Skip to content

Tag: giant monsters

Episode 82: Daniel DiManna vs. ‘Super Inframan’

Published January 17, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In MIFV’s fourth season premiere, Nate is joined by Daniel DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project) to discuss competently-made insanity: Super Inframan. Yes, it barely qualifies as “kaiju,” but Nate needed an excuse to talk about it (again). To call it a hyper-caffeinated fusion of Shaw Bros. trademark martial cinema and Japanese henshin heroes would be an understatement. Believe it or not, this bonkers movie has connections to both Kamen Rider and Mystery Science Theater 3000! Nate and Danny also discuss “Bruceploitation” and the Muppets in regards to this movie. The Toku Topic is, naturally, kung-fu cinema.

Listen to this episode’s epilogue, “Super Infra-Dan.”

READ “JIMMY’S NOTES” ON THIS EPISODE: https://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/01/17/2081/.

Featuring Daniel DiManna as Dr. Dante Dourif.

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 Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), and Jonathan Courtright! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE!

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

Timestamps:

  • Introduction: 0:00-14:59
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 14:59-22:49
  • Toku Talk: 22:49-1:28:27
  • Podcast Ads: 1:28:27-1:29:43
  • Toku Topic (Martial Arts Cinema): 1:29:43-2:19:11
  • Outro: 2:19:11-2:30:48
  • Credits: 2:30:48-2:32:55

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault    

© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

MIFV Season 4 Prelude: “Jailbreak”

Published January 13, 2024

Nate survived another harrowing year on Monster Island, and now it’s time to renegotiate his contract. But he’s shocked to learn that, while he was sleeping, the Island’s security systems failed, allowing multiple kaiju to escape back to their home countries. Even with the Legal Action Team on his case, Nate and Jimmy can’t avoid having the Board mandate that they spend a year chasing down these monsters in Uber-Moguera and return them to the Island. Indignant and obsessive, Nate goes to confront the Island’s “zookeeper,” whom he suspects is on the Board’s payroll—and things don’t go how he expected.

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 Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); executive producer Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), and Jonathan Courtright! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE!

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

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault    #MonsterIslandWorldTour

© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

Interlude: Catching Up on Listener Feedback

Published January 3, 2024

Happy New Year, Kaiju Lovers! While I finalize some things for the start of season 4, “The Monster Island World Tour,” here’s a little bonus episode where I catch up on listener feedback since I fell behind responding to it on the air. As you can tell, there was a lot! I also detail some changes being made to the show this season. Enjoy!

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; Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), and Jonathan Courtright! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE!

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

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #listenerfeedback

© 2023 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

Episode 81: ‘Godzilla Minus One’ vs. Jack ‘GMan’ Hudgens

Published December 8, 2023

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! There was no way Nate could let Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One—only the most successful live action Japanese film ever released in America—go unanalyzed! So, for this special coda to MIFV season three, he’s joined by everyone’s favorite a-hole/”gatekeeper,” Jack “GMan” Hudgens, to discuss what might be worthy of the “Mount Rushmore of Kaiju Films.” They unpack everything from its rich themes, incredible characters, marvelous special effects, and more! Also, because Godzilla is good for business and worthy of “the Full Marchand,” you get a Toku Topic: kamikaze pilots.

Check out The Drift Space and Deferential Wrath of a Rusting Markalite Cannon.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip.

Additional music:

  • “Goji Beat” by Alyssa Charpentier
  • “Chant My Name!” by Masaaki Endo

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander; Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), and Jonathan Courtright! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE!

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

Timestamps:

  • Introduction: 0:00-8:38
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 8:38-20:20
  • Toku Talk: 20:20-2:28:53
  • Podcast Ads: 2:28:53-2:31:30
  • Toku Topic (Kamikaze Pilots): 2:31:30-3:02:23
  • Outro: 3:02:23-3:08:14
  • Credits: 3:08:14-3:09:51

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #Godzilla        #kaiju            #GodzillaMinusOne  

© 2023 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

Episode 80: The Asylum’s “Monster Island” (Ft. Raymund Martin)

Published November 22, 2023

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In the (overdue) season 3 finale, Nate is forced to deal with Cameron Winter’s “Christmas gift”: the Asylum’s infamous Monster Island. It’s supposedly a “mockbuster” of 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters, but even by the Asylum’s standards, that’s a stretch. To unravel the legal loopholes and shenanigans that went into making this…movie, Nate brings on the Island’s star lawyer, Raymund Martin, and the man’s paralegal, Gary Steward. Not only do they riff this half-competent (and therefore, boring) “kaiyu” flick into the ground, they give you a crash course in the history of the Asylum and mockbusters. Nate’s contractual obligations are now complete!

Beforehand, Nate delivers his final report as the nonexistent “media master” to Mr. Gold, who reveals a few tantalizing details about what’s been happening on the Island lately.

