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Tag: The Monster Island Film Vault

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.

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MIFV MAX #28: ‘The Mighty Kong’ | Ft. Brendan Morley (Autistic Lizard Productions) (abridged)

Published March 20, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! According to MIFV’s analytics, King Kong (and not Godzilla) is good for business right now, so in this excerpt from our Patreon-exclusive livestream, we’re filling in one of the “gaps” from season 1’s The Kong Quest (ba-dum-tsh!) Brendan Morley joins Nathan to discuss the almost-forgotten animated musical (you read that right), The Mighty Kong (1998). It’s not only the first Kong musical, it’s arguably the best—which isn’t saying much. Still, it has an all-star talent line-up with Jodi Benson (The Little Mermaid) as Ann Darrow, Dudley Moore as “C.B.” Denham, and music by the Sherman Brothers. It can be argued this is the closest Disney has gotten to touching King Kong. Is it good? Depends on which host you ask.

Join MIFV MAX on Patreon to see the uncut livestream version of this episode! (LINK: https://tinyurl.com/MIFV-MAX-28).

YouTube thumbnail by Brendan Morley.

Check out Brendan’s YouTube channel! (https://www.youtube.com/@AutisticLizardProductions).

Listen to “The Kong Quest” episodes on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/mpcw6mvv.

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     #TheMightyKong            #KingKong     #Kong

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 86: ‘The Whale God’ vs. Daniel DiManna vs. Elijah Thomas

Published March 14, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In yet another impromptu episode (because reasons), Nate is joined by Daniel DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project) and Elijah Thomas (Kaiju Conversation) to discuss the semi-obscure Daiei proto-kaiju film, The Whale God. Released in 1962, it was largely unseen outside of Japan until it was released by SRS Cinema this past January. The boys unpack the tremendous talent behind and in front of the camera–including Takashi Shimura, Kojiro Hongo, and Akira Ifukube, among others–its connections to Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, and how it uses elements of J-horror to create a potent period drama. The Toku Topic, thanks to Danny’s in-depth research, is Japanese whaling. Then stay tuned after the credits to hear Elijah try to touch the Whale God!

Buy The Whale God on blu-ray and VHS from SRS Cinema! (https://srscinemastore.com/)

Read “Jimmy’s Notes” on this episode here: https://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/03/14/jimmys-notes-on-episode-86-the-whale-god-vs-daniel-dimanna-vs-elijah-thomas/.

Post-credit scene suggested by Elijah Thomas.

Additional Music:

  • “For Her Soul” by RoeTaKa
  • “Kuwanga Banga” by PirateCrab
  • “Here We Go” by Chris Classic

Additional sound effects sourced from www.Zapsplat.com.

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: 0:00-24:20
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 24:20-32:21
  • Toku Talk: 32:21-1:51:42
  • Ad (Toku Toy Town): 1:51:42-1:53:04
  • Toku Topic (Japanese whaling): 1:53:04-2:21:31
  • Outro: 2:21:31-2:43:48
  • Credits/Post-Credit Scene: 2:43:48-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #TheWhaleGod            #SRSCinema

© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 85 Epilogue: “Jake and Drew, Where are You?”

Published March 4, 2024

Nate, Drew, and Jacob decide to test their mettle by going to a haunted tourist spot in Seoul: Yangma Land, an abandoned theme park. After exploring the place until midnight, they come to a carousel that moves by itself—because it’s being ridden by the little girl ghost who haunts the place! She hears Jacob bark like a dog and chases after him, thinking he’s a puppy. The boys hide in a ride, only to barely escape a nine-tailed fox! But is the solution getting these two supernatural beings to meet?

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.

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault    

© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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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:

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Episode 84 Epilogue: “Davida and Goliathon”

Published February 25, 2024

Nate and Jimmy set their sights on wrangling Utam Goliathon (aka “Ah-Wang”) from the top of Jardine House—only to be interrupted by a confused Kaguya wearing a risqué cosplay bought by Jimmy! This gives Nate the idea to have her talk Goliathon into climbing down the building. But she’s not happy about any of this!

Featuring the final performance of Kim Lacanilao as Kaguya.

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.

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault    

© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

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Episode 84: John LeMay vs. ‘Mighty Peking Man’

Published February 17, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! The most cited man on MIFV, John LeMay, returns for his all-but-mandatory-at-least-once-a-season appearance to discuss the second Shaw Bros. film we’ve covered this season: Mighty Peking Man. This infamous cult classic was a favorite of director Quinton Tarantino, and it’s easy to see why: it’s sleazy yet weirdly artsy. It feels like an exploitation film at points—especially with the gorgeous Evalyn Kraft running around in nothing but a goatskin bikini—but the special effects are remarkably well-executed thanks to Keizo Murase. Since it’s John’s favorite “Kongsploitation” movie, that is the first of two Toku Topics this episode, with the other being the Peking Man fossil, which partly inspired this flick.

