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The Monster Island Film Vault Posts

Concerning All the MIFV Delays (Announcement 6-1-22)

Published June 1, 2022

I explain why MIFV has been plagued with delays the last few months. Spoiler warning: It’s because have an overachiever complex.

Read the blog post I mentioned here: https://tinyurl.com/3cxpx2fd.

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:

  • Twitter (https://twitter.com/TheMonsterIsla1)
  • Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MonsterIslandFilmVault/)
  • Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/monsterislandfilmvault/)
  • Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy (https://twitter.com/nasajimmy?lang=en)
  • Follow the Monster Island Board of Directors on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD (https://twitter.com/MonsterIslaBOD)
  • Follow the Raymund Martin and the MIFV Legal Team on Twitter: @MIFV_LegalTeam
  • Follow Crystal Lady Jessica on Twitter: @CystalLadyJes1 (https://twitter.com/CrystalLadyJes1)
  • Follow Dr. Dourif on Twitter: @DrDorif (https://twitter.com/DrDoriff)

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

© 2022 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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REAL TALK: I Can Do It All! (or, Why MIFV has been Delayed)

Published May 24, 2022

I never do anything half-hearted. It’s the strength and weakness of being an extroverted, Type-A, nerdy guy. MIFV (and my other podcasts, for that matter) are closer to a hobby than a “job,” but I treat them with the same level of professionalism I would as a teacher or a writer, which are my typical vocations. I’m huge on sticking to deadlines and giving my listeners consistent, high-quality content. I take that seriously.

Unfortunately, life, uh, found a way to make that consistency difficult the last few months. There are several reasons for that: my day job requiring more time than I expected and co-hosting two other shows, among other things. Through it all, I refused to ask for help. As Queen sang, “I want it all!” It was only as MIFV fell more and more behind and I got offers for assistance from friends that I started accepting it. By then, it was piling up. As it stands, I’ve hired a friend to edit the main portions of several episodes while I work on the next one–episode 62 on The Blob–and cut together the drama segments. 

But after more than a month and a bit of money, I keep running into setbacks and moving the goalpost for my release schedule. I hate it. I hate it because I feel like I’m letting you, my listeners, down. I hate it because I don’t want to, as they say, “pod-fade” like I’ve seen others do. If I can get myself back on track and on schedule, I can ride the momentum that comes with that routine. Otherwise, I’m beyond frustrated. I’m sitting on some great material that is almost finished, and I desperately want to share it with all of you. MIFV has a reputation for scholarship, entertainment value, and high-quality audio. While I’ve never released an episode I would call “perfect,” I strive to maintain the standards I and my listeners have come to expect.

All of this to say, while the last few weeks have been more frustrating than fun in MIFV production, I’m not giving up. I’m too stubborn and determined to do that. You’ll be getting a steady deluge of backlogged episodes soon. Then we can get back to our regularly, well, scheduled exploits. I only ask that you be patient.

Also, if  you’re the praying type, I could really use some of those as well. Thank you!

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Bonus Episode #11 – Godzilla: The Series | The Cameron Winter Trilogy | Ft. The Cel Cast

Published April 15, 2022

Hello, kaiju lovers! Our new boss here on Monster Island mandated that our first Fifth Wednesday Bonus Episode of 2022 be about him. So, Nate invites Drew and Jacob from The Cel Cast to return to Godzilla: The Series. Specifically, they discuss what has been branded, “The Cameron Winter Trilogy.” Namely the three episodes centered around the nefarious tech tycoon (“The Winter of Our Discontent,” “An Early Frost,” and “Lizard Season”). Jake and Drew have strong opinions about these episodes—and Nate has strong opinions about Cameron Winter. In other news, Godzilla is a kaiju.

Special thanks to J.P. Gant for editing this episode.

Additional music:

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:

  • Intro: 0:00-8:48
  • 1st Episode Discussion: 8:48-31:12
  • 2nd Episode Discussion: 31:12-54:26
  • 3rd Episode Discussion: 54:26-1:20:04
  • Housekeeping & Outro: 1:20:04-end

Podcast Social Media:

  • Twitter (https://twitter.com/TheMonsterIsla1)
  • Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MonsterIslandFilmVault/)
  • Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/monsterislandfilmvault/)
  • Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy (https://twitter.com/nasajimmy?lang=en)
  • Follow the Monster Island Board of Directors on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD (https://twitter.com/MonsterIslaBOD)
  • Follow the Raymund Martin and the MIFV Legal Team on Twitter: @MIFV_LegalTeam
  • Follow Crystal Lady Jessica on Twitter: @CystalLadyJes1 (https://twitter.com/CrystalLadyJes1)
  • Follow Dr. Dourif on Twitter: @DrDorif (https://twitter.com/DrDoriff)

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #Godzilla        #CelCast         #GodzillaTheSeries

© 2022 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 61: Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers – ‘Green with Evil’ | Ft. Michael Hamilton

