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Tag: tokusatsu

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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NEW PODCAST – Henshin Power V3 (promo trailer)

Published July 3, 2024

Henshin Power V3: Where three friends have three minutes to talk about tokusatsu! Nathan (aka “The TsuBro”) has finished both Henshin Men and The Power Trip, but his friends Chris (aka “Sentai Guy”) and Jake (aka “The Metal Don”) won’t let him stop discussing henshin heroes just yet! A new tokusatsu journey begins July 10, 2024 (Ultraman Day)!

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #HenshinPowerV3

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 94: ‘Pulgasari’ vs. Tomi Trembath

Published June 27, 2024

I’ve survived the infamous War in Space. I battled the Virasians alongside by best friend and Gamera. I’ve seen and done things you can only imagine. But none of it prepared me for North Korea. I questioned the wisdom of the Board for sending us there to do Episode 94 on Pulgasari, and now I’m almost certain they must’ve cut a deal with the “Dear Leader” to make us “disappear.” They knew well that Nate would open his Venus-sized mouth and cause an “international incident.” Sarcasm is his native language, and it’s @#$%-ing illegal in that country! I smell a conspiracy of gay frogs proportions! But maybe I’m just “salty,” as the kids say, because that bullheaded punk, Pulgasari, ate part of my robot and technically ate my fiancée—before he petrified, exploded, and reverted to a baby. It’s been a weird week. Anyway, here are my notes on the episode.

  • The Kims suck at Counterstrike. All they do is try to use rockets. They’ll intentionally avoid using any other weapons but those.
  • I have a memo from Tomi to hound Nate to read Kaijumax. I keep telling him it’s fodder for the podcast, but does he listen to his producer? Negative, Ghost Rider!
  • Russian dolls of oppression are nasty things! I went on a mission toward the tail end of the Cold War to take some out…oh, wait…that’s still classified. I can’t talk about it.
  • I’ll talk to Elijah about acquiring the rights for a “Tickle Me Pulgasari.” After his success with Titanic Creations’ Yongary figure, that should be easy for him.
  • I used to eat farming implements until Tomi Trembath told me to “stop it!” But hey, I had an iron deficiency.
  • I wish I could dive into water when I’m hot and bothered. But then I’d hardly see Kaguya—you know, the reason I’m hot and bothered.
  • You wanted a “Pulgasari freakout face” gif? Here’s your Pulgasari freakout gif. (Although, Nate insists there’s a better shot for it).
  • James Bond movies aren’t real?! WHAT?! I’m rethinking my entire life! Next you’ll tell me, I’m not real!
  • I worked for a different “agitation department.” All we did was pull pranks. We were “Punk’d” before Punk’d.
  • I found an entire article detailing North Korean wedding customs. It’s both funny and depressing. For one thing, you can be arrested for going on a honeymoon (yikes!), but this line reads like something out of The Babylon Bee: “When someone gets married and has a baby in North Korea, people often say that another gun or bomb has been born. Some parents have even named their babies ‘gun’ or ‘bomb.’ That is the power of brainwashing.”

We here at MIFV are still busy, even after escaping North Korea. Depending on timing, our next episode will either be a Patreon pick from The Cel Cast for some kaiju action in Star Wars…and I have mixed feelings about it. Nate is calling it, “The Zillo Beast Saga,” and it will involve a discussion of two episodes of The Clone Wars and three episodes (sorta) of The Bad Batch. Then Nate and his friend Elijah Thomas from Kaiju Conversation have their annual Harryhausen crossover, “Monster Conversation,” with The Golden Voyage of Sinbad. Next month, we move to Thailand (which is already safer than North Korea) to discuss The Lake and recapture its wild monster.

Until next time, remember…we shall overcome!

Social media:

#JimmyFromNASALives      #WeShallOvercome                #MonsterIslandFilmVault

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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:

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Episode 94 Prologue: “The Hunting of the Snarky Nate” (Part 1)

Published June 27, 2024
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Uber-Moguera lands in North Korea, and Nate meets a squad of soldiers on the airfield. He gives their Commander documents showing they have authorization to be in the country–but with one sarcastic comment, Nate finds himself on their “most wanted” list and dodging bullets! Can he survive this international incident?

Featuring Nate Chen as the NK Commander.

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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Special Report #7: ‘Ultraman: Rising’ Ft. Jeff Gomez of Ultraman Connection

Published June 24, 2024

Nathan is joined by the CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, Jeff Gomez, an “ultra-fan” who presides over the website Ultraman Connection, to discuss Netflix’s new animated Ultraman movie. Is it truly one of the best animated films of the year? We get into that and more!

Watch the video version here: https://youtube.com/live/B_pBsvH7CeE.

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.

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #Ultraman            #UltramanRising        #Netflix

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Bonus Episode #17: ‘War of the God Monsters’

Published June 14, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! The South Korean leg of The Monster Island World Tour comes to an end in this bonus episode with a movie that exemplifies what Korean kaiju cinema did wrong before The Host: War of the God Monsters (aka The Flying Monster). This movie, which was released stateside by SRS Cinema, floundered in obscure infamy for years, and with good reason—it stole all of its monster footage from Ultraman! Yep, aside from one life-size prop, there’s nary an original monster in sight. If you thought the stock footage in All Monsters Attack and Gamera: Super Monster was bad, prepare to have those become your new favorite movies! Then Nate answers some listener feedback.

Edited by Christopher Riner with Nathan Marchand.

