Castle Bravo: A Godzillaverse Retrospective
by Derek Van Dyke and Charlotte Landale
Siblings Derek and Charlotte present the history of the largest cinematic universe. Learn how a bunch of loosely collected sci-fi films came together around Godzilla to create a monster of a franchise. From the high art to the campy but full of heart, it's a celebration of nearly 70 years of the Big G. Season Four coming soon.
Episodes
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Bonus Episode - Pacific Rim RPG One-Shot
It's been a long-time in the edit room, but it's here! Our friend Case Aiken from Certain Point of View brings us together for a Pacific Rim themed RPG one-shot as a training exercise for jaeger pilots Derek and Charlotte turns into the heftiest challenge of their piloting career. Much love to…
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Episode X2 - Gamera vs Barugon (1966)
It's a Gamera movie! After the first film clawed its way to release and found modest success, Daiei was ready to go all the way and give Gamera a second chance at the big screen, this time with an enemy monster to fight all his own, Godzilla style. No guests this week or for a while, as Season X…
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Episode X1 - Gamera, the Giant Monster (1965)
It's EXTREMELY not a Godzilla movie. We begin our sidebar into (echoey voice effect) SEASON X to cover the Gamera series with the 1965 black and white original Gamera, the Giant Monster. Gamera is, famously, the most enduring of Godzilla's knockoff competitors, and we'll be looking at how Gamera...
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Bonus Episode - Season X and the State of the Show
With major scheduling conflicts tying up recording on the next 5 episodes (the Netflix trilogy, King of the Monsters, and Godzilla Vs Kong) we're hitting the "break glass in case of emergency" in order to keep the show on the rails. Listen in for a candid discussion between the two of us about…
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Episode 47 - Kong: Skull Island (2017)
It's... not even a Godzilla movie? Okay, hold that thought until the credits are done rolling. Following in the footsteps of Legendary's Godzilla reboot, King Kong returns to the scene with his own Vietnam War era reimagining intended to prep the stage for a future crossover. And cross over they...
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Bonus Episode - Pacific Rim (2013)
It's... not even a Godzilla movie? We take our first ever break from the schedule to talk about Pacific Rim, a movie that ISN'T Godzilla but made such an impact on general audiences that it paved the way for Legendary's Godzilla releasing a year later. The two were basically seen as companion…
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Episode 46 - Shin Godzilla (2016)
It's not a sequel to anything! Again! Following Legendary's total reimagining of Godzilla in 2014, Toho joined forces with acclaimed anime writer and director Hideaki Anno (of Evangelion fame) to direct their own completely standalone reimagining of a Godzilla movie, unconnected even to the...
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Episode 45 - Godzilla (2014)
It's not a sequel to anything! The Americans get another crack at Godzilla, bringing the king of the monsters back after a decade-long hiatus. The result is a movie that would launch one of the only successful cinematic universes in modern Hollywood, the uneven but thoroughly interesting...
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Episode 44 - Godzilla: Final Wars
It's not a sequel to Tokyo SOS! Or, for that matter, a sequel to Godzilla vs Destoroyah, so stop saying that! It's truly the end of an era as we come upon the infamous Godzilla: Final Wars, a movie that decided that whatever it was going to be, it was going to be a lot of it. Featuring the most...
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Episode 43 - Godzilla: Tokyo SOS (2003)
It's... a sequel to Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla! Toho's reimagining of Mechagodzilla was a hit, and for the sequel they decided to amp up the star factor with a fan favorite who Mechagodzilla had never had a chance to meet: Mothra! This movie takes full advantage of this setting's unusual take...
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Bonus Episode - A Retrospective of a Retrospective
It's been a long gap and a tumultuous summer. As we warm the machine back up for full production, we look back on the movies we've covered so far and casually chat about how many of them have stuck with us over time. It's a light episode, but it got electrons to start moving through brainmeats....
