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Tag: Nathan Marchand

Episode 11: ‘Varan the Unbelievable’ (Mini-Analysis)

Published February 26, 2020

Hello, kaiju lovers!

In Nathan’s continuing series of mini-sodes on films covered by Bran Scherschel on Kaijuvision Radio after Nathan left the show, he examines Ishiro Honda’s overlooked 1958 kaiju film Varan the Unbelievable (or Daikaiju Baran). While Honda didn’t think much of it (especially after its tumultuous production when the American TV network co-producing it pulled out), it was the first kaiju film written for Toho by the fabled Shinichi Sekizawa. The second half is a by-the-numbers monster movie, but the first half is intriguing because it touches on then contemporary issues with the burakumin, a discriminated social class in Japan. Their name means “village people” (no, not the disco band!), and they were essentially the “untouchables” of Japanese culture for centuries. When seen through that lens, this film offers more than a cool kaiju.

After that, Nathan reads some listener feedback, including a letter from someone who offers some clarification on the (in)famous Batman Meets Godzilla script.

Speaking of which, Batman Meets Godzilla, one of the craziest yet most intriguing lost projects made famous by John LeMay’s book, The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies: The Lost Films (which now has a new “mutated” edition), is being adapted into a fan-made comic book miniseries!

T-SHIRT GIVEAWAY: Everyone who shares the Facebook and Twitter posts for this episode (or tags the show when they share it themselves) will be entered for a drawing for a Batman Meets Godzilla T-shirt. (One entry per person per social media). Entries will be taken from February 26 to March 4 at 11:59pm (EST). The winner must then send Nathan his/her shirt size, shirt color, and mailing address to be forwarded to the team at Batman Meets Godzilla. Here’s a link to the Tee Public site with this epic shirt.

Here’s the KVR episode: Episode 40: Varan (1958) (Hisabetsu-Buraku) (Discriminated Communities)

This episode featured the song “‘BATMAN’ [OG Theme Song Remix!]” by Remix Maniacs.

Be sure to read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode.

(c) 2020 Nathan Marchand & Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Jimmy’s Notes on ‘Episode 10: John LeMay vs. King Kong Lives’

Published February 19, 2020

Last week’s episode on King Kong Lives was certainly an interesting one. It was both informative and entertaining. Nathan “survived” in true Mystery Science Theatre 3000 fashion while John LeMay made a valiant defense of the movie. I did not pipe in as much because, as listeners will remember, John and I had a spat when I refused to show him my garage. I did not get a chance to explain it was because I needed to make sure it was clean and safe for visitors. That was all.

Anyway, here are my notes on the episode:

  • I did not want to disappoint you on the air, John, but I am actually a natural brunette. I dye my hair red. In other words, I still have a soul. Or did I lose it when I dyed my hair?
  • Here’s the Siskel and Ebert review of King Kong Lives.
  • About those so-called “magic artificial hearts”: The Island’s Board of Directors acquired Dr. Amy Franklin’s design and attempted to improve upon it. I can neither confirm nor deny that experiments may have been conducted on kaiju that aren’t as big a draw for Tourists….
  • Here are two articles with great info on artificial hearts: “7 Things You Should Know about Artificial Hearts” and the Wikipedia entry on them.
  • Baby Kong was played by seven-year-old Benjamin Kechley. And yes, I think he should have bragging rights for life.
  • Surprisingly, Nathan was wrong about the Superman film John was talking about. (He is as obsessed with superheroes as he is kaiju. God help me when he takes a deep dive into Ultraman…). It was Superman II from 1980 that had the Eiffel Tower scene, which did involve terrorists with hostages and a bomb. You can watch it here and here.
  • I have a plenty of material to do a War in Space panel at G-Fest, John. I mean, I lived it. And miraculously survived it. But like Nathan said, someone has to take care of the studio while he is gone, and we are more or less a two-man operation. Maybe I will get some time off when the film’s 45th anniversary rolls around….
  • Here’s a link to the Godziban playlist on the official Toho Godzilla YouTube channel. It is the show Nathan and John mention briefly where Godzilla Junior and Minya get along. I cannot vouch for its accuracy.
  • John is both right and wrong about the dinosaur fights in the Lovelace novelization. Kong does fight a triceratops—several, in fact—but he later he also fights a “meat-eater” dinosaur, which may or may not have been a T-Rex. There is some debate over it.
  • It’s “Monsterverse” not “Godzilla universe,” John. 😛
  • Here’s the Subway commercial that was mentioned by John.
  • The confusing things about Kong: King of Skull Island is there appears to be two of them. Maybe? Here is this on Amazon (and Wikizilla), but there’s also a Kickstarter for an illustrated version in 2018. I am guessing the latter is what sparked the lawsuit they mention.
  • The person John could not remember who pitched Skull Island: Blood of the Kong with Neil Marshall was Simon Uttley.
  • The Kong Netflix series is Kong: King of the Apes. It is a children’s series and currently has two seasons. Here is a link to its official page.

Here are the many notes Nathan did not get to during the episode. Admittedly, some of them are riffs that require context not given in the note. Basically, watch the film chronologically (if you dare!) and you may be able to find what he is talking about. So, buckle up because there is a lot.

