A podcast seeking entertainment and enlightenment through tokusatsu. Origin Story: After vacationing on the Monsterland Resort, professional writer/raging nerd Nathan Marchand got a job as the curator of the Vault containing the films about Monster Island’s many kaiju residents. Now he and his intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA (who miraculously survived the infamous War in Space), record a bi-weekly podcast critically and academically examining each of the films in the prestigious Vault with one to four guest hosts chosen from Monster Island’s many tourists. Philosophy: Kaiju and/or tokusatsu fans will tell you these genres are undeniably fun. What’s often missed, though, are the deeper meanings below the sensational surface. Meanings entrenched in the story’s original historical and cultural context. That’s why this podcast believes in film appreciation. What’s that? It’s studying a movie’s script, direction, cinematography, and other aspects of filmmaking. It’s learning how and why it was created since movies aren’t made in a vacuum. This is especially true with foreign films. Non-native audiences are separated by both time and culture with them...
https://monsterislandfilmvault.podbean.com
Episode 16: Bex vs. ‘Rebirth of Mothra’
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 part of the “Summer of Mothra” while we all await the release of Godzilla vs. Kong (yes, much to anime-loving Bex’s chagrin, she’s filler). Their spirited discussion references and compares this film to a multitude of unrelated media, including The Lion King, Power Rangers, The Neverending Story, Sentinels of the Multiverse (a card game), and Panzer Dragoon(a video game). It’s quite meme-tastic with catchphrases like, “lightning and lasers,” and Nathan’s favorite, “Deus ex Mothrica” (he has issues with the movie’s ending). The Toku Topic is deforestation in Japan. While that may not sound exciting, it has deep connections to the movie and the Japanese national spirit. All this plus some Jimmy From NASA antics and more in the latest episode of MIFV!
Here are the Redeemed Otaku episodes Nathan (and his friend Eric Anderson) appeared on to discuss the Godzilla Anime Trilogy:
Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters
Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle
Godzilla: The Planet Eater
ANNOUNCEMENT: We now have a Patreon! If you’re able to support the show in these crazy times, please do. There are three levels, each with its own perks. Here’s a link. Shout out to our first Patron, Travis Alexander (co-host of Kaiju Weekly), who pledged at the Day Pass Tourist level! Thanks, man!
Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode.
Timestamps:
Intro: 0:00-5:11
Entertaining Info Dump: 5:11-11:55
Toku Talk: 11:55-1:29:31
Toku Topic: 1:29:31-2:09:11
Outro: 2:09:11-end
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Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy
www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com
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© 2020 Moonlighting Ninjas Media
Bibliography/Further Reading:
- “Afforestation in Japan” (Wikipedia)
- “Japan – How Japan Saved its Forests: The Birth of Silviculture and Community Forest Management” by Gerry Marten (The EcoTipping Points Project)
- “Japan’s Forests: From Lumber Source to Beloved Resource” by Ishi Hiroyuki
- Japan’s Green Monsters: Environmental Commentary in Kaiju Cinema by Sean Rhodes and Brooke McCorkle
- Kaijuvision Radio Episodes:
- Episode 3: Gojira (1954) (The Occupation of Japan Part 1: Castle Bravo Test, Cold War, Democracy)
- Episode 4: Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (US) (1956) (Occupation of Japan Part 2: Tokyo Tribunal)
- Episode 7: Mothra (1961) (Renewal of the US-Japan Security Treaty in 1960)
- “Learning from the Past: Japan’s Tree-Planting Efforts Provide Lessons for Other Countries” by Nithin Coca (Ensia)
- Wiki Articles on Rebirth of Mothra:
- IMDB
- Gojipedia
- Toho Kingdom
- Wikipedia
- Wikizilla
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