Created and hosted by Brian Scherschel. A podcast about the appreciation of kaiju and tokusatsu movies and discovering their historical and cultural value
In this first special bonus feature, Brian and Nate summarize the structure of the film descriptions – an analysis tailored to kaiju movies in order to be able to compare these movies to each other. The goal is to to arm the listener with the facts, rather than just read a long, boring plot synopsis from a wiki site. We address each heading and subheading in the template.
MP3:
Host: Brian Scherschel
Co-Host: Nathan Marchand
Editor: Brian Scherschel
Video Location: Headwaters Park, St. Mary’s River, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Godzilla not only looks great in this movie, but he gets more screen time than any other movie in the entire series. Baby Godzilla looks impressive, and the Azusa Gojo character is good. Brian and Nate address topics, like how stuff explodes when Rodan flies over it, how Kazuma seems to be a Japanese Rick Moranis, and how Miki Saegusa needed to be reminded to use her psychic powers. Our related topic is the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.
MP3:
Introduction: 0:00 – 1:31
Part 1 – Film Description: 1:31 – 7:02
Part 2 – Opinion and Discussion: 7:02 – 62:50
Part 3 – Related Topics: 62:50 – 1:20:38
Closing: 1:20:38 – End
Host: Brian Scherschel
Co-Host: Nathan Marchand
Editor: Brian Scherschel
Video Location: Posey Dam (Maumee River), Fort Wayne, Indiana
Our trek through the Heisei Series continues! After watching experimental weirdness and convoluted time-travel, Brian and Nate cover a Godzilla film that’s a bit more “normal”—for this franchise, anyway. It’s the most successful film in the Heisei Series, and we see more positives than negatives in this 1990s update of the classics. The movie features Akira Takarada, the return of Mothra, a weaponized Ferris wheel, and scenes ripping off Indiana Jones (the last one drives Nate crazy). We also compare Battra to Mirror Universe Spock. Our related topics are contemporary environmentalism and the Lost Decade.
We’d like to send a shout-out to our patrons Kyoei Toshi and Sean Stiff for pledging at the Kaiju Visionary level. Thank you for your support! We really appreciate it.
Filmed and released during the Japanese stock market crash, this movie perfectly captures the Japanese national spirit at the time it was made. In 1991, just like after World War II ended, the Japanese people collectively asked “How could this happen?” In fact, Miki Saegusa says that herself. While the symbolism isn’t very subtle either, this movie is not anti-American. Our related topics are nationalism and the US-Japan difficulties reaching a peak regarding trade.
This film was released in late 1991, and if you can find that year on this graph of the Japanese Nikkei 225 stock market average, you will notice that’s at a very pivotal and scary time for Japan.
Source: macrotrends.net
MP3:
Introduction: 0:00 – 1:59
Part 1 – Film Description: 1:59 – 7:23
Part 2 – Opinion and Discussion: 7:23 – 57:55
Part 3 – Related Topic: 57:56 – 1:28:24
Closing: 1:28:24 – End
Host: Brian Scherschel
Co-Host: Nathan Marchand
Editor: Brian Scherschel
Video Location: Three Rivers Water Filtration Plant, Confluence of the Three Rivers (St. Mary’s, St. Joseph, and Maumee), Fort Wayne, Indiana
Are the Showa series movies simple, or are they really just focused? Are the Heisei movies creative, or are they just complex? As Godzilla fans, we want these movies to be better than they are. Brian and Nate dissect this experimental Godzilla film featuring a rare plant kaiju. Listen as Brian cracks jokes to maintain his sanity and Nate sings quirky show tunes (badly). Our related topics are the Human Genome Project, the death of Emperor Hirohito & ascension of Akihito, and Japan becoming a major non-NATO ally.
MP3:
Introduction: 0:00 – 2:13
Part 1 – Film Description: 2:13 – 8:14
Part 2 – Opinion and Discussion: 8:14 – 1:23:07
Part 3 – Related Topic: 1:23:07 – 1:42:43
Closing: 1:42:43 – End
Host: Brian Scherschel
Co-Host: Nathan Marchand
Editor: Brian Scherschel
Video Location: Anthony Boulevard Bridge (Maumee River), Fort Wayne, Indiana
