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Tag: Gamera

Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 52: Kaiju Kim vs. ‘Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris’

Published November 17, 2021

Finally…Jimmy has caught up…with his blogs! And it only took two weeks…I think. I would’ve posted this sooner, but I kept getting harassed by Dr. Dourif on Twitter. (The weirdo can’t even spell his name right). Anyway, here are my notes from Kaiju Kim’s visit in episode 52 (Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris).

  • This movie is old enough to drink in the U.S. Fun fact: the drinking age in Japan is 20.
  • “Stumped.” (insert It meme “haha!”)
  • Torii gates were discussed in Episode 24.
  • Link to Gamera 4 clips.
  • I’m not so sure I like Amazon using my drones. Mostly because disgruntled customers have shot them.
  • Given what I know is coming up for the show, Nate, saying, “No,” to Clifford would be questionable. But I don’t want to talk about it.

Now for the ridiculous pile of notes Marchand didn’t get to. Good grief, how many research rabbit holes did he fall into? Alice in Wonderland is looking at him and thinking, knock it off! Anyway, prepare over for a data overload! (You’ve been warned!)

  • The award-winning Nagamine is back!
  • Gyaos comes back, and it’s dead. Sets the tone and shows a greater threat is upon us.
  • Sub = “Kaiko.” Meaning? (I looked it up, and it’s interesting. –Jimmy)
  • The subtitles say, “Dead Gameras.” I liked the English line (dub?) that said, “Gamera graveyard.” It deepens the mythology and builds on the hubris theme from Guardian. These are dead saviors.
  • The credits roll over black-and-white stock footage from Guardian. Stylistic. Moody. Then we get a flashback.
  • Chinese divided the cosmos into 28 houses. 7 in each quadrant.
  • We get a proper Gyaos about 22 minutes in. Gamera in 24.
  • Hirasaka named the creature Iris after her cat. It’s endearing and ironic given how dangerous the monster is.
  • Man on street says US can’t fight Gamera for them. Japan should fight its own battles.
  • In a way, this is not unlike the atomic bomb. He causes damage but ends up saving the world in the end. Is it worth it? Tough question.
  • Asagi’s last name is significant. Kusanagi was the name of a sword used to slay Orochi in mythology (see episode 13 of MIFV on The Three Treasures).
  • This baby Iris puppet is incredibly expressive and lifelike.
  • The news reports tell us that the Gyaos are a worldwide problem. It also seems like kaiju are bit more of a normal thing. (Aren’t they usually? –Jimmy)
  • “Beer hasn’t tasted this good in a long time” –Osako. A nice callback to the past films (especially Gamera 2).
  • There’s some horror elements in this, but when the dead body drops from the ceiling. (Better than G84).
  • Interestingly, Nagamine, the woman of science, prays for the corpse.
  • Asagi looks quite grown up in this.
  • The shot of Iris rising above the clouds with the moon in the background does look cool despite the CGI.
  • Unlike Gamera’s previous opponents, Iris’s lasers can cut through Gamera’s shell.
  • The shot of the fire transition from Gamera to Iris to Ayana is brilliant.
  • The integration of the tokusatsu effects and the live action…it’s so good! There are movies with 10, 20, 30 times the budget that don’t look this good!
  • At this point in the film, Ayana only says Iris’s name.
  • Ayana wakes up in the rain. Water = life. Also, Gamera roars.
  • Ayana in the end whispers Gamera’s name like she did Iris’s.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Commentary by Ryfle and Godzizsewski

  • They started with the idea of making a trilogy.
  • It had a long production schedule. Kaneko said in an interview that while money is s blessing, having more time produces better films. This had a budget of $8.5 million.
  • They argue that Kaneko’s approach to filming is straightforward, but he does sometimes have some visual flare.
  • Kaneko said that using fantasy elements helps explain plot devices that would normally be difficult to explain absurd concepts.
  • Shibuya is one of the busiest places in Tokyo.
  • The news reports feature real journalists, a tradition going back to old Toho.
  • Kaneko’s wife makes a cameo during the “man-on-the street” interviews.
  • In Guardian, they felt like Godzilla was their competition. In Gamera 2, they felt Guardian was their competition. In this, they felt it was Ultraman Gaia because they had lots of composite photography.
  • Gamera saves Ayana when she cries out. She’s a damaged child.
  • Ayana could be seen as symbolic of children orphaned by wars and natural disasters.
  • Ryfle wonders if this film was inspired by Frankenstein Conquers the World and War of the Gargantuas.
  • The ending is ambiguous because people weren’t sure if the world would end at the time.
  • Otani said that writing the music for the ending was so stressful, it gave him stomach problems.
  • It grossed $15 million at the box office and was screened at the Toronto Film Festival.

