Skip to content

Tag: Godzilla

“I Will Not Fight You” | ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ | One Monstrous Moment: Year of the Dragon Edition

Published March 28, 2024

With Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire upon us, friend of the podcast Ryan “The Omni Viewer” Collins is holding another “One Monstrous Moment” series, the “Year of the Dragon Edition.” I’m going about as “on brand” with it as you can with a discussion of the ending of Godzilla vs. Kong (2021). I was struck by it when I first saw it, and I’m struck by it now. It’s exemplifies pacifism, the so-called “sigma male,” and a proper understanding of meekness (strength under control). What say you?

Script by Nathan Marchand.

Additional music:

  • “For Her Soul” by RoeTaKa

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, Robert Kidd, Leon Campbell, and Michael Watson! 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     #YearoftheDragonEdition            #kaiju  #OneMonstrousMoment        #Kong             #Godzilla        #KingKong

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

Episode 87 Epilogue: “Monster Mash”

Published March 28, 2024

Nate and Jimmy fly Uber-Moguera to Panmunjom intent to recapture Yongary, but the Korean kaiju scores a couple lucky hits that disable the mecha’s weapons system. Desperate to find a new tactic, they get unlikely help from an unlikely source: Neil Riebe! His solution: a dance-off! Shenanigans ensue.

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, Robert Kidd, Leon Campbell, and Michael Watson! 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    

© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 87: ‘Yongary, Monster from the Deep’ vs. Neil Riebe

Published March 22, 2024

Marchand’s March (ha!) has been bleeping busy! The show has practically been weekly. I’d complain, but I enjoy the work too much. Balancing that between maintaining Uber-Moguera and trying to make up with Kaguya (she’s still upset with me, despite my best efforts)—there’s no rest for the Jimmy! But hey, I get to travel the world and visit places like Seoul that I’ve never seen before with my best friend. Oh, and Nate, too, I guess. 😛 Anyway, let’s get into my notes on episode 87 (Yongary, Monster from the Deep vs. Neil Riebe).

  • Apex did me dirty! Walter Simmons was a jerk, and his company has more human rights violations than Amazon! (I’m not bitter at all…).
  • You know, if I could get a spy drone into Hannibal Chau’s film library, I could see if he has the Korean cut of Yongary…but I value my drones far too much. The parts are expensive!
  • You don’t understand: I’ve studied the possibilities of A.I. It’s ruining Star Wars films now with those pseudo-deep fakes, but later…Terminator is the least of our worries! Think I, Robot, only worse. Yikes!
  • “China virus.” Don’t worry, I tested all of us before leaving Hong Kong. It’s not that one.
  • I did find Five Marines on the Korean Film Archive YouTube channel.
  • It wasn’t a treaty that ended the Korean War, Nate—it was an armistice. There’s a big difference. That’s why some argue that the war has never ended and could technically reignite at any point. Scary stuff.
  • Our first Gamera episode was number 32.
  • My girlfriend isn’t a computer, Marchand! Nor an android! She just…spent too much time on the Xilien version of the internet…because they had it first!
  • I used to have an itching flashlight. Kaguya threw it out after I used it on her…for reasons.
  • “Bunker in the hill”? There was another one? 😛
  • Good thing you corrected yourself there, Nate. I have trained you well, young padawan. 😛
  • According to Wikizilla, Jet Jaguar was inexplicably renamed “King Kong” for the West Germany release of Godzilla vs. Megalon, but contrary to popular belief, he wasn’t said to be an ape in a robot suit.
  • I seem to remember meeting a Kenichi Nakagawa once. He told me he moonlighted as a special effects technician. What was his regular job? Top secret.
  • I still have no opinion on the butt bleeding. That is all.
  • I approve of Yongary vs. Tofu Fury. I approve of anything vs. Tofu Fury. I will build Tofu Fury!

Join MIFV MAX on Patreon to see Nate’s research notes.

