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Tag: Monster Island Board of Directors

Jimmy’s Notes on ‘Episode 21: Matango (Mini-Analysis)’

Published August 5, 2020

It’s been a rough week on Monster Island, what with the Board of Directors mandating masks (again). I’m a big fan of them hiring Douglas Gordon as the Island’s security chief, though. Plus, the Board is sharing some…inside info with me you may hear on a future episode.

Anyway, I only have a few of my own notes plus Nathan’s notes from his independent study for this week’s blog. I think he only has a few more of the films from that study left. Atragon and Frankie v. Barry, I think. Regardless, I have some snark to deliver.

  • It’s “Ghost in the Shell,” Nathan, not “Ghost in a Shell.” Direct vs. indirect articles. Big difference, as you know.
  • Trust me when I say some things in Tokyo will follow you everywhere. At least for a while. And I don’t mean puppies.
  • Birds get sucked into jet engines a lot, man. We pilots do have our own superstitions. Canada geese are the worst offenders. (Sorry, Chris Cooke).
  • To learn more about Hahajima, which has the big mountain Dd G told us about, click here. Let me tell you, it is a beautiful place. Nathan, Jet Jaguar, and I will be taking a hike there soon.
  • If you’re curious about the DC Comics villain Matango, read this.

Here are Nathan’s leftover notes:

  • Kubo’s face is seen. He’s unscarred. (Which makes the ending that much more interesting. –Jimmy)
  • Music during credits is weirdly upbeat.
  • “Tokyo and all her dust.” Men and money are left behind.
  • Writer loses his pages in water. I’d be upset. But he thinks writers steal everything. (You would know better than me, Nathan. –Jimmy)
  • “Top lady” = mistress (and double entendre?) (Yep. –Jimmy)
  • 40 million yen yacht. Best that money can buy. Destroyed by storm.
  • Scare girls and then treat them tender. “That’s not psychology—that’s a paperback novel!” (One of the best lines in the film! –Jimmy)
  • Professor is a psychologist. Appropriate and ironic.
  • The women are polar opposites. Mami (Mizuno) is a flirtatious harlot while Akiko is a chaste, shy girl who’s never been kissed.
  • 7 characters for the 7 deadly sins. (You can thank Danny DiManna for that idea. I still can’t figure out which character is which sin, though. Maybe Rev. Mifune could help explain?  –Jimmy)
  • Music is somewhat minimalistic for the most part. Not Ifukube or Sato. (It was Sadao Bekku. –Jimmy)
  • The hallucinations begin before they reach the island with the phantom ship. Perhaps an indication that Yoshida is already unhinged.
  • Fog is a common motif. It obscures. It clouds. Drug reference?
  • This film is Lost meets Gilligan’s Island with a Twilight Zone ending.
  • The set design for the ship is great. The mold everywhere. Unique. Like a haunted house. Reminiscent of classic Universal horror.
  • Is it possible this whole film is Akira Kubo’s fever dream? How much of it is true? There are things that don’t add up. (Given what we heard from Dr. Dourif, I’m pretty sure it was real. –Jimmy)
  • The mold is great foreshadowing for Matango.
  • Eyeless turtle: foreboding.
  • Matnago is said to be a radiation mutant. Anti-nuclear. Doesn’t explain everything.
  • Nationality of boat concealed. Communist and western. Even Japan. Humanity represented. No one is innocent.
  • Matango is the forbidden fruit. May eat everything else but that.
  • Plays on natural need—eating—and makes it scary. Do it and suffer. Much like Nightmare on Elm Street with sleeping. (“Never eat again…”. –Jimmy)
  • The location photography is amazing.
  • Is this island attracting boats to it and sinking them? Bermuda Triangle?
  • First Matango appears almost 43 minutes in.
  • Two characters fire at Matango but not sure they hit it or saw anything but audience sees mushroom goo on ground.
  • This film was almost banned because of the mushroom man make-up. Looked like bombing victims. (The Hibakusha, which we’ll be discussing in a future episode. –Jimmy)
  • Even the characters think they saw ghosts—but there are footprints.
  • Illustrates why William Golding had no girls in Lord of the Flies: aggravates things. Aggravates men. Unlike that story, they are just as corruptible. (To hear his full reasoning from the foreword to his book, watch this video. –Jimmy)
  • “Akiko…this is Mother.” (Clearly that was the mushrooms talking. Those lying Matango! –Jimmy)
  • Yoshida says frayed nerves make people see witches and devils. Tries to explain strange happenings away. (That just sounds like trick-or-treaters at Halloween. –Jimmy)
  • Yoshida and Mami have a full-on make-out session. Most sexual thing in a Honda film.
  • Koyama pulls rope as he falls. Lifeline. Symbolic. Body has bills strewn about him. Also symbolic. Died amassing useless wealth.
  • Mami’s wardrobe changes to reflect her allegiance. Green and plantlike.
  • One character eats Matango and has vision of dancing showgirls amid Tokyo neon. Drugs. Revelry. Opulence.
  • The Matango laugh was recycled later for Baltan on Ultraman. (And it’s just as disturbing coming from those big beetles! –Jimmy)
  • Sakuta runs, but he eventually jumps overboard. Then writes on wall that everyone else is dead. Betrayal.
  • The professor and Akiko decide to leave. Almost happy ending. Then mushroom people show up. Like a zombie movie. Night of the Living Dead? Hacks off an arm. (Maybe George Romero saw this movie? –Jimmy)
  • Seems a little convenient that he leaves on boat and gets found. Why take him to psychiatric ward?
  • Doctor says, “We are grateful that you were able to come back.” Are they speaking of him as a patient? (Another parallel to The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. –Jimmy)
  • (In “The Voice in the Night,”) John and his fiancée are like the prof and student in the film: innocent but they succumb to temptation. And are corrupted spiritually and physically. (Read more about this story here. –Jimmy)

That does it for my notes this week.

