Skip to content

The Monster Island Film Vault Posts

Episode 33: ‘Submersion of Japan’ (feat. Adam Noyes)

Published January 27, 2021

Hello, kaiju lovers!

Nate is joined by podcaster/YouTuber/filmmaker Adam Noyes to cover something a bit different this week: the original 1973 tokusatsu disaster film Submersion of Japan (aka Japan Sinks). Think of it as a kaiju film without a kaiju. It’s based a novel by Sakyo Komatsu, who Adam describes as “the Japanese Michael Crichton.” The novel was a blockbuster, and this film was an even bigger hit. You can tell this was what Toho invested most of their money into and not Godzilla vs. Megalon that year. Adam and Nate discuss the film’s better-than-Hollywood special effects, the horribly truncated and re-edited U.S. version called Tidal Wave made by Roger Corman, and the film’s wrestling with Japanese national identity, among other things.

Also, Nate’s “pseudo-sister” magical girl superheroine clone, Jessica, meets him just before the broadcast to let him know she just moved back to Monster Island. He’s…overjoyed.

Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode.

Featuring Sarah Marchand as the voice of Jessica Shaw.

Prologue script by Nathan Marchand.

Music: “A weird thing” by Chiro.
Sound FX sourced from Freesound.org.

The episode thumbnail was created by Michael Hamilton.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; and Damon Noyes! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:
Prologue: 0:00-2:45
Main Discussion: 2:45-51:54
Outro: 51:45-end

Podcast Social Media:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy
Follow the Monster Island Board of Directors on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD
Follow the Raymund Martin on Twitter: @MIFV_LegalTeam

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

Jimmy’s Notes on ‘Episode 32: The MSTies vs. Gamera the Giant Monster’

Published January 18, 2021

Welcome to 2021—which has been a lot like 2020 so far. (Long story I’m not at liberty to tell).

Regardless, here’s my first “Jimmy’s Notes” blog for season two and the Year of Gamera. While the movie was “freakishly mediocre,” as Nate said, the episode itself was good…despite some all-too-convenient Board mandates. That being said, I did make a few notes, as I always do.

  • The Mysterian invasion was in 1957, not 1956, Nate.
  • I’m happy to report that Toshio “Kenny” Sakurai is still alive. In fact, he was a guest of honor, along with Asagi Kusanagi, at the recently-held Gamera: King of the Monsters Banquet here on the Island.
  • According to Wikipedia, “Chibi is derived from the verb 禿びる (chibiru), which means ‘to wear out and become shorter’ (the tip of something). Chibi-debu (ちびデブ or チビデブ) is used to describe something or someone that is both short and chubby. Chibi can be translated as ‘little’ (e.g. Chibi Maruko-chan, which means Little Miss Maruko), but it is not used the same way as chiisana [小さな] and chiisai [小さい] (‘tiny’, ‘small’, ‘little’ in Japanese), but rather ‘cute.’”
  • Michiko Sugata, who played “Kenny’s” sister, was actually 20 when she was in this movie, so it wasn’t unreasonable to pass her off as a teenager.
  • “Precocious adult,” am I? I guess that’s how you get labeled when you’ve been in the U.S. Air Force and NASA and built two giant robots. Don’t be hatin’! 😛
  • Oh, that kid who teamed with Gamera to pull pranks on the other kaiju was annoying! I think his name was Kevin.
  • Actually, yes, turtles and tortoises can flip themselves off their backs without using inexplicable jets in their shells. Read here.
  • I did a little digging and consulted John LeMay, but I can’t find anything anywhere that says “Commander Curly” and the other American soldiers were played by real U.S. servicemen stationed in Japan. That was sometimes done by Toho, though.
  • Nate, we only yell at each other every other workday. 😛
  • According to my sources, the “freeze bombs” were cadmium, which isn’t quite the same. Sorta.
  • But freeze bombs are cool!

