The Monster Island Film Vault

Moonlighting Ninjas Media

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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...

MIFV Interview Series: Alyssa Charpentier

I sit down with the multitalented Alyssa Charpentier, who wears enough proverbial hats to fill a warehouse. She's a writer, a musician, a Navy sailor, a former Godzilla YouTuber, and hardcore nerd girl, among other things. We discuss her past and current creative projects, her best advice for aspiring writers, and more, including her serialized Godzilla fanfiction, Strange Flesh, which is exclusive to her Patreon page. Watch the uncut livestream on Nathan’s YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/l

Feb 26, • 2:40:28

Special Report #8: Let’s Review…‘Godzilla: The Series’ Episodes 3-4 (“Talkin’ Trash” & ‘D.O.A.”)

In this first episode of a Patreon-exclusive review series for the remaining 31 episodes of Godzilla: The Series not covered on the show, Nate analyzes episodes three and four of the superior Saturday morning cartoon sequel to the infamous 1998 movie. One episode lets him talk about a prolific screenwriter and novelist, Kurt Vonnegut, and artificial intelligence. The second invites comparisons to most Ultraman series and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019). That’s just a taste of fascinating p

Feb 13, • 20:22

Bonus Episode #19: 'Santa Jaws' | Ft. Bex and Encyclo from Redeemed Otaku | Christmas Special

Merry Christmas, Kaiju Lovers! While this bonus episode was originally meant to end the season, with the delays in production and its hard deadline, it's coming out before the season is over. In a rare of instance of breaking character, Nathan and his guests, Bex and her husband "Encyclo" from Redeemed Otaku, are all appearing as themselves and not the MIFV versions (although, this is Encyclo's first appearance on MIFV). But since Christmas kaiju media is scarce, they're bending the definition o

Dec 23, 2024 • 1:53:27

MIFV MAX #33 (Abridged): Let’s Talk About…Godzilla Minus One Sequels | Ft. Matt Walsh (But Not That Matt Walsh) (Plus: State of the Podcast Nov. 2024)

You might wondering, “What’s with all the bonus episodes? Where’s episode 100?” Nathan addresses those questions in this “state of the podcast” discussion, laying out all the reasons for the delays. Before that, though, he shares an excerpt from a recent episode of the Patreon-exclusive podcast, MIFV MAX (see links below to join our Patreon), wherein he and Matt Walsh (But Not That Matt Walsh) discuss pitches for potential sequels to Godzilla Minus One in light of the news that Takashi Yamazaki

Nov 27, 2024 • 53:25

One Monstrous Moment: 7/70 Edition – Godzilla’s “I’m Batman!” Moment (Terror of Mechagodzilla)

Happy Godzilla Day, Kaiju Lovers! To celebrate, Nate once again participates in Ryan “The Omni Viewer” Collins’ series “One Monstrous Moment: 7/70 Edition.” In this one, Nate goes full-tilt nostalgic and analytical by selecting his favorite moment in his first G-film, Terror of Mechagodzilla. Specifically, Godzilla’s epic entrance. It’s more than just payoff and cool factor—it’s the coalescence of two decades of his creative teams’ sensibilities. Additional Music “Goji Beat (Extended)” by Alyssa

Nov 3, 2024 • 11:43

The Kaiju Krypt Presents ‘King Kong, Chapter 9’ by Delos W. Lovelace (Read by Raymund Martin)

Happy Halloween, Monster Children! Your host Vinnie Kami (and his butler, Kappa Joe) return for another frightful tale of monster mayhem. They try something a bit different this time with an excerpt from a novel—or rather, a novelization. Did you know the world was introduced to the Eighth Wonder, King Kong, in a book three months before the classic film released? Mr. Kami has the Legal Action Team’s founder, Raymund Martin, who claims to have received a first edition copy of the book as a gift

Oct 31, 2024 • 20:54

Episode 99 Epilogue: "Rex Dart, Eskimo Spy"

Seatopia’s most dastardly agent, The Togavengleist, is out to destroy the surface world with one strategically-placed bomb in the Hollow Earth network in Oslo. But one man stands in his way—Rex Dart, Codename: Eskimo Spy! Can he stop this religious zealot, or will he need help from his friend, “J.J.”? (I think you know the answer to this). Listen to the main episode here: http://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/10/07/episode-99-godzilla-vs-megalon-ft-kaiju-kim-and-damon-noyes-godzilla-r

Oct 30, 2024 • 12:31

Episode 99: ‘Godzilla vs. Megalon’ | Ft. Kaiju Kim and Damon Noyes | Godzilla Redux (complete)

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In the zaniest (and funniest) MIFV episode yet, Nate is joined by the QUEEN OF THE FABULOUS EMPIRE, Kaiju Kim, and executive producer Damon Noyes to discuss the most notorious G-film ever: Godzilla vs. Megalon. Thanks to an aggressive ad campaign by Cinema Shares, constant play on TV (including a primetime slot hosted by John Belushi), and an endless amount of pseudo-legal home media releases (one of which got the Mystery Science Theater 3000 guys in trouble), this is the m

Oct 7, 2024 • 3:21:27

Episode 99: ‘Godzilla vs. Megalon’ | Ft. Kaiju Kim and Damon Noyes | Godzilla Redux (Part 2)

CONTINUED FROM PART 1: Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In the zaniest (and funniest) MIFV episode yet, Nate is joined by the QUEEN OF THE FABULOUS EMPIRE, Kaiju Kim, and executive producer Damon Noyes to discuss the most notorious G-film ever: Godzilla vs. Megalon. Thanks to an aggressive ad campaign by Cinema Shares, constant play on TV (including a primetime slot hosted by John Belushi), and an endless amount of pseudo-legal home media releases (one of which got the Mystery Science Theater 3000 guys in

Oct 5, 2024 • 2:13:42

Episode 99: ‘Godzilla vs. Megalon’ | Ft. Kaiju Kim and Damon Noyes | Godzilla Redux (Part 1)

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In the zaniest (and funniest) MIFV episode yet, Nate is joined by the QUEEN OF THE FABULOUS EMPIRE, Kaiju Kim, and executive producer Damon Noyes to discuss the most notorious G-film ever: Godzilla vs. Megalon. Thanks to an aggressive ad campaign by Cinema Shares, constant play on TV (including a primetime slot hosted by John Belushi), and an endless amount of pseudo-legal home media releases (one of which got the Mystery Science Theater 3000 guys in trouble), this is the mo

Oct 5, 2024 • 1:08:06

MIFV’s 5th Anniversary Livestream

Livestreamed September 25, 2024, Nathan is joined by MIFV MAX member/“executive producer” Damon Noyes for fun and prizes to celebrate five years of podcast excellence on The Monster Island Film Vault. Festivities included MIFV trivia, MIFV fun facts, and a live reaction to episode 1. Let’s just say Nathan has come a long way as a podcaster. Watch the video version here: https://www.youtube.com/live/lC3Weaku6p8?si=Zgx_R5Jn63gvexn6. Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Pow

Oct 2, 2024 • 4:33:24

Episode 98 Epilogue: “For Whom the Bell Trolls”

Jimmy puts his foot down and refuses to let Nate join him on Uber-Moguera to recapture Bill the Jotnar. Disappointed, Nate wanders around a local Norwegian church, venting months and months’ worth of pent up frustrations. But even when Jimmy manages to subdue Bill in the distance, Nate can’t help but make things a little harder for his intrepid producer. Listen to the main episode here: https://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/09/28/episode-98-trollhunter-2010-vs-eric-anderson/. Check o

Oct 1, 2024 • 7:06

Episode 98: ‘Trollhunter’ (2010) vs. Eric Anderson

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! The Monster Island World Tour moves into Europe with a stop in Oslo, Norway, to discuss the 2010 found footage kaiju film, Trollhunter (not to be confused with Netflix’s Troll from 2022—we already covered that). Nate is joined by his college chum, the founder of Nerd Chapel, Eric Anderson, to dive into a movie that says Christians need not apply to be Norway’s hunter of trolls (and we don’t mean the internet variety). That’s just one of the many aspects of this unique film

Sep 28, 2024 • 2:32:01

Bonus Episode #18: ‘The Barbados Project’ | Monster Island World Tour

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! Yes, Nate misremembered when the bonus episode on The Barbados Project was supposed to happen. But the good news is you got it sooner! Anyway, this low-budget found footage kaiju horror film is great warm-up to the next mainline episode on Trollhunter. It can be viewed (again) on Tubi, but it originally played the film festival circuit and on the obscure streaming service POV Horror. It's a rare film produced in the island nation of Barbados, let alone a kaiju film. But t

Sep 23, 2024 • 40:23

Episode 97 Epilogue: “The Third Wheel”

With the podcast's longest episode ever finally over, Nate catches up on news about the goings-on back on Monster Island by checking his e-mail. He has messages from the Legal Action Team and Ricky--and, unfortunately, Jessica. Then Jimmy calls Nate to meet him on Uber-Moguera's shoulder, and things don't go how Nate expects. Listen to the main episode here: http://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/09/16/episode-97-godzilla-vs-gigan-ft-daniel-dimanna-godzilla-redux/. Check out Nathan’s s

Sep 20, 2024 • 14:25

Episode 97: ‘Godzilla vs. Gigan’ | Ft. Daniel DiManna | Godzilla Redux (complete)

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In the longest MIFV episode ever (of all time), Nate is joined by Daniel DiManna of the Godzilla Novelization Project (no surprise why it’s long) to discuss the most underestimated of G-films: Godzilla vs. Gigan (aka Godzilla on Monster Island). They discuss every possible aspect of this film, from its under-funded production to its quirky yet iconic dub and everything in between—and we do mean everything. But the most surprising part of this epic episode is Nate and Danny’

Sep 17, 2024 • 4:04:47

Episode 97: ‘Godzilla vs. Gigan’ | Ft. Daniel DiManna | Godzilla Redux (Part 2)

Continued from Part 2: Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In the longest MIFV episode ever (of all time), Nate is joined by Daniel DiManna of the Godzilla Novelization Project (no surprise why it’s long) to discuss the most underestimated of G-films: Godzilla vs. Gigan (aka Godzilla on Monster Island). They discuss every possible aspect of this film, from its under-funded production to its quirky yet iconic dub and everything in between—and we do mean everything. But the most surprising part of this epic epi

Sep 16, 2024 • 2:16:30

Episode 97: ‘Godzilla vs. Gigan’ | Ft. Daniel DiManna | Godzilla Redux (Part 1)

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In the longest MIFV episode ever (of all time), Nate is joined by Daniel DiManna of the Godzilla Novelization Project (no surprise why it’s long) to discuss the most underestimated of G-films: Godzilla vs. Gigan (aka Godzilla on Monster Island). They discuss every possible aspect of this film, from its under-funded production to its quirky yet iconic dub and everything in between—and we do mean everything. But the most surprising part of this epic episode is Nate and Danny’s

Sep 16, 2024 • 1:48:37

Episode 96 Epilogue: "Mother, May I?"

Having located “Big Mama” and her offspring in a Thai cave, Jimmy launches a new drone, the P-2, to lure the creatures out so Ricky’s drones can bag-and-tag them and return to the Island. Nate feels left out, but even Kaguya is busy shopping for wedding dresses online. But when the P-2 is wrecked by Big Mama, Kaguya says they can call her friend May, the now grown girl who found Big Mama’s egg years ago, for help. Listen to the main episode here: http://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/

Sep 14, 2024 • 10:59

MIFV Interview Series – Dr. Jeffrey Angles

Nathan interviews Dr. Jeffrey Angles, who translated the original novelizations of Godzilla (1954) and Godzilla Raids Again by Shigeru Kayama and got them published outside of Japan. These gave G-fans new insights into the production of these films and Japanese genre fiction. He’s currently working to get The Luminous Fairies and Mothra translated and published. This was a book commissioned by Toho that became the film Mothra in 1961. Dr. Angles even reads an excerpt from his translation (an MI

Sep 5, 2024 • 3:21:00

Episode 96: ‘The Lake’ (2022) vs. Jacob Lyngle

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! With Korea finally behind them—much to Nate’s relief—he and Jimmy migrate to Thailand. There they are joined by the founder and editor of Kaiju United, your premiere kaiju website, to discuss the ambitious “thaiju” (ba-dum-tsh!) film, The Lake (2022). Jacob had the privilege of interviewing its director, Lee Thongkham, for KU, which is frequently referenced in this episode since there is shockingly little info online for this film. Not even the usual kaiju wiki pages have

Aug 12, 2024 • 2:42:24

MIFV Interview Series - Elijah Thomas

While Nathan catches up on his podcast production (watch for updates), join him as he launches yet another subseries by interviewing his friend and fellow podcaster, Elijah Thomas (Kaiju Conversation), who is also an aspiring filmmaker. They discuss Elijah's new short film, Edo Kami no Gyakushu, which premiered at G-Fest XXIX. They'll also discuss the perils and perks of indie filmmaking, especially in the kaiju/toku sphere. Watch the original version here: https://www.youtube.com/live/Ueqo3Kq2

Aug 1, 2024 • 2:43:11

Episode 95: “The Zillo Beast Saga” | Ft. The Cel Cast | Star Wars: The Clone Wars & The Bad Batch | Patreon

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In our second Patreon pick of season 4, Nate is joined by Drew Dodgen of The Cel Cast (his co-host, Jacob, was too busy planning a wedding to come) to discuss kaiju in Star Wars! Specifically, the Zillo Beast, who appeared in two episodes of The Clone Wars  and three episodes (sorta) of its spin-off, The Bad Batch. This was an episode that grew since it was requested, going from two episodes of TV to five. Nate and Drew unpack all the kaiju tropes and homages throughout the

Jul 10, 2024 • 2:57:04

Episode 94 Epilogue: “The Hunting of the Snarky Nate” (Part 2)

No sooner is the broadcast finished does what seems like the entire North Korean military bombard Uber-Moguera in retaliation for Nate's sarcasm. When that fails, they lure a very hungry Pulgasari to the airfield, and seeing the mecha as a huge piece of exotic metal food, he attacks. Unable to fight him off, Nate suggests one last desperate measure—that requires the metal minotaur to eat Kaguya! Listen to Part 1: http://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/06/27/episode-93-prologue-the-hunt