ARROW BOOKLET

Macias

  • Kaneko: “In the past, Gamera was always the children’s hero, and the president (of the studio) always wanted to keep it that way, but I was kind of sick of that.”
  • Ito went on to work on the .hack series.

England

  • Claims the budget was 15 billion yen ($11 million), but producer Miyuki Nanri says it would cost $50 million to make in the U.S. He went on to say it has no ego-stroking or frivolity like a Hollywood film. The budget is the budget, so they can’t play games.

One of these days I should find out which of my blogs is the longest thanks to Marchand.

Anyway, next week you’ll hear Nate’s broadcast with my former nemesis, Michael Hamilton, from Kaiju Weekly. They discuss Godzilla Raids Again, which was Michael’s first Godzilla film. What a bunch of banana oil! Then the “Year of Gamera” concludes with guest Bex from Redeemed Otaku and Gamera the Brave. If you don’t like that film, you’re dead inside. Trust me.

See you next week! I have to tune up my mechs in my garage.

Social media:

#JimmyFromNASALives       #WeShallOvercome

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 51: Dallas Mora vs. ‘Gamera 2: Attack of Legion’

Published November 13, 2021

Is it Saturday? Damn, what was in that beer I had last night at the Monster Island Tavern? That’s the last time I go drinking with Dr. Dourif. No wonder I didn’t finish my promised “Jimmy’s Notes” blog on episode 51 (Gamera 2: Attack of Legion). Nate isn’t the only one trying to get back on schedule. Thankfully, with this, I’ll be caught up after all of the Board’s shenanigans. Surprisingly, I didn’t take many notes during that broadcast. They were:

  • Yes, the beginning of this film was nostalgic for me. I miss NASA. I thought about getting a job there again during Nate’s time in orbit. I may still need to if business dries up for the Island. Good thing I still have connections there.
  • I did some digging, as Dallas requested, and I couldn’t find any staff members who worked on both Gamera 2 and Parasite Eve. However, the 1997 movie adaptation of the original Japanese novel was distributed by Kadokawa Shoten, which is owned by the same parent company that bought Daiei (and Gamera) in 2002.
  • It was a girl who was crying over Gamera, not a boy, Nate! Use the right pronoun!
  • The Maccabean Revolt was in the second century B.C. and was against the Seleucid Empire, which was Greek
  • Dallas is bothered by my tight T-shirts? It’s not my fault I need to change my wardrobe after hitting the Kaiju Gym as hard as I have. 😛

Now for the overabundance of leftover notes Marchand has on this movie. I don’t think I’m contractually obligated to share these anymore (it’s all in flux after recent events), but being that he’s my friend, here you go.

  • The detective is back! But now he’s a security beer warehouse. And he still can’t get away from kaiju! His interview by the cops on video made me think of The Terminator. I wonder if Kirin Beer sponsored the movie? (Maybe. I should have some Kirin beer delivered to the Island. So we can ask them to sponsor us, of course! -Jimmy)
  • This movie likes horizontal wipes. (Kinda like one of my favorite space movies…. –Jimmy)
  • Interesting that the evacuees run through a torii gate (see Daimajin episode of MIFV). It marked the entrance to a sacred place. Shelter?
  • I love the effects when Gamera inhales to shoot a plasma ball. You see gas go in his mouth and his throat light up.
  • Again, there are real consequences. Legion corpses on the beach after Gamera swims away.
  • Netscape and the old internet. Quaint.
  • Asagi shows up 40 or so minutes in.
  • A second flower as a set piece does seem a bit repetitive.
  • All those hats on that long rack!
  • Asagi’s hat says, “Invisible,” in English. It describes her because she goes unheeded by most people. (You freaking English major. 😛  –Jimmy)
  • Breaking Legion’s horn actually makes things worse. Pacing and escalation. Legion goes red-eyed and angry.
  • SHINKU…HADOKEN! This is crazy, anime-esque, and doesn’t get explained until the next film. Otherwise, it’s totally left field. “If his chest had been a cannon, he’d have shot his heart upon it.” (Again, FREAKING ENGLISH MAJOR! –Jimmy)

COMMENTARY BY KYLE YOUNT

  • Opened between Godzilla vs. Destoroyah and Rebirth of Mothra, so the kaiju scene was a bit stale.
  • First act is set in Hokkaido, which is a bit unique for a kaiju film. Northernmost island.
  • The scientists and military actually get along.
  • The crew had to pull the beer bottles by hand because their rig didn’t work. Had to paint their fingers black so they wouldn’t show up on camera.
  • The doctor who dissects the Legion soldier was an actual professor.

INTRO BY RAGONE (ARROW VIDEO)

  • Mahiro Miyeda, who helped design Legion, also did concepts for Mad Max: Fury Road.

