Kaijuvision Radio

In the penultimate episode of Road to Shin Godzilla Month, Brian and Nate discuss Godzilla’s return to America with Legendary Pictures’ 2014 reboot directed by Gareth Edwards.  Your hosts channel Siskel & Ebert again, only in reverse: Nate loves this film but Brian thinks it’s a mixed bag.  They also draw several literary and historical parallels—including Riki-Tiki-Tavi and Saigō Takamori, the real-life last samurai—to this movie, which launched the MonsterVerse.  While this is an American film, our related topic is the 2014 reinterpretation of Article 9 of the Japanese constitution.

Next week, our Godzilla Journey comes to a head with the most in-depth analysis of Shin Godzilla you’ll hear in English.

MP3:

http://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/kaijuvisionradioepisodes/36-godzilla-us-2014nv54f8sqjv054mdspejk211.mp3

Introduction: 0:00 – 2:02

Part 1 – Film Description: 2:02 – 7:32

Part 2 – Opinion and Discussion: 7:32 – 1:18:42

Part 3 – Related Topics: 1:18:42 – 1:43:30

Closing: 1:42:30 – End

Host: Brian Scherschel

Co-Host: Nathan Marchand

Editor: Brian Scherschel and Nathan Marchand

Video Location: Pisgah Marsh (Pisgah Lake), Pierceton, Indiana

Video: Brian Scherschel

Music: Audiophiliac (http://www.fiverr.com/audiophiliac)

Copyright Brian J. Scherschel

All Rights Reserved

At the midpoint of Road to Shin Godzilla Month, Brian and Nate come to the Millennium Series’ explosive finale, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Godzilla. Though this is the last entry of the series, it’s the first Internet Age Godzilla movie – and a valentine to G-fans. It resembles live-action anime as well as a live video game. Brian marvels at the redesign of his boy Gigan, and Nate argues that, in some ways, this is a “remake” of Destroy All Monsters that’s better than the original. Since there’s a ten-year gap in the franchise after this, our related topic is Abenomics.

This episode is dedicated to Akira Takarada.

On May 30, our Shin Godzilla episode will be the most in-depth analysis of that film in English.

MP3:

http://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/kaijuvisionradioepisodes/35-godzilla-final-wars7gs30bwl1s4t89vsm.mp3

Introduction: 0:00 – 1:38

Part 1 – Film Description: 1:38 – 8:08

Part 2 – Opinion and Discussion: 8:08 – 1:11:59

Part 3 – Related Topics: 1:11:59 – 1:37:13

Closing: 1:37:13 – End

Host: Brian Scherschel

Co-Host: Nathan Marchand

Editor: Brian Scherschel

Video Location: Fish Ladder Park (Grand River), Grand Rapids, Michigan

Video: Brian Scherschel

Music: Audiophiliac (http://www.fiverr.com/audiophiliac)

Copyright Brian J. Scherschel

All Rights Reserved

Road to Shin Godzilla Month marches on with the final entry of the “Tezuka Trilogy,” a film that astonished Brian and Nate on the re-watch.  Nate was surprised that this direct sequel to the previous film—which disappointed him—actually made good use of Kiryu having the original Godzilla’s soul grafted to it.  Brian thinks the special effects are a loving tribute to the artistry of classic tokusatsu.  Also, Mothra has never looked as good as she does in this film.  Much like Mothra vs. Godzilla, this movie doesn’t attempt many new things, but it does them all well.  Our related topic is deflation in Japan.

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.

MP3:

http://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/kaijuvisionradioepisodes/34-godzilla-tokyo-sos8bdh3a2sjha2vc38rsk3l0191.mp3

Introduction: 0:00 – 1:44

Part 1 – Film Description: 1:44 – 8:08

Part 2 – Opinion and Discussion: 8:08 – 46:48

Part 3 – Related Topics: 46:48 – 1:12:72

Closing: 1:12:72 – End

Host: Brian Scherschel

Co-Host: Nathan Marchand

Editor: Brian Scherschel

Video Location: South Side High School, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Video: Brian Scherschel

Music: Audiophiliac (http://www.fiverr.com/audiophiliac)

Copyright Brian J. Scherschel

All Rights Reserved

Road to Shin Godzilla Month has begun! We’re counting down to our big episode on Godzilla’s latest reboot, starting with the “Kiryu Saga.”  Brian and Nate get a little Siskel & Ebert-ish as they discuss the second entry in the “Tezuka Trilogy,” which features the third incarnation of Mechagodzilla.  The movie has great cinematography and characters and some fun kaiju action, but Nate thinks the story missed some great potential with its wonderful new concept for Mechagodzilla.  Since this film once again features a strong female lead, our related topics are women in the Godzilla films and the firing of Makiko Tanaka.