And now for Nate’s first batch of leftover notes in 2021:

The Movie

  • Director Noriaki Yuasa was rotund, jolly, and “cuddly” and relatively untested. (Throw a beard on him, and he could be Santa Claus. –Jimmy)
  • Starts in North Pole like Beast (from 20,000 Fathoms). Nuclear test awakens monster like Beast. The difference is there are natives (Eskimos), which was a common trope in kaiju films, and the bombing came from Cold War issues. Implicitly Soviet bomb.
  • I can see the wires on the planes quite easily. (The drawbacks of hi-def. –Jimmy)
  • They waste no time and have Gamea show up in five minutes.
  • I don’t understand why the Eskimos speak English. Interestingly, the chief is wearing a crucifix. Implied Catholic?
  • The kids run when Gamera is mentioned. Not bad. “We’re being jammed!’ says the radio operator. By who? Gamera? Soviets? Aliens? (All of the above? –Jimmy)
  • The foreign newspapers all say, “Gamela.” (Japanese swaps L’s and R’s. –Jimmy)
  • Old drunk says Gamera is a “will-o-wisp.” His scene is too dark (lighting).
  • Gamera is a ninja. He magically disappears for a second. (He is the true fifth Ninja Turtle. But is he a teenager? Maybe that’s why he never got in. That and not being named after a Renaissance artist. –Jimmy)
  • Don’t worry, Toshio, you won’t get cancer from the radioactive turtle! (Actually, he didn’t! –Jimmy)
  • Toshio built Chibi a little rock house. And pseudo-beach music plays. Oh yeah. Chibi is totally a mutant turtle now. Yep. (Nope. The scientists have confirmed Gamera isn’t Chibi. -Jimmy).
  • The airplane pilot has radio trouble. Is this one of Gamera’s superpowers? Radio interference?
  • “By boring.” Describes the movie.
  • That’s great. Shoot the big turtle in his shell. Definitely his weak spot.
  • What a wonderful name for a hot springs resort: Hell’s Rock. Is it run by a Mr. Morningstar? (As in the comic book character? –Jimmy)
  • Oh, Tokyo Tower. A kaiju’s favorite target.
  • Toshio says Gamera attacks because he’s lonely and has no friends. So, he’s the goth kid in high school? (More like the nerd in high school. I should know. –Jimmy)
  • So, Gamera was eating radiation before it was cool. Take that, Godzilla?
  • Gamera says, “I’m crashing your party! No fun for you!” (Now he’s a party animal! –Jimmy)
  • “Gamera, don’t do anything bad!” Kid, he already has! Toshio bought a lot of stock in an Egyptian river.
  • Oh, yeah. These reporter characters are still here. I forgot about them because the movie forgot about them.
  • How is this kid getting access to this military operation? (This happened a few times when I was in the Air Force. It was part of a short-lived “kid consultant” program inspired by Gamera kids. I may or may not have played a part in forming it. –Jimmy)
  • Gamera is going to smash those bath toys.
  • “Yummy fire!”
  • Toshio may have gotten Gamera to leave. Then the crazy reporter starts lighting up buildings to get Gamera to come back. Then everyone goes full-tilt arsonist!
  • A countdown in English. Like Luke said, it must be a thing in Japan.

Toku Topic: Energy Consumption in Japan

Energy use and energy independence in Japan

  • Currently, Japan gets 10% of its energy from renewables, with the Fourth Strategic Energy Plan setting the goal of increasing that to 24% by 2030. Japan intends to invest over $700 billion in renewables over the next decade or so. Their primary renewable is hydroelectricity, with 1,198 small hydropower plants supplying 6.6% of the total hydropower. Unfortunately, these small plants are expensive to operate.
  • In addition, Japan has also explored wind power and waste/biomass energy mas well as experimental tidal and wave power plants in coastal regions.
  • Interestingly, unlike most industrial countries, Japan has two national grids instead a unified grid. One in the east and one in the west.

There were fewer leftover notes from the Toku Topic section than I expected. Nate is getting better about not overdoing it.

Join us next week for as Nate continues his series on Toho classics with a very different film (well, compared to what we normally cover): Submersion of Japan (aka Japan Sinks) from 1973. He was joined by Adam Noyes (pronounced like “noise”) of AN Productions, who jumped at the chance to talk about this film, which was a massive hit in Japan but is largely overlooked in the States. Then the Year of Gamera continues next month with Gamera vs. Barugon. Nate’s friends Joe and Joy Metter are returning—and once again Nate won’t get the chance to watch the MST3K episode of a Gamera movie. He has my sympathies.