Jul 4, 2024 • 10:22

NEW PODCAST - Henshin Power V3 (promo trailer)

Henshin Power V3: Where three friends have three minutes to talk about tokusatsu! Nathan (aka “The TsuBro”) has finished both Henshin Men and The Power Trip, but his friends Chris (aka “Sentai Guy”) and Jake (aka “The Metal Don”) won’t let him stop discussing henshin heroes just yet! A new tokusatsu journey begins July 10, 2024 (Ultraman Day)! Podcast Social Media: MIFV Linktree: https://linktr.ee/monsterislandfilmvault Nate’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nathan_marchand MIFV is a member of PodNa

Jul 3, 2024 • 2:03

Monster Conversation Harryhausen Annual #3: ‘The Golden Voyage of Sinbad’

In Nate and Elijah’s epic triple birthday celebration with Ray Harryhausen (“Yours, Mine, and Ray’s”), they continue their annual crossover with The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973). While they’re going in reverse chronological order, they agree with this is a “step up” from Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, which they discussed last year. It helps that it has the incredible Tom Baker (of Doctor Who fame) as the villain and the eye candy that is Caroline Munro. The film also has a cameo by Robert S

Jun 29, 2024 • 3:14:43

Episode 94: ‘Pulgasari’ vs. Tomi Trembath

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! Nate and Jimmy venture across the 38th parallel into North Korea to cover the most infamous kaiju film ever made and recapture its star monster: Pulgasari. Tomi Trembath of the Giant-Sized Violence podcast, who grew up with its strange American remake, The Adventures of Galgameth, joins Nate via video call (for obvious reasons) to discuss this "North Korean Godzilla," which is surrounded by urban legends and even wilder true stories. It's a pseudo-remake of a lost South Kore

Jun 27, 2024 • 2:16:36

Episode 94 Prologue: “The Hunting of the Snarky Nate” (Part 1)

Uber-Moguera lands in North Korea, and Nate meets a squad of soldiers on the airfield. He gives their Commander documents showing they have authorization to be in the country--but with one sarcastic comment, Nate finds himself on their “most wanted” list and dodging bullets! Can he survive this international incident? Featuring Nate Chen as the NK Commander. Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. Henshin Power V3 coming July 10, 2024 (Ultraman Day)! We’d like to

Jun 27, 2024 • 6:51

Special Report #7: ‘Ultraman: Rising’ Ft. Jeff Gomez of Ultraman Connection

Nathan is joined by the CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, Jeff Gomez, an “ultra-fan” who presides over the website Ultraman Connection, to discuss Netflix’s new animated Ultraman movie. Is it truly one of the best animated films of the year? We get into that and more! Watch the video version here: https://youtube.com/live/B_pBsvH7CeE. Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. Henshin Power V3 coming July 10, 2024 (Ultraman Day)! We’d like to give a shout-out

Jun 24, 2024 • 1:32:12

Bonus Episode #17: ‘War of the God Monsters’

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! The South Korean leg of The Monster Island World Tour comes to an end in this bonus episode with a movie that exemplifies what Korean kaiju cinema did wrong before The Host: War of the God Monsters (aka The Flying Monster). This movie, which was released stateside by SRS Cinema, floundered in obscure infamy for years, and with good reason—it stole all of its monster footage from Ultraman! Yep, aside from one life-size prop, there’s nary an original monster in sight. If yo

Jun 14, 2024 • 31:57

Episode 93 Epilogue: “I am the Moth: A Bug Lady’s Psychedelic Revenge!”

Nate finishes his broadcast, but instantly learns it was all a hallucination (what a twist!) perpetrated by a rogue Bug Lady named Psychodelia. She takes him hostage to lure Crystal Lady and Mimo to their location—not to kill her, but to kill Nate! Why? To make Crystal Lady suffer for the death of her sister, the first Bug Lady, Peppermoth! Will Crystal Lady see through Psychodelia's illusions to save her (pseudo-)brother? Listen to the main episode: https://tinyurl.com/MIFV93-godzilla-vs-hedora

Jun 13, 2024 • 14:07

Episode 93: ‘Godzilla vs. Hedorah’ | Ft. Daniel DiManna, Ben Avery, and Giant Monster BS | Godzilla Redux

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! It's a full house (“full mecha”?) in today's Godzilla Redux episode on the infamous but now-popular-to-like G-film, Godzilla vs. Hedorah (aka Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster). Daniel DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project), Ben Avery (Strangers and Aliens; Welcome to Level 7), and Matt and Gratton of Giant Monster BS all return to discuss the strangest yet arguably most auteur film in the franchise. To say it kicked off the ‘70s G-films with a strange bang would be an underst

Jun 5, 2024 • 3:03:55

“What a Stinker! The Ugly Truth about Mothball” (a Crystal Lady short story)

Nate's cloned “pseudo-sister,” Jessica Shaw (aka Crystal Lady) takes some specially-selected tourists on a, well, tour of Monster Island, and on their last stop at the Denham Theater, a smelly, frumpy girl literally bumps into her. She is Fausta Bevan, a missing member of Jessica’s tour group. She's annoying but also kind. Unfortunately, she's also a Bug Lady—who isn't here at the behest of the Nachfalter and the Church of Mothrianity, and for the first time, Jessica doesn't want to destroy her

Jun 4, 2024 • 23:35

Episode 92 Epilogue: “Snazzy vs. Gwoemul”

Having been “military volunteered” during the broadcast, the Omni Viewer's neat-freak of a dinosaur-lizard-thing sidekick, Snazzy Chapeau, accompanies Jimmy From NASA into the Seoul sewers to bag-and-tag Gwoemul. Shenanigans ensue. Meanwhile, Omni tries to get Nate to open up about what’s got him down in the dumps. It goes about as well as you’d expect. Listen to the main episode: http://monsterislandfilmvault.com/index.php/2024/05/27/episode-92-the-host-2006-vs-the-omni-viewer/. Co-written by R

May 31, 2024 • 12:33

Episode 92: 'The Host' (2006) vs. the Omni Viewer

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! After several months in Seoul, Nate finally reaches the point where Korean kaiju cinema comes into its own: Bong Joon-ho's The Host (2006). He's joined by YouTuber and author Omni Viewer and his "kaiju" sidekick, Snazzy Chapeau, to discuss this momentous film. While it arguably has more in common with Jaws than Godzilla (1954), its effect on Korean culture was as significant as the latter was for Japan and King Kong (1933) was for America. It was inspired by a uniquely Kor

May 27, 2024 • 2:23:18

Episode 91 Epilogue: “A Decent Proposal”

A tired Nate returns to Uber-Moguera from a film curation trip in Seoul and overhears a conversation between Jimmy and Kaguya. Jimmy sounds uncharacteristically nervous, but not because things have been a little tense between him and his girlfriend the last few months. No, it’s because he pops the question. Introducing, in her MIFV debut, Rebecca Olivia Hodges as Kaguya. Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons

May 15, 2024 • 15:34

Episode 91: 'All Monsters Attack' | Ft. Neil Riebe and John LeMay | Godzilla Redux

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,” inc

May 11, 2024 • 2:12:08

Episode 90 Epilogue – “Cykor II: Electric Boogaloo”

Jimmy may have secretly recaptured Yonggary (aka “Double G”) by his sheer awesomeness, but that victory is short-lived. The nefarious (and rubbery) Galaxions return and unleash an upgraded Cykor protected by an energy shield projected by their ship. Now, only the combined might of Jimmy with a jetpack and Elijah’s powers of argumentation can save Seoul and the world! Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Dan

Apr 27, 2024 • 12:51

MIFV MAX #30: An Interview with James Santana, Founder of TokUSA Studios, on The World of Nebulon (abridged)

In this excerpt from a Patreon-exclusive livestream, Nathan interviews James Santana, a comic nerd and tokusatsu fan who combined his passions by starting his own comic book label, TokUSA Studios. His goal is to bridge the gap between tokusatsu/manga fans and comic readers by offering them books inspired by the likes of Super Sentai and Ultraman, among others. He's currently spearheading a Kickstarter for The World of Nebulon, a preview book showcasing several of the characters and titles in th

Apr 22, 2024 • 1:54:32

Episode 90: ‘Reptilian’ vs. Elijah Thomas | The Monster Island World Tour

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In what might be the most subversive and inspirational episode of MIFV yet, Elijah Thomas (Kaiju Conversation) joins Nate to discuss the infamous South Korean “kaiju” (notice the air quotes?) movie, Reptilian. This is, in fact, a “remake” of Yongary, Monster from the Deep, and it's often called “The Room of kaiju films.” But Elijah says it’s more than that. He even goes so far as to say that if it wasn’t for this movie, the world wouldn't have BTS or Squid Game. How? Liste

Apr 19, 2024 • 2:47:41

Episode 89 – ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ vs. Donny Winter vs. The Omni Viewer | “Godzilla Redux” x “Kong Quest”

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! It’s time to unpack the biggest kaiju release of 2024—Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire! For such a momentous occasion, Nate called upon YouTuber Donny Winter (Growing Up with Godzilla) and a “mystery guest”…who didn’t make it. Darn. So, he got the next best option: The Omni Viewer and his monster sidekick, Snazzy! They dive deep into the fifth entry of Legendary Pictures’ MonsterVerse series, unveiling its connections to classic pulp fiction and ‘80s pop culture—all without

Apr 11, 2024 • 3:29:58

Bonus Episode #16: ‘Space Monster Wangmagwi’ | Ft. Daniel DiManna

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In yet another impromptu “bonus” episode, Nate is joined by Daniel DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project) to discuss a film that was finally unleashed upon the world by SRS Cinema: Space Monster Wangmagwi. As you can see, this one actually fits the season theme of The Monster Island World Tour. As mentioned in the Yongary episode, this was also released in the “Year of the Kaiju,” 1967, beating Yongary by a few months. But like many South Korean kaiju films, the story arou

Apr 4, 2024 • 2:20:13

The Snarky Boneheads with Rito and Wade (April Fools’ Day Special)

Ever wonder what would happen if Rito Revolto and Deadpool had a radio show? No? Well, you're gonna find out, whether you want to or not! The Board replaces Nate’s radio show in his absence—without telling him—with a new one hosted by Nate’s hated old roommate...and some dude named Wade. They report some local Monster Island news, take a music request from Bonnie Lass, and get into all kinds of shenanigans. Starring: -Nathan Marchand as Rito and Wade -Olivia Reed as Bonnie Written, directed, pro

Apr 1, 2024 • 15:15

Episode 88: ‘Attack of the Crab Monsters’ & ‘Island Claws’ | Ft. Damon Noyes | Patreon Episode

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! Our first Patreon episode of season four—courtesy of executive producer Damon Noyes—is also MIFV’s first double feature and includes our first Roger Corman movie! First, we tackle Corman’s 1957 “classic,” Attack of the Crab Monsters, which could be called a “B-movie to a B-movie.” While it starts off as a typical atomic age creature feature, to Nate’s surprise, it goes full-tilt crazy at the halfway point. Then he and Damon get to Island Claws, a 1980 “pseudo-remake” that i

Mar 29, 2024 • 2:53:44

“I Will Not Fight You” | ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ | One Monstrous Moment: Year of the Dragon Edition

With Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire upon us, friend of the podcast Ryan “The Omni Viewer” Collins is holding another “One Monstrous Moment” series, the “Year of the Dragon Edition.” I'm going about as “on brand” with it as you can with a discussion of the ending of Godzilla vs. Kong (2021). I was struck by it when I first saw it, and I’m struck by it now. It’s exemplifies pacifism, the so-called “sigma male,” and a proper understanding of meekness (strength under control). What say you? Script

Mar 28, 2024 • 10:37

Episode 87 Epilogue: “Monster Mash”

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. Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Dam

Mar 28, 2024 • 9:52

Episode 87: ‘Yongary, Monster from the Deep’ vs. Neil Riebe

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! Ironi

Mar 22, 2024 • 2:25:41

MIFV MAX #28: ‘The Mighty Kong’ | Ft. Brendan Morley (Autistic Lizard Productions) (abridged)

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! According to MIFV’s analytics, King Kong (and not Godzilla) is good for business right now, so in this excerpt from our Patreon-exclusive livestream, we’re filling in one of the “gaps” from season 1’s The Kong Quest (ba-dum-tsh!) Brendan Morley joins Nathan to discuss the almost-forgotten animated musical (you read that right), The Mighty Kong (1998). It’s not only the first Kong musical, it’s arguably the best—which isn’t saying much. Still, it has an all-star talent line-u

Mar 20, 2024 • 1:25:17

Episode 86: ‘The Whale God’ vs. Daniel DiManna vs. Elijah Thomas

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In yet another impromptu episode (because reasons), Nate is joined by Daniel DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project) and Elijah Thomas (Kaiju Conversation) to discuss the semi-obscure Daiei proto-kaiju film, The Whale God. Released in 1962, it was largely unseen outside of Japan until it was released by SRS Cinema this past January. The boys unpack the tremendous talent behind and in front of the camera--including Takashi Shimura, Kojiro Hongo, and Akira Ifukube, among oth

Mar 14, 2024 • 2:49:14

Episode 85 Epilogue: “Jake and Drew, Where are You?”