  • They edited in different roars for the flashback. Not as good.
  • I wonder how much Bridges and Lange were paid for that stock footage?
  • Music courtesy of John Williams’ leftovers.
  • How is Kong not a furry mound of jelly?
  • Admittedly, this continuous opening shot for the credits isn’t bad.
  • We see Lady Kong in less than 8 minutes. (Kong meets a female of his species and suddenly forgets about blondes?) (Mrs. Kong theory from episode 4).
  • “Can you hear me now?” Verizon, anyone?
  • “I’m in love with a gorilla!”
  • Disneyland? Why not Universal Studios?
  • “The only living ape.” Because all the normal-sized ones have died out in ten years?
  • “I left a trail of bananas.” Don’t make fun of yourself, movie. That’s my job!
  • As usual, Kong breaks his chains of captivity.
  • Did those apes just have a love at first sight moment?
  • Yeah, the dozers will stop him.
  • “They’ll need a doctor after they get a whiff of this gas.” I never should’ve eaten that breakfast burrito!
  • The action hero trope: the big bad male hero can take a beating and not flinch, but he winces when a woman tends his wounds. Nice job, Kong.
  • Are those natives on Kong’s Island burnt out drunks like Jack said? Would they let outsiders build a reserve then?
  • Welcome to Movie Land, where people fall in love and make out at the drop of a hat. Justification: This is what primates do.
  • Oh no! The flamethrowers return! How is Kong not PTSD-ing right now?
  • There’s a torrential downpour, but the sun is out.
  • There are a lot of pop culture references in this. Indiana Jones. Deliverance. Juicy Fruit.
  • You’re telling me none of the doctors the military brought in figured out Lady Kong was pregnant?
  • There are points this feels more like a post-1976 King Kong knockoff than an actual Kong film.
  • Don’t you guys know that Kong hates flashbulbs?
  • “Well, Kong, you’ve killed now. Nothing will stop them from killing you now.” Did you miss the first movie?
  • Kong is a tactician. He throws pocket sand at the military before attacking. 😛 (“Pocket sand!” -Dale from King of the Hill).

These are Nathan’s leftover notes from King Kong: History of a Movie Icon from Fay Wray to Peter Jackson by Ray Morton:

  • De Laurentiis wanted to do a sequel from get-go. At one point even discussed a Frankenstein-like idea with Semple.
  • Sequel never manifested because De Laurentiis was either disappointed it didn’t out-gross Jaws or because he didn’t want to have to deal with Universal.
  • In the ensuing years, he bought Embassy Pictures and made it into his own studio, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG).
  • John Guillermin returned as director. Both he and De Laurentiis had lost sons in the intervening years, so their relationship had mellowed.
  • Carlo Rambaldi was brought back on for the special effects. He’d won several Oscars for his work since 1976.
  • Despite not liking the script, Brian Kerwin took the role because he was offered lots and money and he was the lead. He said later that monkey was the lead and he was set dressing. He also wanted to be picked up by Kong.
  • New suit actors were brought in, both male. Kong’s hair was Icelandic yak fur.
  • They tried to make Kong ’86 look like Kong ’76, but it didn’t quite work. The former is brown and the latter black. Face was different with more expressive mask.
  • Kong’s biological heart is a replica of a real gorilla heart. The artificial heart is a fantasy creation. Kerwin considered making it into a coffee table.
  • Ran into budget problems because DEG was hit hard by new tax laws. Some sequences were trimmed or eliminated. It wasn’t filmed in Brazil and Jamaica and instead was filmed in Tennessee and Wilmington.
  • All the fake blood in the Kong transplant scene made an extra pass out.
  • Kerwin read all 22 Travis McGee novels in his downtime. One actor directed community theatre!
  • Kerwin said de Laurentiis was “braggadocious and stingy.”
  • Guillermin was mellower but often still intense.
  • Hamilton was in a bad mood all the time according to Kerwin.
  • Baker refused to come back due to unreasonable conditions and the Oscars dustup, so it went to Peter Elliott, an acrobat and veteran costume performer. He did ape choreography in Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan. His friend George Yiasomi played Lady Kong, but a “Greek guy” was brought in to do the close-ups of her eyes.
  • The actors played the apes like animals around each other and more human-like around humans. Elliot based his performance on James Dean! (Indiana connection!)
  • The courtship scene was over-the-top but Elliott based their actions on real apes but performed it in a tongue-in-cheek manner.
  • No Oscars noms, but Rambaldi was nominated for a Razzie for worst visual effects.
  • De Laurentiis thought the film was a mistake.

Here are the livetweets from Nathan’s author Twitter that he did not mention:

  • “You’ve got Indiana Jones.” Now there’s a crossover I’d love to see! Now there is a crossover I’d watch in a heartbeat! Pun intended. #KingKong #KingKongLives
  • “Lady Kong”? Is it because “Queen Kong” was taken in a slightly better movie?
  • These doctors are performing surgery with giant egg beaters? #KingKong #KingKongLives
  • Let’s spend millions of dollars to resurrect the rampaging monster who killed dozens of people and cost millions and property damage. This can only ending [in] good. #KingKong #KingKongLives
  • That’s not an artificial hard—it’s a submarine! Makes me wish this was a crossover between #KingKong and Fantastic Voyage. #KingKongLives
  • “#KingKong, you just came back from the dead! What are you going to do next?“ “Get laid.” That must’ve been one heck of a wet dream he was having for 10 years.
  • You know your sequel is in trouble when the flashback to the mediocre remake has the best special-effects.#KingKong #KingKongLives
  • “The other monkeys going ape $&@#!” [L]eave the bad puns to me, movie.#KingKong #KingKongLives
  • #KingKong and Lady Kong: Still a better love story than #Twilight. #KingKongLives
  • Lady Kong is scared of (normal-sized) snakes. Of course. #KingKong #KingKongLives
  • If all it took to get a girlfriend was dying and being resurrected, I have tried it a long time ago. #KingKong #KingKongLives
  • “Bring in the Big Bird!” Hey, it’s not yellow and teaching me to count! #KingKong #KingKongLives
  • It was a lack of protein killed the beast. And no wonder: he keeps eating rubber gators.
  • When you howl at the moon, sometimes the moon howls back.#KingKong #KingKongLives
  • Please, sir, I want some more stomach blows. #KingKong #KingKongLives
  • #KingKong almost became a slasher movie villain by killing some horny teenagers. All he was missing was a knife and a huge hockey mask. Yet another amusing crossover: King Kong and Friday the 13th. #KingKongLives
  • #KingKong: Defeated by rednecks. I was an icon once. #KingKongLives
  • “My dad’s gonna kill me! We didn’t switch to Geico and add giant monkey insurance!“ #KingKong #KingKongLives
  • Lt. Cola? Is that soda for soldiers? I guess if #Godzilla endorses Dr. Pepper, Kong should get something. #KingKong #KingKongLives (Lt. Col. A. Nevitt). Haha!
  • Kong: I ate red(neck) meat! I’m not afraid to eat white (guy) meat! #KingKong #KingKongLives
  • #KingKong just crashed a hoedown. Now I’ve seen everything. #KingKongLives
  • Is this general play[ed] by our young Don Frye? Is he Captain Gordon’s grandpa? #KingKong #KingKongLives
  • So what if #KingKong is dead. Just cure him with another artificial heart. #KingKongLives
  • From the World Trade Center to a barn in redneck country. Talk about coming down in life. #KingKong #KingKongLives

