Faldor returns to take the place of the Doctor from Speakeasy on a final(?) Star Trek commentary. We examine the film as a treatise on Shakespeare and Sherlock Holmes (and international politics and racism, whatever) and speculate on Kim Catrall’s allure.

We discuss some background on how the budget constrained Nick Meyer’s production values and how he nevertheless prevailed mightily. We like this adventure a lot, roast turkey, purple blood, and all.

Faldor joins me for a full look at the first Jason Bourne movie, the heartwarming tale of an amnesiac assassin learning love (and kill) again. We like the film a lot, but we do feel it has its flaws. We compare it to the Bond films, the later Bourne films, Ronin, Hannah, The Italian Job (1969), and Frankenstein. We wonder if Brian Cox has a thing for amnesiac killing machines. We question Matt Damon’s commitment to the assassin trade and what Julia Stiles is doing in this movie. I briefly accuse Dolph Lundgren of being German. Faldor briefly accuses Julia Stiles of not being a good actor. I claim that Clive Owen could play any role, including James Bond and Doctor Who (possibly at the same time).

Join me for the second of the Mad Max films: Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. It’s the heartwarming tale of a group of car enthusiasts looking for love and juice* in the post-apocalypse.
* I think they’re saying “juice”; they have pretty thick accents. It might be “Jews” or possibly “deuce”.

I lament the ’80s fashions, but I call the film “best of its kind” and “nearly perfect”. I compare it to Mad Max, westerns, samurai pictures, Star Wars, war movies, Jesus, Moses, The Matrix, Die Hard, and—eventually—Citizen Kane. And I gush about the cinematography like I never have any other film.

Join Faldor and me for Ed Wood’s 1959′s Plan 9 From Outer Space, the heartbreaking tale of aliens who come to Earth to warn us of the dangers of science but who get their eyes blackened by ruffians just because they raised some corpses from the dead for some reason. What do you want? The other 8 plans failed even worse.

Faldor and I analyze the mise en scène, the cinéma vérité, and the pâté de foie gras. We explore Ed Wood’s career, Bela Lugosi’s career, and the career of some people I mix up with others and/or make up. We credit the film with inspiring countless other films and TV that ripped it off, such as Close Encounters, Star Trek, Babylon 5, and Independence Day. I accuse of the film of being accurate and well-acted; Faldor accuses it of being innocent. I call Ed Wood a war hero.

Join me for the first of the Mad Max films: Mad Max. It’s the heartwarming story of a gang of motorcycle roustabouts who run afoul of the law in a vast and desolate near future where fuel is scarce and no one questions your sexuality.

I compare the film to Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior as well as to other fast car pictures, westerns, horror movies, and Mel Gibson’s life. I heap praise on nearly every aspect of it to the point that you would think I would call it “nearly perfect” but I don’t. I’m not sure why, because the last of the V8s is banging on all cylinders at all times.

Bond is back again already in his final turn for a while, with Daniel Craig renewing his contract (perhaps somewhat reluctantly) and seeming a bit weather-beaten. Faldor joins me again and we watch with enthusiasm as many of the tropes are trodden even while the series makes a careful return to form.

We delight in the reversals (Bond blows up his OWN LAIR this time! M is a Bond girl! [actually, that's kind of happened before]) and point out the soft spots (Silva is YET ANOTHER insider coming back to haunt M? Severine carries a gun and has bodyguards but they mainly just keep her from running away?).

Bond is back and with Daniel Craig returns for revenge (more or less… eventually). Faldor joins me again, and we watch a decent story driven drunkenly into desert and left for dead by Mark Forster. We don’t hate the film, but it’s so lifeless, humorless, and Bourne-like that there’s just almost nothing to love.

I love the theme song; Faldor doesn’t. We both love the action but wish it had more tying it together. I feel like the villain is basically Roman Polanski and suggest he needs a henchman like Oskar “Blade Runner” Pistoria (the footless Olympic runner and alleged murderer).

Slight correction: Tim Pigott-Smith played a regular army captain in “The Claws of Axos” who arrests members of UNIT; he was not a member of UNIT himself. He also played a character named Marco in “The Masque of Mandragora”.

Join me for a sight unseen commentary for the prequel to my favorite horror movie, The Thing (1982). Since this is not that movie (I already did that with the Doctor from Speakeasy), you might imagine that I would be somewhat sour on this one. But you would be wrong! I give this movie every chance and only later sour on it and regret ever turning it on!

Seriously, tho, I wonder about the director, the writer, the story, the leads, key decisions about the art direction, why there weren’t any corndogs at Craft Services… everything. But mostly I blame the director.

