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Tag: Bex

MIFV Season 4 Prelude: “Jailbreak”

Nate survived another harrowing year on Monster Island, and now it’s time to renegotiate his contract. But he’s shocked to learn that, while he was sleeping, the Island’s security systems failed, allowing multiple kaiju to escape back to their home countries. Even with the Legal Action Team on his case, Nate and Jimmy can’t avoid having the Board mandate that they spend a year chasing down these monsters in Uber-Moguera and return them to the Island. Indignant and obsessive, Nate goes to confront the Island’s “zookeeper,” whom he suspects is on the Board’s payroll—and things don’t go how he expected.

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); executive producer 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.

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault    #MonsterIslandWorldTour

© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 78: Bex vs. ‘Jurassic Park’

Spoiler warning! This was Jet’s last episode as my substitute. He did a good job, but I was happy to return after my… “extended vacation” (aka jail time). I made sure to listen to this one live, and oh boy! I had a lot of notes! You just can’t take the producer out of me—especially when it comes to riffing a certain host of a certain kaiju podcast. So, let’s get into my notes on Episode 79: Bex vs. ‘Jurassic Park.’ (I have pleased the SEO gods—assuming I believed in gods…which is hard to do when you work on Monster Island).

  • Read more of my manual, Marchand! Then I won’t have to add “Jetspeak interpreter” to my job list. (On second thought, that’d look good on resume…).
  • Speaking of which, I can confirm Jet did say, “Thanks for the compliment.”
  • I assume Bex was referring to George Gershwin? If she was, I couldn’t find any lyrics or titles with “Begin at the Begeen.”
  • In 1993, I was…I can’t talk about it. #TopSecret
  • My biggest spiritual moments are when I’m in a mecha. It’s a perfect union of man and machine.
  • Those books Bex mentioned were written by two different author. Desert Dog is by Jim Kjelgaard and The Wahoo Bobcat and The Phantom Deer are by Joseph Wharton Lippincott.
  • Maybe I’ll sponsor Velocipastor. 😛 Or not. I value my sanity too much after surviving the War in Space.
  • It is in your contract to see Jurassic Park in a theater for the 30th anniversary. (Which he did, by the way). #ContractualObligationFulfilled
  • Maj. Spielberg is a myth! Steven Spielberg’s father, Arnold, enlisted in the Army, not the Navy, in WWII.
  • I’ve tried both the dripping water and basketball-to-face flirting techniques. Neither work.
  • Apparently, Jet can read minds. “Timmy” and “Jimmy”? C’mon!
  • You asked for it!
  • The Island’s safety track record is spotless…except for the 1999 incident. That was a HUGE one…we don’t talk about that.
  • I never skip leg day. My thunder thighs rival Godzilla’s! 😛
  • “Quantum leap forward”?! I hate time travel!
  • Jet is engaging in blackmail?! We’re going to have a talk…and perhaps an update to his morality program. I’ll talk with Rokuro.
  • An MIFV MAX member needs to sponsor an Audrey Hepburn movie on Patreon just to mess with Nate. 😛 (What about Audrey II Hepburn? 😛 )
  • Jet still visits Rokuro during Christmas and New Year’s. He misses the “kid.”
  • Nate, you can turn your kaiju nerd card in to me! I was just appointed arbiter of such things! 😛
  • I, too, am scared of what strange children will come from Titanus Doug and Lady Baragon. Thankfully, Lady Baragon has remained loyal to her man.
  • This suddenly turned into fangirl-y “show and tell” with Bex. I approve.
  • Yes, Jet kept the AC on too high. You should see the electrical bill! (The Board didn’t, or else it’d come out of our paychecks).
  • Contrary to what Nate said, I couldn’t find any official Godzilla Legos. But I did find a “Lego Idea” page for it.
  • Nate doesn’t need to buy Jet’s mini-fig—he already has seven action figures of Jet! See:
  • Lion, crocodile, and baby elephant, oh my!
  • Nate made the meme:
  • I couldn’t find anything about Komodo dragons changing sex, but two at a British zoo were observed reproducing asexually, not unlike the Jurassic Park dinosaurs.
  • Being pedantic and breaking up arguments on the air is my job.
  • If I was giving Jet a grade, it’d be B+.
  • Our Tin Man needs to “oil can” the squeaky chair? I’d have fixed that long before this. Godzilla-damnit! The place falls apart without me!
  • You asked for it, and Nate provided:
  • I did try to fact check that book Crichton read. The publisher disregarded but corrections, damnit!
  • Did Nate mention the dinosaur deniers in The Lost World episode? I haven’t been able to check. Because I was in jail.
  • I saw Jet frown once. I had to fix it. That was one of the hardest repair jobs I’ve done!
  • Jet isn’t just my sidekick—I’m Jet’s new best friend.
  • I fought zombie dinosaurs once. You can read about it in my memoir. 😛

