Skip to content

Tag: War in Space

Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 34: The MSTies vs. ‘Gamera vs. Barugon’

Published February 17, 2021

I know I’m late posting this week. Again. But that’s what happens when someone lets Barugon out of the kaiju zone on Monster Island and MIBOD (the Board) tasks you with recovering him and installing a new fail-safe in the security system. Mechani-Kong Mk. 2 and I have been busy. Sadly, Jet Jaguar is going through a weird retro phase and was too busy modding himself in my garage to help. However, I’ve finally found some downtime to get this blog written and posted.

My notes/corrections/riffs for episode 34 on, conveniently (hmm…), Gamera vs. Barugon are:

  • I’ve yet to test the shielding against the wrathful lightning of otakus. We have new shielding coming in next month, supplied by Solstice Technologies. I’ve been assured that it can withstand even Godzilla’s atomic breath.
  • Executive produced by Gamera? While I know none of his own movies were produced by him, there are rumors he might be an uncredited producer on Godzilla vs. Kong, but that might only be so he can rub his new “king of the monsters” title in those two’s faces.
  • I may or may not be on the “feed to Barugon list”? Ever seen the post-credits scene in Pacific Rim? I did that before Hannibal Chau. Long story.
  • How to say, “I pity the fool!” in Japanese. (Mic drop).
  • Beriberi is a thiamine (or vitamin B1) deficiency. It doesn’t sound pleasant.
  • The psychiatric admission during the War in Space wasn’t as high as the New Guinea Campaign, but it was potent. Lovecraftian fear of the void is real. Trust me, I know. I may have met an elder god once in my travels in space.
  • It’s Chris “Cook” not “cookie,” Joe. Also, “otaku” isn’t part of his name. However, I lay this goof on Nate because he gave you a poorly written note. I’m sure Chris loves cookies, though, and might even start a second podcast about cookies.

Now, for Nate’s leftover notes:

The Movie

  • Awkward jump cut in early scene because a prop fell down.
  • The color in this does look nice.
  • Here’s a horrific death for the kids. Not really. But it’s the fastest five minutes ever. (This is why I don’t like time travel. –Jimmy)
  • Grenades with fuses instead of pins? Okay. Never seen anything like that. (Actually, old grenades—as in Civil War era—did have fuses. –Jimmy)
  • I just realized this guy has a farmer’s tan. Nice detail. (You’d notice because you have one, Nate. You need a little more time on the Monsterland beaches. –Jimmy)
  • Barugon’s birth is actually pretty effective. It’s weird and creepy and even a bit gross. Yuasa said it was one of his favorite scenes.
  • Barugon appears about 41 minutes in.
  • The random narrator didn’t need to explain what was happening on screen.
  • “We have to strike the monster out of range of its tongue attack.” (Horrible paraphrase).
  • Gamera finally returns almost 53 minutes in!
  • I think Gamera is getting high on Barugon’s breath. (The scientists on the Island tested that theory. Barugon’s breath isn’t a narcotic, thankfully. –Jimmy) 
  • Here’s a science lesson for you! (What science lesson was that? That kaiju like shiny things? –Jimmy)
  • Did everyone forget about Gamera this whole time? (You definitely can’t now! –Jimmy)
  • I can see the wires as Barugon dies. (I could use those wires now! –Jimmy)
  • Commentary:
    • The flashback wasn’t in the film originally. Added for those who didn’t see it.
    • The screenplay originally had the meteor change the capsule’s course and it re-entered the atmosphere.
    • Kurobe Dam is 610 feet tall and Japan’s largest.
    • The koto is the national instrument of Japan. (I took some lessons for it as a kid while living in Japan for a while. –Jimmy)
    • Gamera originally appeared before Barugon was born. Onodera saw the turtle flying, dropped the opal, and it fell under a lamp.
    • The reverence for the war dead’s bones is because not returning them is believed to break family lines and bring bad luck.
    • The Sandy Frank dub mistranslated the line about Barugon’s weakness to water. In the Japanese dialogue, it’s stated he can’t live long in water. (It’s still dubious. –Jimmy)
    • Lake Biwa is the largest freshwater lake in Japan.
  • Other factoids
    • Director Noriaki Yuasa was replaced with Shigeo Tanaka, one of Daiei’s top directors who helmed the prestige picture, The Great Wall (and WWII propaganda films for Daiei). Yuasa became special effects director.
    • It was released on double bill with Daimajin in 1966 during Japan’s “Golden Week” and was considered a major event.