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Episode 42 - Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002)
It's not a sequel to GMK! The Millennium era of Godzilla sees yet another "fresh start" that only acknowledges the original film, but weirdly also a bunch of other connected non-Godzilla movies of the Showa era. Boot up your DNA computers, because the latest model of Mechagodzilla is here to…
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Episode 41 - Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack / GMK (2001)
It's not a sequel to Godzilla vs Megaguirus! Okay, that part's more obvious than last time. Today's movie is one of the most highly regarded in the franchise, and certainly the one with the longest title (just call it GMK). It's the darkest, most mean-spirited movie in the franchise so far…
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Episode 40 - Godzilla vs Megaguirus (2000)
It's not a sequel to Godzilla 2000! The often underlooked Godzilla vs Megaguirus brings over most of the creative team behind Godzilla 2000, and sure SEEMS like it should be a sequel, but it very specifically isn't! Setting the stage for a VERY strange new millennium of Godzilla, Godzilla vs...
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Episode 39 - Godzilla 2000: Millennium (1999)
WELCOME BACK TO LIZARD CHURCH! Derek and Charlotte return after a healthy absence to kick off a new season of Castle Bravo. We had almost as much of a break as Godzilla himself, who was put back to work ASAP after the backlash to TriStar's first American Godzilla film. Godzilla 2000, released in...
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Episode 38 - Godzilla (1998)
The season three finale is here as we tackle one of the most infamous blockbusters of the 90s. It has loomed over our heads for several episodes, languishing in development hell, but the 1998 Tristar Godzilla is finally here. Hollywood Disaster Film magnates Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich bring...
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Episode 37 - Rebirth of Mothra 3 (1998)
We're back with Matt and Jayson one last time as we bring Mothra's 90s movie trilogy to a close. It's a movie that was unfairly kept from western audiences for an unreasonably long time, especially when you consider just how good this final entry retroactively makes the entire Rebirth of Mothra...
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Episode 36 - Rebirth of Mothra 2 (1997)
Mothra's standalone film series continues as our baby boy Leo fights an aquatic jet plane dragon that is also a starfish parasite factory that is also an ancient garbage disposal created by Not-Atlantis. A furby pees on people. Leo turns into an underwater X-wing. It's a weird movie, but more…
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Episode 35 - Rebirth of Mothra (1996)
Godzilla is dead and signed over to Hollywood, but Toho still needs to make money, so they dusted off some old script ideas and set to make Mothra a solo star again. The first of a trilogy aimed much more squarely at kids and families, Rebirth of Mothra is often overlooked but not lacking in…
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Episode 34 - Godzilla vs Destoroyah (1995)
It's the end of an era, the end of several careers, and the end of more than a couple lives (not all of them fictional) as the Heisei period of Godzilla movies draws to a close. One of the most beloved entries in the franchise, Godzilla vs Destoroyah ties the end to the beginning by centering the...
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Episode 33 - Godzilla vs SpaceGodzilla (1994)
And so we're back! From outer space! It's a moment we have been dreading as the Heisei era finally loses the plot. Godzilla vs Spacegodzilla is a fun spectacle, and basically an early Dragonball Z arc in Godzilla form, but it's a case study in how good filmmaking can't overcome basic structural...
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Episode 32 - Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla II (1993)
No, it's not a sequel to Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla. This entry in the Heisei era is the most interested in continuity so far, the most jam-packed with returning monsters, and the least thematically interesting (in that there is no real theme to speak of). But it's big, flashy, and fun, and they...
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Episode 31 - Godzilla vs Mothra (1992)
With the previous two movies barely managing to break even, the decision was made to Break Glass In Case Of Emergency; it was time to bring back Mothra. The resulting film was not only incredibly faithful to Mothra's original film appearances, but also more smartly reimagined elements of her…
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Episode 30 - Godzilla vs King Ghidorah (1991)
In the wake of Godzilla vs Biollante's middling box office performance, Toho decided to break out a secret weapon that would ensure a box office draw: King Kong. Except that got messy and complicated quick, so they went back to the workshop and brought out Godzilla's most recurring villain…
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Episode 29 - Godzilla vs Biollante (1989)
Return of Godzilla was a critical and commercial success, so Toho wanted to strike while the iron was hot. The best way to do this? Find a talented director and force him to work with a script you got in a contest. A tumultuous behind-the-scenes story led us to a movie wildly beloved by fans:...