Now in fulfillment of my contractual obligations, here’s a PDF of Nate’s extensive notes on this.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I scrape off the rust and get back into the producer booth!

Social media:

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Episode 79: Bex vs. ‘Jurassic Park’

“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:

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“For Toto!” | Gamera the Brave | One Monstrous Moment -Rebirth- Edition | Ft. Bex from Redeemed Otaku

Gamera –Rebirth- is upon us, so Nate invited his resident anime expert, Bex from Redeemed Otaku, to discuss a favorite moment from Gamera the Brave, a film they originally discussed in full back in 2021. In fact, it’s a moment that nearly makes Nate cry. Never underestimate the faith and determination of children! This is part of “One Monstrous Moment: -Rebirth- Edition,” which is being put on by Ryan “The Omni Viewer” Collins. “For Toto!”

Listen to episode 54: http://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2021/12/09/episode-54-bex-vs-gamera-the-brave/.

Check out Redeemed Otaku:
-Podcast: https://redeemedotaku.libsyn.com/

-YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1rK1mXJ-p_j0mGuJw5YwLQ

-X-Twitter: https://twitter.com/RedeemedOtaku

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redeemed_otaku/

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           #onemonstrousmoment

© 2023 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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

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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Episode 54: Bex vs. ‘Gamera the Brave’

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 20: Bex vs. ‘Rebirth of Mothra III’

Hello, kaiju lovers!

Twelve-centimeter girls, tiny robot dragons, and redemption—and we’re not talking about the movie!

After some shenanigans with Jimmy From NASA’s teleporter, Nathan and resident “Mothrian” Bex (Redeemed Otaku podcast) finish the “Summer of Mothra” with the surprisingly good Rebirth of Mothra III. Although, maybe they’re just riding high on Bex’s hyperbolic enthusiasm over this movie. But it isn’t hard to improve on the empty, fluffy whimsy of the second one. There’s a lot of meat (bubble) to chew on thematically. Not to mention it also features one of the best-looking King Ghidorahs ever, time travel, and dinosaur puppets. However, Bex gets so carried away with her newfound faith in Mothra, she gets a visit from Monster Island’s chaplain, Rev. Mifune! Uh-oh….

For the first time, we’re covering not one but two Toku Topics: the hikikimori and Aokigahara (Aoki Forest). The child hero, Shota, is likely a member of the former, and much of the movie is set in that infamous forest.

It’s an episode that spans the emotional gamut, that’s for sure!

BE SURE TO LISTEN UNTIL AFTER THE CREDITS!

Here are the Redeemed Otaku episodes Nathan (and his friend Eric Anderson) appeared on to discuss the Godzilla Anime Trilogy:

Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters
Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle
Godzilla: The Planet Eater

We’d like to give a shout-out to our Patreon patrons Travis Alexander (host of Kaiju Weekly), Danny DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project), elizilla13, and Joejira! Thanks for your support! (And also to Michael “The Kaiju Groupie” Hamilton, who joined just before this episode was posted).

Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode.