MP3:

http://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/kaijuvisionradioepisodes/33-godzilla-against-mechagodzilla2d7gkw0o1at42halsb.mp3

Introduction: 0:00 – 1:41

Part 1 – Film Description: 1:41 – 7:11

Part 2 – Opinion and Discussion: 7:11 – 52:17

Part 3 – Related Topics: 52:17 – 1:46:51

Closing: 1:46:51 – End

Host: Brian Scherschel

Co-Host: Nathan Marchand

Editor: Brian Scherschel

Video Location: Foster Park (St. Mary’s River), Fort Wayne, IN

Video: Brian Scherschel

Music: Audiophiliac (http://www.fiverr.com/audiophiliac)

Copyright Brian J. Scherschel

All Rights Reserved

Turn of the Millennium Month comes to an end as Brian and Nate discuss an outlier of the Millennium Series and one of the highest-rated films in the franchise.  Directed by Shusuke Kaneko, the mastermind behind the acclaimed Heisei Gamera Trilogy, this is a complex film meditating on deep themes while also featuring incredible kaiju action, special effects, music, and characters.  It dared to make Godzilla purely evil and King Ghidorah a hero along with Mothra and Baragon (who’s sadly left out of the film’s mouthful of a title).  Our related topics are the election of Koizumi, the U.S.S. Greenville collision, and the many events of 2001.

MP3:

http://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/kaijuvisionradioepisodes/32-gmk3g9sl3mb0a3zcg3f0s3srywmvo19.mp3

Introduction: 0:00 – 1:58

Part 1 – Film Description: 1:58 – 8:39

Part 2 – Opinion and Discussion: 8:39 – 1:05:26

Part 3 – Related Topics: 1:05:26 – 1:21:02

Closing: 1:21:02 – End

Host: Brian Scherschel

Co-Host: Nathan Marchand

Editor: Brian Scherschel

Video Location: Trophy Point (Hudson River), West Point, New York

Video: Brian Scherschel

Music: Audiophiliac (http://www.fiverr.com/audiophiliac)

Copyright Brian J. Scherschel

All Rights Reserved

Turn of the Millennium Month continues with the first of three Godzilla movies which are directed by Masaaki Tezuka and becomes the standard bearer for the Millennium Series. Brian proclaims that this movie is fantastic because Tezuka brings back many stylistic elements from the Showa series. Overall, we rate this movie as fun, smart, and ahead of its time. We pay particular attention to the Dimension Tide (the black hole gun), what Godzilla’s body slam in the fight is referencing, and how many of the Heisei issues have been fixed. Brian explains to Nate how this isn’t a revenge story (though our main character is motivated by revenge). Our related topics are Energy Use and Energy Independence in Japan and Prime Minister Mori’s gaffe.

MP3:

http://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/kaijuvisionradioepisodes/31-godzilla-vs-megaguirus5esgep9bem49dxpri8ed1.mp3

Introduction: 0:00 – 1:52

Part 1 – Film Description: 1:52 – 7:56

Part 2 – Opinion and Discussion: 7:56 – 1:09:22

Part 3 – Related Topics: 1:09:22 – 1:29:27

Closing: 1:29:27 – End

Host: Brian Scherschel

Co-Host: Nathan Marchand

Editor: Brian Scherschel

Video Location: General Anthony Wayne Statue (Dedicated 1918), Freimann Square, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Video: Brian Scherschel

Music: Audiophiliac (http://www.fiverr.com/audiophiliac)

Copyright Brian J. Scherschel

All Rights Reserved

Continuing Turn of the Millennium Month, Brian and Nate appreciate the film where Japan reintroduces us to the authentic and complex Godzilla! Godzilla 2000 actually gives us subjects to think about, and it lets us get philosophical about Godzilla’s existence. We find similarities to The Flight of the Navigator, Independence Day, and Die Hard (the explosion at the Shinjuku Sumitomo building).  Our related topic is the Tokaimura nuclear accidents.

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.

