{"id":496,"date":"2020-06-04T12:49:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-04T16:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/monsterislandfilmvault.com\/?p=496"},"modified":"2020-06-04T12:49:07","modified_gmt":"2020-06-04T16:49:07","slug":"jimmys-notes-on-episode-17-the-last-war-mini-analysis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/monsterislandfilmvault.com\/index.php\/2020\/06\/04\/jimmys-notes-on-episode-17-the-last-war-mini-analysis\/","title":{"rendered":"Jimmy&#8217;s Notes on &#8216;Episode 17: The Last War (Mini-Analysis)&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"783\" height=\"327\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/monsterislandfilmvault.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/JIMMYS-NOTES.jpg?resize=783%2C327\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-188\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/monsterislandfilmvault.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/JIMMYS-NOTES.jpg?w=783&amp;ssl=1 783w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/monsterislandfilmvault.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/JIMMYS-NOTES.jpg?resize=300%2C125&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/monsterislandfilmvault.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/JIMMYS-NOTES.jpg?resize=768%2C321&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 783px) 100vw, 783px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m a day late but not a dollar short. I wasn\u2019t able to get access to Marchand\u2019s notes on <em>The Last War<\/em> because his laptop charger just had to die, followed by his laptop itself. And wouldn\u2019t you know it, even with all the technology here, we didn\u2019t have anything compatible with it. That\u2019s what you get for having a computer verging on retirement age in technological years, Marchand!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the bright side, even I know these blogs aren\u2019t as important as the podcast. After almost nine months of doing this show, if the worst we\u2019ve done is have a few of my blogs be a day late while the podcast stays on time, I\u2019d call that an accomplishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As usual with Nathan\u2019s scripted episodes, I don\u2019t have anything to add to what he said since we take care of that before recording. However, he left out a surprising number of his notes on the film in his analysis. Let\u2019s dive in (like I did when eluding the Messiah 13 Aliens during the War in Space).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Nathan\u2019s Leftover Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Starts with an overture. This wasn\u2019t common anymore in 1961. It only lasts 80 seconds.<\/li><li>Opens with a montage of normal everyday things: steel mill, traffic, showgirls, ship launching. Life is proceeding as usual. <em>(Showgirls are \u201cnormal\u201d? Do you live in Vegas? \u2013Jimmy)<\/em><\/li><li>Acknowledges World War II. Rebuilt city. Didn\u2019t think it would burn down again.<\/li><li>Random American takes kids\u2019 photo.<\/li><li>Alliance (USSR) and Federation (NATO). Stand-ins. Much like Rolisica and New Kirk City in <em>Mothra<\/em>, though more obvious. <em>(Makes me wonder which one Rolisica would join. I could go either way. \u2013 Jimmy)<\/em><\/li><li>America is mentioned. Stocks.<\/li><li>Radio reports of tensions rising between Alliance and Federation. Meanwhile, the family goes about its business. They\u2019re charming and happy.<\/li><li>If this was a different movie, the flash in the sky would be an alien ship. <em>(If I had a dollar for every time I confused an ICBM for an alien spaceship, I could buy the Gohten! \u2013Jimmy)<\/em><\/li><li>The husband says he worked hard and saved after the war to build his \u201ccastle\u201d (i.e. middle class lifestyle). This was becoming more common at the time in Japan. Economic Miracle.<\/li><li>The daughter, Saeko, says she will find her own happiness. Counter. Fell in love before getting married. Takarada wants to make her happy despite not being rich. Parents more like older generation. Traditional. Oh, wait. Parents weren\u2019t so traditional, actually.<\/li><li>The dad says the intelligent people of the world don\u2019t mean much if they don\u2019t care about the \u201clittle people.\u201d He can\u2019t believe the gods wouldn\u2019t care.<\/li><li>In Japan, children throw balls at spherical pi\u00f1atas? <em>(Yep. I had one for my ninth birthday while living in Japan as a kid. \u2013Jimmy)<\/em><\/li><li>There are a lot of families and children in this film.<\/li><li>Takarada says the world seems to be at \u201cpeace.\u201d Polite way of saying it.<\/li><li>38<sup>th<\/sup> line = 38<sup>th<\/sup> parallel? Yes. Korea.<\/li><li>The Japanese government urges both sides to have 2<sup>nd<\/sup> and third meetings after Africa summit dissolves to maintain peace and refrain from nukes. PM is said to have kidney problems.<\/li><li>Sakai\u2019s friend says only people with money can relax at this time. He says only a moron would relax. Anyone who knows the alternative (nuclear war, I assume) must work hard for peace.<\/li><li>Hard work is venerated in this film. <em>(As it should be. \u2013Jimmy)<\/em><\/li><li>A black man in a Toho film! Rare sight!<\/li><li>The scene where the Federation officer muses about peaceful coexistence is interrupted by an almost comical sign that says, \u201cThe Outbreak of War.\u201d He then says, \u201cGod, forgive me,\u201d and presses the button. No order was given to fire. He panicked. It\u2019s barely stopped. Short circuit. (Undermined a bit by the acting). <em>(And people say David Perin\u2019s crying was terrible. Just sayin\u2019. \u2013Jimmy)<\/em><\/li><li>Sometimes the English spoken by Japanese bit actors is hard to understand.<\/li><li>Soldiers\u2019 bodies are shown burnt to ashes and blowing in the wind. Small nuke.<\/li><li>PM pushes through health issues (hard work).<\/li><li>The classroom has a banner with the flags of many nations hung up on doorway.<\/li><li>Alliance forces speak English, too. Hmm.<\/li><li>Alliance missile base nearly fires nuke because of damage from an avalanche. Alliance officers\u2019 uniforms stained with sweat as they work on warhead. Shows fragility of situation. The soldiers in these bases at the very least don\u2019t want war.