Timestamps:
Prologue: 0:00-2:20
Intro: 2:20-6:25
Entertaining Info Dump: 6:25-12:57
Toku Talk: 12:57-1:24:26
Promo: 1:24:26-1:25:16
Toku Topic: 1:25:16-2:10:53
Outro: 2:10:53-2:19:46
Epilogue: 2:19:46-end

MIFV Social Media:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Patreon

Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy

#JimmyFromNASALives

© 2020 Moonlighting Ninjas Media (and Becky “Bex” Smith)

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Jimmy’s Notes on ‘Episode 18: Bex vs. Rebirth of Mothra II’

I have to be honest, listeners—I didn’t see Bex’s conversion to Mothrianity coming. (Did she make that up, or is that a real religion? Do the Shobijin know?) I’m not a religious guy myself, but it still took me aback. I hope Bex is happy. It’s still weird, though.

What was I doing? Oh, yeah. Writing about…Rebirth of Mothra II. The deep valley between two short mountains, as Nathan said. Oh, man….

Let’s get my notes done first.

  • I sleep…sometimes. I mean, I was dead once (maybe? 😛 ), so I got plenty then.
  • The character from The Tick Nathan brought up was a hero, not a villain. He was the Living Doll, who was part of a team called the Decency Squad.
  • You can’t terminate me, Marchand—you haven’t the “fire” power! 😛
  • What? I flung a bug at my teacher because she was annoying. You know what that’s like, Nathan. We’ve had talks about your terrible kindergarten teacher.
  • Bex is right. Hikari Mitsushima (who played Shiori) is pretty.
  • The thorax is the midsection of an insect, Marchand. To quote Sherlock, “Do your research!”
  • Ghogo predates Furby by a year!
  • “Buzzkill”? Well, you just guaranteed that I won’t tell you.
  • NOAA stands for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
  • You meant to say “first,” not “second,” Nathan.
  • You meant to say, “Rebirth of Mothra II,” at the end, Nathan.
  • Gorath is a rogue star, not a planetoid, Nathan. I should’ve said that live, but I was in shock from Bex’s revelation.

And now, because I’m contractually obligated, here are Nathan’s leftover notes (plus my comments).

The Movie:

  • You killed Furby, you punk! And took his bling!
  • What?! What happened with the cat and cigarette?
  • Shiori uprooted a Furby.
  • Gorgo? Gorgo is a giant British lizard who’s looking for her son.
  • Dagahra appears about 24 minutes in.
  • “Eat at McDonald’s every day.” I bet that’s a product of the dubtitles. (Well, as you pointed out on Kaijuvision Radio, Nathan, McDonald’s broke into the Japanese market in the early ‘70s, so it’s possible. I saw it happen.  –Jimmy)
  • 27 minutes in, and we’ve already found the temple. Sheesh.
  • Wait, what?! How’d the kids get into the giant waterslide?
  • Okay, the temple rising out the water looks pretty cool. The water actually scales really well when that and fire usually have trouble with that.
  • Why is the fat kid so dumb he really walks off the ledge? (He’d never get picked as a Gamera kid. Not precocious enough. –Jimmy)
  • The two morons are on the temple? When did that happen?
  • I’m confused. Did Belvera want the treasure to conquer the world or just Dagahra? (Yes. –Jimmy)
  • The temple has lightning and lasers as a security system.
  • Dagahra can fly and swim? Because shut up.
  • Wait, now Dagahra can damage the temple? What happened to the security system?
  • Mothra Leo just won a game of chicken with Dagahra. (I played chicken with Dagahra once with the Gohten. Koji wasn’t happy with me. –Jimmy)
  • Mothra Leo got his belly beam back.
  • Are the morons even under Belvera’s control anymore? Yes, they are.
  • Gorgo has a mouth? Where? He just bit a guy. (You don’t want to know. Trust me. –Jimmy)
  • The singing sequences are a littles less impressive this time.
  • Suddenly Mothra Leo is reenacting his mother’s death…and it has the impact of a thrown sponge.
  • This underwater sequence is hokey. No bubbles.
  • Barem cannon!
  • This movie overuses superimposition.
  • Really, kids? See! They lied! Also, why couldn’t we see Fairy zap them?
  • You know, at least these are mostly real sets. Not CGI. (No Star Wars Prequel-it is here. –Jimmy)
  • Isn’t that the opal egg for Barugon? 😛 Wait? There are two? Or three? (I can confirm it isn’t. Did you forget Barugon is on the Island, Nathan? You should know these things. –Jimmy)
  • “Help me, kids, you’re my only hope,” says Tall Leia while growling like a monster.
  • So…is Tall Leia the new Mu Empress? Again, someone call Jinguji! Is she an AI? A ghost? (It just raises too many questions).
  • “I have some Turkish Delight for you!” (So, I guess Jadis the White Witch is also her cousin? –Jimmy)
  • How did they magically gain the ability to super jump? And to super throw? (You’re asking questions of this movie again. Haven’t you learned? –Jimmy)
  • The Elias do speak in unison sometimes.
  • Did the falling bridge breach the temple’s warp core? (Now I want to examine this temple. –Jimmy)
  • So…why does a civilization that has nothing to do with Mothra have a creature that reinvigorates Mothra? (Again, you ask questions. It’s futile. –Jimmy)
  • Great. Now Mothra Leo has shields like a starship. (I can get behind this. For scientific purposes, of course. –Jimmy)
  • The morphing effects look all right.
  • The ancient civilization’s temple was just offshore.
  • The fat kid wears an Oakland A’s shirt the whole time.
  • It’s a pearl—also, “She’s got the whole world in her hands!”
  • What is with this end theme? Is it trying to be rap? It almost sounds like the first theme for Rurouni Kenshin.
  • Also, the soundtrack keeps almost being Ifukube Godzilla music.

