Join Nathan Marchand and some special guests as they celebrate seven years of kaiju podcasting! Featuring Matt Walsh (But Not THAT Matt Walsh), Elijah Thomas, Jake “The Metal Don” Hambrick, and later Neil Riebe.
Watch the original livestream:
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 free MIFV MAX patrons on Patreon: Cordell Stevens, John Pannozzi, Jacob Heron, Cool Cat Videos, Bransbow, Sean Sullivan, Frankie Wolf, Russel Hale, FRIEN Jadge, Bob Hard, ArtsieSteph, Robert O’Brien, DD Chief, Kaye, Nobody, The Indiscrite One, Clayton Warden, Enigma, Dave Blanken, Patrick Greenlaw, Mikki, Josh Baughan, Shane Cochran, Francis Chopin, and Geek 3D Art.
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.
Hello, Kaiju Lovers! Kaiju author Neil Riebe returns to discuss the one Ultraman film he likes: Ultraman Gaia: The Battle in Hyperspace. This entry in the Ultra Series is unique in that it’s a TV series tie-in that’s arguably a standalone feature. Not only that, it’s a surprisingly deep and dark meta story set in the “real world,” and the protagonists are actually kids who aren’t “Kennys.” What a shock! It’s a monkey’s paw tale that examines the fallibility of human nature to boot! Plus, the main kaiju, King of Mons, is one of the most epic creatures in the Ultra Series. Since the film references Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift, the Toku Topic is multiverse theory, a concept the movie introduces to the franchise.
We’d like to give a shout-out to our free MIFV MAX patrons on Patreon: Cordell Stevens, John Pannozzi, Jacob Heron, Cool Cat Videos, Bransbow, Sean Sullivan, Frankie Wolf, Russel Hale, FRIEN Jadge, Bob Hard, ArtsieSteph, Robert O’Brien, DD Chief, Kaye, Nobody, The Indiscrite One, Clayton Warden, Enigma, Dave Blanken, Patrick Greenlaw, Mikki, Josh Baughan, Shane Cochran, Francis Chopin, and Geek 3D Art.
Hello, Kaiju Lovers! Nate (technically) reaches the Heisei Era of “Godzilla Redux” with The Return of Godzilla (aka “Godzilla 1984”). He’s joined by kaiju author Neil Riebe (who saw it in the theatre!) and the “unapologetic apologist” for the Heisei series, Andrew Wynja “The Ninja.” They get into how this is the only true “Cold War” G-film and offers a uniquely Japanese perspective that was almost completely lost in Roger Corman’s heavily re-edited Americanized version, Godzilla 1985. If history isn’t your thing, they also discuss the amazing special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano, Kenpachiro Satsuma’s first performance as Big G, and the incredible score by Reijiro Koroku, among other things. Strap in!
We’d like to give a shout-out to our free MIFV MAX patrons on Patreon: Cordell Stevens, John Pannozzi, Jacob Heron, Cool Cat Videos, Bransbow, Sean Sullivan, Frankie Wolf, Russel Hale, FRIEN Jadge, Bob Hard, ArtsieSteph, Robert O’Brien, DD Chief, Kaye, Nobody, The Indiscrite One, Clayton Warden, Enigma, Dave Blanken, Patrick Greenlaw, Mikki, Josh Baughan, Shane Cochran, and Francis Chopin.
And there came a day unlike any other. When your favorite kaiju podcasters and YouTubers found themselves united to discuss G-Fest XXX. On that day became…uh, what’s their team name? Join us for a MASSIVE livestream event that’s going out to multiple YouTube channels! Also features appearances by kaiju authors Neil Riebe and Danile DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project).
Watch the live video version on the MIFV YouTube channel!
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, Sam Allred, and Devin Torrence! Thanks for your support!
For once, Mr. LeMay came on the show and we didn’t get into a flame war. But maybe that’s why he left early: he knew he couldn’t win. Regardless, I only took a few notes during this episode, and most of them had to do with Neil Riebe. Nate is right in saying Neil’s been on so much, he may as well be his new co-host. Him or Danny DiManna. Nate, we need to talk about letting other members of your Tourist roster on the show more often! Anyway, for Episode 91: ‘All Monsters Attack’ (aka Godzilla’s Revenge), I wrote:
“Traveling intrepid producer.” That has a nice ring to it. I’ll be updating my business cards immediately!
