This was my last broadcast (episode 74) before I was incarcerated. Actually, “detained” is a better word for it. The Legal Action Team worked hard to keep me from being sent to the mainland for trial. Me and my lady friend. (More on that later). Again, this episode was broadcast before the tragic death of Jason David Frank (see our charity livestream for more on that). Tommy Oliver isn’t in this film, so I don’t know how much would’ve changed. Regardless, I only had a handful of notes for this one.
Freestylin’ to Wu-Tang Clan with Chris in my mechs. Gotta love it. Nobody should hear it, though. We’d get canceled seven ways from Sunday.
The Island needs a donut store. I’m still hungry.
The last name of the screenwriter is Gatins. Listen to my Entertaining Info Dump for confirmation.
I still feel betrayed by George Lucas! The Phantom Menace isn’t what we wanted! But I should’ve known after he had Greedo shoot first. As for selling the franchise to Disney—you know what, I need to stop.
Speaking of ranting, I could rant just as well about the damn robots in this film! The “Archano-don” is ridiculous. So is the six-legged Triceratops. It’s no surprise the comic book sequel (link) tries to obscure those design elements.
Yes, Nate is a sadist. I’ve learned that all too well. Just ask his last girlfriend.
I think you meant “digital” not “optical” effects, Nate.
Okay, fine, I was daydreaming. You can’t fire me for that! You don’t have the “fire power”!
Hello, Kaiju Lovers! “Ameri-kaiju” continues with a bit of an unusual entry; one that, serendipitously, Nate also covered around the same time on his other podcast, The Power Trip: the controversial Power Rangers (2017). While Nate has grown to appreciate this film quite a bit, he intentionally brought on Chris Cooke (co-host of One Cross Radio, Radio Arcade, and Powerbombs and Piledrivers) to discuss it because he does not. However, these two find more common ground than you’d think. That was surprisingly true in today’s Toku Topic, which is a discussion of representation in media. This serves as a great companion to the Power Trip episode.
Before today’s broadcast, Nate entered his office to find sitting in his chair none other than Mr. Gold. After a thinly veiled threat of “termination,” Nate divulges a secret about Jimmy to him. Afterward, the infamous “Not-Goldar” attacks Monster Island out of nowhere—but help arrives in the form of a newly powered-up Karone! But even Nate, Chris, and Jimmy get in on the monster-fighting action thanks to Mechani-Kong Mk. 2.
The prologue and epilogue, “With Friends Like You,” was written by Nathan Marchand with Michael Hamilton.
Guest Cast
Michael Hamilton as Mr. Gold
Celeste Mora as Karone
Additional music:
“Evil Rising” by David Fesliyan
“Pacific Rim,” “Power Rangers Lost Galaxy,” and “Go, Go, Power Rangers” by Niall Stenson
“Chant My Name!” by Masaaki Endo
Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org, including those by InspectorJ.
We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander; 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, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, and The Indiscrite One! Thanks for your support!
On November 28, 2022, a multitude of podcasters and YouTubers—Nathan Marchand, Michael Hamilton, Travis Alexander, Jack “GMan” Hudgens (The Drift Space), J.R. Villers (The Drift Space), Rebecca Hudgens (The Drift Space), Kaiju Kim, Chris Cooke, and Jimmy from Zeo 2 Hero—came together to celebrate the life and work of Jason David Frank. From acting to martial arts to teaching to motivational speaking, he did it all. But he’ll always be remembered as Tommy Oliver, the most popular Power Ranger. He was the face of the brand for years and a hero to his fans. Because he took his own life, your hosts spent this long livestream raising money for To Write Love On Her Arms, “a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and invest directly into treatment and recovery.” Their goal is to raise $800, and you can still contribute at the link below.
We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander, Michael Hamilton, Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke, Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, and Brad “Batman” Eddleman! Thanks for your support!
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!