Japan’s Green Monsters by Sean Rhodes and Brooke McCorkle

  • Eschews family concerns for streamlined message on water pollution.
  • Mothra Leo soars over ocean with school of dolphins following. Makes message clear.
  • Like Godzilla vs. Biollante, this film says humanity can’t anticipate what will happen when they tamper with nature through genetic engineering.

The Toku Topic:

“Marine pollution” (Wikipedia) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_pollution)

  • “In the late 1950s and early 1960s, there were several controversies about dumping radioactive waste off the coasts of the United States by companies licensed by the Atomic Energy Commission, into the Irish Sea from the British reprocessing facility at Windscale, and into the Mediterranean Sea by the French Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique. After the Mediterranean Sea controversy, for example, Jacques Cousteau became a worldwide figure in the campaign to stop marine pollution. Marine pollution made further international headlines after the 1967 crash of the oil tanker Torrey Canyon, and after the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill off the coast of California.”
  • “Marine pollution was a major area of discussion during the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm. That year also saw the signing of the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, sometimes called the London Convention. … The London Convention applied only to waste dumped from ships, and thus did nothing to regulate waste discharged as liquids from pipelines.”
  • “Dust from the Sahara moving around the southern periphery of the subtropical ridge moves into the Caribbean and Florida during the warm season as the ridge builds and moves northward through the subtropical Atlantic. Dust can also be attributed to a global transport from the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts across Korea, Japan, and the Northern Pacific to the Hawaiian Islands.”
  • “In a study published by Environmental Science & Technology, Schmidt et al. (2017) calculated that the Yangtze, Indus, Yellow River, Hai River, Nile, Ganges, Pearl River, Amur, Niger, and the Mekong ‘transport 88–95% of the global [plastics] load into the sea.’”
  • “The remains of an albatross containing ingested flotsam. Many animals that live on or in the sea consume flotsam by mistake, as it often looks similar to their natural prey. Plastic debris, when bulky or tangled, is difficult to pass, and may become permanently lodged in the digestive tracts of these animals. Especially when evolutionary adaptions make it impossible for the likes of turtles to reject plastic bags, which resemble jellyfish when immersed in water, as they have a system in their throat to stop slippery foods from otherwise escaping. Thereby blocking the passage of food and causing death through starvation or infection.”
  • “Many animals that live on or in the sea consume flotsam by mistake, as it often looks similar to their natural prey. Plastic debris, when bulky or tangled, is difficult to pass, and may become permanently lodged in the digestive tracts of these animals. Especially when evolutionary adaptions make it impossible for the likes of turtles to reject plastic bags, which resemble jellyfish when immersed in water, as they have a system in their throat to stop slippery foods from otherwise escaping. Thereby blocking the passage of food and causing death through starvation or infection.”
  • “Many of these long-lasting pieces end up in the stomachs of marine birds and animals, including sea turtles, and black-footed albatross. In a 2008 Pacific Gyre voyage, Algalita Marine Research Foundation researchers began finding that fish are ingesting plastic fragments and debris. Of the 672 fish caught during that voyage, 35% had ingested plastic pieces.”
  • “Noise also makes species communicate louder, which is called the Lombard vocal response. Whale songs are longer when submarine-detectors are on.[101] If creatures don’t “speak” loud enough, their voice can be masked by anthropogenic sounds. These unheard voices might be warnings, finding of prey, or preparations of net-bubbling. When one species begins speaking louder, it will mask other species voices, causing the whole ecosystem to eventually speak louder.[102]”
  • “The amount of awareness on marine pollution is vital to the support of keeping the prevention of trash from entering waterways and ending up in our oceans. The EPA reports that in 2014 Americans generated about 258 million tons of waste, and only a third was recycled or composted. In 2015, there was over 8 million tons of plastic that made it into the ocean. The Ocean Conservancy reported that China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam dump more plastic in the sea than all other countries combined. Through more sustainable packing this could lead to; eliminating toxic constituents, using fewer materials, making more readily available recyclable plastic. However, awareness can only take these initiatives so far. The most abundant plastic is PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) and is the most resistant to biodegradables. Researchers have been making great strides in combating this problem. In one way has been by adding a special polymer called a tetrablock copolymer. The tetrablock copolymer acts as a laminate between the PE and iPP which enables for an easier breakdown but still be tough. Through more awareness, individuals will become more cognizant of their carbon footprints. Also, from research and technology, more strides can be made to aid in the plastic pollution problem.”