Guest Cast

  • Michael Hamilton as Mr. Gold
  • Damon Noyes as Raymund Martin and Gary Steward

This episode’s prologue, “Heart of Gold,” was written by Michael Hamilton and Nathan Marchand.

Additional music:

  • “This Cowboy’s Hat” (instrumental) by Chris LeDoux
  • “Pacific Rim” by Niall Stenson
  • “Circus Music” (public domain)
  • “Kaiju Rap” by Jonah Ray
  • “Chant My Name!” by Masaaki Endo

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org, including those by Brad Wesson.

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; 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, The Indiscrite One, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), and Jonathan Courtright! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE!

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

Timestamps:

  • Prologue: 0:00-7:37
  • Introduction: 7:37-18:19
  • Main Discussion: 18:19-2:19:21
  • Outro: 2:19:21-2:30:21
  • Credits: 2:30:21-2:31:58

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #amerikaiju    #kaiju            #theasylum     #mockbuster   #monsterisland

© 2023 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

“For Toto!” | Gamera the Brave | One Monstrous Moment -Rebirth- Edition | Ft. Bex from Redeemed Otaku

Published September 6, 2023

Gamera –Rebirth- is upon us, so Nate invited his resident anime expert, Bex from Redeemed Otaku, to discuss a favorite moment from Gamera the Brave, a film they originally discussed in full back in 2021. In fact, it’s a moment that nearly makes Nate cry. Never underestimate the faith and determination of children! This is part of “One Monstrous Moment: -Rebirth- Edition,” which is being put on by Ryan “The Omni Viewer” Collins. “For Toto!”

Listen to episode 54: http://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2021/12/09/episode-54-bex-vs-gamera-the-brave/.

Check out Redeemed Otaku:
-Podcast: https://redeemedotaku.libsyn.com/

-YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1rK1mXJ-p_j0mGuJw5YwLQ

-X-Twitter: https://twitter.com/RedeemedOtaku

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redeemed_otaku/

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, The Indiscrite One, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), and Jonathan Courtright! Thanks for your support!

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #kaiju            #gamera            #gamerarebirth           #onemonstrousmoment

© 2023 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Comments closed

Episode 78: ‘Godzilla vs. Biollante’ | Godzilla Redux | Ft. Kaiju Kim and Daniel DiManna

Published August 11, 2023

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In this impromptu but timely “Godzilla Redux” episode that’s technically from the future of the MIFV timeline, Nate sits down and discusses the first true Heisei G-film, Godzilla vs. Biollante, with YouTuber Kaiju Kim and GNP creator/author Daniel DiManna. Why did he move it up and feature them as guests? So they could promote the Kickstarter for their animated tie-in fanfilm! Enjoy this spirited conversation and the best SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION you ever heard on MIFV! In the meantime, you’ll hear about what some fans call the “most poetic” film in the Godzilla franchise; how it was written by a dentist who recycled a script he wrote for Return of Ultraman; how it was the first G-film for writer-director Kazuki Omori and special effects director Koichi Kawakita; how it was affected by both King Kong Lives and Little Shop of Horrors; and how it was the subject of a lawsuit between Toho and Miramax. But all of that is nothing compared to the many crazy unmade scripts to which producer Tomoyuki Tanaka said, “No” (Miki was a cloned sister?! Nate knows that struggle!)

Support “Erika” on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/erikabiollante/erika-an-animated-short-film.

Additional music:

  • “Bio Wars” by Koichi Sugiyama
  • “Chant My Name!” by Masaaki Endo
  • “Moonlight Sonata” by Ludwig von Beethoven

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip.

Read Kaiju Ramen Magazine (https://kaijuramenmedia.com/).

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, The Indiscrite One, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), and Jonathan Courtright! Thanks for your support!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop)

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

Timestamps:

  • Intro: 0:00-8:20
  • Main Discussion: 8:20-2:22:19
  • Housekeeping & Outro: 2:22:19-end
    • SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION for the “Erika” Kickstarter: 2:30:15-2:48:48

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault       #kaiju            #godzilla            #biollante        #godzillavsbiollante