A TESTIMONY OF 15 YEARS (DOCUMENTARY)

  • One of the producers on the trilogy, Morio Akawa, didn’t even like monster movies and preferred movies for older audiences as a kid. He credits the trilogy with stretching him.
  • (Ito wouldn’t show his face in his interview. Instead, we saw his dog. Why?) (Because you writers are weird? 😛 –Jimmy)
  • Ito calls the trilogy his “coming-of-age” as a screenwriter. He says there’s a clear difference between his writing before and after the trilogy. He used to be associated Mamori Oshii, and now he’s associated with this trilogy.
  • Otani says Masaru Sato saw the first film and said, “There’s no one in Japan who writes like this, at full throttle!” Otani says that’s how he works.

MACIAS (ARROW BOOKLET)

  • Guiron and Barugon were discussed to return, but the filmmakers decided to go with a new monster—Gamera’s first original foe since 1971—Legion. (I think Barugon wants to know…why was he replaced? –Jimmy)
  • Gamera was redesigned slightly by Tomo Haraguchi, an effects wizard and film director).
  • This time, the JSDF supports Gamera.

 “BRINGING UP GAMERA” BY ENGLAND (ARROW BOOKLET)

  • As a teen, he (Higuchi) got a part-time job with Toho and worked with Koichi Kawakita on Sayonara Jupiter (see MIFV episode 41) and Return of Godzilla.
  • He storyboarded for many productions, including anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion (Anno named the series’ main character after him).
  • He wanted a project at the time that fit into what he envisioned—that is until screenwriter Ito got him the job on Guardian of the Universe. He’d never done it before, so Daiei was taking a risk.
  • He wasn’t able to redesign Gamera as much as he wanted, which brought him into conflict with the studio. He wished he could’ve gotten away with what the filmmakers did on Godzilla (1998). However, in Gamera 2, he got to do it by making Gamera more like a sea turtle with flippers.
  • With designing Legion, he said he wanted to make something memorable like old school kaiju, because he felt modern kaiju had “muddled characteristics.”  He started with an idea of having the skeleton on the outside, which led to having two men in the suit since human joints are fixed and he wanted to avoid the human shape.
  • The suit was heavy, and it took the actors ten minutes just to get in it, and they could only wear it for ten minutes at a time. The principle actor, Mizuho Yoshida, went on to play Godzilla in GMK (and previously played Zeiram in those films). He’s biased, but Higuchi thinks Legion is one of the five best kaiju designs ever.

FLOWER – ENGLISH LANGUAGE GAMERA

  • It was released on DVD by ADV in 2003 with a dub written and directed by Kyle Jones. The also produced the infamous “Lake Texarkana” dub where the actors read their lines as southern hillbillies.

LEMAY (BIG BOOK)

  • Also considered having Viras (Jimmy wanted to be in that one). (YES! And I’d still kick his @$$! –Jimmy)
  • Legion’s head was supposedly inspired by Guiron.
  • In an homage to the Showa series, Gamera bleeds more and is initially taken out by the Legion seed pod.
  • It grossed about the same amount of money as the first and won Best Special Effects from the Japanese Academy.
  • There’s a manga sequel that may or may not be canon, which is a Heisei retelling of Barugon.
  • There was a short-lived rumor that Disney might distribute the film.

TOKU TOPIC: THE EXORCISM OF THE GERASENE DEMONIAC

  • The demon’s name refers to a Roman legion, which could comprise up to over 5,000 soldiers. Some also connect it to Isaiah 65:4, which has God referring to obstinate Israel defying Him: “who sit in tombs, / and spend the night in secret places; / who eat pig’s flesh, / and broth of tainted meat is in their vessels;”

And there you have it.

As of this writing, our next two episodes will feature my former nemesis Michael Hamilton as the guest for the next “Godzilla Redux” episode, which covers the first sequel to Godzilla (1954), Godzilla Raids Again. Then the “Year of Gamera” comes to an end with Gamera the Brave, which will have Bex from the Redeemed Otaku podcast as the co-host. I confess I might miss the big turtle.

Social media:

#JimmyFromNASALives       #WeShallOvercome

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Episode 52 – Kaiju Kim vs. ‘Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris’

Published November 12, 2021

Hello, kaiju lovers! After nearly a year of surviving inane MST3K fodder and watching the first two entries of a fantastic trilogy, Nate reaches one of kaiju eiga’s zeniths with Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris. He’s joined by YouTuber and (ironically) Godzilla enthusiast Kaiju Kim to discuss this masterpiece. As Nate puts it, this is one of the rare trilogies where each entry gets better—in fact, everything gets cranked to 12 in this. They discuss the amazing story, incredible characters, impressive special effects, absolute badassery, and the many, many cultural elements that may go over western fans’ heads as crazy fantasy. Speaking of which, choosing a Toku Topic was difficult, but Nate landed on the Four Symbols and mana, because they play the big roles in this film and the rest of the trilogy.