“Ocean Pollution” (NOAA) (https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/ocean-coasts/ocean-pollution)

  • “Some debris sinks, some is eaten by marine animals that mistake it for food, and some accumulates in ocean gyres.” (A gyre is a large system of rotating ocean currents.)
  • “The majority of pollutants that make their way into the ocean come from human activities along the coastlines and far inland. One of the biggest sources of pollution is nonpoint source pollution, which occurs as a result of runoff. Nonpoint source pollution can come from many sources, like septic tanks, vehicles, farms, livestock ranches, and timber harvest areas. Pollution that comes from a single source, like an oil or chemical spill, is known as point source pollution. Point source pollution events often have large impacts, but fortunately, they occur less often. Discharge from faulty or damaged factories or water treatment systems is also considered point source pollution.”
  • “However, if they are too abundant in a body of water, they can stimulate an overgrowth of algae, triggering an event called an algal bloom. Harmful algal blooms (HABs), also known as “red tides,” grow rapidly and produce toxic effects that can affect marine life and sometimes even humans. Excess nutrients entering a body of water, either through natural or human activities, can also result in hypoxia or dead zones. When large amounts of algae sink and decompose in the water, the decomposition process consumes oxygen and depletes the supply available to healthy marine life. Many of the marine species that live in these areas either die or, if they are mobile (such as fish), leave the area.”
  • “Local, national, and international efforts are needed to address this environmental problem. The Save our Seas Act of 2018 amends and reauthorizes the Marine Debris Act to promote international action, authorize cleanup and response actions, and increase coordination among federal agencies on this topic.”
  • “Garbage patches are large areas of the ocean where trash, fishing gear, and other marine debris collects. The term ‘garbage patch’ is a misleading nickname, making many believe that garbage patches are “islands of trash” that are visible from afar. These areas are actually made up of debris ranging in size, from microplastics to large bundles of derelict fishing gear.”