Nate, Drew, and Jacob decide to test their mettle by going to a haunted tourist spot in Seoul: Yangma Land, an abandoned theme park. After exploring the place until midnight, they come to a carousel that moves by itself—because it's being ridden by the little girl ghost who haunts the place! She hears Jacob bark like a dog and chases after him, thinking he’s a puppy. The boys hide in a ride, only to barely escape a nine-tailed fox! But is the solution getting these two supernatural beings to mee

Mar 4, 2024 • 13:40

Episode 85 – Godzilla: The Series – ‘Monster Wars’ | Ft. The Cel Cast | Godzilla Redux

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! You might be wondering, “Aren't you supposed to cover Destroy All Monsters for Godzilla Redux, Nate?” Yes...but I’m not. For reasons. Anyway, we have the next-best thing: the three-part epic from Godzilla: The Series—“Monster Wars”! And who else could be the guests for animated kaiju shenanigans other than Drew and Jacob from The Cel Cast. They and Nate go through each episode beat-for-beat and analyze everything from the writing to the voice acting to the animation. You’ll

Feb 29, 2024 • 1:53:58

Episode 84 Epilogue: “Davida and Goliathon”

Nate and Jimmy set their sights on wrangling Utam Goliathon (aka “Ah-Wang”) from the top of Jardine House—only to be interrupted by a confused Kaguya wearing a risqué cosplay bought by Jimmy! This gives Nate the idea to have her talk Goliathon into climbing down the building. But she’s not happy about any of this! Featuring the final performance of Kim Lacanilao as Kaguya. Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patro

Feb 25, 2024 • 13:27

Episode 84: John LeMay vs. 'Mighty Peking Man'

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! The most cited man on MIFV, John LeMay, returns for his all-but-mandatory-at-least-once-a-season appearance to discuss the second Shaw Bros. film we’ve covered this season: Mighty Peking Man. This infamous cult classic was a favorite of director Quinton Tarantino, and it's easy to see why: it's sleazy yet weirdly artsy. It feels like an exploitation film at points—especially with the gorgeous Evalyn Kraft running around in nothing but a goatskin bikini—but the special eff

Feb 17, 2024 • 2:00:03

BONUS – MIFV MAX #27: ‘Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color' | Ft. Damon Noyes, Daniel DiManna, Christopher Riner, and Elijah Thomas (Abridged)

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In this excerpt from the latest episode of the (usually) Patreon-exclusive livestream podcast, Nathan invites his creative team (plus Elijah Thomas, who crashes the show later) on to discuss the new black-and-white edition of Godzilla Minus One. Is it a different enough experience from the original—or is it even better? These questions are answered in yet another Minus One-fueled blockbuster episode of MIFV! Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Powe

Feb 2, 2024 • 1:06:35

5th Wednesday Bonus Episode #15: ‘The Abominable Snowman’ (1957) | Ft. Matt Walsh | Patreon

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! You know him and you probably hate him—our guest today is none other than Matt Walsh! Okay, it’s not that Matt Walsh. This one shaves and isn’t a millennial curmudgeon. Anyway, because this Matt Walsh is a madman, he jumped on the joke tier on Patreon, “Jimmy’s Intern,” to discuss 1957’s The Abominable Snowman, making this MIFV’s first Hammer film…and its third yeti film. (Nate only had a mild case of PTSD). Nate was pleasantly surprised to see that this film, which stars G

Feb 1, 2024 • 2:05:57

Episode 83 Epilogue: "Kung Fools"

Nate decides to do some film curation in Hong Kong--with Hannibal Chau. Jimmy escorts him to the Bone Slums to meet the black market dealer and discovers a reel containing the 1999 cut of Reptilian. So, he does what any kaiju film curator would do: he steals it. But Chau won't have any of that! Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon No

Jan 26, 2024 • 13:30

Episode 83: ‘Son of Godzilla’ | Ft. Neil Riebe | Godzilla Redux

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! Neil Riebe makes a dangerous journey to Hong Kong to join Nate for another “Godzilla Redux” with Son of Godzilla. This film was made in the “Year of the Kaiju,” 1967, and along with King Kong Escapes, was Toho’s big contribution to it. The studio’s “B team,” led by director Jun Fukuda, returned to helm this island adventure…that infamously introduced fans to “the Jar Jar Binks of the Godzilla franchise,” Minilla (aka Minya). But it also has some impressive insect kaiju. Beli

Jan 25, 2024 • 1:56:09

Episode 82 Epilogue: “Super Infra-Dan”

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In this comedy-of-errors adventure, Nate, Jimmy, and Daniel DiManna confront Zhīzhūguài, the giant spider from Super Inframan, in Uber-Moguera. They quickly find themselves at the spider monster’s maniacal mercilessness, but a freak accident involving a blu-ray disc transforms Danny into their last hope—Super Infra-Dan! Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Danny DiManna (author/creator

Jan 20, 2024 • 8:48

Special Report #6, Part 2: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (Eps. 7-10 & Final Thoughts)

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In the part two of a two-part compilation of weekly podcasts originally made for MIFV MAX members on Patreon, Nate breaks down and analyzes the first six episodes of AppleTV+’s MonsterVerse series, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. It starts off strong, but like many Americans, it gets squishy in the middle. The flashback storyline is definitely better than the “present day” (2015) story arc, but both Wyatt and Kurt Russell are impressive playing the same character in two time pe

Jan 20, 2024 • 2:28:04

Special Report #6, Part 1 - ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ (Eps. 1-6)

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In the part one of a two-part compilation of weekly podcasts originally made for MIFV MAX members on Patreon, Nate breaks down and analyzes the first six episodes of AppleTV+’s MonsterVerse series, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. It starts off strong, but like many Americans, it gets squishy in the middle. The flashback storyline is definitely better than the “present day” (2015) story arc, but both Wyatt and Kurt Russell are impressive playing the same character in two time pe

Jan 20, 2024 • 2:56:36

Episode 82: Daniel DiManna vs. ‘Super Inframan’

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In MIFV’s fourth season premiere, Nate is joined by Daniel DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project) to discuss competently-made insanity: Super Inframan. Yes, it barely qualifies as “kaiju,” but Nate needed an excuse to talk about it (again). To call it a hyper-caffeinated fusion of Shaw Bros. trademark martial cinema and Japanese henshin heroes would be an understatement. Believe it or not, this bonkers movie has connections to both Kamen Rider and Mystery Science Theater

Jan 17, 2024 • 2:32:54

Episode 81.5: Season 4 Promo Trailer – “The Monster Island World Tour”

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! On a new Board-mandated mission, Nate, Jimmy, and Kaguya cut a promo for season 4: “The Monster Island World Tour.” They’ll be traveling the world recapturing escaped kaiju and returning them to the Island, all the while discussing giant monster movies made anywhere but America and Japan. As Jonah sang, “Every country has a monster they’re afraid of in their nation!” Guest Cast Kim Lacanilao as Kaguya Written by Nathan Marchand. Additional Music “Every Country has a Monster

Jan 13, 2024 • 3:06

MIFV Season 4 Prelude: “Jailbreak”

Nate survived another harrowing year on Monster Island, and now it’s time to renegotiate his contract. But he’s shocked to learn that, while he was sleeping, the Island’s security systems failed, allowing multiple kaiju to escape back to their home countries. Even with the Legal Action Team on his case, Nate and Jimmy can’t avoid having the Board mandate that they spend a year chasing down these monsters in Uber-Moguera and return them to the Island. Indignant and obsessive, Nate goes to confron

Jan 13, 2024 • 23:22

Interlude: Catching Up on Listener Feedback

Happy New Year, Kaiju Lovers! While I finalize some things for the start of season 4, "The Monster Island World Tour," here's a little bonus episode where I catch up on listener feedback since I fell behind responding to it on the air. As you can tell, there was a lot! I also detail some changes being made to the show this season. Enjoy! Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org. Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX

Jan 3, 2024 • 1:44:14

Godzilla Day Special: The Fans Speak at Monster Island’s Premiere of ’Godzilla Minus One’ (EXTENDED EDITION)

Merry Christmas, Kaiju Lovers! As our special gift to you, we proudly present an edition of the interviews Nate conducted at the Monster Island premiere of Godzilla Minus One at the Denham Theater. Because the interviewees he left out threatened to sue him, and Raymund advised him to just put them in. These were totally-chosen-at-random fans standing in line to see the film. He meets everyone from lawyers to mad scientists to Russian robot comedians (oh my!). It’s later than December 1 as origin

Dec 25, 2023 • 12:57

MIFV MAX #26: Christmas Special – ‘Jingle All the Way’ | Ft. Brendan Morley (abridged)

Merry Christmas, Kaiju Lovers (and Autistic Lizard Productions viewers)! In this excerpt from the Patreon-exclusive livestream series, Nathan is joined by Brendan Morley of Autistic Lizard Productions to discuss a (barely) toku-adjacent Christmas movie, Jingle All Way (1996), which stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad, and Phil Hartman, among others. Perhaps Nathan just needed an excuse to use his Arnie impersonation on mic, but this is one of his holiday movie guilty pleasures. Despite being cr

Dec 22, 2023 • 1:35:52

Episode 81: ‘Godzilla Minus One’ vs. Jack ‘GMan’ Hudgens

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! There was no way Nate could let Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One—only the most successful live action Japanese film ever released in America—go unanalyzed! So, for this special coda to MIFV season three, he’s joined by everyone’s favorite a-hole/”gatekeeper,” Jack “GMan” Hudgens, to discuss what might be worthy of the “Mount Rushmore of Kaiju Films.” They unpack everything from its rich themes, incredible characters, marvelous special effects, and more! Also, because

Dec 8, 2023 • 3:09:51

The Simple Heroism of Jet Jaguar | “Operation: Jet Jaguar” | Minus One Monstrous Moment

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! This year for Godzilla Day (Nov. 3), Toho celebrated the 50th anniversary of Godzilla vs. Megalon with the release of the short film, “Operation: Jet Jaguar.” In it, everyone’s favorite smiley superhero robot (and Jimmy From NASA’s “sidekick”) battles Godzilla in epic fan service at its best. But it’s more than just that. Nate waxes philosophical about it in this special mini-sode as part of Ryan “The Omni Viewer” Collins’ Minus One Monstrous Moment series on YouTube. Scrip

Nov 30, 2023 • 11:56

Episode 80: The Asylum’s “Monster Island” (Ft. Raymund Martin)

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In the (overdue) season 3 finale, Nate is forced to deal with Cameron Winter's “Christmas gift”: the Asylum's infamous Monster Island. It’s supposedly a “mockbuster” of 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters, but even by the Asylum’s standards, that’s a stretch. To unravel the legal loopholes and shenanigans that went into making this...movie, Nate brings on the Island’s star lawyer, Raymund Martin, and the man’s paralegal, Gary Steward. Not only do they riff this half-compet

Nov 22, 2023 • 2:31:58

Godzilla Day Special: The Fans Speak at Monster Island’s Premiere of ’Godzilla: Minus One’

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In this special episode, Nate attends the Monster Island premiere of Godzilla: Minus at the Denham Theater to interview totally-chosen-at-random fans standing in line to see the film. He meets everyone from lawyers to mad scientists to Russian robot comedians (oh my!). What’s crazy is what Nate had to leave on the cutting room floor, so expect an extended “director’s cut” of this special around the time of the film’s U.S. premiere December 1! Guest Cast Damon Noyes as Raymun

Nov 3, 2023 • 10:16

The Kaiju Krypt Presents ‘The Fog Horn’ by Ray Bradbury (Read by the Old Janitor)

Happy Halloween, Kaiju Lovers! The Kaiju Krypt returns—but not Kenny Kappa! No, due to some…impropriety, he has been replaced by a new host, Vinnie Kami. (However, Kenny’s cousin, Kappa Joe, is Vinnie’s butler). Mr. Kami is sure to bring some much-needed dignity back to the Krypt, especially since today’s story is modern literature: “The Fog Horn” by Ray Bradbury. It only inspired The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, which inspired Godzilla (1954), which inspired the entire kaiju genre! To say it’s a

Oct 31, 2023 • 33:29

Episode 79: Bex vs. ‘Jurassic Park’

“Ameri-kaiju” concludes not with a chronological finale but a popular finale: the modern cinematic classic Jurassic Park. Bex from Redeemed Otaku (yes, the real Bex—she was tested!) joins Nate to not talk about Mothra or something girly for once—but it does involve kids! Besides Jesus and Sailor Moon, JP is her favorite thing in the world. What more can be said about the film that hasn’t already been said? It’s an iconic and revolutionary masterpiece directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the

Oct 23, 2023 • 2:56:09

MIFV MAX #24: Happy Fourth Anniversary!!!

On September 25, 2019, Nathan re-entered the world of kaiju podcasting with a new show he wasn’t sure would work. Four years of ups and downs later, this unique blend of film analysis and audio drama is still going strong. Nathan is joined by several guests, including Damon Noyes (guest host, Patron, and actor), Sarah Marchand (his sister and the voice of Crystal Lady Jessica), and Neil Riebe (author, guest host, and super-fan) to discuss what MIFV means to them. You’ll hear all kinds of behind

Sep 28, 2023 • 3:47:23

Special Report #5 – ‘Gamera: -Rebirth- | MIFV x The Cel Cast

Yeah, I’m thinking Gamera is back! And since his return is in anime form, of course Nate invited Drew and Jacob from The Cel Cast to join the discussion. Gamera: -Rebirth- is a six-episode anime that just dropped on Netflix, and it’s infinitely better than the fake anime Nate and the Cel Cast boys covered a few months ago. Writer-director Hiroyuki Seshita gets his redemption story in this, proving it really was studio interference that held him back with the Godzilla Anime Trilogy. More importa

Sep 20, 2023 • 2:45:40

Special Report #4: ‘Godzilla: Minus One’ Trailer Analysis

In an impromptu livestream, Nate discusses the trailer for the upcoming epic G-film Godzilla: Minus One directed by Takashi Yamazaki. These 90 seconds tell us much and nothing at all, making it prime for questions, theorizing, and speculation. In other words, it’s a darn good trailer. The film releases in Japan Nov. 3 and in the U.S. Dec. 1. Send us your theories about Minus One to read on a future episode! Watch the original livestream video on MIFV’s YouTube channel! This episode is approved

Sep 6, 2023 • 1:16:10

Episode 78: ’Godzilla vs. Biollante’ | Godzilla Redux | Ft. Kaiju Kim and Daniel DiManna

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In this impromptu but timely "Godzilla Redux" episode that's technically from the future of the MIFV timeline, Nate sits down and discusses the first true Heisei G-film, Godzilla vs. Biollante, with YouTuber Kaiju Kim and GNP creator/author Daniel DiManna. Why did he move it up and feature them as guests? So they could promote the Kickstarter for their animated tie-in fanfilm! Enjoy this spirited conversation and the best SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION you ever heard on MIFV! In

