Hello, Kaiju Lovers! This episode marks the final “Godzilla Redux” of season four, and it’s a low-key banger! Robert Kelly, who managed to escape capture by the British police after episode 103, returns to discuss his first G-film, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974), and share what Nate says is the most unique take he’s ever heard on this film. Namely, Robert says Godzilla is his friend, because Godzilla’s monstrousness is a virtue in the vein of G.K. Chesterton. No kidding! But it isn’t the only take they discuss—and some are hotter than Big G’s nuclear breath! They get into the so-called “alien apes as Americans allegory,” the history and culture of Okinawa as it relates to this film (which is to that island what Lord of the Rings is to New Zealand), and more! King Caesar’s ghost!
“Jimmy’s Notes” on this episode COMING SOON!
Additional Music:
Buy Robert’s book, Record All Monsters: The Book of the Essays from the Podcast (https://a.co/d/gFq6W2U).
Listen to the Record All Monsters’s episode on Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974): https://www.spreaker.com/episode/s2e20-godzilla-vs-mechagodzilla-with-my-mom-wooo-and-aubrey–51852549.
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: 0:00-8:14
- Main Discussion: 8:14-2:28:22
- Outro (housekeeping, etc.): 2:28:22-2:47:14
- Credits: 2:47:14-end
Podcast Social Media:
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Bibliography/Further Reading:
- Barr, Jason. The Kaiju Film: A Critical Study of Cinema’s Biggest Monsters. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. 2016.
- Galbraith IV, Stuart. Japanese Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films: A Critical Analysis and Filmography of 103 Features Released in the United States, 1950-1992. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. 1994.
- “Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla.” IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071565/.
- “Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla.” Toho Kingdom. https://www.tohokingdom.com/movies/godzilla_vs_mechagodzilla.htm.
- “Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godzilla_vs._Mechagodzilla.
- ”Godzilla vs. Mechacgodzilla (1974).” Wikizilla. https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Godzilla_vs._Mechagodzilla.
- Kaijuvision Radio, Episode 19: Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974) (The Reversion of Okinawa: History and Culture) (https://youtu.be/LODiyjrAb68?si=tG7N_cB0Xdu5ZEVo).
- Kalat, David. A Critical History and Filmography of Toho’s Godzilla Series (2nd edition). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. 2017.
- Lees, J.D. and Marc Cerasini. The Official Godzilla Compendium. Random House. 1998.
- LeMay, John. The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies, Volume 1: 1954-1982 (2nd edition).
- LeMay, John with Ted Johnson. The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies: The Lost Films – Mutated Edition.
- LeMay, John. Writing Japanese Monsters.
- Skipper, Graham. Godzilla: The Official Guide to the King of the Monsters. Welbeck Publishing Group. 2022.
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