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Episode 97: ‘Godzilla vs. Gigan’ | Ft. Daniel DiManna | Godzilla Redux

Published September 16, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In the longest MIFV episode ever (of all time), Nate is joined by Daniel DiManna of the Godzilla Novelization Project (no surprise why it’s long) to discuss the most underestimated of G-films: Godzilla vs. Gigan (aka Godzilla on Monster Island). They discuss every possible aspect of this film, from its under-funded production to its quirky yet iconic dub and everything in between—and we do mean everything. But the most surprising part of this epic episode is Nate and Danny’s discussion of the historical context in which it was made—a time of market penetration by foreign corporations and the explosion of the popularity of theme parks—the fascinating unmade drafts of its script written by both Shinichi Sekizawa and Takeshi Kimura, and the brilliant meta commentary it makes on Godzilla as a pop culture icon. “There’s something funny going on” in today’s episode of MIFV!

Here’s the Sekizawa and Kimura panel Danny and I hosted at G-Fest 2019: https://youtu.be/D3fROnC-Sso?si=SJjlQ5kie_XYuDRA.

Jimmy’s Notes on this episode COMING SOON! 

Additional Music:

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3!

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, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, 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: 0:00-19:15
  • Main Discussion – Production History and More: 19:15-1:48:27
  • Main Discussion – Film Analysis and Appreciation: 1:48:27-3:40:12
  • Outro (listener feedback and housekeeping): 3:40:12-4:02:41
  • Credits: 4:02:41-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault    #GodzillaRedux                       #Godzilla        #GodzillaVsGigan      #kaiju             

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

  • Danny’s brain
  • Galbraith IV, Stuart. Japanese Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films: A Critical Analysis and Filmography of 103 Features Released in the United States, 1950-1992. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. 1994.
  • “Godzilla vs. Gigan.” IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068371/.
  • “Godzilla vs. Gigan.” Toho Kingdom. https://www.tohokingdom.com/movies/godzilla_vs_gigan.htm.
  • “Godzilla vs. Gigan.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godzilla_vs._Gigan.
  • “Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972).” Wikizilla. https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Godzilla_vs._Gigan.
  • Kaijuvision Radio, Episode 17: Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972) (Globalization/Trade/Corporations, 1972 Winter Olympics) (https://youtu.be/fdq71P6g1ls?si=jlPN9GjthymbH5hD)
  • Kalat, David. A Critical History and Filmography of Toho’s Godzilla Series (2nd edition). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. 2017.
  • LeMay, John. The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies, Volume 1: 1954-1982 (2nd edition).
  • LeMay, John with Ted Johnson. The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies: The Lost Films – Mutated Edition.
  • LeMay, John. Writing Japanese Monsters.
  • Skipper, Graham. Godzilla: The Official Guide to the King of the Monsters. Welbeck Publishing Group. 2022.

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Episode 96 Epilogue: “Mother, May I?”

Episode 96 Epilogue: “Mother, May I?”

Published September 14, 2024

Having located “Big Mama” and her offspring in a Thai cave, Jimmy launches a new drone, the P-2, to lure the creatures out so Ricky’s drones can bag-and-tag them and return to the Island. Nate feels left out, but even Kaguya is busy shopping for wedding dresses online. But when the P-2 is wrecked by Big Mama, Kaguya says they can call her friend May, the now grown girl who found Big Mama’s egg years ago, for help.

Listen to the main episode here: http://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/08/12/episode-96-the-lake-2022-vs-jacob-lyngle/.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3!

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, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Robert Kidd, Leon Campbell, Michael Watson, Edwin Gonzalez, and Erik Pearl! 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    #TheLake2022            #MonsterIslandWorldTour     #Thailand

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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MIFV Interview Series – Dr. Jeffrey Angles

Published September 5, 2024

Nathan interviews Dr. Jeffrey Angles, who translated the original novelizations of Godzilla (1954) and Godzilla Raids Again by Shigeru Kayama and got them published outside of Japan. These gave G-fans new insights into the production of these films and Japanese genre fiction. He’s currently working to get The Luminous Fairies and Mothra translated and published. This was a book commissioned by Toho that became the film Mothra in 1961. Dr. Angles even reads an excerpt from his translation (an MIFV exclusive!).