Next week (good grief… “next week”!), we have a Patreon-sponsored episode with executive producer Damon Noyes—and it’s a double feature: Attack of the Crab Monsters and Island Claws. Then Daniel DiManna returns for a bonus episode on Space Monster Wangmagwi. Finally, the “Kong Quest” (ba-dum-tsh!) crosses over with Godzilla Redux when Legendary releases the latest MonsterVerse entry, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

Until next time, remember…we shall overcome!

Social media:

#JimmyFromNASALives      #WeShallOvercome                #MonsterIslandFilmVault

Comments closed

Episode 87: ‘Yongary, Monster from the Deep’ vs. Neil Riebe

Published March 22, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! The South Korea leg of the Monster Island World Tour begins with arguably the first true Korean kaiju film: Yongary, Monster from the Deep. Author Neil Riebe, who might very well be this film’s biggest fan, pays yet another visit to MIFV’s mobile studio in Uber-Moguera to enlighten us with his copious research on the movie. Released in the “Year of the Kaiju,” 1967, it borrows some from Showa Godzilla films but way more from Showa Gamera—complete with a Korean Kenny! Ironically, only the dubbed version of the movie survives. It was once the most expensive film ever made in South Korea (until that record was broken by its remake) and is considered one of the country’s most important films, but does it have the artistic merit to warrant such acclaim, or is it truly just MST3K fodder? Since the film had Japanese technicians from Toei and X Productions working on it, our Toku Topic is Japan-Korea relations.

Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode on the MIFV website.

Additional Music:

  • “Kuwanga Banga” by PirateCrab
  • “Here We Go” by Chris Classic

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, Robert Kidd, Leon Campbell, and Michael Watson! 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: 0:00-7:24
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 7:24-15:52
  • Toku Talk: 15:52-1:26:59
  • Ad (Toku Toy Town): 1:26:59-1:28:22
  • Toku Topic (Korea-Japan relations): 1:28:22-1:57:52
  • Outro: 1:57:52-2:23:35
  • Credits: 2:23:35-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #MonsterIslandWorldTour            #YongaryMonsterfromtheDeep

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Note: This list does not include Neil’s sources.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 85 – Godzilla: The Series | ‘Monster Wars’ | Ft. The Cel Cast | Godzilla Redux

Published February 29, 2024

In case anyone is wondering: Kaguya and I are fine. I know there are rumors going around that we broke up or were on the rocks. We’ve talked things over. It took a while to help her understand some things about how human “cultural frameworks,” as she calls them, work, but she seems to get it now…sorta. Am I still in the doghouse? Yeah. I’m giving her a bit of space. But I have to say, to paraphrase Jack Driscoll, “I think I…” Ahem! Anyway, let’s get into my notes on Episode 85 (Godzilla: The Series – “Monster Wars”), which featured the return of the “cartoon guys,” Drew Dodgen and Jacob Heron, from The Cel Cast.