Check out Kim’s video on Gamera 3 here.

Listen to Nathan Marchand and Travis Alexander’s spinoff podcast, The Henshin Men, on Redcircle.

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, and Elijah Thomas! 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…maybe.

Timestamps:

  • Intro: 0:00-9:09
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 9:09-18:11
  • Toku Talk: 18:11-1:25:42
  • Ad: 1:25:42-1:26:34
  • Toku Topic: 1:26:34-1:54:13
  • Listener Feedback, Housekeeping, & Outro: 1:54:13-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Episode 51 – Dallas Mora vs. ‘Gamera 2: Attack of Legion‘

Published November 5, 2021

Hello, kaiju lovers! After a harrowing and riff-tastic adventure in space, Nate and Jimmy return to Monster Island to find the podcast in chaos. Not only did their nemesis WHG3 try to replace MIFV with his own podcast, he canceled all of their guest invitations. Thankfully, Jimmy was able to get Geek Devotions co-founder Dallas Mora to come on to continue the “Year of Gamera” with Gamera 2: Attack of Legion (or “Attack of the Legion” or the much-cooler-title-that-should’ve-been-kept “Advent of Legion”). Nate and Dallas discuss its amazing traditional tokusatsu effects and Christian symbology, among other things. Did you know Gamera is a Christ-figure? Find out how in today’s episode! Along those lines, the Toku Topic is the exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac, the Bible story that gave Legion her name.

After the broadcast, Nate goes to the Monster Island Chapel, where he’s greeted by Rev. Mifune. The chaplain tells Nate that Karone—the former “Miss Perkins”—had been hiding in the chapel since before Nate was shot into space. Nate then has a heart-to-heart talk with the former supervillainess and Power Ranger.

Listen to Nathan Marchand and Travis Alexander’s spinoff podcast, The Henshin Men, on Redcircle.

This episode’s prologue and epilogue, “Moving Forward,” was written by Nathan Marchand.

Guest stars:

  • Daniel DiManna as Dr. Dourif
  • Nate Chen as Rev. Mifune
  • Celeste Mora as Karone

Additional music:

  • “A Maiden’s Prayer” by RebeccaETripp

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

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, and Elijah Thomas! 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 NOT approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:

  • Prologue, “Moving Forward, Part 1”: 0:00-3:21
  • Intro: 3:21-13:06
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 13:06-21:49
  • Toku Talk: 21:49-1:37:55
  • (Dr. Dourif’s Call: 24:04-30:41)
  • Extra Life 2021 Charity Stream Promo: 1:37:55-1:39:13
  • Toku Topic: 1:39:13-2:02:47
  • Listener Feedback, Housekeeping, & Outro: 2:02:47-2:18:20
  • Epilogue, Moving Forward, Part 2”: 2:18:20-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 48: The Tourists vs. ‘Gamera: Guardian of the Universe’

Published September 15, 2021

So, the Board made me sit out an episode. Again. They apparently thought it was great hardly hearing me in episode 46. Just ignore the fact that there have been other episodes where I didn’t say much, and it wasn’t because of a bet with some overworked Godzilla author. Oh well. It’s done. I listened to episode 48 (Gamera: Guardian of the Universe) while helping Raymund Martin with paperwork. Actually, I did all of it while he hid in his office. He’s still reeling from losing Gary. I was happy to hear Jet Jaguar stick up for me when Nate and his guests let the riffs fly against me.

Regardless, I took some notes while listening:

  • I appreciate the shout-out…IN SPACE! Also, I do know those pigs Tim mentioned. They’re crazy. I’m amazed they haven’t crashed their ship into the moon.
  • John LeMay compared Heisei Gamera to the Dark Knight Trilogy, Nate, not Batman ’89. I know this, and John and I don’t get along!
  • Gyaos is female, Joe…most of the time? Maybe? It’s weird. We’ve gotten into the habit of using “they/them” to refer to that kaiju for obvious reasons.
  • We all need hazard pay. Except Jet. He doesn’t need money. I’ll take his cut. 😛
  • The name of the author of “The Last Hope” is Josh B’Gosh. And yes, he also shared your crazy theory about me, Nate.
  • It’s probably best Joy and I didn’t meet on the air again. We did bump into each other on the Island, though. … I don’t want to talk about it.
  • It was episode 32 on the first Gamera movie that you talked about environmentalism, with Nick, Nate.
  • According to several sources, the Japanese title for this film was Gamera: Daikaijū Kūchū Kessen, which translates literally to “Gamera: Giant Monster Midair Battle.” So, Nate was a little off. (But so was Matt Frank, who said “Dogfight” in his commentary on the Arrow blu-ray set).
  • The explanation for the Atlantis-destroying comet that became Venus is simple: it’s bull@#$%.
  • Nate was a little off about the U.K. dub. It was released by Manga Entertainment, but they commissioned Arrival Films to make it.

