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Tag: Monster Conversation

Monster Conversation: Harryhausen Annual #4 – ‘The Valley of Gwangi’ | MIFV x Kaiju Conversation

Published June 29, 2025

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! And Happy Birthday, Ray! Nate and Elijah once again celebrate their birthdays by celebrating Ray Harryhausen’s birthday with another deep dive into the stopmotion master’s filmography: The Valley of Gwangi. This 1969 dinosaur epic combined the monster movie and western at a time when both genres were past their primes. It failed at the box office, but it has since become a cult classic, and it’s no wonder why. Cowboys wrangling dinosaurs, baby! While it aped (pun intended) King Kong (1933), it was Ray’s loving tribute to his mentor, Willis O’Brien, who wanted to make this film two decades earlier. It has some of Ray’s best work but also some underdeveloped characters. Where does it rank in Nate’s and Elijah’s lists of Harryhausen films? Listen to find out!

Additional Music:

  • “Legends of Warcraft” by PSK
  • “The Dark Ages” by Phil Rey

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3!

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, Wynja the Ninja, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Leon Campbell, Michael Watson, and Sam Allred! 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: 0:00-5:46
  • Production History: 5:46-58:19
  • Toku Talk (Synopsis and Main Discussion): 58:19-2:50:55
  • Outro (housekeeping, etc.): 2:50:55-3:00:00
  • Credits: 3:00:00-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault    #kaiju   #daikaiju            #giantmonsters           #RayHarryhausen       #KaijuConversation            #valleyofgwangi

© 2025 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Nathan’s Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Monster Conversation Harryhausen Annual #3: ‘The Golden Voyage of Sinbad’

Published June 29, 2024

In Nate and Elijah’s epic triple birthday celebration with Ray Harryhausen (“Yours, Mine, and Ray’s”), they continue their annual crossover with The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973). While they’re going in reverse chronological order, they agree with this is a “step up” from Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, which they discussed last year. It helps that it has the incredible Tom Baker (of Doctor Who fame) as the villain and the eye candy that is Caroline Munro. The film also has a cameo by Robert Shaw (Quint from Jaws) in a Shakespearean role. Nate and Elijah discuss how the film reflects changing attitudes toward racial and gender equality in the early 1970s and the symbolic freedom of the sea. They even get into a couple of “Toku Topics,” like the literary origins of Sinbad the Sailor and a lawsuit this film was a part of.

Additional Music:

  • “Legends of Warcraft” by PSK
  • “The Dark Ages” by Phil Rey

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.

Timestamps:

  • Introduction: 0:00-7:25
  • Synopsis and Production History: 7:25-56:42
  • Toku Talk (Main Discussion): 56:42-2:29:15
  • Toku Topics: 2:29:15-2:59:33
  • Outro: 2:59:33-3:12:36
  • Credits: 3:12:36-end

Podcast Social Media:

www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com

#JimmyFromNASALives       #MonsterIslandFilmVault     #RayHarryhausen            #Sinbad           #GoldenVoyageofSinbad

© 2024 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Monster Conversation Ray Harryhausen Annual #2: ‘Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger’

Published June 29, 2023

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! To celebrate Ray Harryhausen’s birthday (and their birthdays), Nate is joined by the “Littlest Gatekeeper,” Elijah Thomas of Kaiju Conversation, to continue their yearly series discussing the filmography of the stop-motion master. Today, it’s 1977’s Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. (Classic rock and Rocky III references, anyone?) It’s the third in the unconnected Sinbad trilogy from Columbia Pictures and stars John Wayne’s son, Dr. Quinn, and the Second Doctor (Who). This was Nate and Elijah’s first time watching the film. Elijah managed not to fall asleep this time—but that doesn’t mean he liked it! We’re prepared for angry letters. 😛

Check Elijah’s Linktree for ET13 Productions (https://linktr.ee/ET13_PRODUCTIONS) and the Linktree for Kaiju Conversation (https://linktr.ee/Kaiju_Convers).

Additional music:

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org, including those by InspectorJ.

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); 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)

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

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                 #kaiju            #rayharryhausen         #kaijuconversation     #happybirthday

© 2023 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Monster Conversation: Harryhausen Annual #1 – ‘Clash of the Titans’ (1981)

Published June 29, 2022

Release the crossover! Nate and his friend Elijah “The Littlest Gatekeeper” Thomas start a new annual tradition for their podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and Kaiju Conversation, respectively, by discussing a Ray Harryhausen film every year. Why? Because they both share a birthday with the special effects legend. Also, since these two are weird, they’re going in reverse filmography order, starting with the original Clash of the Titans. This epic adventure was a relic when it came out, but given Harryhausen’s romantic love of the past and love of the classics, it’s not surprising. Your hosts dive deep into this film’s production—Arnold Schwarzenegger was nearly the lead?!—and discuss the many incredible mythological creatures that appear in it. As Harryhausen’s best friend, the author Ray Bradbury, said, Medusa in this film is Harryhausen’s “crowning glory.” Just forgive Elijah for being a bit snobby about it. Happy birthday, Ray!

(This episode is also being released on the Kaiju Conversation feed).

Check out Kaiju Conversation: https://redcircle.com/shows/kaiju-conversation. Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaiju_convers.

Music:

  • “Legends of Warcraft” by PSK
  • “The Dark Ages” by Phil Rey

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 (co-host 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! (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 Cameron Winter and the Monster Island Board of Directors.

MIFV 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      #RayHarryhausen            #ClashoftheTitans

© 2022 Moonlighting Ninjas Media and ET13 Productions.

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

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