Follow me on Twitter: @NasaJimmy

Follow the Board on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD

#JimmyFromNASALives

#WeShallOvercome

Comments closed

Episode 32: The MSTies vs. ‘Gamera the Giant Monster’ (feat. Nick Hayden and Timothy Deal)

Published January 13, 2021

Hello, kaiju lovers! And welcome to MIFV season two!

Much to Nate’s chagrin, the Board-mandated “Year of Gamera” begins with the “freakishly mediocre” 1965 movie Gamera the Giant Monsters (or Daikaiju Gamera). So saddened by this is Nate that he visits the Monster Island Chapel and speaks with Rev. Mifune, the Island’s chaplain. The reverend suggests watching the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes that featured Gamera films so Nate could at least get a good laugh watching them. But when Nate meets up with his friends, first season two Tourists Nick Hayden and Timothy Deal of the Derailed Trains of Thought podcast, they receive a voicemail from the Board’s executive assistant, Ms. Perkins, saying the Tourists can watch the MST3K episodes but Nate must watch the original Japanese cuts so they can compare notes. Talk about a buzzkill! The first Toku Topic of 2021 is energy consumption in Japan because Nate read an essay that argues Gamera represents that in this movie.

Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode.

Featuring the voices of:
-Nate Chen as Rev. Mifune
–Celeste Mora as Ms. Perkins

Prologue and voicemail scripts by Nathan Marchand.

Music: “A Maiden’s Prayer” by RebeccaETripp (OCRemix)

Sound FX sourced from Freesound.org, including “Running Loud” by dersuperanton.

The episode thumbnail was created by Michael Hamilton.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio), and Bex from Redeemed Otaku! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:
Prologue: 0:00-2:59
Intro: 2:59-14:05
Entertaining Info Dump: 14:05-23:42
Toku Talk: 23:42-1:03:01
Advertisement: 1:03:01-1:03:54
Toku Topic: 1:03:54-1:31:42
Outro: 1:31:42-end

Podcast Social Media:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy
Follow the Monster Island Board of Directors on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

Monster Island Gaming | Shadow of the Colossus (PS4) (Part 2…Sorta)

Published January 9, 2021

Here’s the video of my Shadow of the Colossus livestream from last night.

Nate continues from where he left off for his #EXTRALIFE playthrough of Shadow of the Colossus for Theology Gaming Twitch channel. It’d been a long time since he’d played the original PS2 version of the game (this was the PS4 remake), so he didn’t remember much of the game or how to defeat each colossus. He interacts with several listeners and past guests, including Damon Noyes and Ben Avery. Ben’s 10-year-old son rooted for Nate every step of the way.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our Patreon patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio), and Bex from Redeemed Otaku! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can support us on Patreon and get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterisland…)

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Podcast Social Media:
Twitter (https://twitter.com/TheMonsterIsla1)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MonsterIslan…)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/monsterisla…)

Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy (https://twitter.com/NasaJimmy) Follow the Monster Island Board of Directors on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD (https://twitter.com/MonsterIslaBOD)

© 2020 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Comments closed

Episode 31.5: MIFV Season 2 Promo – ‘The Year of Gamera!’

Published January 6, 2021

Next week–much to Nate’s chagrin–MIFV begins the Board-mandated “Year of Gamera”! Twelve months, twelve movies–but only four of them are good! Hear all about what to expect from MIFV in 2021 in this promo!

Music: “Gammera” by The Moons

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

Jimmy’s Notes on ‘Episode 31: Space Amoeba (feat. Giant Monster BS)’

Published January 5, 2021

Well, that was one hell of an adventure! With shipping being delayed by the pandemic and the holidays (and shady Chinese mech part sellers on eBay…), it took forever for me to get everything I needed to complete Mechani-Kong Mk. 2. But I am not one to waste anything—especially expensive alien and future tech—which is why I used the leftovers to make Uber-Moguera. It was challenging enough making the parts I salvaged from the Mysterian and G-Force models compatible my rebuilt mechanical monkey. I studied Dr. Who’s original blueprints (no thanks to Michael Hamilton for stealing my annotated Godzilla Compendium…) and consulted with some of the Jaeger builders at the Shatterdome. I was surprised to learn that Jet Jaguar, in addition to his size-changing and other abilities, did have some robotics knowledge in his massive cerebral hard drive. He was the best assistant I could’ve asked for.