Here are Nate’s leftover notes (my contractual obligations are fulfilled). For once, he got through all his notes on the Toku Topic, which saves me some time and space (pun intended).

The Film

  • Distributed by Toho, ironically. (I’m sure they relished the irony. –Jimmy)
  • Nuclear weapons, radiation, and “another country’s submarine” are all mentioned in the beginning.
  • Already the score by Kow Otani is incredible. Is it any wonder I used a remix of one of his tracks as the show’s theme? Kaneko didn’t give him much direction, and he composed it quickly (within a day or two). (It’s a crime you didn’t mention this, Nate, especially since we use a remix of one of his music tracks for the show! –Jimmy)
  • Asagi’s dad doesn’t like Scotch. That would disappoint WHG3. (I wish you’d mentioned this just to annoy him. –Jimmy)
  • “Right here—on this M&M.”
  • I like the old-school frame shifts (fades).
  • Gyaos appears about 14 minutes in.
  • The government and the JSDF act without consulting the scientists about the Gyaos. They simply make demands for the Gyaos to be captured.
  • There are a few underwater shots that are obviously in a pool, sadly.
  • “Harry Hawk” and “Hercules One.” Those sound like movie titles. Hudson Hawk. (Let’s not talk about those. –Jimmy)
  • Japanese ibis. (What about them? –Jimmy)
  • They keep calling Gyaos a bird, but I’m not sure she is. Reptile and bat, too. (It’s confusing for all of us, including the scientists. –Jimmy)
  • Anyone get flashbacks to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom on the bridge? (Yes, and I wish I hadn’t. –Jimmy)
  • Gamera is clearly the hero since he takes a shot from Gyaos to save the characters.
  • Gamera crashes on Mt. Fuji, which is where he fought Gyaos in 1967.
  • How hard is it to hit a giant turtle, guys? Freaking Stormtroopers. (Accurate. –Jimmy)
  • The cab driver worries me. He must be with Uber. Crashing through a barricade and laughing.
  • The powers that be want to capture Gyaos despite it eating people but want to kill Gamera? Compared to a T-Rex.
  • Asagi and Mayumi are the big stars, but they don’t outshine or demean the men. This is how you do “strong female characters.”
  • Asago loves Mary Poppins, apparently. Japanese poster on door.
  • “She says Gamera is coming.” “He’s here.”
  • Gamera is a second-round fighter: he loses the first time and comes back later to win.
  • The miniature playground is incredibly detailed.
  • The buildings have small details like tiny furniture.
  • Gyaos shoots his own foot off just like in 1967.

Ragone Intro

  • Originally conceived as a 60-minute children’s film.
  • One-third of the budget of a Toho Godzilla film? (Some sources say one-half. –Jimmy)

England

  • Kaneko did go independent in 1987 and made several dramas. He also contributed to Necronomicon, a horror anthology film. He says horror is the lower form of entertainment in Japan—even lower than roman porno. Japan doesn’t have the same horror tradition as America.
  • Ayako Fujitani was quite shy. Kaneko had the actors audition by looking up and shouting, “Gamera!” Fujitani was red-faced before doing it. He gave her the role based on her dark personality (he says).
  • The crew felt like they had to compete with Godzilla.
  • When he got the project, Kaneko’s wife told him, “You know, you may as well kiss Godzilla goodbye.” #irony

Frank Commentary

  • The dismembered Gyaos were made by eating fried chicken bones and then bleached.
  • The mantra on set was, “What would Honda do?” Kaneko admired the director. The bridge scene is similar to one in Mothra.
  • The filmmakers thought exploding monsters were more viscerally satisfying. That was more of a TV thing than a movie thing.
  • Kaneko didn’t like the critical accolades the film got because he’d never had those before.

Arrow Special features

  • Kaneko: “Monster movies are an expression of man’s need to destroy something.”

LeMay – Big Book

  • Kaneko went on to direct the Japanese live-action Death Note films.
  • Didn’t make as much money as Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla. (Tragic. It must’ve been the name recognition.  –Jimmy)

LeMay – Lost Films

  • Ito’s first draft was more similar to classic Gamera, complete with a child protagonist, and while some elements from this made it into Guardian and later The Brave, it was reworked when Kaneko came on.

LeMay – Writing

  • Ito didn’t like the children in the old Gamera movies because they acted like adults and bossed the grown-ups around.

That was some brisk reading compared to some of my recent blogs, right?