<\/li><li>News of a ceasefire on 38<sup>th<\/sup> parallel comes in. Japanese officials mention a Federation officer confused a meteor for a missile and nearly launched. <em>(If I had a dollar for every time this happened, too\u2026. \u2013Jimmy)<\/em><\/li><li>Both sides have nukes mounted on fighter planes?! Geez! <em>(Did you forget about the scene in <\/em>Independence Day <em>where they fired nukes at the alien ship from a stealth bomber? That was in the \u201890s, but it shows it\u2019s possible. It\u2019s still a horrifying thought, though. \u2013Jimmy)<\/em><\/li><li>Seako and Takarada speak often of how a war would ruin their lives together. The big decisions made by leaders trickle down to the common people and disrupt their lives.<\/li><li>PM still believes the world can be saved. Issues statement for peace that is broadcast constantly.<\/li><li>We get a traditional crowd fleeing scene like in a kaiju film, but this time they\u2019re trying to flee a war.<\/li><li>Suzue\u2019s mother promises nothing will happen to her. Is she lying to protect her daughter? Does she believe that?<\/li><li>There\u2019s a shot that pans down from a painting of a crucified Christ to the famous \u201cScream\u201d to a street filled with decimated cars and debris. Cuckoo clock rings. \u201cTime\u2019s up\u201d? <em>(\u201cThe Scream\u201d is an 1893 painting by Edvard Munch. \u2013Jimmy)<\/em><\/li><li>Teacher reads a story to children about two goats who meet on bridge wanting to cross but refusing to move. They butt heads and almost fall off bridge. One finally says he will duck down and let the other one jump over him. They reach a peaceful agreement. Parallels world politics except neither side is willing to compromise. <em>(Is this a sequel to \u201cThe Three Billy Goats Gruff\u201d? \u2013Jimmy)<\/em><\/li><li>I love the kanji of what Saeko and Takarada talking to each other over Morse code. It\u2019s beautiful.<\/li><li>Sakai\u2019s family prepares a fancy meal like it\u2019s New Year\u2019s Day. They didn\u2019t run. Last meal? Kids can eat all they want. They listen to radio reports about what\u2019s happening. Sakai wonders if he was a bad father working a lot. His wife says no.<\/li><li>The tulips haven\u2019t sprouted and Saeko says they will survive underground and bloom after they die. Sakai won\u2019t accept that. Idealist to the end. He rails against powers he can\u2019t control and decisions he can\u2019t influence. Powerlessness.<\/li><li>The characters all sit around at the end waiting for death.<\/li><li>Interestingly, the Diet is the first thing we see be destroyed. <em>(This seems to be a thing in Toho films. It happened in <\/em>Godzilla <em>1954, too. \u2013Jimmy)<\/em><\/li><li>In the end, Takarada\u2019s captain decides they will return to the devastated Tokyo. The attendant muses that humans are a unique irony. They will die with their people.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a film whose message is still relevant, especially with everything that\u2019s happening right now. I may not be in America currently, but I see what\u2019s going on. We need more compassion and understanding than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s all I have to say on the matter for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anyway, join us next week for part two of \u201cThe Summer of Mothra\u201d when Bex from Redeemed Otaku returns for <em>Rebirth of Mothra II<\/em>. Then Jack \u201cGMan\u201d Hudgens joins us to discuss <em>Gorath<\/em> later this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow me on Twitter: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NasaJimmy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@NasaJimmy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>#JimmyFromNASALives<br>#WeShallOvercome<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I\u2019m a day late but not a dollar short. I wasn\u2019t able to get access to Marchand\u2019s notes on The Last War because his laptop&#8230;<\/p>\n<div class=\"more-link-wrapper\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/monsterislandfilmvault.com\/index.php\/2020\/06\/04\/jimmys-notes-on-episode-17-the-last-war-mini-analysis\/\">Continue Reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Jimmy&#8217;s Notes on &#8216;Episode 17: The Last War (Mini-Analysis)&#8217;<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"iawp_total_views":25,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,114],"tags":[444,37,445,435,442,127,19,68,441,443,250,434,79],"series":[],"class_list":["post-496","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","category-jimmys-notes","tag-38th-parallel","tag-akira-takarada","tag-diet-building","tag-frankie-sakai","tag-icbm","tag-japan","tag-jimmy-from-nasa","tag-jimmys-notes-2","tag-nato","tag-prime-minister","tag-soviet-union","tag-the-last-war-1961-film","tag-toho","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/monsterislandfilmvault.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/496","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/monsterislandfilmvault.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/monsterislandfilmvault.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/monsterislandfilmvault.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/monsterislandfilmvault.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=496"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/monsterislandfilmvault.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/496\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":497,"href":"https:\/\/monsterislandfilmvault.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/496\/revisions\/497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/monsterislandfilmvault.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=496"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/monsterislandfilmvault.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=496"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/monsterislandfilmvault.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=496"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/monsterislandfilmvault.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}