Aug 11, 2023 • 2:50:24

MIFV MAX #22: G-Fest XXVIII (2023) | Ft. Daniel DiManna

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In this epic livestream audio (and rare public MIFV MAX episode), Nathan is joined by his friend, MIFV MAX member Daniel DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project) to discuss G-Fest 28. This was the convention’s second year at the Hyatt in Rosemont, Illinois—and it’s most attended ever with estimates as high as five-thousand! Nathan was on four panels and Daniel six; they met several guests, including Don Frye, Linda Jo Miller, T.J. Storm, and Yumiko Shaku; and they got into al

Jul 26, 2023 • 3:52:48

Special Report #3: ‘Skull Island’ (Netflix “Anime,” 2023) | Ft. The Cel Cast

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! We interrupt our regular episode schedule for a “special report” on the Skull Island “anime” from Netflix and Powerhouse Animation. (Yes, the first “special report” was an experiment and the other a gag, but work with us). Obviously, Nate calls on his animation experts, Drew and Jacob of The Cel Cast, to discuss this, well, train wreck. SPOILER WARNING: It’s the worst thing in the MonsterVerse (although, its place in that shared universe is dubious). It has maybe 1.5 good ep

Jul 22, 2023 • 1:51:32

Bonus Episode #14: I was in ‘ZillaFoot’! | Ft. Daniel DiManna and Elijah Thomas

It’s not often Nate has actors from kaiju films on the show, let alone two of his buddies! Yes, believe it or not, his friends Daniel DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project) and Elijah Thomas (Kaiju Conversation) both “starred” and “co-directed” the independent schlock-fest ZillaFoot from SRS Cinema. In this episode, which is more of an interview than a review/discussion, Daniel and Elijah talk about how they got involved with this movie and what they did in it. They also try to explain its co

Jul 13, 2023 • 1:57:36

Episode 77: ‘Dinosaucers’ (Ft. Michael Hamilton and Daniel DiManna)

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! MIFV MAX members Michael “The Man of Many Nicknames” Hamilton and Daniel “Godzilla Novelization Project” DiManna sponsored this Patreon episode on the semi-obscure ‘80s cartoon Dinosaucers, a comedy-action series about anthropomorphic alien dinosaurs battling each other. Sadly, Nate doesn’t find it as cool as that description sounds, much to his guests’ chagrin. The nostalgic Michael and ever-positive Danny make valiant defenses of the show—even when it gets culturally inse

Jul 13, 2023 • 2:54:43

Monster Conversation Ray Harryhausen Annual #2: ‘Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger’

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! To celebrate Ray Harryhausen's birthday (and their birthdays), Nate is joined by the “Littlest Gatekeeper,” Elijah Thomas of Kaiju Conversation, to continue their yearly series discussing the filmography of the stop-motion master. Today, it's 1977's Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. (Classic rock and Rocky III references, anyone?) It’s the third in the unconnected Sinbad trilogy from Columbia Pictures and stars John Wayne’s son, Dr. Quinn, and the Second Doctor (Who). This wa

Jun 29, 2023 • 1:38:56

BONUS – Tokusatsu 101 (JAFAX 2023 Panel)

Nathan Marchand gives you a crash course on the tokusatsu medium! This was recorded at JAFAX (Japanese Animation, Film, and Art Expo) June 9-11, 2023. This is also premiering on The Monster Island Film Vault YouTube channel, and the audio will be shared on the MIFV podcast feed. Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/zvh09FrXqLM. Check out Nathan’s other podcasts, Henshin Men and The Power Trip. Check out www.KaijuRamenMedia.com. We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Tra

Jun 14, 2023 • 1:05:17

BONUS - Ultraman 101 (JAFAX 2023 Panel)

In this JAFAX panel, you’ll take a crash course in the Ultraman series with Nathan Marchand! This required a bit of tweaking because it angered the automated YouTube overlords that Nathan dared show the trailer for Ultraman Blazar, which is why it cuts off at the end. You can hear a similar version of this presentation by listening to episode 48 of Henshin Men, which features Daniel DiManna, and in a recent issue of Kaiju Ramen Magazine. Check out www.KaijuRamenMedia.com. Watch the video versio

Jun 14, 2023 • 1:31:39

MIFV MAX #18 - My Trip to All Monsters Attack 2: Chicago S.O.S. (abridged)

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In this excerpt from a Patreon-exclusive livestream for MIFV MAX members, I share many stories from my weekend tabling at All Monsters Attack 2. I represented Kaiju Ramen Media and promoted MIFV, Henshin Men, and The Power Trip along with several content creator friends, including Travis A;exander, Michael Hamilton, and Elijah Thomas. You'll hear everything from my pre-con Viennese waltz to meeting a Power Ranger and two Ultramen! Join MIFV MAX on Patreon to watch/hear the

May 24, 2023 • 1:00:15

BONUS - Kaiju Conversation LIVE! Episode 2: Into the Multiverse of Marchand (abridged, re-release)

Hey, Kaiju Lovers! To tide you over while I finalize the next few episodes, here’s an abridged version of the 4 ½ hour livestream I did with Elijah Thomas of the Kaiju Conversation podcast. In this excerpt, we talk with Mark Bailey, the editor of Giant Bug Cinema: A Monster Kid’s Guide. This was a collection of essays on B-movies featuring huge insects, to which both Elijah and I contributed. The three of us discuss what we wrote, the origins of the book, and why we wrote it. The most exciting p

Apr 7, 2023 • 1:11:52

The Monster Island Gatekeepers Podcast, Episode 2: The One Where Willie Weeps

While contemplating if raiding the Boardroom is a good idea, Nate stumbles across the second episode of the Monster Island Gatekeepers podcast, which was broadcast April 1, 2022. It features a half-drunk William H. George III attempting to discuss how, contrary to popular belief, loving the MonsterVerse makes one a true kaiju fan—with the Old Janitor. Hilarity ensues. Listen to episode one here: https://tinyurl.com/MI-Gatekeepers-1. Story by Nathan Marchand, Michael Hamilton, and Daniel DiManna.

Apr 2, 2023 • 23:26

Episode 76: Alex McCumbers vs. ‘Rampage’ (2018)

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! Nate is joined by a fresh face on the show: gaming journalist and podcaster Alex McCumbers. It makes sense because today’s “Ameri-kaiju” film is Rampage (2018) starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, which is based on a classic arcade game. While the movie is “almost good,” as Alex puts it, it does embrace some of the wackiness of its origins with wisecracking “Agent Negan” and cartoonish villains. But it never quite replicates the campy yet dark tone of the source material (I m

Mar 20, 2023 • 3:15:55

Episode 75: ‘Ebirah, Horror of the Deep’ | Ft. Brendan Morley and the Metters | Godzilla Redux

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! The final “Godzilla Redux” episode of season three features three guests! Longtime staples Joe and Joy Metter and first-timer Brendan Morley join Nate to discuss Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (aka Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster). It’s Brendan’s favorite Godzilla film, so it was only natural he’d be here. Nate enticed Joe and Joy to return by having them watch the “banned” Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode that riffed the film. That means the entire gamut is run because Nate w

Mar 1, 2023 • 2:12:14

Episode 74: Chris Cooke vs. ‘Power Rangers’ (2017)

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! “Ameri-kaiju” continues with a bit of an unusual entry; one that, serendipitously, Nate also covered around the same time on his other podcast, The Power Trip: the controversial Power Rangers (2017). While Nate has grown to appreciate this film quite a bit, he intentionally brought on Chris Cooke (co-host of One Cross Radio, Radio Arcade, and Powerbombs and Piledrivers) to discuss it because he does not. However, these two find more common ground than you’d think. That was

Feb 10, 2023 • 2:56:58

One Monstrous Moment: Star of Ultra Edition – We are Dragon Caesar

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! As part of The Omni Viewer’s (https://www.youtube.com/@omniviewer2115) “One Monstrous Moment: Star of Ultra Edition” series, Nate waxes poetic about a mecha-kaiju—from Zyuranger! Yes, he kinda combines all of his podcasts into one short essay that discusses grief, vulnerability, legacy, and Jason David Frank. Have some tissues ready! Additional music: “Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger” by Kenta Satou Zyosouken song We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexand

Jan 31, 2023 • 10:59

BONUS: Kaiju Weekly 024 - Night of the Lepus (re-release)

To tide you over while I finish production on episode 74, I’m re-sharing this Kaiju Weekly classic! You’ll get to hear me and Travis Alexander discuss a deathly serious horror movie that features DeForrest Kelly fighting giant killer rabbits! This was originally published in spring 2020. The audio quality is a bit inconsistent because we recorded on Discord. Original show notes: “This week Travis is joined by fantastic podcast host Nathan from the Monster Island Film Vault podcast. He traveled

Jan 25, 2023 • 1:43:59

MIFV MAX #16: ‘Shin Ultraman’ Special Report (abridged) | Ft. Daniel DiManna, Damon Noyes, Michael Hamilton, and Guest of Honor Jeff Gomez

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! While production continues on the last quarter of MIFV season three, I’m sharing this excerpt from the latest MIFV MAX livestream, on which the subject was the finally-released Shin Ultraman. In this portion, we interview the producer of the Ultraman Connection website, Jeff Gomez, who shares why tokusatsu—and especially Ultraman—is important to him. We then move to the work he did to get Shin Ultraman released through Fathom Events, including who was commissioned to make i

Jan 18, 2023 • 1:22:41

MIFV Update (1-11-23): Where’s the Rest of Season 3?

What happened to season three? Where’s season four? Nathan answers these answers and explains what’s been interfering with MIFV production. Don’t worry! The show isn’t going anywhere! Just keep Nathan in your prayers. Thanks! We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander; Michael Hamilton; Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast,

Jan 11, 2023 • 9:45

MIFV MAX #15: ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ (2000) | Ft. Sarah Marchand (abridged)

Merry Christmas, Kaiju Lovers! And yes, you read that right! Nathan is covering a holiday “monster movie”—because his real sister said so! Yes, Sarah Marchand joins him as a guest host to discuss one of the movies that they’ve, ironically, bonded over: How the Grinch Stole Christmas, starring Jim Carrey. While it stretches the purview of the podcast thinly, Nathan does justify it with some weak connections (like Rick Baker making the Grinch costume and makeup). While Sarah is quite nostalgic fo

Dec 22, 2022 • 1:55:30

Episode 73 - ‘Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie’ | Ft. The Cel Cast

(This episode was largely recorded and written before the tragic news of Jason David Frank’s death). Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In what you could call the perfect crossover between their podcasts, MIFV MAX members Drew and Jacob of The Cel Cast sponsor a discussion of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie. It has animated kaiju in it—they’re just bad CGI robots. But the real star of this film, like other pop culture blockbusters in 1995, was the villain Ivan Ooze (played by Paul Freeman), who steal

Dec 13, 2022 • 2:29:19

MIFV MAX #14: Netflix’s ‘Troll’ (2022) | Ft. Michael Hamilton and Daniel DiManna (abridged)

As a warm-up to MIFV season 4—“The Monster Island World Tour”—Nathan and his friends Michael Hamilton and Daniel DiManna discuss Netflix's new Norwegian kaiju movie, Troll. Is this a secret MonsterVerse film? Is it pulling from the same lore as 2010’s Trollhunter? What do Norwegian fairytales say about trolls? All these questions and more are discussed and answered by Nathan and two trolls he calls “friends”! To hear the uncut version, where Nathan interviews Michael and Danny about their voice

Dec 10, 2022 • 2:10:11

BONUS – Remembering Jason David Frank: A Charity Livestream (audio version)

On November 28, 2022, a multitude of podcasters and YouTubers—Nathan Marchand, Michael Hamilton, Travis Alexander, Jack “GMan” Hudgens (The Drift Space), J.R. Villers (The Drift Space), Rebecca Hudgens (The Drift Space), Kaiju Kim, Chris Cooke, and Jimmy from Zeo 2 Hero—came together to celebrate the life and work of Jason David Frank. From acting to martial arts to teaching to motivational speaking, he did it all. But he’ll always be remembered as Tommy Oliver, the most popular Power Ranger. H

Dec 1, 2022 • 4:48:28

Episode 72: Record All Monsters vs. ‘Colossal’

Hello, kaiju lovers! Today on “Ameri-kaiju,” we get artsy with the indie film Colossal, starring Anne Hathaway. Robert and Courtney from the Record All Monsters podcast stop by to have a thoughtful discussion on this unique kaiju film where the monsters are psychic projections of the main characters. While it’s a comedy, it touches on some heavy subjects, like alcoholism and narcissism. All three hosts share personal stories connected to those subjects. While some commentators have said that the

Nov 17, 2022 • 2:37:00

MIFV MAX #13: Godzilla Day Livestream (Abridged) | Ft. Michael Hamilton

After a full day of celebrating the King of the Monsters’ 68th birthday, Nathan is joined by his Power Trip co-host, Michael Hamilton, in an out-of-character livestream. They discuss Fathom Events’ screening of Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla, the two Gigan short films that were posted on YouTube (for five minutes), and the myriad of Godzilla-related news that broke Nov. 3, 2022. They spend most of that time speculating about the new Godzilla film directed by the acclaimed Takashi Yamazaki that

Nov 4, 2022 • 1:17:59

Kenny Kappa’s Kaiju Krypt Presents: ‘The Voice in the Night’ by William Hope Hodgson (Read by Dr. Dante Dourif)

Happy Halloween, Kaiju Lovers! As a special treat from all of us on Monster Island, here’s an episode from one of our newest radio shows, Kenny Kappa’s Kaiju Krypt. That mischievously insane yokai presents the scariest kaiju-related short stories using equally weird readers. In this episode, Monster Island’s resident mad scientist, the one and only Dr. Dante Dourif, reads a classic piece of monster literature that means a lot to him: “The Voice in the Night” by William Hope Hodgson, which was th

Oct 31, 2022 • 40:31

Bonus Episode 13 - I Hate ‘Pacific Rim: Uprising,’ Change My Mind | Ft. Jack ‘GMan’ Hudgens

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In a fun little “sequel” to MIFV’s glorious Pacific Rim episode, Nate is joined by the co-host of The Drift Space podcast, Jack “GMan” Hudgens, to discuss a sequel Nate has hated since seeing it in a theater: Pacific Rim: Uprising. Nate didn’t want to have an episode on this film, but when he saw an opportunity for a Fifth Wednesday Bonus Episode, he decided to bring Jack, a stalwart defender of the film, to convince him it has merit. And he makes a valiant effort, going so