Next week, I’m back in the producer booth for another Patreon-sponsored episode. This one is brought to you by MIFV MAX member Damon Noyes, who had us discuss Toei’s crazy 1966 fantasy film The Magic Serpent. I normally don’t get excited for films like this, but this one was eerily similar to one of my favorite films. What was it? Listen to find out! Then we get to episode 50 and the show’s second anniversary. We have big plans for that one, but we’re keeping them top secret to surprise all of you, listeners. Stay tuned!

Social media:

#JimmyFromNASALives       #WeShallOvercome

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Episode 48 – The Tourists vs. ‘Gamera: Guardian of the Universe’

Published September 8, 2021

Hello, kaiju lovers! Though still grieving the loss of Gary, Nate soldiers on—without his intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, as mandated by the Board—because he’s finally made it to the good part of “The Year of Gamera”! He’s joined by three of the original MIFV Tourists, Nick Hayden, Timothy Deal, and Joe Metter, to discuss Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, the first of the famed Heisei Trilogy directed by Shusuke Kaneko. While the Tourists have never seen it, they have a deep appreciation of storytelling, drama, and anime, so Nate was certain they would enjoy it. Did they? Listen to find out! The Toku Topic is the legend of Atlantis since it factors heavily into this film and the rest of the trilogy.

During the broadcast, Nate finally conducts his overdue interview with Spacewoman Kilara, who is much nicer about the whole thing than Nate expects. Unlike Miss Perkins, about whom Nate and Jimmy were messaged about by Jessica before the show with a bombshell revelation. Then after the broadcast, he visits the Board’s executive assistant at her office to confront her—with electrifying results.

Listen to Nate and Travis’s spinoff podcast, The Henshin Men Podcast, on Redcircle.

This episode’s prologue and epilogue, “Revelation of Power,” was written by Nathan Marchand. “An Interview with Spacewoman Kilara” was written by Nathan Marchand.

Guest stars:

  • Amy Summers as Spacewoman Kilara
  • Celeste Mora as Miss Perkins

Additional music:

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

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, and Elijah Thomas! Thanks for your support!

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

Check out MIFV MAX #4 to learn how you can help make Episode 50—MIFV’s second anniversary special—possible!

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic!

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

Timestamps:

  • Prologue: 0:00-3:01
  • Intro: 3:01-17:15
  • (Kilara Interview: 4:37-9:29)
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 17:15-26:07
  • Toku Talk: 26:07-1:27:53
  • Promo: 1:27:53-1:28:31
  • Toku Topic: 1:28:31-1:49:29
  • Listener Feedback, Housekeeping & Outro: 1:49:29-1:59:29
  • Epilogue: 1:59:29-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #Godzilla        #GodzillaKingoftheMonsters

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Episode 46: Daniel DiManna vs. ‘Gamera: Super Monster’

Published August 11, 2021

Hello…kaiju…lovers…. The only reason this episode is long as it is because Nate’s guest, Daniel DiManna (creator/author of the Godzilla Novelization Project) is the most talkative introvert ever of all time. But even if “Danny Boy” was Superman with a Beta Capsule, he couldn’t save this week’s Year of Gamera movie, the infamous Gamera: Super Monster. This 1980 cash-grab from a barely-alive Daiei Film is easily the Guardian of the Universe’s lowest point. On paper, Nate should love this movie because it has three of his favorite things—spaceships, superheroes, and kaiju—but he doesn’t. From public access channel special effects to a nonsensical plot with everything but the kitchen sink to the truckloads of stock footage—this must’ve been a plot by the Board of Directors to break Nate. Meanwhile, Danny keeps MIFV’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, quiet by getting him to bet his Pteranodon-bot that he can’t interrupt them during the broadcast. The Toku Topic, fittingly, is the rise and fall of Daiei Film, the studio that introduced the world to Akira Kurosawa and Gamera but dug itself into a financial hole it couldn’t escape. It’s a crazy story, to say the least.

Before the broadcast, Nate and Jimmy are visited by the Board’s executive assistant, Ms. Perkins. She tells Nate that she made arrangements for him to interview Spacewoman Kilara from Gamera: Super Monster on MIFV, much to his chagrin, and then fangirls over her. But the more Nate asks Ms. Perkins questions about her past, the stranger she acts.

Listen to Nate and Travis’s spinoff podcast, The Henshin Men Podcast, on Redcircle.

This episode’s epilogue, “Interviewing a Superheroine,” was written by Nathan Marchand. 

Guest stars:

Additional music:

Sound effects, including some by InspectorJ and klankbeeld, sourced from Freesound.org.

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, and TofuFury! 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: 0:00-7:47
  • Intro: 7:47-19:26
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 19:26-26:43
  • Toku Talk: 26:43-1:37:52
  • Henshin Men Promo: 1:37:52-1:41:08
  • Toku Topic: 1:41:08-2:13:12
  • Listener Feedback, Housekeeping & Outro: 2:13:12-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #GameravsZigra          #YearofGamera

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 44: The MSTies vs. ‘Gamera vs. Zigra’

Published July 21, 2021

Zigra. Proof positive that Sharknado needs to go into space. Need I say more?