Check out this episode’s epilogue, “Davida and Goliathon”!

Read “Jimmy’s Notes” on this episode here: https://monsterislandfilmvault.com/?p=2166. 

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: 0:00-8:08
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 8:08-15:49
  • Toku Talk: 15:49-1:15:58
  • Podcast Ad (Bots, Bugs, and Babes): 1:15:58-1:17:03
  • Toku Topic (“Kongsploitation” and the Peking Man fossil): 1:17:03-1:50:06
  • Outro: 1:50:06-1:57:57
  • Credits: 1:57:57-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #MightyPekingMan            #monsterislandworldtour

© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Jimmy’s Notes on Bonus Episode #15: ‘The Abominable Snowman’ (1957) | Ft. Matt Walsh

Published February 13, 2024

I took the day off thanks to Matt Walsh’s generosity, and let me tell you, his money was well-spent on a day of sightseeing with Kaguya. If you’d like to see what we did, check out my post (tweet?) on Twit-X (which, as Nate says, sounds like the name of a Star Wars character). Regardless, once we returned to our mecha-home away from home, I listened to the AOD (audio on demand) of the bonus episode on The Abominable Snowman (1957), and I have some notes.

  • I was almost fooled by Matt’s impression of Matt. Kaguya, on the other hand, well, she needed me to explain some things. She’s still more perceptive than the internet, though. I’m amazed we weren’t bombarded by hate mail. That says a lot about the Kaiju Lovers. 😊
  • I missed pizza?! (bleep)it!
  • The (in)famous Yeti episode is #55, which you can listen to here.
  • “Faclemped.” Ha! I’m adding that to my daily vocabulary. It’s one of several words that Matt should submit to a word-of-the-day calendar.
  • “Baron Fronkensteen.” Now, I’d pay to see Gene Wilder play the Hammer version of the character.
  • Mr. Cushing will always be Tarkin to me, too. I grew up in America and Japan in the decades leading up to Star Wars, so I didn’t catch these British films.
  • Curse of Frankenstein grossed $8 million overall, which was 70 times its production budget. The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms grossed $5 million against a $200,000 budget.
  • Normally, I throw shade at John, but he and I are mending things now. I do miss the cross-platform flame wars, though.
  • The sequels to The Creature from the Black Lagoon were released in 1955 (Revenge of the Creature) and 1956 (The Creature Walks Among Us), and not the ‘60s, Nate! Do your research! I’d have caught that live.
  • The lowest British movie certificate at the time was “U” for “unrestricted.”
  • Tucker is no Nick Adams! My spirit will beat yours!
  • Can we hire Matt for the opening? “Cures what ails ya?” “The diabetus?” The man has a career in commercials waiting to happen.
  • Untamed Youth wasn’t an Ed Wood movie: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Untamed_Youth.
  • I can confirm the composer of this film is Humphrey Searle.
  • “Scumbucketry.” Again, word-of-the-day calendar.
  • I couldn’t find a “Chandler the Magician,” but I did find Chandu the Magician. It’s a 1932 American film, though. Perhaps Mr. Guest misremembered?
  • Nate does use a Howard Hawks style of podcasting. Trust me, we’ve gotten complaints about it. I try my best to fix it in postproduction for the podcast editions of episodes.
  • I do have a strange appreciation for Caroline Munro, er, Starcrash. It truly is the second-best Star Wars knockoff. 😛
  • Can we trademark “Raquel Welch Effect”? We know a really good lawyer.
  • That’s nine episodes of Godzilla: The Series, Nate: three in episode 45, three in bonus episode 11, and now three in an upcoming episode.

Be sure to read Nate’s research notes on the MIFV Patreon!

Speaking of the next episodes, John LeMay soon returns to discuss Mighty Peking Man (our second Shaw Bros. episode this season), which is known for a blonde hotter than Anne Darrow. (Fight me!) Then, as I said, The Cel Cast returns to discuss the three-part Godzilla: The Series epic “Monster Wars” in place of Destroy All Monsters as part of “Godzilla Redux.” Because reasons.

Until next time, remember…we shall overcome!

Social media:

#JimmyFromNASALives      #WeShallOvercome                #MonsterIslandFilmVault

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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

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