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Episode 94: ‘Pulgasari’ vs. Tomi Trembath

Published June 27, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! Nate and Jimmy venture across the 38th parallel into North Korea to cover the most infamous kaiju film ever made and recapture its star monster: Pulgasari. Tomi Trembath of the Giant-Sized Violence podcast, who grew up with its strange American remake, The Adventures of Galgameth, joins Nate via video call (for obvious reasons) to discuss this “North Korean Godzilla,” which is surrounded by urban legends and even wilder true stories. It’s a pseudo-remake of a lost South Korean film and, arguably, the Daimajin trilogy–because it’s an ’80s movie that looks like a grungy ’60s movie. (Thanks, “Dear Leader”!) But it saved the life of its kidnapped director, Shin Sang-ok, and his actress wife, Choi Eun-hee, which is the subject of our Toku Topic.

Listen to this episode’s prologue: https://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/06/27/episode-93-prologue-the-hunting-of-the-snarky-nate-part-1/.

Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode on the MIFV website! (https://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/06/27/jimmys-notes-on-episode-94-pulgasari-vs-tomi-trembath/).

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. Henshin Power V3 coming July 10, 2024 (Ultraman Day)!

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, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright,  Robert Kidd, Leon Campbell, and Michael Watson! 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.

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Timestamps:

  • Introduction: 0:00-6:45
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 6:45-14:57
  • Toku Talk: 14:57-1:14:50
  • Ad (Toku Toy Town): 1:14:50-1:16:12
  • Toku Topic (The Story of Shin Sang-ok and Choi Eun-hee): 1:16:12-2:00:12
  • Outro: 2:00:12-2:14:30
  • Credits: 2:14:30-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault    

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 94 Prologue: “The Hunting of the Snarky Nate” (Part 1)

Published June 27, 2024
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Uber-Moguera lands in North Korea, and Nate meets a squad of soldiers on the airfield. He gives their Commander documents showing they have authorization to be in the country–but with one sarcastic comment, Nate finds himself on their “most wanted” list and dodging bullets! Can he survive this international incident?

Featuring Nate Chen as the NK Commander.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. Henshin Power V3 coming July 10, 2024 (Ultraman Day)!

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, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Leon Campbell, and Michael Watson! 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

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Special Report #7: ‘Ultraman: Rising’ Ft. Jeff Gomez of Ultraman Connection

Published June 24, 2024

Nathan is joined by the CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, Jeff Gomez, an “ultra-fan” who presides over the website Ultraman Connection, to discuss Netflix’s new animated Ultraman movie. Is it truly one of the best animated films of the year? We get into that and more!

Watch the video version here: https://youtube.com/live/B_pBsvH7CeE.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. Henshin Power V3 coming July 10, 2024 (Ultraman Day)!

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, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright,  Robert Kidd, Leon Campbell, and Michael Watson! 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     #Ultraman            #UltramanRising        #Netflix

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Bonus Episode #17: ‘War of the God Monsters’

Published June 14, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! The South Korean leg of The Monster Island World Tour comes to an end in this bonus episode with a movie that exemplifies what Korean kaiju cinema did wrong before The Host: War of the God Monsters (aka The Flying Monster). This movie, which was released stateside by SRS Cinema, floundered in obscure infamy for years, and with good reason—it stole all of its monster footage from Ultraman! Yep, aside from one life-size prop, there’s nary an original monster in sight. If you thought the stock footage in All Monsters Attack and Gamera: Super Monster was bad, prepare to have those become your new favorite movies! Then Nate answers some listener feedback.

Edited by Christopher Riner with Nathan Marchand.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. Henshin Power V3 coming July 10, 2024 (Ultraman Day)!

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, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright,  Robert Kidd, Leon Campbell, and Michael Watson! 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.