Actually, yes. It’s part of my contractual obligations. But I wouldn’t mind being shot into space. I could easily pilot my way back to Earth, unlike Nate.

As for my notes on episode 44, I took a surprising amount for a movie about a giant flying turtle battling a huge space shark. Let’s get into them:

  • Neil mispronounces “bathysphere” as “bathosphere.”
  • And you’re complaining about this, why, Nate?

  • The name of the actress playing Woman X/Chikako is Eiko Yanami.
  • Nate, did you forget the lady scientist in Final Wars?

  • Tom Servo does say, “We all die in a yellow bathysphere,” during the MST3K episode, Nate. But sadly, the Board mandated you not watch those. I’m genuinely sorry.
  • Appropriately, Nezura and the Baby Gameras have a xylophone player.
  • There are several theories related to the effect of sonic waves on the brain, but testing these theories has yielded inconclusive results.
  • It’s “Rhodes and McCorkle,” Nate, not “Brooke and McCorkle.” Brooke is one of their first names, so it’s understandable you’d get them mixed up.
  • The name of the baseball team with the “curse of the colonel” is the Honshin Tigers.
  • From what I can tell, the “FRP” from your Kamogawa Sea World research was fiber-reinforced plastic.
  • Doc Brown’s theories on time travel…don’t get me started! It creates way too many paradoxes and begs too many questions. I’ll spare you all the rant.
  • Travis and I had a great discussion about time travel in Star Wars after the broadcast. Or rather, he listened to me rant.
  • The Skull Island episode was 14, Nate.

Here are Nate’s leftover notes from his episode 44 research, included as per my contractual obligations:

  • Japan does have a space agency. Episode 15.
  • The audio quality on the theme song is subpar. What happened? (Budget cuts. Duh. –Jimmy)
  • The first scenes have parallelism: Ken starts his day and we see the animals at SeaWorld.
  • A seal named Nick?! (He’s not your friend, Mr. Hayden. –Jimmy)
  • Was Gamera just there or was his Turtle Sense tingling? (Turtle Sense. How else does he know where there are children in trouble? –Jimmy)
  • There’s an insignia is Star Trek that looks like the iris on the Zigra ship. (It’s the Vulcan insignia, I think. –Jimmy)
  • Wow. Woman X actually says kids are smarter.
  • Planet Zigra. Zigrans. Monster is named Zigra. (Confusing, I know. It’d be like a human naming his child “Earth” or “Human” or “Terran.” Although, there is a Tera Strong. –Jimmy)
  • She references both the Kanto and Sanriku earthquakes (episode 33).
  • Lots of scientific info for the kids. Educational.
  • She (Woman X) runs like molasses. And conveniently freezes. The heck?!
  • And the kids somehow know how to use the spaceship controls. Ken even says he can use a motorboat easily. (I taught him now. 😛 –Jimmy)
  • Gamera always has bloodshot eyes. Is he on drugs? Not sleeping? Both? (Perhaps he should be drug tested. –Jimmy)
  • Man, the dads missed a ride with Gamera because they got hypnotized.
  • Helen says at tech end of the scene, “Boys are no use at all.” The littlest feminist.
  • “Earth Defense Army,” huh? (They didn’t last long, unfortunately, in large part because of their weakness during the Zigra Invasion of 1971. –Jimmy)
  • Of course the fisherman stops for Woman X. (What guy wouldn’t? 😛  –Jimmy)
  • And Tokyo Tower will be destroyed again later in a better Gamera film.
  • Oh, now Gamera’s underbelly can take shots. And yet he still needs a rock.
  • And his fire breath is so hot, it still works underwater. Sure. (It defies science, so I don’t get it, either. –Jimmy)
  • Inexplicable bipedal-ness!
  • These Showa Gamera movies liked not have normal bipedal monsters aside from Gamera.
  • So, the different water pressure made him bigger. And he’s going to wipe everyone out because of this. Also, he should rule the oceans because he’s “beautiful.” (He’s quite the narcissist. –Jimmy)
  • Good grief, these kids can sneak into anything, including bathyspheres. Why? (Ninjas. Duh! 😛 –Jimmy)
  • Gamera foes love to sleep. Zigra, Jiger, Barugon. Others?
  • Gamera threw a rock at Zigra and then snuck up to grab the bathysphere. What the heck?!
  • Chikako the geologist knows a lot about biology. (All scientists know everything about science. Trist me, I know. 😛 –Jimmy)
  • What happens if cell activity stops? (Is this a trick question? –Jimmy)
  • They’re dead but not dead? They say to use electroshock—and we don’t see it.