Sadly, as Nathan, er, Nate and the Giant Monster BS boys learned, Uber-Moguera has some…issues that need ironed out. As in he needs to be finished. Combining Mysterian and pseudo-Futurian tech has proven to be more difficult than I expected. I’ll get it done, though. Having a pair of mechas on the Island for work and defense will come in handy. I’m sure the Board is planning…something to do with them.

Anyway, concerning episode 31:

Here are my notes on the discussion of Space Amoeba:

  • They forgot to mention that the English-language title for this movie was Yog, Monster from Space. I’m guessing “Yog” is the name for the collective of non-corporeal aliens and not the kaiju. I’m not sure which one would have that name.
  • Why didn’t I remind you, Nate, about the hotel aspect of the plot? Sometimes you have to let people fail to learn the best lesson.
  • “Jimothy”? I’ve been called worse. Not “Jimbo,” though. I’m okay with that. Sorta.
  • I have a pile of tires from maser cannons. I was able to get one to fit the Weedmobile.
  • The lobster fighting game is not “Battle Crab.” It’s Fight Crab.
  • As Rev. Mifune would say, “When I was a child, I reasoned like a child, and when I became an adult, I put away childish things.” I now think space is even more preferable to Earth. I mean, have you been on Twitter lately? 😛

These are Nate’s leftover notes on the film:

Space Amoeba Notes:

  • Released in 1970, the year…Kurosawa attempted suicide.
  • This is not to be confused with “The Immunity Syndrome.” (Yes, the Star Trek episode that has a literal giant amoeba in space. –Jimmy)
  • The rocket is clearly a model.
  • Helois 7 is going to Jupiter because we got to the moon. (Jupiter has the famous Great Red Spot, but I can tell you from experience Venus is more fun and safe to visit. –Jimmy)
  • Tsuburaya would’ve been happy because he’d make another octopus-style monster. (Except this one he can’t eat. –Jimmy)
  • Straw hats and cigarettes. There’s a band name for you. (I’ll add it to the list of bands performing at the Island’s next music festival. –Jimmy)
  • He thought the matamata turtle was a monster. Take that, Gamera! (Do not insult the king! –Jimmy)
  • The mark on Rico’s body looks like frostbite…or a hickey. (No kink-shaming. 😛 –Jimmy)
  • Here we go again: eye candy native girl. It’s a staple of these island films. (It’s a trope I can get behind. 😛 –Jimmy)
  • Seriously, what does this guy think he’s gonna do to Gezora with a knife? (I fought a giant squid with a knife once. –Jimmy)
  • Catch it and put it in a show. He sounds like Clark Nelson now.
  • The animated tentacle looks goofy.
  • Gamine and Kamoebas are better-looking suits, but they aren’t as “popular” as Gezora. Kamoebas appeared later as a dead body in Tokyo SOS.
  • Kudo shoots Ganime in more ways than one (gun and camera). (Haha. –Jimmy)
  • Obata is going around burning lots of bats.
  • A man of science says humans have souls. Hot dang! Obata’s soul is fighting the aliens.
  • The bats are circling Ganime and Kamoeba like vultures. Okay.
  • Did they just use the same panning shot of the characters again? (Probably. –Jimmy)

Honda Biography

  • It was originally written in 1966 as part of the deal between Toho and UPA. It was a global story on the scale of Gorath with monsters invading from space and submerging entire continents. When it was revived three years later, it was scaled back to the South Seas. The filmmakers hoped to recapture the old magic, so the film became like a “best of reel.” Tanaka, who was too busy to produce it, thought it was too much of a retread.
  • There was constant pressure to stay on budget. Honda wanted to film on Guam, but that was canceled and he filmed on Hachijo Island, the “Hawaii of Japan,” 170 miles south of Tokyo.
  • The experience on this film was unmemorable for those involved. They spoke and wrote little of it. Regardless, it was the last Toho sci-fi film made on the old studio system.
  • “My nightmares are almost always about war—wandering the streets, searching for something that’s lost forever. But it’s possible for me to will myself to have pleasant dreams. For me, the most wonderful fragrance in the world is new film. You open the canister for the first time and breathe deeply. That night, the same wonderful fragrance fills your dreams. It’s grand.” –Honda, 1992

LeMay – Big Book

  • Originally, Yoshio Tsuchiya was to play Obata, but he let Sahara have the role.