Finally, here are some unused notes about the convoluted King Kong copyright:

  • Supposedly Eisner also discussed the idea with Sidney Sheinberg, chief operating officer of MCA (Universal), which was hot off the positive early reviews for Jaws and wanted another marauding animal film. Negotiations started around the same time as De Laurentis. Agreed to pay same amount up front but balked at sharing the gross. Lots of studio politics involved. Word has it that the Universal offer was preferred. Attorney Arnold Shane thought Universal won the rights, and Stromberg hired Oscar-winning screenwriter Bo Goldman (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Melviun and Howard) to write a script. Meanwhile, De Laurentis’ offer was accepted. Universal protested saying that despite not signing a written contract, they took Daniel O’Shea’s supposed comment as a binding verbal agreement. Universal sued for $25 million in damages in June 1975 accusing RKO-General of “breach of contract” and “fraud” and De Laurentis of international interference with advantageous business relations” and “unfair competition.” De Laurentis was surprised by Universal’s claim but thought it was invalid because he had a signed contract, so he pressed on confidently.
  • Sept. 1975: Superior Court of LA dismissed Universal’s claim, saying the verbal agreement was “tissue-paper thin.” Universal then filed a second claim having learned the novelization of Kong, which had some different material, had fallen into the public domain in 1960 thanks to the Copyright Law of 1909 that set the copyright to 28 years. The studio claimed they weren’t infringing on RKO’s films—the “new” material—while the “old material” was in public domain. They announced their new film would be based on the novel, and told Bo Goldman to revise his script to conform to the novel. Joseph Sargent (Colossus: The Forbin Project, The Taking Pelham 123) was hired to direct. De Laurentis said he would start casting in December for his film. Unsure if the name King Kong was owned by RKO, they changed their film’s title to The Legend of King Kong to be safe.  De Laurentis responded by changing his to King Kong: The Legend Reborn.
  • RKO filed a countersuit November 20 against Universal in Federal District Court for $5 million for copyright infringement and asked for an injunction for the studio to stop promoting the film. De Laurentis filed his own suit December 4 for $90 million in damages caused by “copyright infringement and unfair competition.” He also filed an injunction against Universal. Universal forced the issue by saying they’d start filming Jan. 5, which was a bluff.  The market would only support one remake, and whoever started shooting first would likely win. De Laurentis moved production up, hastily starting Jan. 15 and having the crew work 16-hour days. This required money he didn’t have, but he was determined.
  • Universal allegedly approached De Laurentis about settling after he announced when they’d begin filming. They discussed a joint production, but De Laurentis didn’t like Universal’s demands. They wanted their script to be used and merchandising and sequel rights.   Barry Diller and Paramount threatened to pull out if he didn’t settle, so he started talking with Universal.
  • De Laurentis and Ubniversial announced Jan. 28, 1976, that they’d reached agreement. Universal got 8% or 11% percent of De Laurentis’ profits, certain merchandising rights and profits, and veto power on sequels by agreeing to cancel their film.  They could also start their own film so long as it was 18 months after the release of De Laurentis’ film. If it was hit, there would be no need, and if it was a flop, there would no interest in one. Silly move. Universal didn’t get to make their own until 2005 with Peter Jackson. The lawsuit was settled in September.

Oh man. This might be my longest Jimmy’s Notes yet. This is what happens when you are a producer on a podcast with a host who over-prepares. My contractual obligation to post all of these in my blog does not help. You win that front, Marchand!

Anyway, join us next week when Daniel DiManna of the Godzilla Novelization Project joins us to discuss Peter Jackson’s epic 2005 remake of King Kong.

Follow me on Twitter: @NasaJimmy

#JimmyFromNASALives
#WeShallOvercome

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Episode 10: John LeMay vs. ‘King Kong Lives’

Published February 12, 2020

Hello, kaiju lovers!

Despite a slight delay thanks to MIFV mascots Goji-kun and Bro Kong hiding Nathan’s laptop, the unavoidable has happened: King Kong Lives. John LeMay, author of Kong Unmade and other kaiju books, returns to Monster Island to discuss the Godzilla vs. Megalon of the Kong series—and John un-ironically likes it! This ill-fated sequel to Dino de Laurentiis’s 1976 remake stars Linda Hamilton, fresh off of her star-making role in The Terminator, as a scientist who resurrects King Kong with an artificial heart…because that cures falling off of a building. Not only that, he “falls in love” with Lady Kong, a female giant gorilla, which leads to most of the Kong film tropes getting turned on their ears. Also, King Kong eats rednecks. Yep. Nathan goes full-tilt MST3K with this movie, but he riffs because he loves. That is, when he isn’t mediating a conflict between John and the show’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA. The Toku Topic is the convoluted King Kong copyright, which came to a head twice when Universal tried to sue Dino de Laurentiis in the 1970s and Nintendo in the early 1980s. Hear all about it in the newest episode of The Monster Island Film Vault!