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Episode 28 - Return of Godzilla / Godzilla 1985 (1984)
We're back with a brand new season! After an almost 10 year break, Toho would attempt to go back to the franchise's roots with a new direct sequel to the original 1954 film, ignoring everything since and attempting to hew closer to its darker and more political tone. The end result is arguably…
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Episode 27 - Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)
The Showa era of Godzilla comes to a powerful close with the immediate return of Mechagodzilla and the unexpected return of director Ishiro Honda and composer Akira Ifukube. It's Honda's last time in the director's seat ever, and he makes the most of it with several writing choices and production...
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Episode 26 - Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla / Godzilla vs the Cosmic Monster (1974)
The last of the big five, and arguably Godzilla's most famous enemy, arrives on the scene! We say farewell to director Jun Fukuda with the strange, endearing, ass-kicking movie that introduced the first incarnation of the infamous Mechagodzilla. We're joined this week by writer and friend of the...
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Episode 25 - Godzilla vs Megalon (1973)
Godzilla fully embraces it's transition into rubber suit wrestling with Godzilla vs Megalon, which sees the return of Gigan and the introduction of two cult fan favorites. You probably saw this movie on Mystery Science Theater 3000 back in the day. There is no heterosexual explanation for this...
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Episode 24 - Godzilla vs Gigan (1972)
Director Jun Fukuda is back with a vengeance and putting on his best Honda impersonation in this alien invasion story, bringing back Godzilla's most famous nemesis (King Ghidorah) and introducing a new monster that would go on to be one of the fandom's all time favorites. The 70s are here, and...
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Episode 23 - Godzilla vs Hedorah / Godzilla vs the Smog Monster (1971)
A first-time director was handed a miniscule budget and told to make a Godzilla movie in a month. The result is predictably messy, but would go on to be a cult classic regardless. Despite being ostensibly a family movie, we think we probably weren't supposed to watch this one sober. We're joined...
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Episode 22 - Space Amoeba / Yog, Monster from Space (1970)
Dang y'all who's ready for a downer episode? Honda made a movie that should have ranked among his finest if it wasn't just a little bit off, devoid of the love and passion normally found in these movies. Turns out making movies is hard when your workplace is falling apart and one of your closest...
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Episode 21 - All Monsters Attack / Godzilla's Revenge (1969)
It's time for the most infamous Godzilla movie ever made: All Monsters Attack, aka Godzilla's Revenge. Director Ishiro Honda returns for this *explicitly made for children* movie about standing up to bullies and getting your money's worth out of old footage. During the process, we come to a final...
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Episode 20 - Destroy All Monsters (1968)
For like the fifth time now... it's time. If Ghidorah the Three Headed Monsters was a coming together moment for Toho's most popular giant movie monsters, Destroy All Monsters was a coming together moment for every monster they could feasibly cram into the thing. Starring 11 or 12 monsters (do we...
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Episode 19 - Son of Godzilla (1967)
We'll never be able to go back to a time before Minilla. Godzilla returns to the hands of director Jun Fukuda for another island adventure and finds himself an unwilling adoptive parent. It's the first appearance of the most infamous and widely-hated character in the Godzilla franchise, but...
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Episode 18 - King Kong Escapes (1967)
We return to Ishiro Honda and the rest of the Dream Team as they take another crack at a King Kong movie for Toho. Produced in partnership with Rankin Bass, King Kong Escapes is a lesser known Kong outing, and was originally intended as an adaptation of an even lesser known western animated…
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Episode 17 - Ebirah, Horror of the Deep / Godzilla vs the Sea Monster (1966)
A new director enters the fray! Honda's busy with other projects, so this Godzilla film (famously almost a King Kong movie) went to director Jun Fukuda, who worked under Honda on several movies. In fact, for the first time so far on Castle Bravo, the entire Dream Team has taken the back seat....