Bond is back, and Daniel Craig climbs into the saddle! Faldor from the Down in Front forum joins me again for this, one of the better films of the series. I complain that it doesn’t feel very much like Bond, which is one of the things he likes about it. We examine the concept of “soft” reboot and whether M has changed or if it’s just Bond.

I reflexively identify the cars, but it’s not like there are any big chases. The action is mostly on foot and felt, as Bond leaps and bets his way thru what amounts to two films: an action film and a gambling thriller. We compare it to the book and a little bit to other Bond films more. We speculate on Bond’s ability to reproduce and copyright an idea for an all-Bond-Junior movie starring several copies of Shia LaBeouf.

Join me as I again join John Pavlich of Sofa Dogs to watch the fifth episode of Community, one of the best comedy television shows ever.

We discuss Luis Guzman, Mark Hamill, going off campus, the theme of cheating, and Annie stuffing her bra.

From Sofa Dogs:

Observers: John Pavlich, Tysto

Record Date: October 07, 2012, 02:08 PM

Plot Summary: Jeff uses his knowledge in criminal law to defend Britta for cheating on a test. Meanwhile, Annie enlists Pierce to write a school song for Greendale.

Note: Tysto returns to discuss the fifth episode from Community’s first season. We talk about statues, thematic resonance and parallels and the slow death of Ben Chang, as a character. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

Sofa Dogs

Tysto

Join John Pavlich of Sofa Dogs and me as we walk thru The Avengers (the loud American one, not the weird British one). We fail to remember what happened in Thor, discuss the structure and character motivations, and general enjoy it. John accuses me of being negative because I think the idea of an Iron Man suit that shoots out of a wall, chases down a falling Tony Stark, opens itself, and somehow puts itself on him while he’s falling is a dumb idea. He also has to explain Loki’s plot to me, but I remain dubious. (What is his plan for Hulk again?)

From Sofa Dogs:

Observers: John Pavlich, Tysto

Record Date: December 30, 2012, 05:36 PM

Plot Summary: A top secret, government organization brings together a misfit, band of Superheroes to thwart an impending alien invasion, lead by Loki, the God of Trickery.

Note: Digging into the vault, I bring you my commentary with Tysto for Joss Whedon’s, The Avengers. We discuss Marvel Comics, glorifying America and feminism prominent in Whedon’s work. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the film on your DVD.

Tysto

Sofa Dogs

Bond is back, and Pierce Brosnan takes his final bow. Faldor and I take it to pieces. We examine the unusualness of the opening prison sequence, parallels between Madonna and Margaret Thatcher, and if Bjork would have been better than either of them, the concept of a steroid overdose, and the complexity of the villain’s plan. We lament the awful CGI, double agents within MI6, Michael Madsen, and the lack of penguins in the Arctic. We speculate about Bond’s car being a hybrid so it can sneak up on people when invisible. And I do some near-perfect impressions of famous people.

Join me as I again join John Pavlich of Sofa Dogs to watch the fourth episode of Community, one of the best comedy television shows ever.

We discuss John Oliver, butt stuff, Jeff vs Vaughn, Eric Charles-Nielson, ultimate Frisbee, and Annie’s sweaters.

From Sofa Dogs:

Observers: John Pavlich, Tysto

Record Date: October 07, 2012, 01:42 PM

Plot Summary: Professor Duncan instigates an experiment that backfires, while Jeff is confounded by a shirtless Hippie with tiny nipples.

Note: Tysto returns to discuss the fourth episode from Community’s first season. We talk about Ultimate Frisbee, butt stuff, Annie’s sweaters and Jeff versus Vaughn. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

Sofa Dogs

Tysto

Join John Pavlich of Sofa Dogs and me for the third of Christopher Nolan’s Batmen! We discuss Nolan’s shift in approach, the uneven writing, and why we both respond very favorably to the film anyway. We discuss the Batvoice and whether or not the Batcowl squooshes his face and makes him talk that way. We debate Bane’s nature (weightlifting painkiller addict?) and why we don’t see his face since we saw Dent’s charred face.

I contend that substantial parts of the story are unnecessary and that it doubles back on itself. John defends it. We compare it to the previous films, James Bond, Catwoman, and strong female characters. We discuss the wonky timeline, my preferred ending, and how great Joseph Gordon-Levitt is no matter what he is or isn’t given to do.

From Sofa Dogs:

Observers: John Pavlich, Tysto

Record Date: December 15, 2012, 05:04 PM

Plot Summary: Eight years after the death of Harvey Dent, Bruce Wayne comes out of hiding to stop Bane, a masked madman bent on destroying Gotham and shattering the legend of Batman.