  • The air conditioning will get fixed…eventually. This walking cobbled-together junk pile has far more pressing issues to fix…like the CD player.
  • As cute as D33-D117 (Deedlit?) is for an AI…Kaguya would kill me! She almost did after we recaptured Utam Goliathon!
  • MIFV’s previous Godzilla: The Series coverage was Episode 45 (“New Family” and “Deadloch”) and Bonus Episode 11 (“The Cameron Winter Trilogy”).
  • I think Drew was referring to Winter’s episodes of the show being before “Monster Wars.” He’s correct…about one. Winter’s first episode was episode five while “Monster Wars” was episodes 15-17.
  • The Martians didn’t know Earth’s bacteria was fatal to them…or was it a bio-weapon? That’s what Alan Moore would want you to believe. I know how much you love that, Nate. 😛
  • These aliens never win beauty pageants and hate being compared to the Harkonnens. Trust me, I’ve run into a few of them.
  • I asked the scientists if Zilla Jr. purrs. They looked at me like I was a weirdo. I am, but still, that was rude.
  • Wingnut?! #DeepCut
  • “Draczilla” That’s a terrifying concept. I’ll tell the Board to ban anyone from Transylvania from visiting the Island.
  • I fought Frussians once. I don’t want to talk about it.
  • Lies! You’ve kink-shamed me!
  • “Play it again, Sam,” is a misquoted line, as Nate explained. While it’s associated with Humphrey Bogart, something like it, “Play it, Sam,” was actually said by Ingrid Bergman.
  • Inspirational temporal displacement? That’s an oxymoron if I ever heard one. And yet another reason I hate time travel.
  • Paris has been attacked by kaiju, but only in Godzilla stories. Specifically, Destroy All Monsters, this three-parter, Godzilla: Final Wars, Godzilla Unleashed: Final Smash, and Godzilla: Rulers of Earth. (Fun fact: there’s a Kaiju No. 8 mural in Paris).
  • Admittedly, I didn’t have much time to search for kaiju attacks on Washington, D.C. (and my internet searches kept bringing up very different sorts of attacks), but much to Nate’s chagrin, the one I did find is an Asylum movie:
  • I might have something to do with the shield D33-D117 found around D.C.…I don’t want to talk about it.
  • You’d be surprised how many trailer park aliens there are in the galaxy. Poverty is universal.
  • We don’t talk about mushrooms on MIFV. For very good reasons.
  • Popcorn ball, Nate, not cornball.
  • Occam’s razor > technobabble. So, I’m with Monique in this case.
  • It’s always too soon for Firefly.
  • I think I met Queen Bleep once. I don’t want to talk about it.
  • “Nilla”? As funny as that is, Dr. Tatopoulos won’t approve that name.
  • The years for crab movies are correct, Nate.
  • It’s not often I’m left speechless about crabs. (Although, I’m thinking of a different type of crabs…).

Join MIFV MAX on Patreon to read Nate’s full research notes!

We’re going to be busy in March at MIFV. We have another impromptu episode (hopefully), which will go over the just-released The Whale God, a semi-obscure Daiei film, with Daniel DiManna and Elijah Thomas. Then we get back to the World Tour with our first South Korean film, Yongary, Monster from the Deep (1967) with special guest Neil Riebe. We punctuate the month with season four’s first Patreon-sponsored episode courtesy of executive producer Damon Noyes, which will be our first double feature: Attack of the Crab Monsters and Island Claws. From our first Roger Corman flick to an almost-unknown pseudo-remake.

Until next time, remember…we shall overcome!

Social media:

#JimmyFromNASALives      #WeShallOvercome                #MonsterIslandFilmVault

Comments closed

Episode 85 – Godzilla: The Series – ‘Monster Wars’ | Ft. The Cel Cast | Godzilla Redux

Published February 29, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! You might be wondering, “Aren’t you supposed to cover Destroy All Monsters for Godzilla Redux, Nate?” Yes…but I’m not. For reasons. Anyway, we have the next-best thing: the three-part epic from Godzilla: The Series—“Monster Wars”! And who else could be the guests for animated kaiju shenanigans other than Drew and Jacob from The Cel Cast. They and Nate go through each episode beat-for-beat and analyze everything from the writing to the voice acting to the animation. You’ll also hear some great factoids Nate researched about these, the three best episodes of the show. Not to mention he delves into the unmade sequel to Godzilla (1998) that sounds eerily similar to this show!

Check out this episode’s epilogue, “Jake and Drew, Where are You?”

Read “Jimmy’s Notes” on this episode: https://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/02/29/jimmys-notes-on-episode-85-godzilla-the-series-monster-wars-ft-the-cel-cast-godzilla-redux/.

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 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, Robert Kidd, and Leon Campbell! 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: 0:00-11:52
  • Main Discussion: 11:52-1:39:34
  • Outro: 1:39:34-1:51:52
  • Credits: 1:51:52-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #Godzilla            #GodzillaTheSeries    #GodzillaRedux

© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

BONUS – MIFV MAX #27: ‘Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color’ | Ft. Damon Noyes, Daniel DiManna, Christopher Riner, and Elijah Thomas (Abridged)

Published February 2, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In this excerpt from the latest episode of the (usually) Patreon-exclusive livestream podcast, Nathan invites his creative team (plus Elijah Thomas, who crashes the show later) on to discuss the new black-and-white edition of Godzilla Minus One. Is it a different enough experience from the original—or is it even better? These questions are answered in yet another Minus One-fueled blockbuster episode of MIFV!