© 2023 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

  • Barr, Jason. The Kaiju Film: A Critical Study of Cinema’s Biggest Monsters.
  • “Biollante.” Wikizilla. (https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Biollante)
  • “Chanson d’automne.” Wikipedia. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanson_d%27automne)
  • Galbraith, Stuart IV. Japanese Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films: A Critical Analysis and Filmography of 103 Features Released in the United States 1950-1992.
  • Godzilla vs. Biollante blu-ray special features (Echo Bridge)
    • “Behind the Design”
    • “Making of GODZILLA VS. BIOLLANTE”
  • “Godzilla vs. Biollante.” Wikipedia. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godzilla_vs._Biollante)
  • “Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989).” Wikizilla. (https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Godzilla_vs._Biollante)
  • Kaijuvision Radio – Episode 23: Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) (Human Genome Project, Ascension of Emperor Akihito) (https://youtu.be/HWc9fnrGMpI)
  • Kalat, David. A Critical History and Filmography of Toho’s Godzilla Series, 2nd Edition.
  • Lees, J.D. and Marc Cerasini. The Official Godzilla Compendium.
  • LeMay, John. The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies Volume 2: 1984-2017.
  • LeMay, John. The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies: The Lost Films (Mutated Edition).
  • LeMay, John. Writing Giant Monsters.
  • Rhodes, Sean, and Brooke McCorkle. “Chapter 10: “The Bubble and the Beasts.” Japan’s Green Monsters: Environmental Commentary in Kaiju Cinema.
  • Skipper, Graham. Godzilla: The Official Guide to the King of the Monsters.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed

Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 68: Nick Hayden vs. ‘Cloverfield’

Published May 8, 2023

Cloverfield is a film that is gaining more of my interested because of the theories that Clover is a space monster. Or at the very least extraterrestrial. (Contrary to popular belief, those aren’t quite the same things). As for the episode itself, Nick needs to be on the show more often; he’s a pleasant guy. All that to say, I didn’t have many notes on this episode, and none of them pertained to Nick. But correcting the guests is secondary to me keeping Nate honest. Ha! So, here are my additions to episode 68.

  • Yes, Rob Hawkins was offered a job by Monster Island in 2008. The Island was in the early stages of rebuilding and reopening at the time, and Rob was hired as its first director of public relations. Obviously, that didn’t work out. (By the way, I got this directly from the Board, so take that with a kaiju-sized grain of salt).
  • I had a MySpace page once. And don’t let Nate fool you—so did he! (Believe it or not, the site still exists!)
  • Nate, you’re worrying me with that “Yes, quite.” I remember an old…adversary of ours saying it a lot.
  • “Blue Harvest” was actually a fake working title for Return of the Jedi. And the title of a Family Guy Star Wars parody.
  • From what I can tell, the tie-in manga, Cloverfield/KISHIN, wasn’t officially translated and published outside Japan, but there is a fan translation available here (ch. 1-3) and here (ch. 4).
  • Oh, the senseless things Nate does every day. Don’t get me started on the infamous “cockroach” incident involving Elijah Thomas and Daniel DiManna. That audio will stay buried.
  • Sometimes I don’t want to be Nate’s “people.” Especially at this time with him climbing higher in the Monster Island corporate hierarchy. Just saying.

Speaking of Nate, here are his notes for the episode so you can see what he didn’t get to:

S3E68-Notes-on-CloverfieldDownload

That’s all for now. I have a mecha in desperate need of a tune up. Later!

Social media:

#JimmyFromNASALives      #WeShallOvercome               #MonsterIslandFilmVault

Comments closed

BONUS – Kaiju Conversation LIVE! Episode 2: Into the Multiverse of Marchand (abridged, re-release)

Published April 7, 2023

Hey, Kaiju Lovers! To tide you over while I finalize the next few episodes, here’s an abridged version of the 4 ½ hour livestream I did with Elijah Thomas of the Kaiju Conversation podcast. In this excerpt, we talk with Mark Bailey, the editor of Giant Bug Cinema: A Monster Kid’s Guide. This was a collection of essays on B-movies featuring huge insects, to which both Elijah and I contributed. The three of us discuss what we wrote, the origins of the book, and why we wrote it. The most exciting part is the book was nominated for a Rondo Award! And you can help the book win using the link below!

Vote for Giant Bug Cinema on the Rondo Awards: https://rondoaward.com/rondoaward.com/blog/.

Buy Giant Bug Cinema on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/55hffdun.

Watch the full livestream here: https://www.youtube.com/live/r2FD6YLsaus?feature=share.

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; 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!

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! (https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-monster-island-gift-shop)

Podcast Social Media:

  • Twitter (https://twitter.com/TheMonsterIsla1)
  • Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MonsterIslandFilmVault/)
  • Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/monsterislandfilmvault/)
  • Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy (https://twitter.com/nasajimmy?lang=en)
  • Follow the Monster Island Board of Directors on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD (https://twitter.com/MonsterIslaBOD)
  • Follow the Raymund Martin and the MIFV Legal Team on Twitter: @MIFV_LegalTeam
  • Follow Crystal Lady Jessica on Twitter: @CystalLadyJes1 (https://twitter.com/CrystalLadyJes1)
  • Follow Dr. Dourif on Twitter: @DrDorif (https://twitter.com/DrDoriff)

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault      #KaijuConversation            #kaiju  #RondoAwards           #GiantBugCinema

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Comments closed