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.

xr:d:DAF6Frev-3g:6,j:1021606928101988539,t:24011622

Timestamps:

  • Main Discussion: 0:00-16:19
  • Ad (Toku Toy Town): 16:19-17:41
  • Outro – Listener Feedback and Housekeeping: 17:41-29:53
  • Credits: 29:53-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #WaroftheGodMonsters            #SRSCinema

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 93: ‘Godzilla vs. Hedorah’ | Ft. Daniel DiManna, Ben Avery, and Giant Monster BS

Published June 5, 2024

Did Marchand think the mobile studio was a TARDIS? Nah, it was more like a clown car with all those goofballs stuffed in there for Episode 93 on Godzilla vs. Hedorah. At least…that’s what I remember. Because seriously, there shouldn’t have been enough room in there for that many guests; let alone ones with their own soundboard. Not to mention, I haven’t seen any call logs for when we contacted Ben Avery. I’m also feeling weirdly drowsy right now. And Kaguya’s been sleeping for a while. What in the actual Christian hell?! Okay, before I lose my mind (again), let’s get into my notes.

  • GMBS does have crazy fans. You should’ve seen the letters we were getting after they helped us quell Godzilla and Kong’s fight after episode 31. The loudest one was named “ET.” He wasn’t an alien, as far as I could tell.
  • I have a restrictive spam folder. It’s like the shield around Death Star II, only it isn’t being projected from an outside source.
  • I’m talking with Raymund about my stolen personal data. And the slander. What I said wasn’t that bad! I won’t stand for this! I’ll sit!
  • Cat wrangling: it’s only slightly easier than kaiju wrangling. Trust me, I know. My mecha has the scars to prove it despite Sir Lexington’s efforts.
  • Ken is, in fact, a street magician now. And he’s being called to the Island for testing to see if he is a descendent of the Venusians. (PTSD…triggered…)
  • Nate missed the pun he made? He’s going “nuts” and losing his touch.
  • I can confirm Ken spent some years in therapy. In fact, he saw a psychologist who worked extensively with us Kenny’s. It’s why most of us turned out mostly sane. Except that Squirrel kid. He’s still a looney.
  • I called Takashi Miike. He denies being the baby in the mud—mostly because he wants to avoid embarrassing G-Fest appearances like with Hiroyuki Kawase.
  • I helped Gamera take down the King (of the Monsters)! (Okay, it was Karl Craig, but still!)
  • For the life of me, I couldn’t find the name of the animator Banno supposedly originally wanted to hire. Did Nate “Mandela effect” that? Did I…?
  • Regardless, Danny has informed me that the name of the actual animator on the film was Hisashi Yasui.
  • I was shocked having two soundboards didn’t lead to more shenanigans. Nate has a reputation for overusing his on the air.
  • I submitted “buses” as unit of measurements to the Island’s scientists, but it was rejected due to the sizes of buses varying between different types. Clearly, no one remembers the “pirate-ninjas” from The Martian.
  • Godzilla did jump over Zigra once, from what the Island’s scientists have told me. In fact, Godzilla was practicing his flying technique again. Zigra tried to bite a chunk out of him by jumping out of the water and narrowly missed. That probably saved his life.
  • Yes, I do have…government contracts… (smile and nod, just smile and nod…).

Next up, we have a bonus episode on War of the God Monsters (aka The Flying Monster), a weird South Korean kaiju film that stole its monster footage from Ultraman shows. It’ll be a solo episode. Then we nervously venture north to capture Pulgasari. Tomi Trembath of Giant-Sized Violence joins us for that one…remotely. Then the Cel Cast claims their annual Patreon episode, and I’m looking forward to this one…sorta. Nate calls it “The Zillo Beast Saga.” They’re covering the two episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the three episodes of Star Wars: The Bad Batch that featured that titular monster. I’m notorious for hating the Prequel Trilogy, and I’m a bit torn on these shows. Why? #SaveItForTheShow

Until next time, remember…we shall overcome!

Social media:

#JimmyFromNASALives      #WeShallOvercome                #MonsterIslandFilmVault

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Episode 93: ‘Godzilla vs. Hedorah’ | Ft. Daniel DiManna, Ben Avery, and Giant Monster BS | Godzilla Redux

Published June 5, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! It’s a full house (“full mecha”?) in today’s Godzilla Redux episode on the infamous but now-popular-to-like G-film, Godzilla vs. Hedorah (aka Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster). Daniel DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project), Ben Avery (Strangers and Aliens; Welcome to Level 7), and Matt and Gratton of Giant Monster BS all return to discuss the strangest yet arguably most auteur film in the franchise. To say it kicked off the ‘70s G-films with a strange bang would be an understatement. It’s trippy imagery, bizarre monster, and psychedelic pop music all came from the mind of one Yoshimitsu Banno, who despite being rumored for years to have been told he ruined Godzilla, went on to help launch the MonsterVerse. Our panelists unpack that, the film’s subtle-as-a-sledgehammer messages, its co-screenwriter Kaoru Mabuchi/Takeshi Kimura, and much, much more!

Edited by Christopher Riner with Nathan Marchand.

Read “Jimmy’s Notes” on this episode on the MIFV website!

Additional Music:

  • “Return the Sun! (SENTIMENTAL SYNTH COVER)” by Alyssa Charpentier

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, 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: 0:00-14:05
  • Synopsis and Main Discussion: 14:05-2:45:58
  • Outro: 2:45:58-3:01:38
  • Credits: 3:01:58-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #Godzilla            #GodzillaRedux          #GodzillavsHedorah   #GodzillavstheSmogMonster             #Hedorah

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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