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PODCAST

The Monster Island Film Vault

Moonlighting Ninjas Media

A Podcast Seeking Entertainment and Enlightenment through Tokusatsu. Hosted by the ”kaiju academic” himself, Nathan Marchand.

tv & film film history

All Episodes

37:57

Episode 30: ‘Latitude Zero’ (Mini-Analysis)

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/12/09

Hello, kaiju lovers! This week’s episode is a “traditional” mini-analysis of Latitude Zero, an almost obscure 1969 Toho science fiction film directed by Ishiro Honda, who probably had to take a dip in the “Bath of Immunity” to endure the stress of making it. To say it was harrowing would be an understatement. This strange American/Japanese co-production has a troubled history full of clashing sensibilities and creative differences (which you can hear more about in MIFV episode six). However,

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47:15

Episode 29: ‘War of the Gargantuas’ (feat. Ben Chaffins)

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/11/25

Hello, kaiju lovers! In this episode, Nathan is joined by Sci-Fi Japan writer Ben Chaffins to discuss what is, honestly, an overrated classic: War of the Gargantuas. This “pseudo-sequel” to Frankenstein Conquers the World outdoes its predecessor in only one way: the kaiju. Sanda and Gaira are the best characters in the movie, which is sad given that it stars Toho staples Kumi Mizuno, Kenji Sahara, and Nobuo Nakamura. Unfortunately, it also features a belligerently apathetic Russ Tamblyn walking

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01:52:55

Episode 28: Nick Hayden vs. ‘The Beast from 20,000...

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/11/11

Hello, kaiju lovers! The Beast! The Beast! THE BEAST! From 20,000 Fathoms! Nathan is joined by his friend and regular Monster Island Tourist Nick Hayden for the first Ray Harryhausen film covered on MIFV: The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. This 1953 classic—the Jaws of its time, as Nick says—is one of the seminal films in the kaiju genre. It was the first “atomic monster” movie. Without it, we may have not gotten Godzilla in 1954. It was “suggested by” a Ray Bradbury story, which delights Nathan and

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01:07:06

Episode 27: ‘Frankenstein Conquers the World’ (feat....

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/10/28

Hello, kaiju lovers! “FRONKENSTEEN! FRONKENSTEEN!” In what has to be a providential “accident,” our Halloween episode is the perfect kaiju film for the spookiest time of the year: Frankenstein Conquers the World. Nathan is joined by Travis Alexander, co-host of Kaiju Weekly and the biggest Baragon fan we know (#Justice4Baragon), to discuss this wild if uneven Toho classic directed by Ishiro Honda. We discuss the film’s relation to the hibakusha, the discriminated survivors of the atomic bombings,

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01:35:28

Episode 26: The Metters vs. ‘Daimajin Strikes Again’

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/10/14

Hello, kaiju lovers! The “Daimajin Days” come to a close with Joe and Joy Metter returning to discuss Daimajin Strikes Again. The final film of the Daimajin trilogy, while it has the same basic set-up with an evil lord oppressing the people, focuses on four boys who set out to rescue their commoner fathers and brothers from slavery. The Metters’ dogs Teddy Kong and Bitzilla make more cameos as they and Nathan make frequent comparisons between this film and Lord of the Rings, Naruto, and

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02:29

KAIJU QUARANTINE 3 Promo Trailer

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/10/09

Adrift in the Giant Monster Fandom, Travis sends a message to his friends as his passion starts to dwindle. Meanwhile, the remaining Podcasters, Kaiju Groupie, Giant Monster BS, Kaiju Conversations, Monsters vs. Men, and Monster Island Film Vault must figure out a way to bring back their once enthusiastic allies for one more epic live stream of their favorite giant monster movies. But has the feeling of isolation during COVID grown too powerful to be stopped? Join the Discord

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02:24:53

Bonus Episode #5: First Anniversary Special

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/09/30

Hello, kaiju lovers! Today’s special bonus episode is long, but can you blame us? It’s for MIFV’s first anniversary! Nathan makes a rare OOC (out of character) appearance and is joined by Patron and former guest Danny DiManna, author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project, to party like 2020 is finally over. In the first half, they present a “George Lucas extended version” of their Kaiju Con-Line presentation, which was titled “The Original MCU: Connecting Showa Era Continuity.” Essentially,

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01:04:50

Episode 25: ‘Dogora, the Space Monster’ (feat....