Brothers

  • Possible theme of the destruction of natural beauty but not developed.

And so ends season one of MIFV (not counting the bonus episode, of course).

We just did the live broadcast of the season two premiere, and it was…interesting, to say the least. You’ll hear it next week when “The Year of Gamera” begins with a discussion of 1965’s Gamera the Giant Monster. Then for the first mini-sode of 2021, Nate is joined by podcaster/YouTuber/amateur filmmaker Adam Noyes of AN Productions to discuss the rare but excellent Submersion of Japan from 1973.

Despite everything that happened in 2020, I truly believe we shall overcome!

Follow me on Twitter: @NasaJimmy

Follow the Board on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD

#JimmyFromNASALives

#WeShallOvercome

1 Comment

Bonus Episode 6: Power Rangers In Space – Countdown to Destruction, Part 2′ (feat. Chris Cooke)

Published December 30, 2020

Hello, kaiju (and toku) lovers!

Nathan has been mandated by the Board to archive episodes of Power Rangers in the film vault. Their executive assistant, Ms. Perkins, was particularly insistent on him starting with Power Rangers In Space, for some reason. So, as a special bonus episode to close out 2020 and season one, Nathan and Chris Cooke (host of “One Cross Radio”) recorded a pair of watch-along episodes for that series’ two-part finale, “Countdown to Destruction.” While Chris is a “Power Fan,” Nathan went into this two-parter relatively cold, so you’ll hear his honest reactions live. Chris and Nathan also mention fun factoids about this epic episode as well as the series itself and the Power Rangers franchise (including a possible relative of Nate’s who served as a screenwriter and story editor on it!) MIFV’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, pipes in a few times and accuses Nathan of having a crush on the show’s big bad, Astronema, which earns him some potent sass. Stay tuned after the credits to hear the return of MIFV’s mascots—and the introduction of another one!

To hear part one of this watch-along, check out the latest episode of One Cross Radio. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, kaiju lovers!

The episode thumbnail was created by Michael Hamilton.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our Patreon patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio), and Bex from Redeemed Otaku! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can support us on Patreon and get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Podcast Social Media:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy
Follow the Monster Island Board of Directors on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault

© 2020 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

1 Comment

Episode 31: ‘Space Amoeba’ (feat. Giant Monster BS)

Published December 23, 2020

Hello. kaiju lovers!

The end has come…for MIFV’s first season, that is. It was supposed to be an epic episode on Godzilla vs. Kong…but instead Nathan is joined by Matt and Gratton from the “Giant Monster Ben Shapiro,” er, “BS” podcast to discuss Space Amoeba (aka Yog, Monster from Space), a weird lesser classic from the Toho tokusatsu library. Released in 1970, it marked a shift in the Showa era for Toho films. This was the year special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya died, the studio contract system was discontinued in Japan, and Ishiro Honda left Toho, just to name a few big changes. Jet Jaguar hung out with the intrepid Jimmy From NASA in the producer booth to act as a “dump button” in case the GMBS boys went full-tilt HBO on a family show. They along with Nathan discuss the film’s quirky characters and plot, its three well-executed but almost forgotten monsters, and the wonders of the “Weedmobile” before Jimmy is called away to quell a rowdy Godzilla and Kong with his newly rebuilt Mechani-Kong. That goes about as well as you’d expect, so Nathan, Matt, and Gratton have to pilot another giant robot to save his intrepidness.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, kaiju lovers!

Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode.

Listen to Matt and Gratton’s episode on Space Amoeba.

