I’m a day late but not a dollar short. I wasn’t able to get access to Marchand’s notes on The Last War because his laptop charger just had to die, followed by his laptop itself. And wouldn’t you know it, even with all the technology here, we didn’t have anything compatible with it. That’s what you get for having a computer verging on retirement age in technological years, Marchand!
On the bright side, even I know these blogs aren’t as important as the podcast. After almost nine months of doing this show, if the worst we’ve done is have a few of my blogs be a day late while the podcast stays on time, I’d call that an accomplishment.
As usual with Nathan’s scripted episodes, I don’t have anything to add to what he said since we take care of that before recording. However, he left out a surprising number of his notes on the film in his analysis. Let’s dive in (like I did when eluding the Messiah 13 Aliens during the War in Space).
Nathan’s Leftover Notes:
- Starts with an overture. This wasn’t common anymore in 1961. It only lasts 80 seconds.
- Opens with a montage of normal everyday things: steel mill, traffic, showgirls, ship launching. Life is proceeding as usual. (Showgirls are “normal”? Do you live in Vegas? –Jimmy)
- Acknowledges World War II. Rebuilt city. Didn’t think it would burn down again.
- Random American takes kids’ photo.
- Alliance (USSR) and Federation (NATO). Stand-ins. Much like Rolisica and New Kirk City in Mothra, though more obvious. (Makes me wonder which one Rolisica would join. I could go either way. – Jimmy)
- America is mentioned. Stocks.
- Radio reports of tensions rising between Alliance and Federation. Meanwhile, the family goes about its business. They’re charming and happy.
- If this was a different movie, the flash in the sky would be an alien ship. (If I had a dollar for every time I confused an ICBM for an alien spaceship, I could buy the Gohten! –Jimmy)
- The husband says he worked hard and saved after the war to build his “castle” (i.e. middle class lifestyle). This was becoming more common at the time in Japan. Economic Miracle.
- The daughter, Saeko, says she will find her own happiness. Counter. Fell in love before getting married. Takarada wants to make her happy despite not being rich. Parents more like older generation. Traditional. Oh, wait. Parents weren’t so traditional, actually.
- The dad says the intelligent people of the world don’t mean much if they don’t care about the “little people.” He can’t believe the gods wouldn’t care.
- In Japan, children throw balls at spherical piñatas? (Yep. I had one for my ninth birthday while living in Japan as a kid. –Jimmy)
- There are a lot of families and children in this film.
- Takarada says the world seems to be at “peace.” Polite way of saying it.
- 38th line = 38th parallel? Yes. Korea.
- The Japanese government urges both sides to have 2nd and third meetings after Africa summit dissolves to maintain peace and refrain from nukes. PM is said to have kidney problems.
- Sakai’s friend says only people with money can relax at this time. He says only a moron would relax. Anyone who knows the alternative (nuclear war, I assume) must work hard for peace.
- Hard work is venerated in this film. (As it should be. –Jimmy)
- A black man in a Toho film! Rare sight!
- The scene where the Federation officer muses about peaceful coexistence is interrupted by an almost comical sign that says, “The Outbreak of War.” He then says, “God, forgive me,” and presses the button. No order was given to fire. He panicked. It’s barely stopped. Short circuit. (Undermined a bit by the acting). (And people say David Perin’s crying was terrible. Just sayin’. –Jimmy)
- Sometimes the English spoken by Japanese bit actors is hard to understand.
- Soldiers’ bodies are shown burnt to ashes and blowing in the wind. Small nuke.
- PM pushes through health issues (hard work).
- The classroom has a banner with the flags of many nations hung up on doorway.
- Alliance forces speak English, too. Hmm.
- Alliance missile base nearly fires nuke because of damage from an avalanche. Alliance officers’ uniforms stained with sweat as they work on warhead. Shows fragility of situation. The soldiers in these bases at the very least don’t want war.
- News of a ceasefire on 38th parallel comes in. Japanese officials mention a Federation officer confused a meteor for a missile and nearly launched. (If I had a dollar for every time this happened, too…. –Jimmy)
- Both sides have nukes mounted on fighter planes?! Geez! (Did you forget about the scene in Independence Day where they fired nukes at the alien ship from a stealth bomber? That was in the ‘90s, but it shows it’s possible. It’s still a horrifying thought, though. –Jimmy)
- Seako and Takarada speak often of how a war would ruin their lives together. The big decisions made by leaders trickle down to the common people and disrupt their lives.
- PM still believes the world can be saved. Issues statement for peace that is broadcast constantly.
- We get a traditional crowd fleeing scene like in a kaiju film, but this time they’re trying to flee a war.
- Suzue’s mother promises nothing will happen to her. Is she lying to protect her daughter? Does she believe that?
- There’s a shot that pans down from a painting of a crucified Christ to the famous “Scream” to a street filled with decimated cars and debris. Cuckoo clock rings. “Time’s up”? (“The Scream” is an 1893 painting by Edvard Munch. –Jimmy)
- Teacher reads a story to children about two goats who meet on bridge wanting to cross but refusing to move. They butt heads and almost fall off bridge. One finally says he will duck down and let the other one jump over him. They reach a peaceful agreement. Parallels world politics except neither side is willing to compromise. (Is this a sequel to “The Three Billy Goats Gruff”? –Jimmy)
- I love the kanji of what Saeko and Takarada talking to each other over Morse code. It’s beautiful.
- Sakai’s family prepares a fancy meal like it’s New Year’s Day. They didn’t run. Last meal? Kids can eat all they want. They listen to radio reports about what’s happening. Sakai wonders if he was a bad father working a lot. His wife says no.
- The tulips haven’t sprouted and Saeko says they will survive underground and bloom after they die. Sakai won’t accept that. Idealist to the end. He rails against powers he can’t control and decisions he can’t influence. Powerlessness.
- The characters all sit around at the end waiting for death.
- Interestingly, the Diet is the first thing we see be destroyed. (This seems to be a thing in Toho films. It happened in Godzilla 1954, too. –Jimmy)
- In the end, Takarada’s captain decides they will return to the devastated Tokyo. The attendant muses that humans are a unique irony. They will die with their people.
This is a film whose message is still relevant, especially with everything that’s happening right now. I may not be in America currently, but I see what’s going on. We need more compassion and understanding than ever.
That’s all I have to say on the matter for now.
Anyway, join us next week for part two of “The Summer of Mothra” when Bex from Redeemed Otaku returns for Rebirth of Mothra II. Then Jack “GMan” Hudgens joins us to discuss Gorath later this month.
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