Oct 26, 2022 • 1:33:56

Episode 71: ‘Invasion of Astro-Monster’ | Ft. The Dapper Man | Godzilla Redux

Hello, kaiju lovers! Godzilla Redux is in full gear with one of Big G’s most quintessential films—and Jimmy From NASA’s personal favorite, because reasons—Invasion of Astro-Monster (aka Monster Zero and Godzilla vs. Monster Zero). For this occasion, Nate is joined the Dapper Man himself, Kevin Joshua Burnham, who is a YouTuber, the co-host of The Bottom Shelf podcast, and a longtime fan of MIFV. Everyone’s favorite angry Irishman dives deep into this film with Nate, discussing its making, its c

Oct 19, 2022 • 1:39:27

Episode 70: The Drifters vs. ‘Pacific Rim’

Hello, kaiju lovers! Nate has been waiting for this Ameri-kaiju episode for a long time—he gets to discuss one of his favorite films: Pacific Rim! He’s joined by the three co-hosts of The Drift Space podcast—returning guests Jack “GMan” Hudgens and J.R. Viller, plus Jack’s sister, Rebecca—to gush about how much they love it. Guillermo del Toro’s masterful tribute to both tokusatsu and anime is a movie that is unabashedly itself with its archetypal but strong characters, incredible worldbuilding

Oct 8, 2022 • 2:25:56

BONUS – Kaiju 101 and Other Tales from Ramen-Con 2022

Hello, kaiju lovers! Over the weekend, Nathan made a day trip up South Bend, Indiana, to attend Ramen-Con—which is about anime, not cooking…most of the time. The theme this year was kaiju, so he had to go. He gave a panel presentation called “Kaiju 101,” which was a crash course in the basics of giant monsters. That’s what most of the audio is in this bonus recording is from. Before that, Nate talks about the rest of his experiences at the con—including representing Moby Dick against Rhinoblast

Oct 4, 2022 • 1:58:21

MIFV 3rd Anniversary Livestream - The War in Space | Ft. Jimmy From NASA

Hello, kaiju lovers! This is the audio from a special livestream Nate held to celebrate three years of podcasting on Monster Island. So, of course, his guest co-host had to be his intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA. And also, of course, their topic had to be 1977’s The War in Space (aka “The Jimmy From NASA Story”). Unfortunately, while Jimmy’s mic worked (he doesn’t sound like a droid!), his camera didn’t. Oh, well. Amidst an info dump on Toho’s attempt at Star Wars, Nate and Jimmy play an MIF

Sep 26, 2022 • 2:59:07

BONUS – All Podcasts Attack Special: Days of the Dead: All Monsters Attack Convention

Welcome, kaiju lovers, heroes of the internet, and listeners with attitude! This past weekend, Nathan and his Power Trip co-host, Michael Hamilton, met each other in real life for the first time (and the world somehow didn’t explode). They attended a small upstart “spin-off” convention called Days of the Dead: All Monsters Attack, which was held in Indianapolis. This bonus episode is a late-night postmortem chat they had afterward, and it’s being shared on the feeds for Monster Island Film Vault

Sep 12, 2022 • 1:14:36

BONUS – Kaiju Weekly 112 | Pacific Rim: The Black (Season 2, Netflix 2022) (Re-Upload, Abridged)

Another week without an MIFV episode, I know. There are several recorded and in post-production, which has taken longer than I expected. Regardless, to tide you over once again, here’s an abridged version of a Kaiju Weekly episode I, Nathan, was on a few months ago. I discussed season two of Netflix’s anime, Pacific Rim: The Black. I’ve been intending to share, anyway, and given that the next main episode is on the original film, I figured now was a good time to share it. Here's the original des

Sep 1, 2022 • 1:08:26

BONUS: ‘Outtakes and Tangents, Episode 67’

Hello, kaiju lovers! I’m hard at work catching up on my editing/writing of the next few MIFV episodes, but in the meantime, I thought I’d share something in the podcast feed that’d normally be on MIFV MAX on Patreon. Any and all bloopers are saved and shared with Patrons (starting at the $10/month level), but since I had to cut some great discussions on Faustian deals from episode 67 (Little Shop of Horrors, 1986), I thought I’d publish it publicly so non-Patrons could taste a bit of what they c

Aug 24, 2022 • 46:56

Episode 69: ‘Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster’ | Ft. Luke and Jason Jaconetti

Hello, kaiju lovers! Today them Jaconetti boys, Luke and Jason, join Nate for the latest entry in “Godzilla Redux”: Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster. This was Toho’s third kaiju film in the momentous year of 1964 and their second Godzilla film that year. As Luke puts it, it’s The Avengers (2012) of Toho kaiju, where several monsters who debuted in solo films come together to face a common alien enemy. It’s a momentous turning point for the franchise: Godzilla and Rodan have their “face turns,

Aug 17, 2022 • 2:24:01

Episode 68: Nick Hayden vs. ‘Cloverfield’

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! “Ameri-kaiju” jumps ahead 50 years, but as you’ll hear, the (in)famous Cloverfield has a lot in common with the classic 1950s films we’ve been covering. Nate’s longtime friend Nick Hayden drops by to discuss this movie because he’s loved it ever since he first experienced it in a theater—and it is an experience. Too much of one for some people, in fact! While it’s popular to hate on Cloverfield in the kaiju fandom, it popularized the “found footage” genre and launched J.J. A

Jul 29, 2022 • 2:18:38

MIFV MAX #12: G-Fest 2022

Hear my stories from G-Fest 2022! I met lots of kaiju content creator friends, bought too much stuff in the deal room, saw classic G-films in a theater, and hosted six panels! Join MIFV MAX on Patreon to hear the entire livestream. Check out Nathan’s (and Travis’s) spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander (co-host of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (e

Jul 24, 2022 • 1:13:23

Chill with Kaiju Kim - G-FEST XXVII: What to Expect (RE-RELEASE)

Episode 68 is unfortunately delayed until next week, but I didn’t want to leave you without “new” content, Kaiju Lovers! Given that this weekend is G-Fest XXVII, the oldest and arguably biggest kaiju convention in North America, it was appropriate that I share the audio from the latest “Chill with Kaiju Kim” livestream. I was one of several guests who discussed the con. You’ll hear me promote the five panels I’ll be on, among other things. If you’re on your way to the convention, this is great l

Jul 13, 2022 • 2:42:19

Bonus Episode 12: ‘Beware! The Blob’ | Ft. Travis Alexander

Hello, kaiju lovers! In this bonus “Ameri-kaiju” episode, Travis Alexander of Kaiju Weekly and Henshin Men finally gets to see the goo—and he’s not happy! That’s mostly because he’s an animal lover and the Blob eats a kitten in the almost-forgotten and incredibly weird 1972 sequel, Beware! The Blob (aka Son of Blob). It’s the most bipolar movie Nate has ever seen for the show, and Travis, a lover of movies both weird and bad, found it borderline incomprehensible. Half of it is disjointed improvi

Jun 30, 2022 • 1:18:14

Monster Conversation: Harryhausen Annual #1 – ‘Clash of the Titans’ (1981)

Release the crossover! Nate and his friend Elijah “The Littlest Gatekeeper” Thomas start a new annual tradition for their podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and Kaiju Conversation, respectively, by discussing a Ray Harryhausen film every year. Why? Because they both share a birthday with the special effects legend. Also, since these two are weird, they’re going in reverse filmography order, starting with the original Clash of the Titans. This epic adventure was a relic when it came out, but

Jun 29, 2022 • 1:38:55

Episode 67: ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ (1986) | Ft. Damon Noyes

Hello, kaiju lovers! Thanks to Damon Noyes’s generous MIFV MAX pledge on Patreon, MIFV is covering its first musical: Little Shop of Horrors (1986)! Nate wanted to cover this as part of Amer-kaiju, but to his disappointment, it didn’t make the cut. That’s when Damon, who’s performed in not one but two stage productions of this, swooped in and got it on the roster. It has a puppet, after all. This story has a complicated history: from several short stories to a low-budget Roger Corman movie in 19

Jun 23, 2022 • 2:20:58

Episode 66: Damon Noyes vs. ‘The Giant Claw’

Hello, kaiju lovers! Today’s episode is AS BIG AS A BATTLESHIP! Damon Noyes visits the Island (after yet another harrowing experience) for “Ameri-kaiju” to discuss 1957’s The Giant Claw. This infamous movie stars the ugliest antimatter-powered space bird you’ve ever seen! “Crazy Bernice,” as she’s known on the Island, looks more like Beaky Buzzard than Rodan, despite her movie being similar to the latter’s. Nate and Damon spend a surprising amount of time on this wacky movie, poking fun at the C

Jun 16, 2022 • 2:40:16

Episode 65: ‘Mothra vs. Godzilla’ | Godzilla Redux | Ft. Daniel DiManna

Hello, kaiju lovers! Today’s episode is a momentous one. Nate discusses the all-time classic Mothra vs. Godzilla with Daniel DiManna of the Godzilla Novelization Project. Now Nate has come full circle because this was the first film whose episode he recorded first in his previous podcast life. But this episode is better! How could it not be with the living kaiju encyclopedia as a guest? Nate and Danny discuss everything: the Godzilla suit, the Mothra puppet, the script, the characters, and of c

Jun 11, 2022 • 2:35:37

Episode 64: Kaiju Weekly vs. ‘20 Million Miles to Earth’

Hello, kaiju lovers! MIFV’s season three theme, Ameri-kaiju, wouldn’t be complete without some Ray Harryhausen, so Nate invited both of his “co-hosts in kamen” (ba-dum-tsh!) to discuss 20 Million Miles to Earth. (Yes, Jimmy reminds Nate that he got his chronology wrong, because this film was released in 1957 and The Blob was 1958. Oops!). Harryhausen super-fans Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton, co-hosts of the Kaiju Weekly podcast, join Nate in a chat that veers perilously close to deraili

Jun 9, 2022 • 2:02:06

Episode 63: ‘King Kong vs. Godzilla’ | Godzilla Redux | Ft. AlyssaGojiGeek

Hello, kaiju lovers! Godzilla Redux continues! Nate is joined by YouTuber/author/musician/Navy sailor Alyssa Charpentier (aka AlyssaGojiGeek) for a film from his previous podcast life: King Kong vs. Godzilla. While, yes, Nate discussed a pair of related unmade films with John LeMay, today he and Alyssa compare and contrast the original Japanese version and the re-edited U.S. cut. The latter softens the satirical tone of the original and adds pointless scenes with two boring white guys who use a

Jun 7, 2022 • 1:58:55

Episode 62: Eric Anderson vs. ‘The Blob’ (1958)

Hello, kaiju lovers! Our season three theme, Ameri-kaiju, “creeps and leaps and slides and glides” along when MIFV MAX member Eric Anderson joins Nate to discuss 1958’s The Blob. This was Steve McQueen’s debut as a 30-year-old teenager dating the future TV wife of Andy Griffith. This classic of 1950s sci-fi cinema was an independent film produced by a studio known for making religious and educational films, which makes it doubly appropriate that the founder of Nerd Chapel (who’s also a substitut

Jun 6, 2022 • 1:42:37

Concerning All the MIFV Delays (Announcement 6-1-22)

I explain why MIFV has been plagued with delays the last few months. Spoiler warning: It's because have an overachiever complex. Read the blog post I mentioned here: https://tinyurl.com/3cxpx2fd. We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast,

Jun 1, 2022 • 16:04

Bonus Episode #11 – Godzilla: The Series | The Cameron Winter Trilogy | Ft. The Cel Cast

Hello, kaiju lovers! Our new boss here on Monster Island mandated that our first Fifth Wednesday Bonus Episode of 2022 be about him. So, Nate invites Drew and Jacob from The Cel Cast to return to Godzilla: The Series. Specifically, they discuss what has been branded, “The Cameron Winter Trilogy.” Namely the three episodes centered around the nefarious tech tycoon (“The Winter of Our Discontent,” “An Early Frost,” and “Lizard Season”). Jake and Drew have strong opinions about these episodes—and

Apr 15, 2022 • 1:34:46

Episode 61: Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers – ‘Green with Evil’ | Ft. Michael Hamilton

Hello, kaiju lovers! In our first Patreon-sponsored episode of season three, Nate is joined by his co-host from The Power Trip podcast and frequent guest, Michael Hamilton, for some TV talk. (Although, first they have to resolve longstanding issues from the…“Yeti incident”). In this case, the epic five-part miniseries from Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, “Green with Evil.” This introduced toku-loving kids to Tommy Oliver (Jason David Frank), the femme fatale Scorpina, and the iconic Dragonzord. B

Apr 15, 2022 • 2:03:56

Episode 60: John LeMay vs. ‘THEM!’