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/09/23

Hello, kaiju lovers! Making his third trip to Monster Island—but his first appearance on MIFV—is none other than the Kaiju Groupie himself, Michael Hamilton. He paid Nathan and Jimmy a visit to discuss Dogora, the Space Monster, which was one of three kaiju films released in 1964 by Toho. The titular space squid is a nightmare straight out of an H.P. Lovecraft story—minus the sorta lame weakness. (To quote Batman, “Bees. My god.”) Nathan and Michael also discuss Japan’s infamous mafia, the Yakuza,

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01:38:26

Episode 24: The Metters vs. ‘Return of Daimjain’

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/09/09

Hello, kaiju lovers! We have many happy (and not-so-happy) returns in this episode. Nathan’s friends Joe and Joy Metter are back to continue the “Daimajin Days” by discussing Return of Daimajin. They also brought their dogs, Teddy Kong and Bitzilla, although they’re a little quieter this time around. Regardless, this is the second of the Daimajin trilogy from 1966, and while it’s mostly a rehash of the first film that doesn’t quite rise to its heights (until maybe the last 10-15 minutes), it

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31:27

Episode 23: ‘Atragon’ (Mini-Analysis)

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/08/26

Hello, kaiju lovers! This month’s mini-sode is yet another excerpt from the paper Nathan wrote for his Ishiro Honda independent study in grad school, and it’s on one of his favorite tokusatsu films: Atragon. This Jules Verne-ian sci-fi adventure story has deep connections to the Japanese national spirit as it was inspired by a militaristic 1899 novel and the ongoing newspaper stories about World War II stragglers being found on Pacific islands. The film also comments on resurgent Japanese

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01:39:20

Episode 22: The Metters vs. ‘Daimajin’

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/08/12

Hello, kaiju lovers! Despite some recording/broadcasting issues with a new microphone (which will be remedied for future episodes), Nathan was joined once again by his friends Joe and Joy Metter, who were vacationing on Monster Island. They started the “Daimajin Days” by screening and discussing the first film in Daiei’s Daimajin trilogy from 1966. These films combine the kaiju and chanbara (“samurai”) genres to create some of the most unique examples of both. While Joe and Joy aren’t connoisseurs

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41:14

Bonus Episode #4: Interview with Ben Chaffins

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/07/29

Hello, kaiju lovers! As a special Fifth Wednesday Bonus Episode (which will become a regular feature of the show), I interviewed SciFi Japan writer Ben Chaffins about his new book, Discovering Tokusatsu. In it he chronicles his many quests to get interviews with high-profile people working in tokusatsu filmmaking. You’ll hear about how Ben got his gig at SciFi Japan, why he wrote the book, and how much of a “stan” he is for Ultraman: The Next and Ultraman Nexus (whose special effects director he

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33:40

Episode 21: ‘Matango’ (Mini-Analysis)

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/07/22

Hello, kaiju lovers! An artsy Japanese horror film about mushrooms based on a British short story? That’s sounds insane enough to work! Despite getting slapped with the schlocky English title, “Attack of the Mushroom People,” Matango ranks as one of director Ishiro Honda’s greatest achievements in tokustasu filmmaking. Screenwriter Takeshi Kimura considered it to be his magnum opus. It’s a story replete with subtlety and symbolism, an indictment of Japan’s newfound opulence and decadence in the

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02:23:30

Episode 20: Bex vs. ‘Rebirth of Mothra III’

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/07/08

Hello, kaiju lovers! Twelve-centimeter girls, tiny robot dragons, and redemption—and we’re not talking about the movie! After some shenanigans with Jimmy From NASA’s teleporter, Nathan and resident “Mothrian” Bex (Redeemed Otaku podcast) finish the “Summer of Mothra” with the surprisingly good Rebirth of Mothra III. Although, maybe they’re just riding high on Bex’s hyperbolic enthusiasm over this movie. But it isn’t hard to improve on the empty, fluffy whimsy of the second one. There’s a lot of