Note: Concluding our commentaries on Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, Tysto returns to talk about character through-lines, sexism in Nolan’s work and defending against plot holes. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the film on your DVD.

Sofa Dogs

Tysto

Bond is back, and Pierce Brosnan is at the top of his game—or perhaps just past it. This is not one of my favorites, but I find that on revisiting it my opinion changes in what I think is a very interesting way. Listen to find out at whose feet I lay the blame.

Our villain is kind of mushy. Our Bond girls lovely if a little hard to believe. I don’t have much trouble getting thru it even tho I find it quite flat, but you may find that I repeat myself too much and talk too much about the guns and whether or not Bond is sexist, misogynistic, or just a sex addict.

Mike and Max are joined by Tysto for a crossover episode covering one of Alfred Hitchcock’s most popular works.

From Tysto commentaries:

Join me as well as Mike and Max of Commentary Track Stars as we watch another Hitchcock classic. Mike and I love it. Max doesn’t like it much (Does Max like anything? Yes: Star Wars and Aliens.) We analyze the film in relation to other Hitchcock thrillers, James Bond, and romances. And we discuss Cary Grant’s suit and Hitch’s taste in blondes and ridiculous plots.

We examine the villains’ plans and the good guys’ plans. We ruminate on cold war methods of assassination (cropduster being most common, followed by knife throwing and poisoned suits). We discuss weird hotel services and whether or not Roger Ebert is wormhole alien. We take a close, hard look at the geography of Chicago, eastern Indiana, and Mount Rushmore. And we evaluate the likelihood of getting a drink on the Chicago metra these days.

Tysto

Commentary Track Stars

Join me as I again join John Pavlich of Sofa Dogs to watch the third episode of Community, one of the best comedy television shows ever.

We discuss Annie and Troy, casting younger, California pizza, and interwoven plots.

From Sofa Dogs:

Observers: John Pavlich, Tysto

Record Date: October 07, 2012, 01:14 PM

Plot Summary: Abed’s Father is outraged to learn his Son would rather become a filmmaker, instead of working alongside him at his restaurant. Meanwhile, Jeff is at war with a Professor who wants him to be more spontaneous, instead of working an angle for personal gain.

Note: Tysto returns to discuss the third episode from Community’s first season. We talk about Jeff’s selfishness, seizing the day and pizza in California. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

Sofa Dogs

Tysto

Bond is back, and Pierce Brosnan is on for a second go. This is one of my favorites, despite what anyone else might say. It does have its weaknesses, tho, and I explore both its strengths and failings right along. I love the action, the addition of Wai-Lin, the music, and more. I don’t care for Elliott Carver’s plan all that much.

Join me as I again join John Pavlich of Sofa Dogs to watch the second episode of Community, one of the best comedy television shows ever.

We discuss the general setup of the show and how the show differs from other sitcoms and why. We discuss Chang and his role in season 1 vs season 2.

From Sofa Dogs:

Observers: John Pavlich, Tysto

Record Date: September 29, 2012, 05:18 PM

Plot Summary: Jeff and Pierce struggle to impress their Spanish Language Teacher, a tyrannical Asian American man named Senor Chang.

Note: Tysto returns to discuss the second episode from Community’s first season. We talk about romantic subplots within conventional sitcoms and the rise and fall of both Pierce and Chang throughout the first three seasons. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

Tysto

Sofa Dogs

Join me as I join John Pavlich of Sofa Dogs to watch the pilot episode of Community, one of the best comedy television shows ever.

We discuss the general setup of the show and how the show differs from other sitcoms and why. We discuss how we came to it, and how the characters have changed over the subsequent seasons.

From Sofa Dogs:

Observers: John Pavlich, Tysto

Record Date: September 29, 2012, 04:33 PM

Plot Summary: A recently disbarred lawyer attends a community college to obtain a legitimate degree and creates a fake study group to impress a young woman in their Spanish language class.

Note: It’s another retake only this time, I’m joined by Tysto (my original attempt is located here). This re-recording takes a look at the pilot episode, in retrospect to the first three seasons. We talk about character thematics, world-building and heart versus cynicism in the context of modern comedy television. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the episode on your DVD.

Tysto

Sofa Dogs

Join us! John Pavlich of Sofa Dogs and I embark on a close examination of Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s ingenious zombie comedy. Happy Halloween! We spot some of the references, but mostly talk about the fantastic acting, directing, and intricate writing that make this in my opinion and I think in John’s a nearly perfect movie.

We talk a little about other zombie movies and Edgar Wright movies and even other ensemble comedy movies along the way to enjoying the hell out of this flick. We’re coming to get you, Barbara!

I’m watching the R1 DVD. Start the film, on the countdown after the logos have faded and just as the bell has rung and Simon Pegg’s face comes up.