Hello, kaiju lovers! We enter the 1950s era of “Ameri-kaiju” to discuss a film that released the same year as the original Godzilla and inspired a subgenre and countless imitators: THEM! (yes, it’s in all caps and has an exclamation point). Who better to join Nate on this than the kaiji film scholar from the state in which the film takes place, John LeMay. Thankfully, John and MIFV’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, have settled their differences so he could be there. While THEM! has the trap

Apr 7, 2022 • 1:53:54

MIFV MAX #6: Remembering Akira Takarada

Hello, kaiju lovers. This is the audio from an impromptu livestream held over the weekend that I, Nathan, wish was done under better circumstances. On March 13, 2022, the legendary actor Akira Takarada, star of six Godzilla films among other things, died at age 87. I was joined by several of my friends in the kaiju content creator community—Daniel DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project), Elijah Thomas (the Kaiju Conversation podcast), and Kaiju Kim—to discuss the life and career of Takarada-san

Mar 22, 2022 • 3:18:56

Episode 59: ‘Mothra’ (1961) | Godzilla Redux | Ft. Becky ‘Bex’ Smith

Hello, kaiju lovers! Our subseries “Godzilla Redux” continues with what some call Toho screenwriter Shinichi Sekizawa’s masterpiece: Mothra (1961). Becky “Bex” Smith of the Redeemed Otaku podcast joins Nate to discuss this film—because apparently Nate can’t talk about a Mothra film without her. While Bex seems weirdly obsesses over the genus names of insects, Nate regales her with kaiju-sized info bombs related to the making of the film, the historical backdrop against which it was made (contro

Mar 9, 2022 • 1:56:27

MIFV MAX #2: ‘Dragonheart’ Discussion with Michael Hamilton and Danny DiManna (Abridged)

Episode 59 on Mothra (1961) isn’t quite finished, so to make up for its delay, I’m sharing this abridged version of a Patreon-exclusive livestream. I was joined by Michael Hamilton and Daniel DiManna to celebrate the birthday of the late great Sean Connery by discussing the 1996 fantasy film Dragonheart that starred Connery as Draco and Dennis Quaid as the knight who hunts and befriends him. I say “abridged” because we went on a long, unrelated rabbit trail after a while. If you want to see/hear

Feb 23, 2022 • 2:19:28

(Re-Upload) LET’S GET READY TO… | Rumble (with guest Nathan Marchand, Curator of The Monster Island Film Vault)

This is a re-upload of a crossover episode Nate did with Drew and Jacob from The Cel Cast, a podcast about animated films and TV series. They discussed the recently-released kaiju “rasslin’” movie on Paramount+, Rumble. While it’s a bit more wrestling than kaiju, that didn’t stop Nate from making all kinds of pro-wrestling references. The original description: Jacob and Drew welcome their guests Nathan Marchand and Jimmy from NASA into Studio B to review the 2021 Straight to Paramount+ film Rum

Feb 16, 2022 • 2:18:48

Episode 58: The Tourists vs. ‘Mighty Joe Young’ (1949)

Hello, kaiju lovers! “Ameri-kaiju” continues with three of the original MIFV Tourists—Nick Hayden, Joe Metter, and Joy Metter—returning to the Island to the “spiritual sequel” to King Kong (1933): Mighty Joe Young (1949). This classic features the special effects masters of the generations: Willis O’Brien and Ray Harryhausen. As usual, Nate did way too much research, but its almost overshadowed by the BURNING OPRHANS(!). Nate’s guests were blindsided by this film’s climax; so much so, they start

Feb 14, 2022 • 2:14:55

Episode 57: ‘Rodan’ (1956) | Godzilla Redux | Feat. Kaiju Kim

Hello, kaiju lovers! YouTuber and aspiring filmmaker Kaiju Kim returns to Monster Island to discuss a nostalgic monster movie for her: Toho’s first kaiju movie in color, Rodan (1956). It may not have Big G in it, but Rodan debuted in this film and later became a staple of Toho’s flagship franchise. Amidst funny accents, cancelations (sorry not sorry, Jimmy), and talk of Meganula breakfast cereal, Kim and Nate discuss the film’s Japanese communist screenwriter, Takeshi Kimura, the infamous Mante

Jan 26, 2022 • 1:30:47

Episode 56: The Omni Viewer vs. ‘The Lost World’ (1925)

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! And welcome to season three of The Monster Island Film Vault! We begin 2022 with a brand new series focusing on giant monster films from the U.S.A., “Ameri-kaiju.” To launch this special occasion, Nate is joined by returning guest/YouTuber/author Ryan “The Omni Viewer” Collins (and his kaiju-muppet-thing sidekick, Snazzy, who butts heads with Nate’s sidekick, the intrepid producer Jimmy From NASA) to discuss the prototypical kaiju film, The Lost World (1925). You’re about to

Jan 13, 2022 • 2:24:53

Episode 55.5: Season 3 Promo - ’Ameri-kaiju’

Hello, kaiju lovers! New year, new season! In 2022, The Monster Island Film Vault will focus not on a franchise but on a country: ‘Merica! Join Nate, his intrepid producer Jimmy From NASA, and the colorful cast of characters (in more ways than one) at KIJU as they examine 12 of the best (and most infamous) giant monster films to come out of the U.S. of A with “Ameri-kaiju.” All the while trying to deal with their new boss, Cameron Winter. Oh boy…. Additional music: “Pacific Rim” by Niall Stenson

Jan 5, 2022 • 3:13

Bonus Episode #10 – Meet the New Boss: An Interview with Cameron Winter

Hello, kaiju lovers! In an MIFV exclusive, Nate interviews Solstice Technologies CEO (and the envy of Elon Musk), Cameron Winter, who recently purchased the majority shares of Monster Island. Winter discusses several changes that he will make to the day-to-day operations on the Island and how he plans to revitalize the struggling scientific facility and resort in light of the ousting of the Board. It’s the biggest interview Nate has ever scored! This episode was written by Nathan Marchand with M

Dec 29, 2021 • 10:56

Episode 55 - ‘Yeti: Giant of the 20th Century’ (feat. Travis Alexander and Daniel DiManna)

Welcome to MIFV’s season finale, kaiju lovers—it wasn’t what it was supposed to be! No, after the Board’s envoy, William H. George III, stunguns the ever-intrepid Jimmy From NASA, he takes over as producer and forces Nate, Travis Alexander (co-host of Kaiju Weekly and Henshin Men), and Daniel DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project) to watch the infamous 1977 Canadian-but-actually-Italian kaiju movie, Yeti: Giant of the 20th Century. Though Nate survived watching it during

Dec 23, 2021 • 1:52:39

Episode 54: Bex vs. ‘Gamera the Brave’

Hello, kaiju lovers! With this episode, we reach the end of the “Year of Gamera.” Depending on who you talk to (like Nate), it’s a bittersweet occasion because, on one hand, many bad movies were endured, but on the other hand, today’s subject is 2006’s Gamera the Brave. Becky “Bex” Smith from the Redeemed Otaku podcast and YouTube channel joins Nate to discuss what is, as of now, the last Gamera film. It is sadly overshadowed by everything that came before it. It’s a shame because this is a S

Dec 9, 2021 • 2:24:49

TRAILER - The Power Trip: A Journey through the Power Rangers Franchise

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Power Rangers with Michael Hamilton (Kaiju Weekly, The Kaiju Groupie Podcast) and Nathan Marchand (The Monster Island Film Vault, Henshin Men) as they embark on a quest through every season of this morphenomenal franchise. Coming January 4, 2022, to a podcatcher near you! IT’S MORPHIN’ TIME! Follow The Power Trips on Twitter: @ThePowerTripPod. Join the podcast’s official Facebook group: Power Rangers Legacy.

Nov 30, 2021 • 1:19

Episode 53: ‘Godzilla Raids Again’ | Feat. Michael ‘The Kaiju Groupie’ Hamilton | Godzilla Redux

Hello, kaiju lovers! Nate gets back to his new subseries, “Godzilla Redux,” with the first of the many sequels to Godzilla (1954), Godzilla Raids Again. Strangely, it was the first G-film his guest, Kaiju Weekly co-host Michael “The Kaiju Groupie” Hamilton, ever saw. This somewhat forgotten 1955 cash-grab sequel, which was produced and released within six months, isn’t much to write home about—except it features the first appearance of fan-favorite kaiju Anguirus and the first ever kaiju fight

Nov 25, 2021 • 1:58:12

Episode 52 - Kaiju Kim vs. ‘Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris’

Hello, kaiju lovers! After nearly a year of surviving inane MST3K fodder and watching the first two entries of a fantastic trilogy, Nate reaches one of kaiju eiga’s zeniths with Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris. He’s joined by YouTuber and (ironically) Godzilla enthusiast Kaiju Kim to discuss this masterpiece. As Nate puts it, this is one of the rare trilogies where each entry gets better—in fact, everything gets cranked to 12 in this. They discuss the amazing story, incredible characters, impressive

Nov 12, 2021 • 2:06:18

Episode 51 - Dallas Mora vs. ‘Gamera 2: Attack of Legion‘

Hello, kaiju lovers! After a harrowing and riff-tastic adventure in space, Nate and Jimmy return to Monster Island to find the podcast in chaos. Not only did their nemesis WHG3 try to replace MIFV with his own podcast, he canceled all of their guest invitations. Thankfully, Jimmy was able to get Geek Devotions co-founder Dallas Mora to come on to continue the “Year of Gamera” with Gamera 2: Attack of Legion (or “Attack of the Legion” or the much-cooler-title-that-should’ve-been-kept “Advent of

Nov 5, 2021 • 2:24:55

EXTRA LIFE 2021 PROMO - Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid Charity Livestream!

Hello, kaiju lovers! Join me this Saturday (November 6) for a special charity livestream for Extra Life, an organization that raises money for children's hospitals through marathon gaming sessions. I'll be playing Power Rangers: Battle for The Grid! Click the links below for more information and to contribute to my donation goal! Thanks!  MUSIC: "Go, Go, Power Rangers" by Niall Stenson -Extra Life -Nathan Marchand/Theology Gaming Team Page -Theology Gaming Twitch Channel -MIFV YouTube Channel

Nov 2, 2021 • 1:11

MIFV MAX #5: ”Ask Me Anything” 2nd Anniversary Special

No, this isn’t episode 51. In light of falling behind on episode 50, catching up with my new job, and life in general, I’ve had to delay episode 51. I should hopefully have it done in a week or less. But in the meantime, as I get the podcast back on schedule, please enjoy this audio version of MIFV MAX #5, which was a livestream I did on the podcast’s YouTube channel on it’s actual second anniversary. You can watch the video version here. From YouTube: “To celebrate the podcast's actual second a

Oct 27, 2021 • 1:41:51

Episode 50: ‘The War in Space‘ | 2nd Anniversary Riff Track Spectacular!

(FYI: THIS EPISODE IS BEST EXPERIENCED WHILE WATCHING THE WAR IN SPACE. See the link below for a website to stream it). With the KIJU studio in Earth orbit, Nate is awakened by WHGIII via video chat. But the “union jackwagon” defers to his bosses, the president and vice president of the Monster Island Board of Directors—who are none other than Commander Hell and the Kilaak Queen! After they and the rest of the Board gloat over shooting Nate into space, they unveil their plan to finally break M

Oct 21, 2021 • 2:00:27

Bonus Episode #9: The Convoluted King Kong Copyright

“Hold on there, Nate!” you're saying. “This isn’t Episode 50!” And you’re right. I underestimated how time-consuming a project Episode 50 would be, so…it’s being delayed one week. The bright side is, including this bonus episode, you’re getting content from me for three Wednesdays in a row! What is this? Think of it as a “lost episode” that’s outside MIFV continuity. It was a project I did for a Writing for Multimedia class when I was in grad school back in 2019. I researched copyright law since

Oct 13, 2021 • 11:21

Promo Trailer - MIFV, Episode 50, ‘The War in Space‘ | 2nd Anniversary RiffTrack Spectacular!

You should really just relax...it's just a war in space. Nate learns the truth about the Board and maybe even how Jimmy From NASA survived that infamous war! COMING SOON! This surprise trailer was created by Daniel DiManna. You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! Buy official MIFV merch on TeePublic! www.MonsterIslandFilmVault.com Podcast Social Media: Twitter Facebook Instagram Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @NasaJimmy Follow the Monster Island

Oct 11, 2021 • 1:27

The Monster Island Gatekeepers Podcast, Episode 1: Why Buying a $300 Plastic Bug Makes You a True Fan

Greetings and salutations, audio listeners! It is I, William Horatio George III, your new and vastly superior host for the new and vastly superior podcast, The Monster Island Gatekeepers, which will be replacing the previous show to which you were listening. In this inaugural episode, I am joined by my Board-mandated…co-host, Dr. Dante Dourif, Monster Island’s resident Matango expert and, apparently, the head of special projects. (Although, I don’t know what that entails because he rarely comes

Oct 6, 2021 • 18:36

Episode 49: ‘The Magic Serpent’ (feat. Damon Noyes)

Hi, kaiju lovers. This is MIFV’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA. You might be wondering why I’m writing the shownotes for this episode. I had to prep it for the podcast feed instead of Nate, because…well, Nate’s not terrestrial anymore. He had a great discussion with MIFV MAX member Damon Noyes, who sponsored this episode on the 1966 Toei tokusatsu fantasy film, The Magic Serpent. Hell, even I liked the film because, as they pointed out, it’s basically Star Wars. It’s based on a Japanese f

Sep 23, 2021 • 1:41:44

Episode 48 – The Tourists vs. ‘Gamera: Guardian of the Universe’

Hello, kaiju lovers! Though still grieving the loss of Gary, Nate soldiers on—without his intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, as mandated by the Board—because he’s finally made it to the good part of “The Year of Gamera”! He’s joined by three of the original MIFV Tourists, Nick Hayden, Timothy Deal, and Joe Metter, to discuss Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, the first of the famed Heisei Trilogy directed by Shusuke Kaneko. While the Tourists have never seen it, they have a deep appreciation o

Sep 8, 2021 • 2:04:55

MIFV MAX #4 Excerpt: The Episode 50/2nd Anniversary Announcement and How You Can Make It Happen!