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Episode 16 - War of the Gargantuas (1966)
It's sort of a sequel to Frankenstein vs Baragon, but it's DEFINITELY a way better movie. Join us as we experience this highly influential kaiju horror classic for the first time. Seriously, the horror roots are strong in this one, in a way that Honda hasn't really done with his kaiju movies…
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Episode 15 - Invasion of Astro-Monster / Godzilla vs Monster Zero (1965)
Can we pretend this was the start of Season 2? Godzilla, Rodan, and King Ghidorah all return for this explosive and personality-packed pulp sci-fi epic, featuring the Godzilla franchise's most famous alien antagonists: the Xiliens of Planet X. It's a worthy sequel to Ghidorah the Three Headed...
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Episode 14 - Frankenstein vs Baragon / Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965)
We're back, but Godzilla's not (yet)! Castle Bravo returns for Season Two, opening up with cult classic pulp scifi movie Frankenstein vs Baragon, also known as Frankenstein Conquers the World. It's a concept Toho had been trying to get off the ground for years, and it... doesn't hold up that…
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Episode 13 - Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster (1964)
It's the finale of Season One, and we're here with a movie that defined a franchise and gave us Godzilla's first turn from villain to hero. If King Kong vs Godzilla introduced the giant monster wrestling match, and Mothra vs Godzilla set the tone, then it's Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster that...
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Episode 12 - Dogora (1964)
This week features a slight cooldown between major Godzilla movies with the mixed-est bag of all time. Two part diamond heist mystery, one part giant monster movie, all fever dream, It's hard to call Dogora a cohesive vision. However, there's a lot of diamond in this rough, with memorable scenes...
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Episode 11 - Mothra vs Godzilla / Godzilla vs The Thing (1964)
We're joined this week by Super Deluxe Gamescast cohost Justin Drew, aka Roboplato, to talk about one of the most highly regarded Godzilla films of all time: Mothra vs Godzilla (not to be confused with Godzilla vs Mothra, a completely different movie made 30 years later). The themes and comedic,...
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Episode 10 - Atragon (1963)
When an undersea kingdom threatens global domination, Japan must take a superweapon designed to revive the Japanese Empire and use it instead to protect the world. Enter the Gotengo, a flying undersea warship with a big honkin' drill and more gizmos than the Mach Five. This machine kills…
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Episode 9 - Matango (1963)
It's time for a high point of the season with the classic horror film Matango. A slow, tense survival movie with elements of body horror, this film is loaded with political messaging. Fans of The Last Of Us may feel at home with the cordyceps-like fungus overtaking the cast in this movie. Sure…
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Episode 8 - King Kong vs Godzilla (1962)
We're joined this week by our first of two guests this season, dad and Castle Bravo theme song composer David Van Dyke, to talk about a pivotal moment for the Godzilla franchise in a grudge match that changed a franchise. Grab your berry juice and fried octopus as we dive into King Kong vs...
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Episode 7 - Gorath (1962)
When it comes to the filmography of director Ishiro Honda, it may be best to keep as few expectations as possible, because every so often you get hit with a curveball. Gorath is, as best we can describe it, an absurdist film about nihilism and perseverance in the face of almost certain doom....
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Episode 6 - Mothra (1961)
The Queen of the Monsters arrives! Mothra may mostly be known for being a frequent sidekick/enemy to Godzilla, but starting with her debut film instead of a Godzilla appearance really changes the foundation for her identity. It's an excellent movie, full of both character and social commentary....
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Episode 5 - Varan the Unbelievable (1958)
There's an interesting story behind the troubled production of Varan the Unbelievable. Unfortunately, that doesn't necessarily translate to a particularly interesting movie to watch. On the other hand, it gives us an excellent opportunity to talk about how things like studio interference, bad...
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Episode 4 - The Mysterians (1957)
Invaders from the stars come for our land and our women in this strange cult classic pulp scifi film from Godzilla director Ishiro Honda. It's an interesting movie to watch, but also one that attempts multiple fronts of social and political commentary. It's a strange and at times messy movie, but...
About this show
Siblings Derek and Charlotte present the history of the largest cinematic universe. Learn how a bunch of loosely collected sci-fi films came together around Godzilla to create a monster of a franchise. From the high art to the campy but full of heart, it's a celebration of nearly 70 years of the Big G. Season Four coming soon.
Hosted by
Derek Van Dyke and Charlotte Landale