MP3:

http://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/kaijuvisionradioepisodes/30-godzilla-20007dqpj0vgm4s134kxc.mp3

Introduction: 0:00 – 1:58

Part 1 – Film Description: 1:58 – 7:38

Part 2 – Opinion and Discussion: 7:38 – 1:05:14

Part 3 – Related Topics: 1:05:14 – 1:16:31

Closing: 1:16:31– End

Host: Brian Scherschel

Co-Host: Nathan Marchand

Editor: Brian Scherschel

Video Location: St. Joe Dam (St. Joseph River), Johnny Appleseed Park, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Video: Brian Scherschel

Music: Audiophiliac (http://www.fiverr.com/audiophiliac)

Copyright Brian J. Scherschel

All Rights Reserved

It’s Turn of the Millennium Month at Kaijuvision Radio. We will cover Godzilla movies from 1998-2001 all this month every Wednesday! It’s appropriate that this is April Fools’ Day week and we’re doing the episode on the Godzilla movie made by a fool and loathed by Godzilla fans. The film is commonly referred to as GINO (Godzilla In Name Only). If you’re still wondering what we think of this movie, our “scenic” YouTube video this week is of our local landfill on a dreary, cold, humid day! Listen as Brian and Nate dispose of this movie in the cinematic landfill once and for all! Our related topics are the 1998 North Korea missile test and the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9wvo6_Azjo

MP3:

http://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/kaijuvisionradioepisodes/29-godzilla-us-199893sbi2940vekog3da83l.mp3

Introduction: 0:00 – 2:54

Part 1 – Film Description: 2:54 – 8:08

Part 2 – Opinion and Discussion: 8:08 – 1:09:10

Part 3 – Related Topics: 1:09:10 – 1:21:54

Closing: 1:21:54 – End

Host: Brian Scherschel

Co-Host: Nathan Marchand

Editor: Brian Scherschel

Video Location: Republic Services Landfill, Allen County, Indiana

Video: Brian Scherschel

Music: Audiophiliac (http://www.fiverr.com/audiophiliac)

Copyright Brian J. Scherschel

All Rights Reserved

Brian and Nate come to the end of the Heisei Series with a film where—spoiler warning!—Godzilla dies. It’s one of the highest-rated Godzilla films, and with good reason. Your hosts discuss Godzilla’s death scene, the power of finality in stories, and Kazuki Omori turning Alien’s xenomorph into a kaiju (“Kaijumorph”? “Xenokaiju”?). We have also included our first behind-the-scenes bonus feature “Creating Our Film Descriptions” where we explain how we formulated our original, audience-focused part 1 film descriptions. Our related topic is the Act on National Anthem and Flag.

http://youtu.be/KBG2_POTEjQ

MP3:

http://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/kaijuvisionradioepisodes/28-godzilla-vs-destoroyah0plev4dfl3dw0c2sc1.mp3

Introduction: 0:00 – 1:40

Behind-the-Scenes Bonus Feature: Creating Our Film Descriptions: 1:40 – 14:37

Part 1 – Film Description: 14:37 – 20:28

Part 2 – Opinion and Discussion: 20:28 – 1:15:19

Part 3 – Related Topics: 1:15:19 – 1:33:05

Closing: 1:33:05 – End

Host: Brian Scherschel

Co-Host: Nathan Marchand

Editor: Brian Scherschel

Video Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Video: Brian Scherschel

Music: Audiophiliac (http://www.fiverr.com/audiophiliac)

Copyright Brian J. Scherschel

All Rights Reserved

In a hilarious new episode, Brian and Nate take on the most eccentric entry in the Heisei Godzilla series. The kaiju and some special effects are amazing, but the story is so overstuffed it feels like three unrelated films packed together. Your hosts’ biggest riffs are aimed at MOGUERA, the most useless mecha ever, and one half of an infamous dogfight in an asteroid belt. On a more serious note, our related topic is the Senkaku Islands dispute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2czM1gL2RsE

MP3:

http://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/kaijuvisionradioepisodes/27-godzilla-vs-spacegodzilla38g01kw9x6mo0.mp3

Introduction: 0:00 – 1:55

Part 1 – Film Description: 1:55 – 7:33

Part 2 – Opinion and Discussion: 7:33 – 1:00:16

Part 3 – Related Topics: 1:00:16 – 1:20:18

Closing: 1:20:18 – End

Host: Brian Scherschel

Co-Host: Nathan Marchand

Editor: Brian Scherschel

Video Location: St. Joseph River, Spencerville, Indiana

Video: Brian Scherschel

Music: Audiophiliac (http://www.fiverr.com/audiophiliac)

Copyright Brian J. Scherschel

All Rights Reserved