Watch the original version here: https://www.youtube.com/live/k-EJay-FZCE?si=R47UBu4mQMHsiqyM.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men, The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3.

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, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, 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    

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Episode 96: ‘The Lake’ (2022) vs. Jacob Lyngle

Published August 12, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! With Korea finally behind them—much to Nate’s relief—he and Jimmy migrate to Thailand. There they are joined by the founder and editor of Kaiju United, your premiere kaiju website, to discuss the ambitious “thaiju” (ba-dum-tsh!) film, The Lake (2022). Jacob had the privilege of interviewing its director, Lee Thongkham, for KU, which is frequently referenced in this episode since there is shockingly little info online for this film. Not even the usual kaiju wiki pages have anything! Regardless, it’s an ambitious little movie, and compared to some of Thailand’s other giant monster fare, it’s practically a masterpiece. (Looking at you, Garuda!) Thongkham said his film was inspired by local legends of a serpent god, which inspired Nate to research the naga as this episode’s Toku Topic.

Jimmy’s Notes on this episode COMING SOON! 

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3!

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, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Robert Kidd, Leon Campbell, Michael Watson, Edwin Gonzalez, and Erik Pearl! 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: 0:00-17:40
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 17:40-26:41
  • Toku Talk: 26:41-1:41:07
  • Ad (Henshin Power V3): 1:41:07-1:43:16
  • Toku Topic (The Naga): 1:43:16-2:18:58
  • Outro (listener feedback and housekeeping): 2:18:58-2:40:17
  • Credits: 2:40:17-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault    #TheLake2022            #MonsterIslandWorldTour     #Thailand

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading COMING SOON!

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MIFV Interview Series – Elijah Thomas

Published August 1, 2024

While Nathan catches up on his podcast production (watch for updates), join him as he launches yet another subseries by interviewing his friend and fellow podcaster, Elijah Thomas (Kaiju Conversation), who is also an aspiring filmmaker. They discuss Elijah’s new short film, Edo Kami no Gyakushu, which premiered at G-Fest XXIX. They’ll also discuss the perils and perks of indie filmmaking, especially in the kaiju/toku sphere.

Watch the original version here: https://www.youtube.com/live/Ueqo3Kq2iOI?si=RyRKXwtyastmVmgz.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men, The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3.

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, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, 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    

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Episode 95: “The Zillo Beast Saga” | Ft. The Cel Cast | Star Wars: The Clone Wars & The Bad Batch | Patreon

Published July 10, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In our second Patreon pick of season 4, Nate is joined by Drew Dodgen of The Cel Cast (his co-host, Jacob, was too busy planning a wedding to come) to discuss kaiju in Star Wars! Specifically, the Zillo Beast, who appeared in two episodes of The Clone Wars  and three episodes (sorta) of its spin-off, The Bad Batch. This was an episode that grew since it was requested, going from two episodes of TV to five. Nate and Drew unpack all the kaiju tropes and homages throughout the “Zillo Beast Saga,” and Drew gives us a crash course in the history of Star Wars in animation. Meanwhile, MIFV’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, pops a few veins with all the prequel talk.

Jimmy’s Notes on this episode COMING SOON on the MIFV website!

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men, The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3.