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.

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #Godzilla            #GodzillaMinusOne   #GodzillaMinusColor

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 83: ‘Son of Godzilla’ | Ft. Neil Riebe

Published January 25, 2024

Two episodes in, and I’m already annoyed with my new mic. I spent too much money to replace it, and unfortunately, the eBay seller I bought it from doesn’t do returns beyond 30 days. Plus, I purchased it just before I was wrongfully imprisoned. Oh well. Kaguya doesn’t think I sound as “sexy” on it (she’s still learning what that means). Given that we’re on the road in Hong Kong and I’m the only one with the technical knowledge and skills to maintain my “patchwork mecha,” as Nate calls it, I’m too busy to do anything about it.

But I do have time to share my notes on episode 83, the “Godzilla Redux” on Son of Godzilla with Neil Riebe.

  • I just can’t win with my mics (as I explained above).
  • I’ve avoided a colonoscopy for years. I keep telling doctors they won’t find anything up there. I doubt I brought anything back with me from Venus…I think.
  • “This Island Indiana”? Wasn’t that a mockbuster made by the Asylum about 65 years too late?
  • I love the A-Team! It was my favorite show back when I was moonlighting as a substitute Blue Bioman! I may have even modeled my gunplay after the show…which explains why my marksmanship was terrible.
  • King Kong Escapes was episode six.
  • Plural of Kamacuras is…Kamacuri, according to Dr. Hermann Gottlieb.
  • I’ll submit Neil’s theory about the glacier and Solgel and Skull Islands to the Monster Island scientists. He might get a Nobel Prize in Kaijuology.
  • I’ll also submit Nate’s “Rip Van Minya” theory to them. He probably won’t get a Nobel Prize…because Minya.
  • Nate is basic. Who knew?
  • “Momzilla”? “Dad bod”? I’m confused. But so are the people who think Godzilla is female.
  • And the Japanese think Americans made Godzilla fat…have you seen the suit in this?!
  • Jar Jar?! WHY DID YOU SAY THAT NAME?!
  • This is the episode of crazy fan theories! I should’ve offered one. Hmm…Oh! Minya is the Antichrist. (Well, that’s what some fans think…).
  • I’d have preferred Kumi Mizuno in this, obviously. I mean, have you seen my girlfriend? Hubba-hubba!
  • “Height” not “heighth,” Neil!
  • Psycho released in 1960, seven years before this, Nate! Do your research!
  • Come on, Marchand, have you seen Brooke Shields in The Blue Lagoon? (Just don’t tell Kaguya I said that).
  • Kazue Kiba gets second billing as a screenwriter in the credits.
  • Danny already made the Tofu Fury Jaeger joke last episode. I still like Neil’s idea that it should be ¾ the size and two-times the firepower, though. I’ll get on that once we return to the Island.

Check MIFV MAX on Patreon to read Nate’s leftover research notes!

Our next episode is actually an impromptu bonus episode sponsored by Matt Walsh (no, not that Matt Walsh). Since he’s a madman who jumped to the $100 joke Patreon tier called “Jimmy’s Intern,” I have the day off for that recording. Nate should be able to manage…maybe. Kaguya and I will go sightseeing in Hong Kong. Then we get back to the World Tour in episode 84 with Shaw Bros.’s infamous Kongsploitation movie, Mighty Peking Man (aka Goliathon). There’s a huge ape-man in it? I only remember a hot blonde. (Again, don’t tell Kaguya I said that). My former nemesis John LeMay joins us for that. Then we get back to “Godzilla Redux” in episode 85…but not with Destroy All Monsters (because reasons). No, it’s Godzilla: The Series – “Monster Wars” with The Cel Cast.

Until next time, remember…we shall overcome!

Social media:

#JimmyFromNASALives      #WeShallOvercome                #MonsterIslandFilmVault

Comments closed

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