Nate continues to improve his skills at sharing his notes on the Toku Topics. He got through all of them in this episode.

Next week we cover a very different film with the banned Prophecies of Nostradamus, which will feature the return of my former social media nemesis, John LeMay. That film was buried deep in the back of the Vault right next to Half-Human. Then the “Year of Gamera” continues with what might be the most famous (not “infamous”—that’s later) entry in the Titanic Terrapin’s classic movie series: Gamera vs. Gyaos. Nate will be joined by my other (former?) nemesis, Michael Hamilton, and mailman by day, actor by night, Damon Noyes (no relation to Adam).

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a huge ice-breathing reptile to catch with my giant robot ape.

Follow me on Twitter: @NasaJimmy

Follow MIBOD on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD
Follow Raymund Martin (The MIFV Legal Team) on Twitter: @MIFV_LegalTeam
Follow Crystal Lady Jessica on Twitter: @CrystalLadyJes1

#JimmyFromNASALives

#WeShallOvercome

Comments closed

Jimmy’s Notes on ‘Episode 2: The Tourists vs. King Kong (1933)’

Published October 16, 2019

Welcome to the first entry of Jimmy’s Notes! My blog series will feature nitpicks supplements on each episode of The Monster Island Film Vault. Nathan does lots of research and works hard at editing every episode, but he and the Tourists don’t always get stuff right (unlike his intrepid producer) and can’t include everything. I will correct any errors and feature additional information not in the episode–and take the opportunity to riff everyone and get away with it. 😛

So, let’s get started.

Corrections
-Okay, this first one is on me since I write the Entertaining Info Dump. I wrote that King Kong paved the way for Godzilla and the kaiju genre “three decades later” when it was actually two decades later. Apparently, I forgot how to math there for a second. My friends at NASA would be disappointed.

-I also forgot to mention the IMDB score for the film in the Info Dump (oops). It’s 7.9.

-Nathan said “TMC” when he meant “TCM”—twice. Once I can understand, but twice? Was he thinking of the tabloid TMZ and not Turner Classic Movies? I feel insulted for TCM. On a related note, he said it was TCM who added the overture to King Kong in 2005 when it was actually Warner Bros.

-Both Nick and Tim mispronounced “Denham” as “Dunham.” I guess they buy a lot of sporting goods.

-Nathan said the name “Skull Island” is in the novelization of King Kong. It’s not. It was used in RKO’s promotional materials. In the film it’s called “Skull Mountain Island.” I don’t think the name was spoken in a film until either the 2005 remake or Kong: Skull Island. I’ll ask around. I’m sure one of the scientists studying the kaiju will know.

-Nathan calls Kong a monkey when he’s an ape. Even the Tourists corrected him on that during the recording by saying even VeggieTales knows the difference! I should’ve thrown a (Bob the) tomato at him for that.

-Everyone said there was a brontosaurus in this film, but some say the brontosaurus is actually an Apatosaurus. Since most sources say the former, I can’t hold that against them.

-Joe incorrectly said it was the “Monster Island Resort” when it’s the “Monsterland Resort.” An easy mistake, although the Island’s Board of Directors is very particular about keeping the branding straight (which makes me think they should’ve made the name a bit more different, but hey, I just work here).