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, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, 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: 0:00-12:09
  • The Clone Wars (background): 12:09-35:25
  • The Clone Wars – “The Zillo Beast”: 35:25-1:02:03
  • The Clone Wars – “The Zillo Beast Strikes Back”: 1:02:03-1:24:59
  • The Bad Batch – Background and “Metamorphosis”: 1:24:59-1:54:13
  • The Bad Batch – “Flash Strike” and “The Cavalry has Arrived”: 1:54:13-2:13:23
  • Toku Topic: A Brief History of Animated Star Wars: 2:13:23-2:33:46
  • Outro and Housekeeping: 2:33:46-2:54:57
  • Credits: 2:54:57-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault    

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 94 Epilogue: “The Hunting of the Snarky Nate” (Part 2)

Published July 4, 2024

No sooner is the broadcast finished does what seems like the entire North Korean military bombard Uber-Moguera in retaliation for Nate’s sarcasm. When that fails, they lure a very hungry Pulgasari to the airfield, and seeing the mecha as a huge piece of exotic metal food, he attacks. Unable to fight him off, Nate suggests one last desperate measure—that requires the metal minotaur to eat Kaguya!

Listen to Part 1: http://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/06/27/episode-93-prologue-the-hunting-of-the-snarky-nate-part-1/

Listen to the main episode: http://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/06/27/episode-93-pulgasari-vs-tomi-trembath/

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. Henshin Power V3 coming July 10, 2024 (Ultraman Day)!

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, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, 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

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Monster Conversation Harryhausen Annual #3: ‘The Golden Voyage of Sinbad’

Published June 29, 2024

In Nate and Elijah’s epic triple birthday celebration with Ray Harryhausen (“Yours, Mine, and Ray’s”), they continue their annual crossover with The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973). While they’re going in reverse chronological order, they agree with this is a “step up” from Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, which they discussed last year. It helps that it has the incredible Tom Baker (of Doctor Who fame) as the villain and the eye candy that is Caroline Munro. The film also has a cameo by Robert Shaw (Quint from Jaws) in a Shakespearean role. Nate and Elijah discuss how the film reflects changing attitudes toward racial and gender equality in the early 1970s and the symbolic freedom of the sea. They even get into a couple of “Toku Topics,” like the literary origins of Sinbad the Sailor and a lawsuit this film was a part of.

Additional Music:

  • “Legends of Warcraft” by PSK
  • “The Dark Ages” by Phil Rey

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. Henshin Power V3 coming July 10, 2024 (Ultraman Day)!

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, 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: 0:00-7:25
  • Synopsis and Production History: 7:25-56:42
  • Toku Talk (Main Discussion): 56:42-2:29:15
  • Toku Topics: 2:29:15-2:59:33
  • Outro: 2:59:33-3:12:36
  • Credits: 3:12:36-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #RayHarryhausen            #Sinbad           #GoldenVoyageofSinbad

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 94: ‘Pulgasari’ vs. Tomi Trembath

Published June 27, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! Nate and Jimmy venture across the 38th parallel into North Korea to cover the most infamous kaiju film ever made and recapture its star monster: Pulgasari. Tomi Trembath of the Giant-Sized Violence podcast, who grew up with its strange American remake, The Adventures of Galgameth, joins Nate via video call (for obvious reasons) to discuss this “North Korean Godzilla,” which is surrounded by urban legends and even wilder true stories. It’s a pseudo-remake of a lost South Korean film and, arguably, the Daimajin trilogy–because it’s an ’80s movie that looks like a grungy ’60s movie. (Thanks, “Dear Leader”!) But it saved the life of its kidnapped director, Shin Sang-ok, and his actress wife, Choi Eun-hee, which is the subject of our Toku Topic.

Listen to this episode’s prologue: https://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/06/27/episode-93-prologue-the-hunting-of-the-snarky-nate-part-1/.

Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode on the MIFV website! (https://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/06/27/jimmys-notes-on-episode-94-pulgasari-vs-tomi-trembath/).

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. Henshin Power V3 coming July 10, 2024 (Ultraman Day)!

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, 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.

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Timestamps:

  • Introduction: 0:00-6:45
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 6:45-14:57
  • Toku Talk: 14:57-1:14:50
  • Ad (Toku Toy Town): 1:14:50-1:16:12
  • Toku Topic (The Story of Shin Sang-ok and Choi Eun-hee): 1:16:12-2:00:12
  • Outro: 2:00:12-2:14:30
  • Credits: 2:14:30-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault    

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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