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Tag: 1954

Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 60: John LeMay vs. ‘THEM!’

Nate’s not the only one who’s way behind on his podcast duties. I have metric ton of notes from past episodes—or so it feels. But contractual obligations must be fulfilled! My New Year’s resolution is to get my blogs caught up. To save time, I’ll be sharing the notes I jotted down during the broadcast and including a PDF of Nate’s uncut notes. I won’t be editing out the portions he discussed on each episode; not until I get caught up.

But given that I was in jail for a while, I had nothing better to do than compile these.

So, bear with me, starting with episode 60 (THEM!), which featured by my former flame war nemesis, John LeMay:

  • Matango boosters are important, guys—unless you’re Dr. Dourif. That weirdo is an example of immersion therapy gone horribly wrong. I’m amazed he isn’t a supervillain yet.
  • It’s “Meganulon” or “Meganuron,” John. But I can understand. It’s the “L” vs. “R” pronunciation confusion with Japanese. But I still expected better from you!
  • I hate Matango brain fog! It’s the worst! Trust me, I know. I had to tend to those psychedelic mutants once on Halloween a few years ago. All I got out of it was a vision of Kumi Mizuno…at least, I thought it was her. Or was it a premonition of Kaguya?
  • Beast from 20,000 Fathoms and Gorgo did, in fact, have the same director: Eugène Lourié.
  • I once had to battle a Kamacuras with an American flamethrower. That was mostly because the Russian flamethrower I was given first didn’t work. And because Monster Island zookeeper, Ricky, didn’t know what he was doing. Who hires these people? He’s gotten better, but I’d rather not wrangle monsters with dangerous equipment.
  • “Japanese” not “kaiju,” Nate. Professional radio host there.
  • Apparently, ants do go to war. They fight over territory and to defend their queen.
  • Nate is Russian spy confirmed. That accent is too good. Have some fun in the sun in a Siberian gulag! Got a Solzhenitsyn book you can read?
  • I did some digging, but I didn’t see anything about the ant puppets from THEM! still existing today. I could be wrong, though. We have the real things on the Island, but I’d rather deal with a prop. Speaking of which…
  • I killed a giant fire ant once. I don’t want to talk about it.
  • Michael does have an explosive temper. If you heard what I recorded of him off the air…more people than Kaiju Kim would cancel him!
  • I meant to fact check John’s Trinity nuclear test story involving his grandparents…but I forgot what I was fact-checking, and I don’t have time to re-listen to the episode. Here’s an article on the event: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_(nuclear_test).
  • Marchand deprived me of work looking up Beast of Yucca Flats! I don’t get paid enough for this!

Here’s a link to Nate’s uncut notes:

One down, a dozen to go! As I always say, “We shall overcome!”

Social media:

#JimmyFromNASALives      #WeShallOvercome               #MonsterIslandFilmVault

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Episode 60: John LeMay vs. ‘THEM!’

Hello, kaiju lovers! We enter the 1950s era of “Ameri-kaiju” to discuss a film that released the same year as the original Godzilla and inspired a subgenre and countless imitators: THEM! (yes, it’s in all caps and has an exclamation point). Who better to join Nate on this than the kaiji film scholar from the state in which the film takes place, John LeMay. Thankfully, John and MIFV’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, have settled their differences so he could be there. While THEM! has the trappings of a B-movie, as Nate and John explain, it has far too good a production values (it was nominated for the best special effects Oscar!) and acting to be reduced to that. The film is genuinely horrifying at points, but what may surprise many modern viewers is it is strangely progressive with its female lead, who is a competent and professional scientist and not a “scream queen.” While Nate considered researching McCarthyism since this is very much a Cold War film, he instead discusses American nuclear tests in the 1940s and 1950s.

Before the broadcast, Nate gets an e-mail from Dr. Elsie Chapman, a member of H.E.A.T., after receiving an announcement that the Island’s beaches are closed. She says she has something to show Nate. After the broadcast, he meets her, Dr. Mendel Craven, and Monique Dupre on the shoreline and learns the shocking reason why the beaches were closed.

Check out John’s books and magazines on Amazon!

This episode’s prologue and epilogue, “They Might be Gi-Ants,” was written by Nathan Marchand.

Guest stars:

  • Rebecca Hudgens as Elsie Chapman
  • Travis Alexander as Mendel Craven
  • Dani Cruz as Monique Dupre
  • Daniel DiManna as N.I.G.E.L.

Additional music:

  • “Pacific Rim” by Niall Stenson
  • “Chant My Name!” by Masaaki Endo
  • “The Edge Calls Me” by MkVaff
  • “Son of Chaos” by Xaleph

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 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; Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, and Ted Williams! Thanks for your support!

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

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

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

Timestamps:

  • Prologue: 0:00-3:29
  • Intro: 3:29-10:32
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 10:32-17:21
  • Toku Talk: 17:21-
  • Promo: 1:08:43-1:09:49
  • Toku Topic: 1:09:49-1:31:34
  • Housekeeping & Outro: 1:31:34-1:48:40
  • Epilogue: 1:48:40-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #Amerikaiju

© 2022 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Episode 43: ‘Godzilla’ (1954) (feat. The Tourists) | Godzilla Redux

Hello, kaiju lovers!

By popular (and Godzilla’s) demand, MIFV is starting a new series on episodes on the Godzilla franchise called “Godzilla Redux”! It starts with the one that started it all, the 1954 classic Godzilla (aka Gojira) starring Akira Takarada, Akihiko Hirata, and Takeshi Shimura, among others, and directed by Ishiro Honda. Of course, such a momentous film and occasion required all four of the original Tourists, Nick Hayden, Timothy Deal, and Joe & Joy Metter. Unfortunately for Nate, there is way, way, WAY too much scholarship on this film, so it was overwhelming to research and difficult to condense it all down. Regardless, the roundtable discusses the U.S. Occupation of Japan, the Lucky Dragon No. 5 incident, and how Dr. Serizawa should’ve been a cool anime character, among other subjects related to this film. 

Check out Nick and Tim’s podcast, Derailed Trains of Thought!

Additional music:

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; Damon Noyes, and The Cel Cast! Thanks for your support!

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

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

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

Timestamps:
Prologue: 0:00-1:11
Intro: 1:11-3:55
Main Discussion: 3:55-1:17:36
Housekeeping & Outro: 1:17:36-end

Podcast Links:
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Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy
Follow the Monster Island Board of Directors on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD
Follow the Raymund Martin and the MIFV Legal Team on Twitter: @MIFV_LegalTeam
Follow Crystal Lady Jessica on Twitter: @CystalLadyJes1

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #Godzilla

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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