You can buy the hardcover of John’s book Kong Unmade on Amazon.

Check out Jimmy’s Notes on this episode!

Timestamps:
Intro: 0:00-3:28
Entertaining Info Dump: 3:28-9:29
Toku Talk: 9:29-1:04:18
Toku Topic: 1:04:18-1:31:04
Outro: 1:31:04-end

© 2020 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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All About the Entertaining Info Dump

Published February 5, 2020

By Nathan Marchand (with Jimmy From NASA)

With there being five Wednesdays in January (for which I’m grateful because it gives me an extra week to edit the next episode), I thought I’d give all of you a bonus blog. I toyed with several ideas, but it was my intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, who suggested a blog on his Entertaining Info Dump. Normally, I’d have only done it because of those darn contractual obligations, but it’s also been a part of the podcast that listeners have appreciated, so it’s worth giving a peek behind the curtain to explain it.

Believe it or not, Jimmy based it on the “film descriptions” Brian Scherschel and I developed on my previous podcast, Kaijuvision Radio. Apparently, Jimmy was a fan of the show before I left it. As he said on the first episode of MIFV, this was a great way to get preliminary information out of the way before diving into the film discussion. It’s also more interesting to listen to than a simple plot synopsis and, well, info dump. You can get all of that from a wiki page. Several of them, actually. They also make it possible to compare these films to each other.

There are different subheadings for these essays, although they’re never mentioned. Those subheadings are:

  • The (primary) kaiju plot line and characteristics/goals
  • Other kaiju plot lines and characteristics/goals
  • The human plot line
  • Human and kaiju plot intermix level
  • Attempts to solve the issue at hand
  • How the issue is resolved
  • Story complexity
  • Production quality
  • Light/Dark Tone, gravity/seriousness, and fantasy/reality
  • Experimentation level
  • Reinforcement vs. Expansion of Style
  • Movie purpose and demographics
  • Success Level
  • Difference between original version of that film and the other versions
  • The forces at play
  • The theme(s)

Most of these are self-explanatory. The first half or so summarizes the most important facets of the film’s story. All but the last two give production and background information on each movie. The last two focus on thematic elements.

However, there are two that Jimmy insists I highlight because one is unique and the other could be confused with it. That being the “expansion vs. reinforcement of style” and “experimentation level.”

What do we mean by expansion and reinforcement of style? With long-running franchises and series like King Kong (or Godzilla), some entries introduce new story types, tropes, or other elements that are emulated in later ones. They’re the films that break the mold, the firsts of their kind. This is admittedly a little subjective, especially since some films have a mix of both, but these elements can be objectively identified. For example, Son of Kong was an expansion of style for the Kong films because it introduced the idea of a Kong offspring and was the first “Son/Daughter of…” type film to come out in any film series. However, King Kong Escapes, while primarily a reinforcement of the styles of King Kong (1933) and The King Kong Show, did make one expansion by having a “love interest” who sympathized with Kong.

Experimentation level, on the other hand, would have to involve risk-taking. It isn’t simply adding new things to a film. They have to be elements that are so different from the previous films in the series that it might disappoint the audience or disinterest them. For example, it was a risky move for Dino de Laurentiis to set his 1976 remake in (then) present day because the original was firmly set in 1933. It’s a rare to see a film that is both an expansion of style and experimental. It doesn’t always make it good, but it’s always interesting. Honestly, with the films we’ve covered so far in the “Kong Quest” ( 😛 ), the only one that truly qualifies as both is the 1933 original (although, that’ll change next week).

If you’d like to learn more about the Entertaining Info Dump, I recommend listening to the bonus feature Mr. Scherschel and I did on the film descriptions for KVR.

Until then, get ready for the next week’s episode on the worst film covered on MIFV so far: King Kong Lives!

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Jimmy’s Notes on ‘Episode 9: The Mysterians (Mini-Analysis)’

Published January 29, 2020

I’m just as excited to write this blog on last week’s episode on The Mysterians as I was recording it. As Nathan said on the podcast, it’s one of my favorite tokusatsu films. He was able to use most of his research in the episode, although most of his notes on the film itself did not make it in. His script was originally part of a 42-page paper he wrote on six Ishiro Honda films as part of an independent study in grad school.

Anyway, let’s get to this. Like with my blog on the previous mini-sode, I didn’t hear anything that needed fact-checked, so I’ll just be sharing Nathan’s leftover notes, although with a handful of comments.

Afterward, I’ll announce the winner of the Batman Meets Godzilla T-shirt.

The Film:

  • This was the first Toho tokusatsu film in TohoScope.
  • The satellite dish (and tsunami) get recycled as stock footage in the US version of King Kong vs. Godzilla. Some military footage recycled later in 1970s G-films.
  • The festival at the beginning is Bon Festival (also called an Obon), which is a Japanese Buddhist-Confucian custom to honor the spirits of ancestors. Due to the use of several different calendars, there are usually three time periods these festivals will be celebrated between July and September. The dance seen at the festival in the film is a traditional dance called the Bon Odori. You can learn about it here. (Nathan wants to go to one. Maybe we can have one on the Island? –Jimmy)
  • Starts with a bang—or rather a forest fire. Exciting. Spectacular effects. Burning from the roots. Foreshadowing.
  • Takashi Shimura plays another scientist.
  • Lots of science enters. Mysteroid. Astronomy. (Which is one reason I love this film! –Jimmy)
  • That looks more like a sinkhole than a landslide. May have been deliberate. Because radioactive. Or not.
  • The JSDF vehicles and personnel are actual military. Made in cooperation.
  • Dead fish in river. More foreshadowing.
  • Hot radioactive ground. Burns tires. Melts mountain.
  • Moguera appears 14 minutes in.
  • Honda’s naturalism with disasters: Etsuko in bath as Moguera attacks.
  • The flamethrower is real—but I don’t know how it could reach that far or get that big against Moguera.
  • Scientists are presented as foremost authorities and absolutely trustworthy. Mysterians want to meet with them and not politicians.
  • The character plot at beginning is dropped as invasion plots takes over.
  • Not Toho’s first tokusatsu film in color (that was Rodan), but the colors are more spectacular.
  • Takashi Shimura dresses like Colonel Sanders.
  • 29:30: We’re off to see the wizard.
  • “Please put on your cape.” Not to keep warm, but because it looks cool.
  • Yoshio Tsuchiya insisted on playing Mysterian Leader. Liked playing weirdos.
  • “There are no boundaries in science.” Says “these people” (military) will cause war.
  •  “Selling land on Mars” line ab-libbed by Tsuchiya.
  • The humans waste no time kowtowing.
  • Almost 38:00: U.N. scientists mentioned as coming to discuss the matter.
  • Japan behind America in science. Mysterians even more advanced. Shiriashi.
  • Mysterians originally want 2 miles of land. It keeps increasing. Goes to 75. All intruders would be evicted by force. Inspired by America?
  • Shiraishi says scientists, not military, should stop attack.
  • The Mysterian dome looks amazing.
  • Nakajima played Moguera. Nearly killed him. Hot suit, hot studio lights. Over 100 degrees. Staff in underwear.
  • Sometimes editing of special effects shots is jumpy.
  • Cool POV shot of plane over dome.
  • Mysterian ships reused in Battle in Outer Space. Almost sequel. (The second entry in the “pseudo-trilogy.” It’ll be covered in a later episode. –Jimmy)
  • 46 mins: POV shot from tank on dome.
  • Figure ejects from model tank as it sinks. Cool.
  • Japanese earthquake of 1923 mentioned.
  • Mysterians say they don’t like war but will fight if attacked. They want peace on Earth. Weird way of doing it. America again? Want to end atomic wars. Mankind will perish in 20 years. Fearmongering? Mankind has ruled animals with science. Mysterians see humans as animals.
  • World comes together, but this is mostly a Japanese problem.
  • Japan calls for international meeting. “Japan’s trouble today will be theirs tomorrow.” Adachi somehow knows they won’t stop with the land.
  • 51:45: Shiriashi starts doubt if he chose the right side when they mention taking over eastern Japan.
  • America launches satellite from Arizona against Mysterians. (When was their first satellite?) (America’s first satellite was Explorer 1, which was launched January 31, 1958, just one month after this film was released in Japan. –Jimmy)
  • “Defense Force of the Earth.” Human unity. Many flags in background of conference scene. Japanese officer addresses UN council with plan. Translator present. Reps visible: USSR, USA, India, China, Vietnam, Thailand. Two resps from each. Three of 5 members of Security Council.
  • I love how the interpreter’s words aren’t exactly the same as the subtitles.
  • “A war has already begun. A quiet war…. There are no canons, aircraft, or tanks.” 57:15.
  • Alpha and Beta look awkward, but I don’t care. Part of the charm. VTOL tech, though.
  • Complaints about the female characters: useless damsels in distress. “Women often fainted back then” (Koichi Kawakita in his commentary).
  • Mysterians don’t use subterfuge, but they do increase their demands. Somewhat arrogant.
  • US Air Force planes seen landing. Speaks to alliance between America and Japan.
  • I love the satellite dish weapons in these movies.
  • Tsuchiya’s gestures as Mysterian Leader are great. Sharp and commanding.
  • Mysterians don’t like heat. Opposite of Kilaaks. (Let’s not talk about the disco space nuns. Okay, Marchand? –Jimmy)
  • Mysterian suits inspired Super Sentai/Power Rangers. (Maybe. –Jimmy)
  • 74:00: How did they not see him? (He means Shiraishi. –Jimmy)
  • Wanting women sounds incredibly sensationalistic, but it isn’t talked about much.
  • Mysterian science is advanced but can’t fix their genes.
  • The acting from the westerners is…underwhelming.
  • Mysterian dome does have what look like drill ends.
  • Mysterians try to negotiate saying they will retaliate is humans don’t stop (weren’t you already?). Humans tell them to leave Earth. Were the Mysterians bluffing? Afraid? They do retaliate with a massive flood.
  • I’m sure much of the stuff in these sets did anything, but they look cool.
  • Shiraishi says he was “tricked.” Was he? (Sadly, probably not. He seems quite complaisant with them. –Jimmy)
  • The tragedy of the Mysterians is a lesson to us. Don’t misuse science. Don’t repeat the tragedy! –Shiraishi
  • A second Moguera appears! For five seconds. (Still less useless than the Heisei incarnation. Extra spare parts for me to rebuild Mechani-Kong! –Jimmy)
  • Shiraishi has chance to shoot Mysterians but doesn’t. Mercy.
  • Like Godzilla, Shimura ends the film with an admonition.
  • Satellite is launched in the end to watch for Mysterians.

This is a footnote from Nathan’s grad school paper that did not make it into the episode:

Yet despite all of this involvement, Japan has not been allowed to join as a permanent member of the UNSC. Most of the opposition has come from South Korea and China, who believe Japan must still atone for the war. On the other hand, three members of the UNSC—the U.S., the UK, and France—support Japan becoming a permanent member. The U.N. at large possibly thinks that since Japan’s military is unable to contribute significantly to the safety of the world, they do not deserve a seat at the UNSC table (“Episode 6: Rodan” 00:44:20-00:45:31). Even if that were to change, China continually exerts its veto power on the council to block Japan’s admission because “[f]ar beyond the unwanted symbolism of a fully rehabilitated and ‘normal’ Japan on the UN Security Council, the very real powers that permanent membership would afford Tokyo are simply anathema to Beijing’s interests.”

Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa, who served as the Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations from 2013 to 2016, argues that “there is still a strong consensus among all members that the Security Council has to be reformed.” It reflected the political reality of 1945, but it is “no longer valid” and has “become obsolete.” New emerging powers, such as those countries who were defeated in the war, should be admitted. Not only is Japan advocating for reform, but so are the other G4 countries (which also include India, Germany, and Brazil). In 2005 they made a proposal that would change the criteria for who could become permanent and non-permanent members, but it was never put to a vote. The momentum has stalled since then.

Finally, these are unused excerpts from several articles Nathan cited in the episode, which are listed with links in its show notes.

“Japan and the United Nations” – Wikipedia

  • “After the late 1950s, Japan participated actively in the social and economic activities of the UN’s various specialized agencies and other international organizations concerned with social, cultural, and economic improvement. During the 1970s, as it attained the status of an economic powerhouse, Japan was called on to play an increasingly large role in the UN. As Japan’s role and its contributions increased so did sentiment, expressed as early as 1973, that Japan should be given a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) with the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, France, and China.”
  • “As of 2005, Japan is again a strong advocate of a UNSC reform, in a joint campaign with Germany, India, and Brazil. All four nations strive to gain a permanent seat in the chamber. While the United Kingdom and France,[1] and the United States back Japan’s candidacy, it faces strong opposition from its two closest neighbors, China and South Korea.”

“An Argument for Japan’s Becoming Permanent Member” – MOFA

  • “Since Japan joined the United Nations in 1956, cooperation with the United Nations has been a cornerstone of its foreign policy. Japan has the world’s second largest economy, and based on this national strength, it has the capacity to assume ever greater global responsibilities through various contributions to the efforts of the United Nations and particularly the Security Council.”
  • “Japan is committed to promoting international disarmament and non-proliferation while firmly maintaining its Three Non-Nuclear Principles of not possessing, not producing and not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons into its territory. Since 1994 Japan has submitted draft resolutions on nuclear disarmament at the UN General Assembly, which have been adopted with overwhelming support. Japan actively contributed to the success of the 2000 NPT Review Conference, and has been taking the initiative in facilitating the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.”
  • “Moreover, Japan has been playing a leading role in disarmament of conventional arms, including small arms and landmines. It has provided substantial financial assistance for this purpose, and in 2000 established the Small Arms Fund within the United Nations.”

“Chapter 3: Japan’s Foreign Policy to Promote National and Worldwide Interests” – MOFA

  • “In addition, Japan also places great importance on strengthening its initiatives as a member of the G4 (Japan, India, Germany, and Brazil), a group that cooperates on promoting the reform of the UN Security Council. The Ministerial Meeting of the G4 Countries was held in September. During the Meeting, the countries agreed on building further momentum for the UN Security Council reform and continuing to work towards a comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council.”
  • “In addition, the Group of Friends on Security Council Reform was established in July. Comprising diverse groups such as the G4 as well as Africa, the Caribbean, the UK, France, and Northern Europe, all of which seek the reform of the UN Security Council. At the High-Level Meeting held in September, the Group members shared the recognition that the reform of the UN Security Council is an urgent issue, and affirmed their commitment to cooperate to realize a meaningful reform of the UN Security Council in an expeditious manner.”
  • “In response to the nuclear tests and the launch of ballistic missile by North Korea, as a member of the UN Security Council, Japan took a leading role in discussions at the UN Security Council, working closely with the relevant countries including the United States and the Republic of Korea. As a result, the UN Security Council Resolutions 2270 and 2321 were adopted, strengthening sanctions against North Korea, and putting greater emphasis on the importance of human rights and humanitarian issues including the abduction issue. The adoption of these resolutions demonstrated the attitude of the international community as a whole in taking decisive action against North Korea. In addition, Japan has been actively taking part in the work of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolution 1718 and encouraging the relevant countries to fully and strictly implement the UN Security Council resolutions.”

 “Why Japan will Never Be a Permanent Meber of the UN Security Council” by Peter Harris

  • “Although the objective of permanent membership is longstanding, Abe’s diplomatic push ahead of October 2015 inevitably will be seen abroad in the same light as his other foreign policies, several of which have been criticized as hawkish by neighboring governments—not least of all the Chinese, which bitterly opposes the Japanese bid.  Far beyond the unwanted symbolism of a fully rehabilitated and “normal” Japan on the UN Security Council, the very real powers that permanent membership would afford Tokyo are simply anathema to Beijing’s interests.”

And now for the moment you have all been waiting for! The winner of the Batman Meets Godzilla T-shirt is Jim Hayes!

Congratulations!

The “Kong Quest” continues in the next episode with the infamous King Kong Lives. Nathan will be joined once again by kaiju author/scholar John LeMay (the only person we know of who genuinely likes that movie).

Our next mini-sode will cover the almost forgotten 1958 kaiju film Varan the Unbelievable.

Follow me on Twitter: @NasaJimmy

#JimmyFromNASALives
#WeShallOvercome

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Episode 9: ‘The Mysterians’ (Mini-Analysis)

Published January 22, 2020

Hello, kaiju lovers!

Nathan covers yet another film discussed on his former podcast, Kaijuvision Radio, by Brian Scherschell: Ishiro Honda’s 1957 tokusatsu classic, The Mysterians. While Godzilla (1954) singlehanded created the kaiju and tokusatsu genres, this film arguably ushered in Toho’s “golden age,” which would last for a decade. While Nathan does touch on Moguera, the special effects, and the film’s many influences, the bulk of his analysis is focused on Japan’s relationship with the United Nations, which the nation joined just a year before the film was released. The Mysterians expresses Japan’s—and Honda’s—postwar ideal of “proactive pacifism,” which it saw in the U.N. Throw in a few snarky interruptions from the podcast’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, and a random cameo from a psycho-powered dictator, and it’s a typical Wednesday at The Monster Island Film Vault.