The prologue and epilogue were written by Nathan Marchand.

This episode features sound effects sourced from www.FreeSound.org, Brand Name Audio, and the Pipeworks/Atari Godzilla video games.

The music tracks heard in this episode are “Global Defense Force: Moguera” by Heavy Melody Music (from the Godzilla Unleashed OST) and “King Kong 2 – Main Theme (Metal Cover)” by Sharp Rain Music.

The episode thumbnail was created by Michael Hamilton.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our Patreon patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio), and Bex from Redeemed Otaku! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can support us on Patreon and get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!

This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Podcast Social Media:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy
Follow the Monster Island Board of Directors on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault

© 2020 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

  • The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies Volume 1: 1954-1982 by John LeMay
  • Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa by Steve Ryfle and Ed Godzisewski
  • Japanese Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films: A Critical Analysis and Filmography of 103 Features Released in the United States 1950-1992 by Stuart Galbraith IV
  • Kaijuvision Radio, Episode 53: Space Amoeba (1970) (Japanese Colonialism in Oceania)
  • Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda by Peter H. Brothers
  • Writing Giant Monsters by John LeMay

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

1 Comment

Jimmy’s Notes on ‘Episode 30: Latitude Zero (Mini-Analysis)’

Published December 16, 2020

So…this episode. There’s much I want to say…but I’m not at liberty to do so. There were some…top secret items discussed off the air. Very top secret. That’s all I can say for the moment. Our meeting with Ms. Perkins was quite informative. Eye-opening, even. She made Nathan, er, Nate and me privy to some information that will change how we do the show, and we only announced a little bit of it. Let’s just say next season we’ll be helping you all find a better way forward.

As for my notes, I don’t have many bullet points of my own this time around. Mostly, I’m just going to comment on some things that were said.

I was wrong about the Godzilla vs. Kong premiere. That’s not easy to admit. As the “intrepid” producer of MIFV, it’s my responsibility to fact check Nate, but I should’ve fact checked myself. I got caught up in the excitement of a world premiere on the Island six months before its scheduled release (which would’ve been even better given Warner Bros.’s controversial decision to send it to theaters and HBO Max on the same day). Nate had every right to say, “I don’t you so.”

I am happy to report that there will still be a premiere here on Monster Island in May, barring any other unforeseen shenanigans. (Latitude Zero’s COVID-19 vaccine can’t get distributed fast enough).

By the way, if you’re interested in learning more about the Latitude Zero Resort in Indonesia (not that I’d endorse anyone who might be competition for the Island), here’s their website.

And now for Nate’s leftover notes from the film…which is most of them since he focused on utopias.

Latitude Zero notes:

  • I watched the “original Japanese version” for this episode. Dubious because this was made for the US market and filmed in English. I watched the US version before. (Good thing I picked up some Japanese when my family lived in Japan for a few years. I’ll tell you more about that when we get to a certain Gamera film. –Jimmy)
  • Of course the largest ocean liner is named Fuji. (If it was an American ship, it’d be the Denali. Hmm. Not as cool-sounding, I guess. –Jimmy)
  • Nick Hayden joked (in episode 28) that Dr. Elson would smoke in sub, and Masson tries to here!
  • “20 fathoms”? Try 20,000! (It’s like Scotty on Star Trek: always multiplying his estimates by a thousand. –Jimmy)
  • Did Takarada dub himself back into Japanese? It’d be weird if he didn’t. (That seems likely since Wikizilla only lists dub actors for the American cast members. –Jimmy)
  • This explosion at the beginning looks amazing! Probably done using classic technique or pouring colored liquids into water and flipping the film and superimposing it.
  • This is much like The Green Slime in that it feels more like an American production that just happened to be made by Japanese people.
  • Dr. Ann Barton looks like she came straight off the set of Star Trek. Only there could a lady scientist have a backless top, miniskirt, and go-go boots. One guy even says she doesn’t “look” like a doctor. “What’s a doctor supposed to look like?” (I’m not complaining. –Jimmy)
  • The plaque says, “The Alpha. Launched June 21, 1805. Stornaway Harbour, Hebrides.” Scotland.
  • “Frank speed?” Sounds like a comic book character.
  • Ah, Dr. Malik. Played the unconquerable Caesar Romero. He’s one of the few true supervillains in Toho’s Showa films. Could he be a Sentai villain? Home base. Minions. A general. Makes monsters. Super vehicles. Blood Rock on an island. “Malik” means murderer (probably derived from “malice.”) (I wonder if he invested in the Island? –Jimmy)
  • This submarine chase looks pretty good. I wish could say the same for all the effects that follow. This feels like a Star Trek battle, complete with shaking camera. McKenzie eludes the Black Shark using superior and clever tactics.
  • You know, I could almost see this being an episode of Star Trek with some tweaks. (Me too. –Jimmy)
  • 11,000 fathoms? 9,000 more and you’ll find THE BEAST! (THE BEAST! THE BEAST!FROM 20,000 FATHOM! I couldn’t resist.  –Jimmy)
  • Great matte paintings. Reminds me of an episode of TNG set on idyllic planet where the only penalty is death. (I remember that for other reasons. –Jimmy)
  • Gold is harvested from seawater (okay…) and used for clothing because it’s cheap and plentiful. Diamonds are only used as cutting tools.
  • Lawton says there’s no moon or stars there, so you can’t have everything. He says everyone Mackenzie mentioned was there supposedly died. Tashiro even jokes that it might be Heaven (Paradise). Lawton theorizes McKenzie kidnapped those people and brainwashed them. Or drugs that induced hallucinations.
  • Those models on the map are props in the special effects department (Leave the riffing to me, Nate. –Jimmy)
  • Dr. Odaka has made a serum that immunizes against radiation and naturally everyone wants it. (Yeah, that’s one they should’ve shared with the world. –Jimmy)
  • Oh, the “Bat Men.” Do they fight Kamen Rider later? Nakajima is one of them. They don’t look great.
  • All the Asian people are subservient to the foreigners. Cleat mark of American story.
  • Caesar Romero’s scenes veer closer to Batman ’66.
  • They’re bathing in Ecto-Cooler (in the Bath of Immunity).
  • What if the bath didn’t work and you shot them? (Sounds like a debate question. –Jimmy)
  • That lion looks horribly fake. (You look horribly fake! 😛 –Jimmy)
  • Malic is a fiend! He didn’t anesthetize the lion. He just stabbed it in the head. (He must’ve been a dentist before he was a mad scientist. –Jimmy)
  • Does he have explosives planted everywhere on the island just in case of intruders? (I think the Board did the same thing on Monster Island because Malik did it first. Be careful on your next nature walk. –Jimmy)
  • The ROUS! You can see the zipper on them.
  • What’s attacking them? Tiny seagulls?
  • “FINGER LASERS!” (No one else gets that reference, Nate. –Jimmy)
  • The disintegration effects are really good. And kinda freaky.
  • Jimmy loves the Alpha. It’s Atragon II. Or the forerunner to the Gohten. (All true. –Jimmy)
  • Apparently, the Black Shark can’t fly. Malik must be jealous.
  • In the end, none of Lawton’s photos turn out and the bag of diamonds is dirt. The Capt. McKenzie on the boat says he comes from a long line. There’s also an officer who looks like Dr. Tashiro. There’s also a Lt., Hastings who looks like Malik. However, the New York bank did get the diamonds to hold for safekeeping until McKenzie arrived. (Talk about confusing! No wonder Nate doesn’t think LZ exists! –Jimmy)

Next week for our season finale, the guys from “Giant Monster BS” are joining us to discuss Space Amoeba (aka Yog, Monster from Space). I know how they are, so I’m having Jet Jaguar in the producer booth with me to act as my dump button. Also, Nate recorded a two-part bonus episode with Chris Cooke from “One Cross Radio” on the finale of Power Rangers In Space. It was mandated by Ms. Perkins, for some reason. Part one will be on Chris’s show and part two will be in the MIFV feeds. Then in January we start “The Year of Gamera.” Exciting (and hopefully less “interesting”) times are ahead!

Follow me on Twitter: @NasaJimmy

Follow the Board on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD

#JimmyFromNASALives

#WeShallOvercome

Comments closed