Join us next Wednesday to hear the start of the “Daimajin Days” when Nathan’s friends Joe and Joy Metter returned to start their journey through the Daimajin trilogy. Then this month’s mini-analysis will be on Ishiro Honda’s other 1963 classic, Atragon.

As the Board says, “Together we can find a better way forward.”

Follow me on Twitter: @NasaJimmy

Follow the Board on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD

#JimmyFromNASALives
#WeShallOvercome

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FROM THE DESK OF WILLIAM H. GEORGE III – ‘Zilla Jr. Threat Level Update / New Head of Security

Published August 2, 2020

DATE: 07-31-2020

TO: ALL EMPLOYEES

FROM: THE MONSTER ISLAND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SUBJECT: ‘ZILLA JR. THREAT LEVEL UPDATE / NEW HEAD OF SECURITY

Last week the Monster Island Board of Directors sent out an email stating that ‘Zilla Jr’s threat level was still under assessment. As of 8 am today the team has come back with its final evaluation on the creature. 

File image of ‘Zilla Junior.

The team has determined that ‘Zilla’s threat level stands at 8.5/10. A full readout of this assessment can be accessed through the employee portal. If you possess the proper clearances, you will be able to read that report, in full, as of 10 am tomorrow. We still strongly encourage any employee traveling to the NE quadrant of the island to use extreme caution. ‘Zilla will be released from his paddock later this week after some final blood testing and security tagging. An official public statement about the creature’s release will be made after Miss Perkins has a chance to review it. 

Captain Douglas Gordon

Also, given that security on the island has been of great concern to all of us, The Monster Island Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Capt. Douglas Gordon will be joining the team as our NEW Head of Security. His role goes into effect immediately. We are currently in the process of gathering all necessary resources he and his team may need to do their job effectively and efficiently. 

The Board has also instructed Capt. Gordon to do a full security assessment of any and all facilities here on the island. This includes but is not limited to: 

  • ANY AND ALL guest services areas
  • Kaiju paddocks 
  • The Monster Island Resort 
  • ANY AND ALL garage and storage areas on the island 
  • The recording studio and radio station 
  • ANY AND ALL research facilities

Be advised, that inspections will be carried out at random. When Capt. Gordon and his team do come to your facility please treat them with respect and answer any and all questions clearly and concisely. This will allow the Captain and his team to work as efficiently as Earthly possible. 

Once again, thank you all for helping us keep Monster Island one of the best places to work and thrive on Earth. It’s because of team members like you we can see a better way forward.

Sincerely, 
The Monsters Island Board of Directors 

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FROM THE DESK OF WILLIAM H. GEORGE III – New Uniforms/Jumpsuits

Published August 2, 2020

MEMORANDUM

DATE: July 21, 2020

TO: ALL EMPLOYEES

FROM: THE MONSTER ISLAND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SUBJECT: CHANGES TO THE EMPLOYEE & VOLUNTEER DRESS CODE

In an effort to bring the best experience possible to both our guests and employees, the Monster Island Board of Directors has chosen to implement a new color-coded uniform system for all staff and volunteers working on or around the Island. 

Each department/facility will have its own, board-approved, uniform color-coding system. We believe this will be most beneficial to our guests. So that they know who to speak to when issues or general questions arise during their stay. The official uniform colors that coincide with their respected departments are listed as follows: 

  • Executive Staff – Black or Charcoal Gray (with some flexibility)
  • Maintenance Crew – Orange
  • Sekizawa Library Staff / Volunteers – Turquoise 
  • Garage Crew – Crimson
  • Monarch Outpost 83 – Neon Green
  • Monsterland Resort Staff – Gold
  • Halley’s Comics – Navy Blue
  • MI Chapel – White
  • Aviary – Desert Tan
  • Kaiju Handlers – Camo 
  • Kaiju Court Staff/Volunteers – Purple 
  • Denham Theater Staff – Silver
  • MI Screening Room Volunteers – Yellow
  • Beta Site – Hunter Green
  • Film Vault Crew/Volunteers – Olive Green
  • KIJU Radio Station – Bubblegum Pink 

More details about the specifics of these changes will be released in a separate email to all employees. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to our Employee Advocates Office, and someone will get back to you at their earliest convenience.

Thank you all for helping us keep Monster Island, one of the best places to work and thrive on planet Earth. It’s because of team members like you that help us find a better way forward. 

Sincerely,  The Monster Island Board of Directors 

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