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00:44

KAIJU CON-LINE 2020 Promo

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/07/06

From the event’s official website: MARK YOUR CALENDARS, MONSTER KIDS! ON THE WEEKEND OF JULY 11 & 12, THE MONSTERS ARE IN REVOLT AS KAIJU CON-LINE TAKES OVER THE INTERNET! WHAT IS KAIJU CON-LINE? WITH THE CANCELATION OF THE ANNUAL GATHERING OF KAIJU FANS, A FEW MOTIVATED MONSTER MANIACS ARE REPLICATING A SMALL PORTION OF THE FUN WITH THEIR FELLOW FANS ON THAT SAME WEEKEND, LIKE A VIRTUAL CONVENTION. OVER THE WEEKEND, A MYRIAD OF ONLINE ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR KAIJU FANS AROUND THE GLOBE TO

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01:00:02

Episode 19: ‘Gorath’ (feat. Jack “GMan” Hudgens)

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/06/24

Hello, kaiju lovers! Before Armageddon, before Star Trek: The Motion Picture, there was Gorath. Nathan is joined by the most loved and hated film critic in the kaiju community, Jack “GMan” Hudgens, to discuss this Toho classic that has been described as the lovechild of Mothra (1961) and The Last War. While it isn’t the most exciting film, Nathan and GMan explore how its theme of unity is a timeless message, and one that people need to hear now more than ever. Along the way, they compare this

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01:48:48

Episode 18: Bex vs. ‘Rebirth of Mothra II’

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/06/10

Hello, kaiju lovers! The “Summer of Mothra” continues with Rebirth of Mothra II—the valley between two short mountains in the ‘90s Mothra trilogy. Once again Nathan is joined by Bex from the Redeemed Otaku podcast, and they try their hardest to do a deep dive on a shallow movie. While the first movie had an obvious environmental theme, this one barely gives 20 seconds of screen time to anything substantial. Even Belvera and Elias aren’t as exciting this time around. Then there’s Ghogo/Gogo/Go-Go

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29:21

Episode 17: ‘The Last War’ (Mini-Analysis)

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/05/27

Hello, kaiju lovers! Except today’s episode isn’t about giant monsters. Heck, it’s barely about tokusatsu. Nathan is analyzing the criminally underseen 1961 antiwar drama The Last War. While most of the creative team behind the camera aren’t the ones usually followed by kaiju/toku fans, there are several familiar faces in front of the camera: Frankie Sakai (Mothra), Yuriko Hoshi (Mothra vs. Godzilla, etc.), and Akira Takarada (too many to list). This film depicts a middle class Japanese family

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02:41

KAIJU QUARANTINE 2: TRASH MOUNTAIN (Trailer)

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/05/14

Kaiju Quarantine is back, baby! Join your favorite giant monster podcasters as they climb Trash Mountain and riff ten of the most awesomely awful movies in the kaiju genre! But what mystery movie awaits us at the peak of Trash Mountain? Only Evil Rob knows! Spend an epic and hilarious Memorial Day weekend on the Kaiju Quarantine Discord server. Space is limited! Reserve now! Kaiju Quarantine: Come together right now over kaiju! The post KAIJU QUARANTINE 2: TRASH MOUNTAIN (Trailer) appeared first on

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02:16:56

Episode 16: Bex vs. ‘Rebirth of Mothra’

The Monster Island Film Vault ·

2020/05/13

Hello, kaiju lovers! Today we’re giving you something you perhaps didn’t know you wanted—a deep dive into Rebirth of Mothra, the first of a trilogy produced by Toho after retiring Godzilla (again). Depending on how you feel about this movie, you may love or hate this episode. What you will love, though, is the Tourist joining Nathan this week is none other than Bex from Redeemed Otaku. Since Nathan appeared on her podcast to discuss the Godzilla Anime Trilogy, he’s having her on three episodes as

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