Published April 15, 2022

Hello, kaiju lovers! In our first Patreon-sponsored episode of season three, Nate is joined by his co-host from The Power Trip podcast and frequent guest, Michael Hamilton, for some TV talk. (Although, first they have to resolve longstanding issues from the…“Yeti incident”). In this case, the epic five-part miniseries from Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, “Green with Evil.” This introduced toku-loving kids to Tommy Oliver (Jason David Frank), the femme fatale Scorpina, and the iconic Dragonzord. But in true MIFV fashion, Nate and Michael have a deeper-than-you-would-expect thematic discussion about this miniseries and how it shows the corruptive nature of evil—and it includes quotations from J.R.R. Tolkien and St. Augustine! Yes, that’s the kind of podcast we are. Strap in, folks! It’s morphin’ time!

Beforehand, Nate receives some voicemails from both Karone and Raymund, with the former giving an update on how she’s coping with life after freeing herself from the Board’s influence, and the latter making excuses for not finding his Gorenger costume. Also, a drunk WHG3 calls into the show to speak with Michael.

This episode’s prologue, “Letters from Rangers,” was written by Nathan Marchand.

Guest stars:

  • Celeste Mora as Karone
  • Damon Noyes as Raymund Martin
  • Michael Hamilton as William H. George III

Additional music:

  • “Go, Go, Power Rangers” by Niall Stenson
  • “Chant My Name!” by Masaaki Endo

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org, including those by InspectorJ.

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: 0:00-3:38
  • Intro: 3:38-12:16
  • Main Discussion: 12:16-1:46:47
  • Housekeeping & Outro: 1:46:47-end

Podcast Social Media:

  • Twitter (https://twitter.com/TheMonsterIsla1)
  • Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MonsterIslandFilmVault/)
  • Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/monsterislandfilmvault/)
  • Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy (https://twitter.com/nasajimmy?lang=en)
  • Follow the Monster Island Board of Directors on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD (https://twitter.com/MonsterIslaBOD)
  • Follow the Raymund Martin and the MIFV Legal Team on Twitter: @MIFV_LegalTeam
  • Follow Crystal Lady Jessica on Twitter: @CystalLadyJes1 (https://twitter.com/CrystalLadyJes1)
  • Follow Dr. Dourif on Twitter: @DrDorif (https://twitter.com/DrDoriff)

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #PowerRangers           #GreenwithEvil

© 2022 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

  • Culbreath, Jonathan. “The Shadow Can Only Mock, It Cannot Make: J.R.R. Tolkien’s Catholic Understanding of Evil.” Faith & Fairy Dust. (https://tinyurl.com/mf8u6zev)
  • Higgins, Kyle. Saban’s Power Rangers: Soul of the Dragon. Illustrated by Giuseppe Cafaro and Marcelo Costa. Special consultant: Jason David Frank. BOOM! Studios. Jan. 2021.
  • Higgins, Kyle, and Ryan Parrot. Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Rise of Drakkon. Illustrated by Hendry Prasetya, et. al. BOOM! Studios. Oct. 2020.
  • Higgins, Kyle, and Ryan Parrot. Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Shattered Grid. Illustrated by Daniele di Nicuolo & Diego Galindo, et. al. BOOM! Studios. Jan. 2020.
  • Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Complete Series DVD special features. Shout!Factory.
  • Petrucha, Stefan, and Ryan Buell. “Going Green.” Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers Archive, Vol. Two. Illustrated by PH Marcondes. BOOM! Studios. Originally published by Papercutz.
  • RangerWiki. (https://powerrangers.fandom.com/wiki/RangerWiki).
  • Tolkien, J.R.R. “On Fairy-Stories.” Oxford University Press. 4 Dec. 1947.
  • Zahed, Ramin, and Jody Revenson. Power Rangers: The Ultimate Visual History. Insight Editions. 8 Nov. 2018.

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Episode 60: John LeMay vs. ‘THEM!’

Published April 7, 2022

Hello, kaiju lovers! We enter the 1950s era of “Ameri-kaiju” to discuss a film that released the same year as the original Godzilla and inspired a subgenre and countless imitators: THEM! (yes, it’s in all caps and has an exclamation point). Who better to join Nate on this than the kaiji film scholar from the state in which the film takes place, John LeMay. Thankfully, John and MIFV’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, have settled their differences so he could be there. While THEM! has the trappings of a B-movie, as Nate and John explain, it has far too good a production values (it was nominated for the best special effects Oscar!) and acting to be reduced to that. The film is genuinely horrifying at points, but what may surprise many modern viewers is it is strangely progressive with its female lead, who is a competent and professional scientist and not a “scream queen.” While Nate considered researching McCarthyism since this is very much a Cold War film, he instead discusses American nuclear tests in the 1940s and 1950s.