-Nathan said Son of Kong was released six months after the original when it was actually nine months. He must’ve gotten that cash-grab sequel confused with the other cash-grab sequel starring another famous resident on the Island. ::cough-cough:: Godzilla. ::cough-cough::

Additional Notes: The Film
Now for some things from Nathan’s notebook that weren’t mentioned in the episode. This isn’t all of his notes, but they’re the ones I thought were the most important of what he omitted:

-“Are the natives depicted in a racist fashion? It is weird that a South Seas island has black people on it. I read an essay that went into great detail about this. The chief is played by Noble Johnson, who actually gets listed in the opening credits and is portrayed as a strong man. A black man getting listed like this was unheard of back then.”

-“How convenient for the native warriors that Ann was right there so they didn’t have to go on the ship. They must’ve read the script. :P”

-“Charlie the cook is considered ‘racist’ now, but he is played by Chinese actor and is treated well by everyone. He speaks broken English.”

-“The missing ‘spider pit’ sequence. In script but may or may not have been filmed. Some claim to have seen it. Cut by Cooper because it wrecked the pacing. Recreated by Jackson and WETA. Had a triceratops-like dino. That’s why one sailor looks back while running and why sailors don’t run back on log. I gotta say, if some of them survived, they’re tough hombres!”

-“Schoedsack and Cooper are piloting the plane that kills Kong.”

-“Kong’s origins are ambiguous; the line between science and myth blurred. Part of the appeal. Harry Harrison has a crazy ‘alternate universe’ origin story. Not surprising given he writes alternate history.” (Jimmy here: If I remember correctly, this involved a man being cursed to take the form of a gorilla by island gods).

-“Esther M. Friesner compared the King Kong story to that of Enkidu in The Epic of Gilgamesh and Samson in the Bible because they are strong men undone by beautiful women.”

-“In China, ‘kong’ means ‘strong.’”

Additional Notes: The Depression
-“Optimism persisted despite the crash. John D. Rockefeller said, ‘These are days when many are discouraged. In the 93 years of my life, depressions have come and gone. Prosperity has always returned and will again.’” (Wikipedia)

-“Birthrates for 14 major countries fell 12% from 19.3 births per thousand population in 1930, to 17.0 in 1935. Families wanted to avoid having children until they achieved more financial stability. In Canada, half of Catholic women defied Church teachings and used contraception.” (Wikipedia)

Conclusion
Now that I’ve gotten my first Note out of the way, I need to get back to writing the Entertaining Info Dump for Son of Kong if for no other reason than to remind Nathan of his contractual obligations. 😛

Follow me on Twitter.

#JimmyFromNASALives

Comments closed

Introducing: Jimmy’s Notes

Published August 29, 2019
It’s me, Jimmy From NASA, the intrepid producer of The Monster Island Film Vault.

Hello, folks!

The podcast’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, here. With The Monster Island Film Vault launching next month and recordings underway, it dawned on me that Nate couldn’t share everything he researched about the films. I also learned in our first big recording session with the Tourists (i.e. Nate’s friends) that I couldn’t catch every incorrect fact they brought up. I’m a stickler for details. Like white on rice in a blizzard.

It turns out there’s a clause in the contract we signed that states I get to have a blog on the podcast website. So, after talking this over with Nate (for about 30 seconds), I decided that on the podcast’s off-weeks between episodes (they release the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month), I’ll write and post a blog with everything Nate and the Tourists left out and any corrections on what they said. And trust me, I’ve already got a long list on Nate. There’s a lot more snark coming his way. 😛

Plus, it gives me something to do when I’m not busy here on the Island. All work and no play makes Jimmy a dull boy. And I avoid having flashbacks to the War in Space—

Those horrible spinning egg ships….

My…family….

I’m not crying. No, not at all.

…

Anyway, my first blog will be October 16, the week after Nate and the Tourists cover the 1933 classic King Kong.

#JimmyFromNASALives

#WeShallOvercome

Comments closed