Ryder Sound Services in Hollywood recorded the dub for AIP. It was supervised by Riley Jackson.
I love how John bails right when Nate asks him a difficult question…about theme songs. Music is an important subject, but really?
I checked the Classic Media DVD for the film, which is what Nate was referencing in his original notes, and Ichiro said, “But I’ll be okay by myself.”
That was a delicious bone you threw at this “Kenny,” Nate. But yes, Masao and I are the best “Kennys” in Gamera’s history, hands down. But…
The hell, Neil! How could you forget I’m the best “Kenny”!
The “plant monster” in the film is officially named “Maneater” and isn’t on the Island since it’s a figment of Ichiro’s imagination. That one, anyway. Hence why Dr. Dourif didn’t appear. I’m sure he was disappointed.
You mean Godzilla vs. Megalon is a lot like those 1970s toku TV shows, Neil.
Join MIFV MAX on Patreon to see Nate’s full research notes, including what he didn’t use on the show.
Next up, Nate is joined by a not-time-displaced Omni Viewer (and Snazzy Chapeau) to discuss what many would call “peak Korean Kaiju cinema” for The Monster Island World Tour, Bong Joon-Ho’s The Host. Then we enter the 1970s era of the Showa Godzilla series with the bizarre and suddenly popular Godzilla vs. Hedorah (aka Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster)—and it was the most-requested guest host episode of MIFV ever! The list was finalized to Daniel DiManna, Ben Avery, and Matt and Gratton from Giant Monster BS. Finally, with five Wednesdays in May this year, Nate will do a solo bonus episode on War of the God Monsters (aka The Flying Monster), a South Korean kaiju movie that barely qualifies for coverage because it stole its monster footage from Ultraman (among others). It’s a full month!
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!
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!
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.
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.
Nate and Jimmy fly Uber-Moguera to Panmunjom intent to recapture Yongary, but the Korean kaiju scores a couple lucky hits that disable the mecha’s weapons system. Desperate to find a new tactic, they get unlikely help from an unlikely source: Neil Riebe! His solution: a dance-off! Shenanigans ensue.
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!
Marchand’s March (ha!) has been bleeping busy! The show has practically been weekly. I’d complain, but I enjoy the work too much. Balancing that between maintaining Uber-Moguera and trying to make up with Kaguya (she’s still upset with me, despite my best efforts)—there’s no rest for the Jimmy! But hey, I get to travel the world and visit places like Seoul that I’ve never seen before with my best friend. Oh, and Nate, too, I guess. 😛 Anyway, let’s get into my notes on episode 87 (Yongary, Monster from the Deep vs. Neil Riebe).
Apex did me dirty! Walter Simmons was a jerk, and his company has more human rights violations than Amazon! (I’m not bitter at all…).
You know, if I could get a spy drone into Hannibal Chau’s film library, I could see if he has the Korean cut of Yongary…but I value my drones far too much. The parts are expensive!
You don’t understand: I’ve studied the possibilities of A.I. It’s ruining Star Wars films now with those pseudo-deep fakes, but later…Terminator is the least of our worries! Think I, Robot, only worse. Yikes!
“China virus.” Don’t worry, I tested all of us before leaving Hong Kong. It’s not that one.
It wasn’t a treaty that ended the Korean War, Nate—it was an armistice. There’s a big difference. That’s why some argue that the war has never ended and could technically reignite at any point. Scary stuff.
My girlfriend isn’t a computer, Marchand! Nor an android! She just…spent too much time on the Xilien version of the internet…because they had it first!
I used to have an itching flashlight. Kaguya threw it out after I used it on her…for reasons.
Next week (good grief… “next week”!), we have a Patreon-sponsored episode with executive producer Damon Noyes—and it’s a double feature: Attack of the Crab Monsters and Island Claws. Then Daniel DiManna returns for a bonus episode on Space Monster Wangmagwi. Finally, the “Kong Quest” (ba-dum-tsh!) crosses over with Godzilla Redux when Legendary releases the latest MonsterVerse entry, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
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.
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!
LeMay, John. The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies, Vol. 1: 1954-1982.
Riebe, Neil. “Yongary: A Critique of His Critics.” Kaiju Ramen Magazine, no. 6, pp. 10-16. Jan. 2023.
Riebe, Neil. “Yongary, back from the Deep.” The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies: The Lost Films (Mutated Edition) by John LeMay. Bicep Books, pp. 92-95. 2019.