After that, Nathan dumps out the mailbag to read several iTunes reviews and e-mails from listeners.

Speaking of which, be sure to check out the upcoming fan project, Batman Meets Godzilla, one of the craziest yet most intriguing lost projects made famous by John LeMay’s book, The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies: The Lost Films (which now has a new “mutated” edition).

T-SHIRT GIVEAWAY: Everyone who shares the Facebook and Twitter posts for this episode from the podcast’s pages will be entered for a drawing for a Batman Meets Godzilla T-shirt. (One entry per person per social media). Entries will be taken from January 22 to January 28 at 11:59pm (EST). The winner must then send Nathan his/her shirt size, shirt color, and mailing address to be forwarded to the team at Batman Meets Godzilla. Here’s a link to the Tee Public site with this epic shirt.

Here’s the KVR episode: Episode 39: The Mysterians (1957) (Normalization of Japan-USSR Relations)

This episode featured the song “‘BATMAN’ [OG Theme Song Remix!]” by Remix Maniacs.

Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode.

(c) 2020 Nathan Marchand & Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Jimmy’s Notes on ‘Episode 8: Ben Avery vs. King Kong (1976)’

Published January 15, 2020

Our big year started with a big film when Nathan was joined by Ben Avery to discuss Dino de Laurentiis’ 1976 remake of King Kong. I have a lot to add and Nathan had plenty of leftover notes from re-watching the film. So, let’s started.

  • Nathan informed me after the fact that I forgot to mention that the film has a 5.9 score on IMDB with 28,249 ratings as of today. Oops. Okay, Nathan, you get one point on me. Don’t expect that to happen often!
  • The books Ben mentioned—as pointed out by a listener on Twitter—were the Crestwood Monster Series Books. Yes, they do go for a pretty penny now, although you can find them for reasonable prices if you search on eBay. (Weirdly enough, the King Kong book is on Amazon for only $15 in hardback!)
  • “Funnest,” Ben? I’d expect a professional writer like yourself to know that isn’t the proper superlative for that adjective (although I’m surprised it isn’t). The Law of Common Usage may make you right eventually, though.
  • I think it was more De Laurentiis making this film than Paramount, but, you know, details. 😛
  • Gorillas are apes, not monkeys, Ben! (see VeggieTales).
  • Actually, Ben, I do think you get a few decent close-ups of the “gorilla chief,” especially during the sacrifice scene where he’s dancing around like a male stripper on crack!
  • Wow, Ben, you outdid me. I couldn’t find those deleted/alternate scenes you mentioned were on YouTube. However, some of the scenes shown on the extended NBC TV version can be found on it.
  • It’s pronounced “kra-kn” not “krei-kn,” Ben.
  • Tim would be disappointed that Nathan forgot Charles Grodin was in The Great Muppet Caper. Shame. 😛
  • “Petra” is Greek for “rock,” so I assume it was used as the source word for Petrox (not to take away from the clever pun).
  • Nathan and I watched a POV video of the original Kong ride, “Kongfrontation,” at Universal Studios. He was doubly jealous when I told him I rode it back when it opened in 1977. 😛 Yes, there were Smellitzers” installed in the animatronic Kong’s mouth that emitted “banana breath.” (The scientists here on the Island tell me the real Kong’s breath is…well, in need of some kaiju-sized mouthwash).
  • Ben correctly identified the documentary as Man on Wire. It tells the true story of Phillippe Petit, who walked across a tightrope between the World Trade Center Towers in 1974. (This was illegal, by the way). Nathan wants to see it now.
  • According to Newsweek, there were gas stations owners who faced prosecution in 2001 for price gouging.
  • Your closing is cute, Ben, but I’m actually a Sagittarius. 😛 (Not that I believe in horoscopes. I am a man of science who knows what stars actually do: burn and gravitate). J

Now on to Nathan’s rather exhaustive notes from the film. He went through all his stuff for the 1973 oil crisis, but as Ben said, there is much to talk about with this film.

Nathan notes:

  • “Here’s to the big one.” Foreshadowing. (Hence why Nathan referenced it at the beginning of the episode. –Jimmy)
  • James Creelman, Ruth Rose, Merian C. Cooper, and Edgar Wallace are all credited as inspiration. Wow. (Probably for legal reasons. 😛 –Jimmy)
  • How do sailors deal with everything on a table moving during a stormy sea? It’s even worse when you’re drunk.
  • The island does appear to be shaped like a skull, although they never call it that.
  • It’s implied that Kong may be at least 400 years old (1605). Or he is the latest member of the species? At least that’s a little mythic.
  • “Spouting ape s—t.” Foreshadowing?
  • “Snapped a few monkeys.” More foreshadowing.
  • Jack and Dwan’s relationship does get at least a little more development in this compared to Jack and Ann.
  • Was Kong spotted on radar briefly?
  • How does Dwan not cause all kinds of trouble being the only woman on this ship? (When I flew on the Gohten, there was only one woman onboard, and the men behaved themselves—although that was probably because she was the captain’s daughter, so you may have a point there. Maybe. I’m not giving you another one this week, Marchand!)
  • Set off charges to map geological structure—just like in Skull Island!
  • I gotta say, the scenery in this is really pretty. It does make me wonder if Peter Jackson was influenced by this?
  • They say the wall is Egyptian like in the original.
  • Dwan says this is a wedding. Bride has a blonde headdress. Groom stand-in is dressed in ape mask and makes thrusting motions while dancing. Definitely indicates what they think happens. Very ‘70s.
  • The chief tries to trade six maidens for Dwan like in the original.
  • Jack speaks against colonialism by saying this isn’t the 19th century, so they can’t walk in and take their island.
  • Just like the original, the natives read the script and knew exactly where Dwan was. Somehow they keep her from not screaming much.
  • Did Dwan get drugged by natives? (Obviously, yes. –Jimmy)
  • It’s never explained why the natives want Dwan over their own girls. The original aid it was because she was blonde.
  • And so they recreate the iconic scene where the girl is tied to the…altar(?) and Kong comes through the trees and takes her. It’s surprisingly effective.
  • Kong appears 53 minutes in. (Which I think is proportional to the 1933 original where Kong appears 40 minutes into a 100 minute film. –Jimmy)
  • Dwan references Empire State Building.
  • There’s a Chinese cook (and masseuse?) like in the original.
  • “Turned on ape.” Constant sexual references. Very ‘70s
  • Stone towers foreshadow Twin Towers.
  • This time Kong undressing the girl does feel sexual, unlike the original. It’s unsettling.
  • A giant snake appears out of nowhere. Only other monster on island. Gory death when Kong breaks its jaw. Harkens back to original.
  • “Estimates monkey time”? Oh my…
  • Replicates the scene where Kong crashes through wall. A bit more spectacular because Kong actually smashes it.
  • Like original, Kong is knocked out with chloroform. Scene with his hand rising out of cloud of gas in hole is actually effective.
  • Jack opposes the exploitation of Kong, unlike original. Calls it a “grotesque farce.” The beauty and the beast show is frowned upon. Later calls it a “Tragedy.” Quits Wilson’s “circus” on principle.
  • The shot where Kong catches Dwan was a bit unimpressive.
  • There’s no mention of a legend of Kong before getting to island, unlike original.
  • One shot of Empire State Building.
  • How long did it take Wilson to put all this together? This is a lot of stuff.
  • Kong reaches into building and grabs Dwan like in original. This time, though, she doesn’t seem as resistant. Yet she still calls for help. Hmm…is she confused about how to feel? I don’t want to get into sex and consent right now.
  • Jack cheers when Kong kills soldiers. He is a hippie.

With that, the “Kong Quest” will with the…unfortunate sequel in next month’s main episode on King Kong Lives.

Join us next week for a mini-analysis of one of my favorite Toho tokusatsu films: The Mysterians.

Follow me on Twitter: @NasaJimmy

#JimmyFromNASALives
#WeShallOvercome

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Episode 8: Ben Avery vs. ‘King Kong’ (1976)

Published January 8, 2020

Hello, kaiju lovers!

We’re kicking off 2020 with the Eighth Wonder’s return to Hollywood in a film brought about by Italian producer Dino de Laurentiis. Writer/podcaster Ben Avery joins Nathan to discuss the 1976 remake of King Kong starring Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange, which is firmly entrenched in its time and was touted as “the most exciting original motion picture event of all time.” What’s interesting is it straddles the gritty cynicism of early ‘70s films like Dirty Harry and the more hopeful films of the late ‘70s like Star Wars (because no MIFV episode is complete without mentioning that franchise). This was the first time Nathan had seen Kong ‘76 in years, and while he didn’t like it as a teen, he softens to it thanks in part to Ben’s love of it. Their discussion also touches upon the weird love triangle between Dwan, Jack, and Kong; the great but sometimes wonky special effects; and how modern audiences may feel about the film’s climax on the World Trade Center post-9/11. The Toku Topic is the 1973 Energy Crisis since it directly influenced the filmmakers’ decision to have the characters’ expedition be about finding untapped oil reservoirs.

Here’s to the big one!

Check out all of Ben’s podcasts:
–Strangers and Aliens
–Welcome to Level 7
–The Comic Book Time Machine
–Supersonic Pod Comics

Timestamps:
Intro: 0:00-3:33
Entertaining Info Dump: 3:33-11:10
Toku Talk: 11:10-1:16:53
Toku Topic: 1:16:53-1:47:11
Outro: 1:47:11-end

Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode when you finish it.

© 2020 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Episode 7: ‘Half Human’ (Mini-Analysis)

Published December 25, 2019

Merry Christmas, kaiju lovers!

As part of Nathan’s continuing series on films covered in his absence on Kaijuvision Radio, this mini-sode examines Ishiro Honda’s 1955 film Half Human, which is infamous for being banned by Toho. Heck, it was stashed so far back in the Island’s film vault, it took Goji-kun and Bro Kong (the podcast mascots and possibly Godzilla and Kong’s “little” brothers) a long time to find it for Nathan to watch. Strange as it may sound, it’s serendipitous that this episode was released on Christmas Day because the film takes place partly on New Year’s Day. It follows a group of scientists and students investigating the appearance of the Abominable Snowman in the Japanese Alps, where they encounter a savage tribe who worships the Snowman. Nathan’s analysis focuses on the natives, their parallels to the Ainu (Japan’s indigenous people), and how this portrayal got the film banned. He argues that, despite possible insensitivities, Half Human is unfairly censored and deserves to be viewed by a wider audience.

All this plus our first listener feedback letters and the Monster Island Christmas party—wherein Nathan learns that kaiju can sing Christmas carols (or so his intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, tells him even though he hasn’t fixed the ORCA yet).

Here’s the Kaijuvision Radio episode on the film: Episode 38: Half Human (1955) (Genetic Origin of the Ainu People).

Here’s the blog with the rules for the Destroyer novella giveaway.

This episode featured “We Three Kings” by Jay Man (OurMusicBox on YouTube).

See you in 2020, listeners!

#JimmyFromNASALives

© 2019 Nathan Marchand & Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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