Hello, kaiju lovers! What you’re about to hear is an excerpt from the most recent MIFV MAX livestream on YouTube. Normally, these are reserved for MIFV’s Patrons on Patreon, but this included such a HUGE announcement, I wanted to make it available for everyone. In case you missed it, I, Nathan, and my friend Danny DiManna announced what movie will be covered on MIFV’s 50th episode/2nd anniversary, how the storyline leading up to it relates to Mystery Science Theater 3000, and how you, my wonderf

Sep 1, 2021 • 29:34

Episode 47: ‘Godzilla, King of the Monsters’ (1956) (feat. Elijah Thomas)

Hello, kaiju lovers! “Godzilla Redux” continues with Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (the original and not the 2019 film covered on MIFV a few months ago). Elijah Thomas (aka “The Littlest Gatekeeper”) from the Kaiju Conversation podcast joins Nate to discuss this Americanized version of the original 1954 kaiju classic. While it’s often been derided by both fans and critics alike, Nate and Elijah argue that it’s not only an important time capsule commenting on American-Japanese relations in the

Aug 26, 2021 • 1:41:18

Episode 46: Daniel DiManna vs. ‘Gamera: Super Monster’

Hello…kaiju…lovers…. The only reason this episode is long as it is because Nate’s guest, Daniel DiManna (creator/author of the Godzilla Novelization Project) is the most talkative introvert ever of all time. But even if “Danny Boy” was Superman with a Beta Capsule, he couldn’t save this week’s Year of Gamera movie, the infamous Gamera: Super Monster. This 1980 cash-grab from a barely-alive Daiei Film is easily the Guardian of the Universe’s lowest point. On paper, Nate should love this mov

Aug 11, 2021 • 2:30:22

Episode 45, 'Godzilla: The Series' - 'New Family' & 'DeadLoch' (feat. Eli Harris)

Hello, kaiju lovers! Welcome to MIFV's first Patreon-sponsored episode and TV talk! MIFV MAX member Eli Harris visits Monster Island to discuss three episodes of the criminally underappreciated Godzilla: The Series, the vastly superior Saturday morning cartoon sequel to Godzilla (1998). Their discussion includes the show’s the two-part premiere, “New Family,” which picks up where the movie left off, and Eli’s favorite episode, "DeadLoch" (ba-dum-tssh), where Zilla Jr. meets the Loch Ness Monste

Jul 28, 2021 • 1:33:07

THE HENSHIN MEN | Podcast Promo

I (Nathan) am the "kaiju guy" now, but I used to be the "superhero guy." Now thanks to Travis from Kaiju Weekly, I've combined both! This is a promo for our new spinoff podcast, The Henshin Men, a tokusatsu superhero appreciation podcast dedicated to high-flying and high-kicking adventures of Japan's transforming, kaiju-fighting heroes! New episodes drop every Monday. Henshin Men on RedCircle. Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod

Jul 19, 2021 • 1:11

Episode 44: The MSTies vs. ‘Gamera vs. Zigra’ (feat. Travis Alexander and Neil Riebe)

Hello, kaiju lovers! After calling in a favor at the last second to get a replacement guest, Nate sits down with Kaiju Weekly’s Travis Alexander and kaiju author Neil Riebe to discuss one of Gamera’s lowest points: Gamera vs. Zigra. Yes, before Jaws, the Friend to All Children battled a giant alien shark who couldn't decide if he wanted to enslave humanity or eat them. Ziggy also has a bad habit of recruiting beautiful ladies as hench-people (your new PC term of the day), but they forget ever

Jul 14, 2021 • 1:37:56

Bonus Episode 8 - 'Godzilla: Singular Point' (feat. Kaiju Weekly)

By our powers combined! In true Amalgam Comics fashion, The Monster Island Film Vault and Kaiju Weekly have fused to form a super-show (“Kaiju Film Vault Weekly”?) to discuss 2021’s next big tent-pole kaiju release, the Netflix anime Godzilla: Singular Point. Nate, Travis, Michael, and even Jimmy From NASA get into just about everything about this 13-episode series released worldwide June 24, from the characters to the monsters to quantum physics. This series proved to be somewhat divisive in t

Jun 30, 2021 • 2:25:45

Episode 43: 'Godzilla' (1954) (feat. The Tourists) | Godzilla Redux

Hello, kaiju lovers! By popular (and Godzilla’s) demand, MIFV is starting a new series on episodes on the Godzilla franchise called “Godzilla Redux”! It starts with the one that started it all, the 1954 classic Godzilla (aka Gojira) starring Akira Takarada, Akihiko Hirata, and Takeshi Shimura, among others, and directed by Ishiro Honda. Of course, such a momentous film and occasion required all four of the original Tourists, Nick Hayden, Timothy Deal, and Joe & Joy Metter. Unfortunately for Nat

Jun 23, 2021 • 1:29:56

Episode 42: Ben Avery vs. 'Gamera vs. Jiger'

Hello, kaiju lovers! The “Year of Gamera” reaches its midpoint in an episode that’s the answer to life, the universe, and everything. Well, not really. But you will hear Nate and returning guest/multi-podcaster Ben Avery discuss 1970’s Gamera vs. Jiger. This movie, which shockingly opened the year the Japanese film industry crashed, serves as a (sorta) big budget travelogue/commercial for Expo ’70, the first world’s fair held in Asia. Both “Cornjob” and a yellow submarine return, but outer space

Jun 9, 2021 • 1:50:05

Episode 41: 'Sayonara Jupiter' (Mini-Analysis)

Hello, kaiju lovers! A chapter closes on today’s episode as Nate concludes his “mini-sode” series on the Toho classics he missed out on in his previous podcast life. This week he discusses the almost-forgotten hard sci-fi tokusatsu film from 1984, Sayonara Jupiter (aka Bye Bye Jupiter). It was something of a transitional film for Toho since its cast and crew included players from both the Showa and Heisei eras, including Akihiko Hirata (in his final role), Sakyo Komatsu (author of Submersion o

May 26, 2021 • 37:39

Kaiju Weekly 074 - Pacific Rim: The Black (with Nathan Marchand) (Re-Upload)

Hey there, kaiju lovers! Like I did with the Monster Hunter review I did on the Forever Classic Podcast, I'm re-uploading this episode of Kaiju Weekly for any of you who missed it. While I experimented with a "Special Report" episode on season one of Netflix's Pacific Rim: The Black, I couldn't find time in MIFV's schedule to make to make a proper episode on it. Then I had the chance to sub for Travis Alexander, one of the co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly, on their review of it. So, with their permissi

May 19, 2021 • 2:06:48

Episode 40: The MSTies vs. 'Gamera vs. Guiron' (feat. Luke Jaconetti and Greg Meyer)

Hello, kaiju lovers! We’ve reached the point where the “Year of Gamera” gets even goofier—and where Nate begins to miss seeing the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes even more. He’s joined by returning guest, Earth Destruction Directive host Luke Jaconetti, and newcomer/MSTie Greg Meyer to discuss Gamera vs. Guiron. The “Kennys” get more precocious and useless (Tom is dead inside). The monsters get more outlandish (Guiron is Knifehead, anyone?). And the villains get … shapely jumpsuits? Liste

May 12, 2021 • 2:02:35

Episode 39: The Drifters vs. 'Gamera vs. Viras' (feat. Jack 'GMan' Hudgens and J.R. Villers)

Hello, kaiju lovers! In the first of a double-whammy of “Year of Gamera” episodes that continue to chip away at Nate’s sanity, today’s movie is 1968’s Gamera vs. Viras. Nate is joined by returning guest (and Jimmy From NASA nemesis) Jack “GMan” Hudgens and Jack’s friend J.R. Villers from The Drift Space podcast to discuss this outlandish but imaginative kaiju flick. It’s near and dear (haha!) to Jimmy’s heart because, believe it or not, it dramatizes an exciting chapter of his childhood. Yes, MI

Apr 28, 2021 • 1:37:49

Episode 38: Eric Anderson vs. 'Godzilla vs. Kong'

Hello, kaiju lovers! Finally, the “Kong Quest” comes to an end! After months of delays due to avoiding competition and COVID-19, Godzilla vs. Kong has been released. It’s not a fever dream—it’s real! Nate is joined by his friend, Nerd Chapel founder Eric Anderson, to discuss the epic rematch nearly 60 years in the making. They host a special premiere for the Legendary film at the newly opened Denham Theater, an event that’s been delayed and rescheduled as often as the film’s release. A cavalcade

Apr 14, 2021 • 2:30:50

The Forever Classic Podcast: Monster Hunter Movie Review With Nathan Marchan‪d‬ (Re-Release)

Hello, kaiju lovers and Forever Classic Gamers! This is a re-release of the most recent episode of The Forever Classic Podcast, which is hosted by my GigaGeek Magazine colleague, Alex McCumbers. Given that I’m the “kaiju academic,” as Alex puts it, and he’s as hardcore a gamer as you can get, we figured we’d combine our knowledge and fandoms to review the 2020 Monster Hunter movie starring Mila Jovovich. This secret Toho movie (for real) is based on the monstrously (ba-dum-tssh) popular video g

Apr 9, 2021 • 1:28:31

Special Report #2: 'Godzilla vs. Kong' (SPOILERS!)

Greetings, kaiju lovers! It’s the day after the BIGGEST kaiju film of the year—if not the decade—Godzilla vs. Kong has premiered across the world in theaters and on HBO Max, and Nate is diving headlong into a spoiler discussion! You won’t believe what you hear: surprise appearances from a famous henshin hero and the new so-called “king of the monsters.” Heck, apparently even Nate and his intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA made cameos in the movie! That’s what happens when you need a podcaster an

Apr 1, 2021 • 10:54

Bonus Episode 7: 'Gammera the Invincible' (Mini-Analysis)

Hello, kaiju lovers! Due to contractual obligations, Nate covers a “13th” Gamera movie as part of the “Year of Gamera”: Gammera the Invincible (he's a loony). This heavily-edited Americanized version of Gamera the Giant Monster was given the Godzilla, King of the Monsters! 1956 treatment—but it's far less interesting as a movie and as a piece of kaiju film history. Nate details the key differences—one being the de-emphasis of Psycho Kenny, er, Toshio-san—and explains the rather mundane reasons f

Mar 31, 2021 • 12:59

A Compassionate Ultraman | One Monstrous Moment: Alpha Edition

As part of Ryan “The Omni Viewer” Collins’ “One Monstrous Moment: Alpha Edition” to celebrate our favorite moments in kaiju media in anticipation of Godzilla vs. Kong, I’m submitting an entry featuring an unlikely scene from an unlikely series. In this case, from episode eleven of Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero (aka Ultraman Powered). What happens when a henshin hero battles a truly innocent monster? What can we learn about co passion and empathy from this oft-derided Ultra series? Listen to find o

Mar 29, 2021 • 9:42

Episode 37 - 'Godzilla: King of the Monsters' (2019) (feat. The Omni Viewer and Up From the Depths)

Hello, kaiju lovers!  After the Serpentera Mk. 1 flies by, Nate is joined by his two most popular guests yet: Ryan “The Omni Viewer” Collins and Brandon “Up From the Depths” Jacobs. These two YouTubers were invited to the Island because they’ve produced several insightful and, above all, positive videos on 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters. While Legendary’s much-hyped kaiju epic was loved my audiences and hated by critics, it’s lately become popular in the Godzilla/kaiju fandom to hate on

Mar 24, 2021 • 1:24:51

Episode 36: The MSTies vs. ‘Gamera vs. Gyaos’ (feat. Michael Hamilton and Damon Noyes)

Hello, kaiju lovers! Nate and his guests, MIFV MAX members Michael Hamilton (co-host of Kaiju Weekly and The Kaiju Groupie) and Damon Noyes, reach the peak of the Showa Gamera series—which isn’t as high as Nate wants it to be. (Or does he just want to get high?) Once again as part of the Board-mandated “Year of Gamera,” the Tourists get to watch the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode featuring this film while Nate must view the original Japanese version to compare notes. Even so, Nate riff

Mar 10, 2021 • 2:16:16

Special Report #1 – ‘Pacific Rim: The Black’ (Season 1)

In the first of what I’m calling “Special Reports,” I give my immediate thoughts on the new Netflix anime series, Pacific Rim: The Black. I was supposed to review it on Redeemed Otaku with my friend Bex, but that ended up not working out. As someone who adores the original film but hates the sequel (Uprising), I was surprised by how good this show was, even when it used some elements from Uprising. Be warned: about halfway in, I dive into spoiler territory, so avoid that if you haven’t seen the

Mar 5, 2021 • 29:46

Episode 35: ‘Prophecies of Nostradamus’ (feat. John LeMay)

Hello, kaiju lovers! Jimmy’s (former?) flame war nemesis, tokustasu scholar John LeMay, returns to discuss the second banned film to be covered on MIFV: Prophecies of Nostradamus. This infamous disaster film—which is as different from Submersion of Japan as night is from day—was Toho’s biggest hit of 1974 and features the last appearance by Takeshi Shimura in a Toho tokusatsu film, which only makes its banishment to the back of the vault all the more puzzling. Nate and John explain that the f

Feb 24, 2021 • 1:11:30

Episode 34: The MSTies vs. ‘Gamera vs. Barugon’ (feat. Joe and Joy Metter)

Hello, kaiju lovers! The Year of Gamera continues. (Yay?) Nate is joined by his friends Joe and Joy Metter to discuss the outlier of the Showa Gamera series, Gamera vs. Barugon. It’s the one that was actually aimed at an adult audience—and it flopped. As usual, the Tourists get to see the MST3K episode—which has Nate’s favorite line of those episodes—while Nate has to watch the original Japanese version. Even with Joel and the Bots’ riffs, Joe and Joy say they would’ve preferred to watch it

Feb 10, 2021 • 1:46:44

Episode 33: ‘Submersion of Japan’ (feat. Adam Noyes)

Hello, kaiju lovers! Nate is joined by podcaster/YouTuber/filmmaker Adam Noyes to cover something a bit different this week: the original 1973 tokusatsu disaster film Submersion of Japan (aka Japan Sinks). Think of it as a kaiju film without a kaiju. It’s based a novel by Sakyo Komatsu, who Adam describes as “the Japanese Michael Crichton.” The novel was a blockbuster, and this film was an even bigger hit. You can tell this was what Toho invested most of their money into and not Godzilla vs. Me

Jan 27, 2021 • 1:02:21

Episode 32: The MSTies vs. ‘Gamera the Giant Monster’ (feat. Nick Hayden and Timothy Deal)

Hello, kaiju lovers! And welcome to MIFV season two! Much to Nate’s chagrin, the Board-mandated “Year of Gamera” begins with the “freakishly mediocre” 1965 movie Gamera the Giant Monsters (or Daikaiju Gamera). So saddened by this is Nate that he visits the Monster Island Chapel and speaks with Rev. Mifune, the Island’s chaplain. The reverend suggests watching the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes that featured Gamera films so Nate could at least get a good laugh watching them. But when N

Jan 13, 2021 • 1:43:51

Episode 31.5: MIFV Season 2 Promo – ‘The Year of Gamera!’

Next week–much to Nate’s chagrin–MIFV begins the Board-mandated “Year of Gamera”! Twelve months, twelve movies–but only four of them are good! Hear all about what to expect from MIFV in 2021 in this promo! Music: “Gammera” by The Moons The post Episode 31.5: MIFV Season 2 Promo – ‘The Year of Gamera!’ appeared first on The Monster Island Film Vault.