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Timestamps:

  • Main Discussion: 0:00-16:19
  • Ad (Toku Toy Town): 16:19-17:41
  • Outro – Listener Feedback and Housekeeping: 17:41-29:53
  • Credits: 29:53-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #WaroftheGodMonsters            #SRSCinema

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 92: ‘The Host’ (2006) vs. the Omni Viewer

Published May 27, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! After several months in Seoul, Nate finally reaches the point where Korean kaiju cinema comes into its own: Bong Joon-ho’s The Host (2006). He’s joined by YouTuber and author Omni Viewer and his “kaiju” sidekick, Snazzy Chapeau, to discuss this momentous film. While it arguably has more in common with Jaws than Godzilla (1954), its effect on Korean culture was as significant as the latter was for Japan and King Kong (1933) was for America. It was inspired by a uniquely Korean issue/experience and catapulted Korean culture and Joon-ho onto the world scene. Speaking of which, the Toku Topic is the true story that is recreated and dramatized in the film: the McFarland Incident. Also, there are periodic reports from Sir Adam Lexington, a friend of Omni’s, as he repairs Uber-Moguera.

Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode!

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. Henshin Power V3 coming July 10, 2024!

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, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Leon Campbell, and Michael Watson! 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/stores/the-monster-island-gift-shop?ref_id=35533). NEW MERCH NOW AVAILABLE!

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

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Timestamps:

  • Introduction: 0:00-10:38
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 10:38-19:52
  • Toku Talk: 19:52-1:31:59
  • Ad (Crisis on Ulalu by Ryan George Collins): 1:31:59-1:32:42
  • Toku Topic (The McFarland Incident): 1:32:42-2:03:42
  • Outro: 2:03:42-2:21:11
  • Credits: 2:21:11-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #Reptilian       #Yonggary            #MonsterIslandWorldTour

© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 91: ‘All Monsters Attack’ | Ft. Neil Riebe and John LeMay | Godzilla Redux

Published May 11, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! This film was popular to hate and now it’s popular to “reevaluate” it: All Monsters Attack (aka Godzilla’s Revenge). Nate is joined by not one but two fellow kaiju authors to unpack this grossly misunderstood G-film: Neil Riebe (who’s practically Nate’s new co-host) and the most-cited man on MIFV, John LeMay. They get into the cultural contexts that birthed this strange kids’ movie (starring the first Godzilla “Kenny”) set in the “real world” and not the “Showa-verse,” including urbanization, industrialization, and latchkey kids, among other things. To say the dub did this film no favors would be an understatement. Unfortunately, John had to leave early during the episode, but fortunately Neil reads a 2005 e-mail he got from a 19-year-old John for a special listener feedback segment. Prepare to have your mind changed about this film!

Read “Jimmy’s Notes” on this episode !

Additional Music:

  • “Crime Fiction” by Ervin Jereb

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, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright,  Robert Kidd, Leon Campbell, and Michael Watson! 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.

xr:d:DAF6EXLsG5w:3,j:5779659911910858687,t:24011617

Timestamps:

  • Introduction: 0:00-8:27
  • Synopsis and Main Discussion: 8:27-1:53:38
  • Outro: 1:53:38-2:10:01
  • Credits: 2:10:01-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #Godzilla            #GodzillaRedux          #GodzillasRevenge    #AllMonstersAttack

© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

  • “All Monsters Attack.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Monsters_Attack.
  • “All Monsters Attack (1969).” Wikizilla. https://wikizilla.org/wiki/All_Monsters_Attack.
  • Barr, Jason. The Kaiju Film: A Critical Study of Cinema’s Biggest Monsters.
  • Brothers, Peter H. Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda.
  • Commentary by Richard A. Pusateri. All Monsters Attack Classic Media DVD. Published by Sony.
  • 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.
  • Kaijuvision Radio, Episode 15: All Monsters Attack (1969) (Escapism, Industrial Society, International Bullies). Youtube. https://youtu.be/x03o07OoQPI?si=U5WK8ErZLxp7N-o3.
  • Kalat, David. A Critical History and Filmography of Toho’s Godzilla Series, 2nd Edition.
  • LeMay, John. The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies, Vol. 1: 1954-1982.
  • LeMay, John. Writing Giant Monsters.
  • Osbourne, Randall E. (Ph.D.). “Godzilla as a Parenting Tool.” The Official Godzilla Compendium by J.D. Lees and Marc Cerasini. Random House. 1998.
  • Rhodes, Sean, and Brooke McCorkle. “Chapter 8: “Smog, Sludge, and Hippies: Godzilla vs. Hedorah.” Japan’s Green Monsters: Environmental Commentary in Kaiju Cinema.
  • Ryfle, Steve, and Ed Godziszewski. Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa.
  • Skipper, Graham. Godzilla: The Official Guide to the King of the Monsters.