“Marine Pollution” (National Geographic) (https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/marine-pollution/#:~:text=Marine%20pollution%20is%20a%20combination,59)

  • “The Pacific Garbage Patch is one example of such a collection, with plastics and microplastics floating on and below the surface of swirling ocean currents between California and Hawaii in an area of about 1.6 million square kilometers (617,763 square miles), although its size is not fixed. These patches are less like islands of trash and, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says, more like flecks of microplastic pepper swirling around an ocean soup. Even some promising solutions are inadequate for combating marine pollution. So-called ‘biodegradable’ plastics often break down only at temperatures higher than will ever be reached in the ocean.”
  • “Nonetheless, many countries are taking action. According to a 2018 report from the United Nations, more than sixty countries have enacted regulations to limit or ban the use of disposable plastic items.”

“OCEAN POLLUTION: 11 FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW” (https://www.conservation.org/stories/ocean-pollution-11-facts-you-need-to-know)

  • “Eight million metric tons: That’s how much plastic we dump into the oceans each year. That’s about 17.6 billion pounds — or the equivalent of nearly 57,000 blue whales — every single year. By 2050, ocean plastic will outweigh all of the ocean’s fish.”
  • “More plastic in the ocean comes from China and Indonesia than anywhere else — together, they account for one-third of plastic pollution.”
  • “With each load of laundry, more than 700,000 synthetic microfibers are washed into our waterways. Unlike natural materials such as cotton or wool, these plasticized fibers do not break down. One study showed that synthetic microfibers make up as much as 85 percent of all beach trash.”
  • “One effect of greenhouse emissions is increased ocean acidification, which makes it more difficult for bivalves such as mussels, clams and oysters to form shells, decreasing their likelihood of survival, upsetting the food chain and impacting the multibillion-dollar shellfish industry.”
  • “Noise pollution generated by shipping and military activity can cause cellular damage to a class of invertebrates that includes jellyfish and anemones. These animals are a vital food source for tuna, sharks, sea turtles and other creatures.​​​​​​”

I’m glad I got this over with. Let me assure you that it’s only up from here. While our schedule was screwed up by the delay of Godzilla vs. Kong, the rest of the season will feature better films.

Next week we’re joined by the most loved and hated G-Fan on Twitter, Jack “GMan” Hudgens, to discuss the increasingly obscure Toho classic, Gorath.

After that is the final part of the “Summer of Mothra” when the now Mothra-worshipping Bex returns for Rebirth of Mothra III. (Oh, boy…).

Follow me on Twitter: @NasaJimmy

#JimmyFromNASALives
#WeShallOvercome

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Episode 18: Bex vs. ‘Rebirth of Mothra II’

Hello, kaiju lovers!

The “Summer of Mothra” continues with Rebirth of Mothra II—the valley between two short mountains in the ‘90s Mothra trilogy. Once again Nathan is joined by Bex from the Redeemed Otaku podcast, and they try their hardest to do a deep dive on a shallow movie. While the first movie had an obvious environmental theme, this one barely gives 20 seconds of screen time to anything substantial. Even Belvera and Elias aren’t as exciting this time around. Then there’s Ghogo/Gogo/Go-Go (aka “Japanese Furby”), the “token cute thing” whose plushy Bex has no interest in buying because, well, magic urine. Yeah….

But nothing can prepare you for the Shyamalan twist at the end of this episode. Nathan and his intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, never saw it coming.

Also, Jimmy introduces his new garage assistant, who’s either popular or infamous, depending on who you talk to.

Here’s the Kaijuvision Radio episode Nathan mentioned: Episode 19: Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974) (The Reversion of Okinawa: History and Culture).

Here are the Redeemed Otaku episodes Nathan (and his friend Eric Anderson) appeared on to discuss the Godzilla Anime Trilogy:

Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters
Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle
Godzilla: The Planet Eater

We’d like to give a shout-out to our Patreon patrons Travis Alexander (host of Kaiju Weekly), Danny DiManna, elizilla13, and Joejira! Thanks for your support! (Sorry we didn’t mention you on the air, Joejira. You signed up after the initial broadcast).

Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode.

Timestamps:
Intro: 0:00-3:57
Entertaining Info Dump: 3:57-8:44
Toku Talk: 8:44-1:17:00
Toku Topic: 1:17:00-1:40:01
Outro: 1:40:01-end

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© 2020 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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