Jan 6, 2021 • 3:20

Bonus Episode 6: Power Rangers In Space – Countdown to Destruction, Part 2′ (feat. Chris Cooke)

Hello, kaiju (and toku) lovers! Nathan has been mandated by the Board to archive episodes of Power Rangers in the film vault. Their executive assistant, Ms. Perkins, was particularly insistent on him starting with Power Rangers In Space, for some reason. So, as a special bonus episode to close out 2020 and season one, Nathan and Chris Cooke (host of “One Cross Radio”) recorded a pair of watch-along episodes for that series’ two-part finale, “Countdown to Destruction.” While Chris is a “Power Fa

Dec 30, 2020 • 50:25

Episode 31: ‘Space Amoeba’ (feat. Giant Monster BS)

Hello. kaiju lovers! The end has come…for MIFV’s first season, that is. It was supposed to be an epic episode on Godzilla vs. Kong…but instead Nathan is joined by Matt and Gratton from the “Giant Monster Ben Shapiro,” er, “BS” podcast to discuss Space Amoeba (aka Yog, Monster from Space), a weird lesser classic from the Toho tokusatsu library. Released in 1970, it marked a shift in the Showa era for Toho films. This was the year special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya died, the studio contract sy

Dec 23, 2020 • 1:08:09

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

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, th

Dec 9, 2020 • 37:57

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

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

Nov 25, 2020 • 47:15

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

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 an

Nov 11, 2020 • 1:52:55

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

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 bombing

Oct 28, 2020 • 1:07:06

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

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 eve

Oct 14, 2020 • 1:35:28

KAIJU QUARANTINE 3 Promo Trailer

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 server: https://dis

Oct 9, 2020 • 2:29

Bonus Episode #5: First Anniversary Special

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.” Essential

Sep 30, 2020 • 2:24:53

Episode 25: ‘Dogora, the Space Monster’ (feat. Michael ‘The Kaiju Groupie’ Hamilton)

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 Yaku

Sep 23, 2020 • 1:04:50

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

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), i

Sep 9, 2020 • 1:38:26

Episode 23: ‘Atragon’ (Mini-Analysis)

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 natio

Aug 26, 2020 • 31:27

Episode 22: The Metters vs. ‘Daimajin’

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 connoisse

Aug 12, 2020 • 1:39:20

Bonus Episode #4: Interview with Ben Chaffins

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 h

Jul 29, 2020 • 41:14

Episode 21: ‘Matango’ (Mini-Analysis)

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

Jul 22, 2020 • 33:40

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

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

Jul 8, 2020 • 2:23:30

KAIJU CON-LINE 2020 Promo

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

Jul 6, 2020 • 0:44

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

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 t

Jun 24, 2020 • 1:00:02

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

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-G

Jun 10, 2020 • 1:48:48

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

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

May 27, 2020 • 29:21

KAIJU QUARANTINE 2: TRASH MOUNTAIN (Trailer)

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

May 14, 2020 • 2:41

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

May 13, 2020 • 2:16:56

Bonus Episode #3: An Excerpt from ‘Destroyer’

Hello, kaiju lovers! For the final bonus episode of April to help you all survive quarantine, Nathan is reading a chapter from his kaiju novella, Destroyer, which he co-wrote with Natasha Hayden, Nick Hayden, and Timothy Deal (two of whom you’ve heard on the podcast). Specifically, it’s “Chapter 6: Berserk” (a detail he forgot to mention in the episode). You’ll also hear how this book was written as part of a year-long group project that started in a little place called—no joke—Story, Indiana.

Apr 29, 2020 • 15:18

Episode 15: ‘Battle in Outer Space’ (with Luke Jaconetti)

Hello, kaiju lovers! Today’s episode is a little different. Think of it as an extended “mini-analysis.” It’s also the first film MIFV has covered that features no kaiju. Luke Jaconetti, the host of the Earth Destruction Directive podcast (and owner of an impossible-to-spell surname), joins Nathan to discuss the film featuring everyone not working on The Three Treasures in 1959: Battle in Outer Space. The podcast’s producer, Jimmy From NASA, loves this film because it’s the second entry in what

Apr 22, 2020 • 1:28:14

Bonus Episode #2: Interview with Eric Elliott (Batman Meets Godzilla)

Hello, kaiju lovers! HOLY INTERVIEW, BATMAN! You’ve heard it being promoted for several months on the show, and now you’ll get the full story. In another special bonus episode for all of you in quarantine because of coronavirus, Nathan and his intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, are joined by Eric Elliott, the mastermind behind the Batman Meets Godzilla fan comic. As in the Adam West Batman and the Showa Godzilla! Hear Eric talk about the secret origins of this project that’s based on as an unm

Apr 15, 2020 • 39:14

Episode 14 – Dallas Mora vs. ‘Kong: Skull Island’

Hello, kaiju lovers! We’ve finally reached the MonsterVerse! After surviving in the wilds of Monster Island for two months, Dallas Mora from Geek Devotions joins Nathan to discuss the Eighth Wonder’s latest cinematic adventure, Kong: Skull Island. This pulpy adventure movie directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts took Kong in a whole new direction, dropping his lovesickness and making him a benevolent but savage protector. Nathan and Dallas dive headlong into the film’s rich backstory as explored in it

Apr 8, 2020 • 2:09:18

Bonus Episode #1: Jimmy From NASA Presents ‘Space Kong’

Hey, guys! The Vault is now under new management—Jimmy From NASA! Yes, after starting a betting pool during Nathan’s livestream of Override: Mech City Brawl Friday night and cleaning out the Monster Island Board of Directors, Jimmy became the new host of the podcast but kept Nathan on as his producer. Nathan is still a bit sore about that, as you’ll hear, but Jimmy is sure he’ll get over it. For his first episode, Jimmy is discussing his favorite unmade Kong film: “Space Kong.” This was a wild i

Apr 1, 2020 • 10:48

KAIJU QUARANTINE | Trailer #2

Join your favorite kaiju podcasts–including The Monster Island Film Vault–for Kaiju Quarantine, an epic watch party that will lift everyone’s spirits in these troubled times! They’ll provide informative and humorous commentary during this two-day movie marathon April 4-5. We’ll watch kaiju classics old and new, popular and obscure, good and…not-so-good. Join the Discord server while space is still available! Listen to hear more about the event. (Click here to hear trailer #1 at the end of our la

Mar 27, 2020 • 1:32

Episode 13: ‘The Three Treasures’ (Mini-Analysis)

Hello, kaiju lovers! The unintentional “epic films month” continues with 1959’s The Three Treasures (aka The Birth of Japan), but thankfully this episode doesn’t cross the “Kurosawa threshold.” This is a religious epic in the vein of Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments except it’s about Shinto. It tells the tale of Prince Yamato Takeru (played by the always awesome Toshiro Mifune), the legendary 13th emperor of Japan (who’s being covered in our 13th episode…oh boy…). Interspersed throughout

Mar 25, 2020 • 28:53

Episode 12: Daniel DiManna vs. ‘King Kong’ (2005)

Hello, kaiju lovers! It’s an epic episode for an epic movie! No, not that stupid parody film. Nathan is joined by Daniel DiManna, the creator and author of The Godzilla Novelization Project, to discuss Peter Jackson HUGE 2005 remake of King Kong. (Although, Danny had to survive a harrowing trip to Monster Island with the podcast’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, and a certain robot dinosaur to do so). Only Peter Jackson, who was fresh off of The Lord of the Rings, could’ve made a three hour

Mar 11, 2020 • 2:39:58

Episode 11: ‘Varan the Unbelievable’ (Mini-Analysis)

Hello, kaiju lovers! In Nathan’s continuing series of mini-sodes on films covered by Bran Scherschel on Kaijuvision Radio after Nathan left the show, he examines Ishiro Honda’s overlooked 1958 kaiju film Varan the Unbelievable (or Daikaiju Baran). While Honda didn’t think much of it (especially after its tumultuous production when the American TV network co-producing it pulled out), it was the first kaiju film written for Toho by the fabled Shinichi Sekizawa. The second half is a by-the-numbers

Feb 26, 2020 • 26:32

Episode 10: John LeMay vs. ‘King Kong Lives’

Hello, kaiju lovers! Despite a slight delay thanks to MIFV mascots Goji-kun and Bro Kong hiding Nathan’s laptop, the unavoidable has happened: King Kong Lives. John LeMay, author of Kong Unmade and other kaiju books, returns to Monster Island to discuss the Godzilla vs. Megalon of the Kong series—and John un-ironically likes it! This ill-fated sequel to Dino de Laurentiis’s 1976 remake stars Linda Hamilton, fresh off of her star-making role in The Terminator, as a scientist who resurrects King

Feb 12, 2020 • 1:34:53

Episode 9: ‘The Mysterians’ (Mini-Analysis)

Hello, kaiju lovers! Nathan covers yet another film discussed on his former podcast, Kaijuvision Radio, by Brian Scherschell: Ishiro Honda’s 1957 tokusatsu classic, The Mysterians. While Godzilla (1954) singlehanded created the kaiju and tokusatsu genres, this film arguably ushered in Toho’s “golden age,” which would last for a decade. While Nathan does touch on Moguera, the special effects, and the film’s many influences, the bulk of his analysis is focused on Japan’s relationship with the Uni

Jan 22, 2020 • 27:55

Episode 8: Ben Avery vs. ‘King Kong’ (1976)

Hello, kaiju lovers! We’re kicking off 2020 with the Eighth Wonder’s return to Hollywood in a film brought about by Italian producer Dino de Laurentiis. Writer/podcaster Ben Avery joins Nathan to discuss the 1976 remake of King Kong starring Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange, which is firmly entrenched in its time and was touted as “the most exciting original motion picture event of all time.” What’s interesting is it straddles the gritty cynicism of early ‘70s films like Dirty Harry and the more

Jan 8, 2020 • 1:53:22

Episode 7: ‘Half Human’ (Mini-Analysis)

Merry Christmas, kaiju lovers! As part of Nathan’s continuing series on films covered in his absence on Kaijuvision Radio, this mini-sode examines Ishiro Honda’s 1955 film Half Human, which is infamous for being banned by Toho. Heck, it was stashed so far back in the Island’s film vault, it took Goji-kun and Bro Kong (the podcast mascots and possibly Godzilla and Kong’s “little” brothers) a long time to find it for Nathan to watch. Strange as it may sound, it’s serendipitous that this episode w

Dec 25, 2019 • 24:23

Episode 6: Nick Hayden vs. ‘King Kong Escapes’

Hello, kaiju lovers! In the latest episode of the “Kong Quest” (which is finally mentioned by name on the air!), Nathan is joined once again by author and “Golden Ticket Tourist” Nick Hayden of the Derailed Trains of Thought podcast to discuss the wacky but fun King Kong Escapes. Like with the 1933 film, this is Nick’s first time seeing this 1967 Toho classic, which was the second (and sadly last) of Toho’s Kong films, as it was made in the last year they held the rights to the Eighth Wonder. T

Dec 11, 2019 • 1:26:10

Episode 5: John LeMay Presents ‘King Kong vs. Frankenstein’ & ‘Continuation: King Kong vs. Godzilla’

(FYI: This was recorded before the news that 2020’s Godzilla vs. Kong would be delayed). Hello, kaiju lovers! In this special “side Kong Quest” (  ), Nathan is joined by author John LeMay (who is a gentleman and a scholar) to talk about two unmade King Kong films with connections to King Kong vs. Godzilla. The first was “King Kong vs. Frankenstein,” a project that special effects legend Willis O’Brien tried to get made in the late 1950s before it ended up at Toho. Then Godzilla and Kong almost

Nov 27, 2019 • 28:05

Episode 4: Timothy Deal vs. ‘Son of Kong’

Hello, kaiju lovers! After Jimmy From NASA flies him back to Indiana to get his microphone, Timothy Deal of the Derailed Trains of Thought podcast returns to Monster Island to continue the “Kong Quest” with Son of Kong, the almost forgotten sequel to King Kong. If the 1933 masterpiece is a grand myth, the sequel is a pleasant bedtime story. Screenwriter Ruth Rose, when talking about writing this film, said, “If you can’t go bigger, go funnier,” which is an apt statement about this film and sequ

Nov 13, 2019 • 1:24:02

Episode 3: The Godzilla Anime Trilogy (Mini-Analysis)

Hello, kaiju lovers! Welcome to our first minisode! (Well, our second, according to my intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA). This is the first of a series of episodes where I’ll be analyzing films I was unable to cover on my previous podcast. In this one, I’m discussing the divisive Godzilla Anime Trilogy. Fans either love it or hate it. Me? I like it—a lot. I debunk some of the unfair criticisms of the trilogy, but the meat of my analysis is focused on how each of the four races in the trilogy—

Oct 23, 2019 • 38:53

Episode 2: The Tourists vs. ‘King Kong’ (1933)

Hello, kaiju lovers! Our “Kong Quest” begins!  Nathan is joined by his core group of Monster Island Tourists—Nick Hayden & Timothy Deal of the Derailed Trains of Thought podcast and Joe & Joy Metter—to discuss one of the greatest movies ever made: 1933’s King Kong. What’s interesting is none of these Tourists had seen this classic film before coming to the Island, so you’ll hear their fresh reactions, opinions, and analyses to the Eighth Wonder’s first and greatest outing. Listen as each of the

Oct 9, 2019 • 1:59:58

Episode 1: Welcome…to Monster Island!

Hello, kaiju lovers! Logo by Tyler Sowles Listen as Nathan Marchand, co-creator and season one co-host of the Kaijuvision Radio, regales you with the origin story of his new podcast. It includes a vacation to a resort on the fabled Monster Island (formerly Monsterland), where he met his intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA (who miraculously survived the infamous War in Space), and got a new job as the curator of the Island’s film vault. Between bantering sessions with his detail-obsessed, fact-che

Sep 25, 2019 • 15:02

Episode 0 – Promo Trailer

Artwork by Tyler Sowles. A podcast seeking entertainment and enlightenment through tokusatsu. Join host/curator Nathan Marchand and his intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA (who miraculously survived the infamous War in Space), as they and a rotating roster of Monster Island’s best and brightest Tourists dive deep into the films starring the Island’s most famous kaiju residents! This is a film appreciation podcast that chronologically and critically examines films from the kaiju and tokusatsu gen

Jul 12, 2019 • 2:18