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The Snarky Boneheads with Rito and Wade (April Fools’ Day Special)

Published April 1, 2024

Ever wonder what would happen if Rito Revolto and Deadpool had a radio show? No? Well, you’re gonna find out, whether you want to or not! The Board replaces Nate’s radio show in his absence—without telling him—with a new one hosted by Nate’s hated old roommate…and some dude named Wade. They report some local Monster Island news, take a music request from Bonnie Lass, and get into all kinds of shenanigans.

Starring:
-Nathan Marchand as Rito and Wade
-Olivia Reed as Bonnie

Written, directed, produced, and edited by Nathan Marchand

MUSIC:
-“Deadpool MvC3 Theme Metal Version” by 331ERock
-“Tenfold True (Instrumental)” by Breaker
-“Every Country has a Monster” by Jonah Ray

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 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, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Robert Kidd, Leon Campbell, and Michael Watson! 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     #AprilFoolsDay            #SnarkyBoneheads     #Deadpool      #RitoRevolto

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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Episode 88: ‘Attack of the Crab Monsters’ & ‘Island Claws’ | Ft. Damon Noyes | Patreon Episode

Published March 29, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! Our first Patreon episode of season four—courtesy of executive producer Damon Noyes—is also MIFV’s first double feature and includes our first Roger Corman movie! First, we tackle Corman’s 1957 “classic,” Attack of the Crab Monsters, which could be called a “B-movie to a B-movie.” While it starts off as a typical atomic age creature feature, to Nate’s surprise, it goes full-tilt crazy at the halfway point. Then he and Damon get to Island Claws, a 1980 “pseudo-remake” that is so obscure, the internet barely knows it exists. While it’s technically better than “Corman’s Crabs,” it isn’t as memorable—until Nate and Damon rewrite it live! They top off their discussions with a quick overview of carcinisation…because the future is crabs.

Read “Jimmy’s Notes” on this episode.

Additional music:

  • “Cybernetic Coelacanth Submarine” by Monobrow
  • “Here We Go” by Chris Classic

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 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, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Robert Kidd, Leon Campbell, and Michael Watson! 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: 0:00-5:36
  • Main Discussion – Attack of the Crab Monsters: 5:36-1:16:03
  • Main Discussion – Island Claws: 1:16:03-2:14:29
  • “Toku Topic” – Carcinisation: 2:14:29-2:29:07
  • Outro: 2:29:07-2:51:37
  • Credits: 2:51:37-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #RogerCorman            #AttackoftheCrabMonsters    #IslandClaws 

© 2023, 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 87: ‘Yongary, Monster from the Deep’ vs. Neil Riebe

Published March 22, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! The South Korea leg of the Monster Island World Tour begins with arguably the first true Korean kaiju film: Yongary, Monster from the Deep. Author Neil Riebe, who might very well be this film’s biggest fan, pays yet another visit to MIFV’s mobile studio in Uber-Moguera to enlighten us with his copious research on the movie. Released in the “Year of the Kaiju,” 1967, it borrows some from Showa Godzilla films but way more from Showa Gamera—complete with a Korean Kenny! Ironically, only the dubbed version of the movie survives. It was once the most expensive film ever made in South Korea (until that record was broken by its remake) and is considered one of the country’s most important films, but does it have the artistic merit to warrant such acclaim, or is it truly just MST3K fodder? Since the film had Japanese technicians from Toei and X Productions working on it, our Toku Topic is Japan-Korea relations.

Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode on the MIFV website.

Additional Music:

  • “Kuwanga Banga” by PirateCrab
  • “Here We Go” by Chris Classic

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, Jake Hambrick, Edwin Gonzalez, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Robert Kidd, Leon Campbell, and Michael Watson! 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: 0:00-7:24
  • Entertaining Info Dump: 7:24-15:52
  • Toku Talk: 15:52-1:26:59
  • Ad (Toku Toy Town): 1:26:59-1:28:22
  • Toku Topic (Korea-Japan relations): 1:28:22-1:57:52
  • Outro: 1:57:52-2:23:35
  • Credits: 2:23:35-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #MonsterIslandWorldTour            #YongaryMonsterfromtheDeep

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Note: This list does not include Neil’s sources.

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