during Kaiju Quarantine, he’s still unprepared for inflatable abominable snowman nipples and deadly “toe-fu.” The riffs and jokes abound amidst actual research as WHG3 gets drunker—and more Scottish?!—as the episode progresses. God(zilla) help Nate!

This episode’s prologue, “The Board’s Revenge,” was written by Nathan Marchand with Travis Alexander, Michael Hamilton, and Daniel DiManna.

Guest stars:

  • Michael Hamilton as William H. George III

Additional music:

  • “Opening the Way” by Pablo Coma

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org and Toho foley.

Listen to Nathan Marchand and Travis Alexander’s spinoff podcast, The Henshin Men, on Redcircle.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); 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, Elijah Thomas, and Eric Anderson! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

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

Timestamps:

  • Prologue: 0:00-5:15
  • Intro: 5:15-11:28
  • Main Discussion: 11:28-1:39:36
  • Housekeeping & Outro: 1:39:36-1:52:25
  • Epilogue: 1:52:25-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 54: Bex vs. ‘Gamera the Brave’

Published December 9, 2021

Hello, kaiju lovers! With this episode, we reach the end of the “Year of Gamera.” Depending on who you talk to (like Nate), it’s a bittersweet occasion because, on one hand, many bad movies were endured, but on the other hand, today’s subject is 2006’s Gamera the Brave. Becky “Bex” Smith from the Redeemed Otaku podcast and YouTube channel joins Nate to discuss what is, as of now, the last Gamera film. It is sadly overshadowed by everything that came before it. It’s a shame because this is a Showa Gamera movie—except good! Think of it as a Gamera film made by Pixar. So, it’s emotionally honest and will make you cry. Even Nate had to summon all of his manly discipline to keep control. Bex, on the other hand, did not. The Toku Topic, since much of the movie takes place at a restaurant, is Japanese ramen culture.

Before the broadcast, Nate was…graced with the return of his pseudo-sister, Jessica. Unfortunately, he didn’t appreciate her bone-crunching glomp and told her off. That got him a lecture from Jessica’s bestie, Bex. Afterward, Nate is all but forced to indulge Jessica and let her sing a karaoke of a popular anime theme song. You can probably guess which one.

Check out the Redeemed Otaku podcast and YouTube channel.

This episode’s prologue and epilogue, “Jessica Returns,” was written by Nathan Marchand with Becky Smith.

Guest stars:

  • Sarah Marchand as Jessica Shaw

Additional music:

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

Listen to Nathan Marchand and Travis Alexander’s spinoff podcast, The Henshin Men, on Redcircle.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); 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, Elijah Thomas, and Eric Anderson! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

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

Timestamps:

  • Prologue, “Jessica Returns (Part 1)”: 0:00-5:10
  • Intro: 5:10-16:15
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 16:15-23:19
  • Toku Talk: 23:19-1:25:32
  • Ad: 1:25:32-1:26:58
  • Toku Topic: 1:26:58-2:10:30
  • Housekeeping, Epilogue (“Jessica Returns, Part 2”), & Outro: 2:10:30-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 53: ‘Godzilla Raids Again’ | Feat. Michael ‘The Kaiju Groupie’ Hamilton | Godzilla Redux

Published November 24, 2021

Hello, kaiju lovers! Nate gets back to his new subseries, “Godzilla Redux,” with the first of the many sequels to Godzilla (1954), Godzilla Raids Again. Strangely, it was the first G-film his guest, Kaiju Weekly co-host Michael “The Kaiju Groupie” Hamilton, ever saw. This somewhat forgotten 1955 cash-grab sequel, which was produced and released within six months, isn’t much to write home about—except it features the first appearance of fan-favorite kaiju Anguirus and the first ever kaiju fight in a Godzilla film. Nate and Michael discuss these as well as the hilarious dubbed version, “Gigantis, the Fire Monster,” and the JSDF (Japanese Self-Defense Forces)—all while dodging Jimmy’s badgering of his “former” nemesis.

Before the broadcast, Nate and Jimmy get an unexpected visit from a “not-quite-dead-yet” man—Gary! After months of hiding since his near-fatal encounter with an escaped Gyaos, he’s decided to reveal himself to Nate and share his harrowing story of survival. After the broadcast, Raymund Martin arrives with legal papers for a class action lawsuit against the Board for Nate and Jimmy to sign and has a happy reunion with his long-thought-consumed paralegal.

Listen to Nathan Marchand and Travis Alexander’s spinoff podcast, The Henshin Men, on Redcircle.

This episode’s prologue and epilogue, “The Exaggerated Reports of My Death,” was written by Nathan Marchand.

Guest stars:

  • Damon Noyes as Raymund Martin & Gary

Additional music:

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); 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, Elijah Thomas, and Eric Anderson! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

This episode is NOT approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:

  • Prologue – “The Exaggerated Reports of My Death, Part 1”: 0:00-5:31
  • Intro: 5:31-17:07
  • Main Discussion: 17:07-1:31:00
  • Listener Feedback, Housekeeping, & Outro: 1:31:00-1:55:02
  • Epilogue – The Exaggerated Reports of My Death, Part 2”: 1:55:02-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Episode 52 – Kaiju Kim vs. ‘Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris’

Published November 12, 2021

Hello, kaiju lovers! After nearly a year of surviving inane MST3K fodder and watching the first two entries of a fantastic trilogy, Nate reaches one of kaiju eiga’s zeniths with Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris. He’s joined by YouTuber and (ironically) Godzilla enthusiast Kaiju Kim to discuss this masterpiece. As Nate puts it, this is one of the rare trilogies where each entry gets better—in fact, everything gets cranked to 12 in this. They discuss the amazing story, incredible characters, impressive special effects, absolute badassery, and the many, many cultural elements that may go over western fans’ heads as crazy fantasy. Speaking of which, choosing a Toku Topic was difficult, but Nate landed on the Four Symbols and mana, because they play the big roles in this film and the rest of the trilogy.

Check out Kim’s video on Gamera 3 here.

Listen to Nathan Marchand and Travis Alexander’s spinoff podcast, The Henshin Men, on Redcircle.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); 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, and Elijah Thomas! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

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

Timestamps:

  • Intro: 0:00-9:09
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 9:09-18:11
  • Toku Talk: 18:11-1:25:42
  • Ad: 1:25:42-1:26:34
  • Toku Topic: 1:26:34-1:54:13
  • Listener Feedback, Housekeeping, & Outro: 1:54:13-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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