The Commentary by Sean Rhoads and Brooke McCorkle

  • Opens with a moon exploration scene, which was a product of the time. Apollo program going on in 1971. Moon landing in 1969.
  • Yellow caps and blue shirts were the uniforms for preschoolers.
  • The actress who plays the older sister was Flobella two years earlier.
  • Interestingly, the EPA was established this year.
  • Japan relies on the sea more than any other country, and twice as much as second-place Scandinavia.
  • There’s disagreement over the “Gamera Song” lyrics because the words can be used, in one form or another, for elements (gold, wood, fire, etc.), the days of the week, or the names of planets.
  • (Rhoades says “Gamera vs. Gigan”). (I’d have interrupted and corrected them, but I wasn’t there. –Jimmy)
  • Tokyo Tower is a national symbol, particularly of technological advancement because it’s a radio tower.
  • McCorkle sees Zigra as the embodiment of planetary wrath because he has the same blame as his planet. Similar to Battra.
  • The environmental moral is about personal and not corporate pollution.

Arrow Booklet

  • Daiei was removed from the Tokyo Stock Exchange Dec. 28, 1971.
  • Yuasa blamed the studio’s failure on Masaichi’s son, Hidemasa, being “too much of an artist to run a movie studio.”

Ragone Intro

  • He says this was the first Gamera movie to tackle environmentalism. Others have argued against this.
  • The old man is bad attempt at a joke referring to a Japanese folk tale about a woman travels into the ocean and returns as an old man.

Big Book by John LeMay

  • Yuasa says Zigra was inspired by a shark attack in Japan that made national news.
  • Gamera gets off easy—hypnotized into a coma—compared to previous movies.

Galbraith

  • Describes Zigra as “part shark, part bird, with a touch of the Nautilus.” (He’s not wrong. –Jimmy)
  • Calls this “a cheap, depressing little film.” (Okay, even I think this is a bit mean. –Jimmy)

Unsurprisingly, Nate got through all his notes on Kamogawa Sea World. But then again, it’s not like it was a particularly scholarly topic.

Next week is our first ever Patreon-sponsored episode. In fact, MIFV MAX member Eli Harris pledged at the level where he could come on the show as a guest! He and Nate will discussed three episodes of Godzilla: The Series, specifically the two-part premiere “New Family” and Eli’s favorite episode, “DeadLoch.” Then, unfortunately for Nate, the “Year of Gamera” continues with the infamous Gamera: Super Monster. It has some of his favorite things—kaiju, superheroes, and spaceships—but I’m not sure he’ll survive. Hang in there, man! Remember what I always say:

#WeShallOvercome

Follow me on Twitter: @NasaJimmy
Follow MIBOD on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD
Follow Raymund Martin (The Monster Island Legal Team) on Twitter: @MIFV_LegalTeam
Follow Crystal Lady Jessica on Twitter: @CrystalLadyJes1

#JimmyFromNASALives

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Episode 44: The MSTies vs. ‘Gamera vs. Zigra’ (feat. Travis Alexander and Neil Riebe)

Published July 14, 2021

Hello, kaiju lovers! After calling in a favor at the last second to get a replacement guest, Nate sits down with Kaiju Weekly’s Travis Alexander and kaiju author Neil Riebe to discuss one of Gamera’s lowest points: Gamera vs. Zigra. Yes, before Jaws, the Friend to All Children battled a giant alien shark who couldn’t decide if he wanted to enslave humanity or eat them. Ziggy also has a bad habit of recruiting beautiful ladies as hench-people (your new PC term of the day), but they forget everything they knew before being mind-controlled—like that parading around in nothing but a bikini might not be the most inconspicuous disguise unless you’re in an exploitation film for kids. Let’s just say, Nate almost loses his mind in this episode. The Toku Topic is Kamogawa Sea World, because this movie is a terrible, overgrown commercial for the resort.

Afterward, Nate has to pull some Board-mandated overtime and is contacted in secret by Gary, Raymund Martin’s paralegal. Nate thinks he’s found a new friend in Gary in his quest to out the Board.

Listen to Nate and Travis’s spinoff podcast, The Henshin Men Podcast, on Redcircle.

Check out Neil’s books, I Shall Not Mate and Vistakill.

This episode’s epilogue, “A Secret Ally,” was written by Nathan Marchand with Michael Hamilton. 

Guest stars:

  • Damon Noyes as Gary

Additional music:

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

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:

  • Intro: 0:00-12:40
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 12:40-19:22
  • Toku Talk: 19:22-57:45
  • Advertisement: 57:45-58:24
  • Toku Topic: 58:24-1:15:05
  • Listener Feedback, Housekeeping & Outro: 1:15:05-1:32:26
  • Epilogue: 1:32:26-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #GameravsZigra          #YearofGamera

© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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