Before the broadcast, Nate gets an e-mail from Dr. Elsie Chapman, a member of H.E.A.T., after receiving an announcement that the Island’s beaches are closed. She says she has something to show Nate. After the broadcast, he meets her, Dr. Mendel Craven, and Monique Dupre on the shoreline and learns the shocking reason why the beaches were closed.

Check out John’s books and magazines on Amazon!

This episode’s prologue and epilogue, “They Might be Gi-Ants,” was written by Nathan Marchand.

Guest stars:

  • Rebecca Hudgens as Elsie Chapman
  • Travis Alexander as Mendel Craven
  • Dani Cruz as Monique Dupre
  • Daniel DiManna as N.I.G.E.L.

Additional music:

  • “Pacific Rim” by Niall Stenson
  • “Chant My Name!” by Masaaki Endo
  • “The Edge Calls Me” by MkVaff
  • “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: 0:00-3:29
  • Intro: 3:29-10:32
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 10:32-17:21
  • Toku Talk: 17:21-
  • Promo: 1:08:43-1:09:49
  • Toku Topic: 1:09:49-1:31:34
  • Housekeeping & Outro: 1:31:34-1:48:40
  • Epilogue: 1:48:40-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #Amerikaiju

© 2022 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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MIFV MAX #6: Remembering Akira Takarada

Published March 22, 2022

Hello, kaiju lovers. This is the audio from an impromptu livestream held over the weekend that I, Nathan, wish was done under better circumstances. On March 13, 2022, the legendary actor Akira Takarada, star of six Godzilla films among other things, died at age 87. I was joined by several of my friends in the kaiju content creator community—Daniel DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project), Elijah Thomas (the Kaiju Conversation podcast), and Kaiju Kim—to discuss the life and career of Takarada-san. We share our personal stories about him and discuss out favorite films and performances of his. This is emotional and a bit long, but I hope you enjoy this celebration of a life well-lived. We could all stand to follow Takarada’s example.

Watch the original livestream video on YouTube.

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       #RIPAkiraTakarada

© 2022 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Episode 59: ‘Mothra’ (1961) | Godzilla Redux | Ft. Becky ‘Bex’ Smith

Published March 9, 2022

Hello, kaiju lovers! Our subseries “Godzilla Redux” continues with what some call Toho screenwriter Shinichi Sekizawa’s masterpiece: Mothra (1961). Becky “Bex” Smith of the Redeemed Otaku podcast joins Nate to discuss this film—because apparently Nate can’t talk about a Mothra film without her. While Bex seems weirdly obsesses over the genus names of insects, Nate regales her with kaiju-sized info bombs related to the making of the film, the historical backdrop against which it was made (controversial treaty renewals with the U.S.), and the often crazy interpretations academics and critics have of the film (blackface, anyone?). That’s just some of what you’ll learn about this kaiju classic!

Beforehand, Nate meets with his pseudo-sister, the semi-secret magical girl Jessica, who’s just been promoted to director of tourism on the Island. They discuss her new job and awkwardly talk about her seeming crush on Legal Action Team paralegal, Gary. After the broadcast, though, Nate and company discover “Bex” isn’t who she appears to be—and Crystal Lady has to get involved.

This episode’s prologue and epilogue, “Bexy a Traitor?! The Church of Mothrianity Attacks!”, was written by Nathan Marchand with Becky Smith and Daniel DiManna.

Guest stars:

  • Sarah Marchand as Jessica Shaw/Crystal Lady
  • Becky Smith as Peppermoth
  • Daniel DiManna as “Old Janitor”
  • Damon Noyes as Motte-Priester Herzog Jerry Nachtfalter
  • Hoshiko as Luna

Additional music:

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org, including those by InspectorJ.

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: 0:00-4:57
  • Intro: 4:57-11:31
  • Main Discussion: 11:31-1:34:57
  • Housekeeping & Outro: 1:34:57-1:46:01
  • Epilogue: 1:46:01-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #GodzillaRedux          #Mothra

© 2022 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

  • Barr, Jason. The Kaiju Film: A Critical Study of Cinema’s Biggest Monsters.
  • Commentary on Mothra by Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski (Mill Creek blu-ray).
  • Galbraith, Stuart IV. Japanese Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films: A Critical Analysis and Filmography of 103 Features Released in the United States 1950-1992.
  • Kaijuvision Radio, Episode 7: Mothra (1961) (Renewal of the US-Japan Security Treaty in 1960)
  • Kalat, David. A Critical History and Filmography of Toho’s Godzilla Series, 2nd Edition.
  • LeMay, John. The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies Volume 1: 1954-1982.
  • LeMay, John. The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies: The Lost Films (Mutated Edition).
  • LeMay, John. Writing Giant Monsters.
  • Ryfle, Steve, and Ed Godziszewski. Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa.
  • Rhodes, Sean, and Brooke McCorkle. “Chapter 4: “Mothra, Marx, Mother Nature.” Japan’s Green Monsters: Environmental Commentary in Kaiju Cinema.

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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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