From Sofa Dogs:

Observers: John Pavlich, Tysto

Record Date: October 27, 2012, 04:20 PM

Plot Summary: A pair of slacker, man-children must take to action and grow up quickly when the United Kingdom is overrun with zombies.

Note: Originally intended to close out this year’s month-long tribute to Halloween and Horror films, Tysto returns to share in the comedic majesty of Edgar Wright’s feature-length, directorial debut. We discuss differences between British and American cultures, the Horror-Comedy genre and how this film stacks up to other zombie films. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the film on your DVD.

Tysto Commentaries

Sofa Dogs

Join me for John Carpenter’s polemic against commercialism and rich people and aliens and stuff. Roddy Piper is a drifter looking for work in an economy racked by… consumerism? Keith David is an angry man who absolutely does not want to put on sunglasses NO MATTER WHAT. Meg Foster is the woman whose eyes will FREAK YOU OUT.

I examine the rather heavy-handed themes (greed, for lack of a better word, is bad). I point out that John Carpenter might know more about horror than economics but isn’t really showing off either one here. And I try to suggest that aliens, say, eating people might be more horrible than aliens selling us Lee Press-on Nails. But whatever, I like the movie a lot and rank it among my favorite Carpenter films.

Join me for the heart-warming tale of a scientist gone mad! A madman become invisible! An invisible man gone wild! It’s Claude Rains in James Whales’ 1933 classic The Invisible Man! I don’t really care for this picture beyond Rains’ performance and Gloria Stuart’s sweet, sweet 1930s damsel act, but I try to have fun and not lament Una O’Connor or the camp humor too much.

Watch as a man you can’t see minces around in nothing but a shirt! Gasp as the Invisible Man steals a bicycle! Thrill as he sleeps thru a phone call! Wonder why he doesn’t just put makeup on! Look interested while he explains how he can be detected! Try to stay awake while policemen meet to discuss what to do! And did I mention: montage! montage! montage!

It’s not as bad as all that, but you be the judge.

Join me and Mike of Commentary Track Stars as we take a dizzying look from the heights of one of, if not the, best of Hitchcock—best of anyone, according to some. My microphone sounds weird.

We’re watching the Region 1 DVD Collector’s Edition version. Start the movie after the Universal logo and before the Paramount logo, on the countdown.

From Commentary Track Stars at MaxHegel.com:

Mike is joined by Tysto to discuss the newly-crowned best film of all-time.

Commentary Track Stars

Tysto Commentaries

Bond is back, and Pierce Brosnan is the man. Join me and my guest Faldor as we work our way thru this very enjoyable entry. Unfortunately, Boris hacked into our computers and screwed everything up*, so the second half is kind of weird, but still perfectly listenable, I assure you.

We wax philosophical about Bonds, Bond girls, and tank chases, and generally have a good time watching one of our favorites.

* Me. I— I screwed everything up. Sooo many times….

Join the Doctor and me for a long, hard look (with EYES, get it?) at Minority Report, the heartwarming story of a man who tries really hard not to get caught for a murder he hasn’t yet committed and then escapes when he IS caught and blah, blah, blah, it’s really long and looks like a commercial for itself.

We both actually like the film but are turned off by different aspects of the film making and have a lot of fun puzzling out the twisty plot and mocking the ridiculous parts. Seriously: the eyeballs, am I right?

We’re watching a PAL version, so set us on 4% slower using Windows Media Player’s “play speed settings” if you’re in North America. Start the movie after the studio logos but with the studio title card faded up, on the countdown.

From Speakeasy’s Podcast:

The are never wrong. But occasionally…they do disagree. Join Tysto and the Doc discuss the Spielberg/Cruise futurism outing Minority Report. When they’re no rewriting parts of the plot to make sense the realise they actuall do quite like the film. Despite some of it’s more obvious flaws and the fact that everything in it is just totally blue.

Tysto Commentaries

Speakeasy’s Podcast

Join me on a fun-filled journey to the stars with Stacy, the Rebel Alliance pilot and eventual jedi, and a few of her closest frenemies as she skirts the edges of the greatest sci fi epic of them all. I watch all four parts currently available. I shill for Trey Stokes to get the final episode funded. I heap ridiculous amounts of praise on it from all angles. And I just generally gush about how funny and professional it is.

It’s kind of embarrassing, really.

Go watch it now on PinkFive.com and contribute to the Kickstarter project!

Join me for a moody stroll thru 1930 Berlin on the trail of a child murderer in Fritz Lang’s fascinating (but not necessarily masterful) first talkie. Peter Lorre is the main attraction, supported by a cast of colorful characters.

I examine the three basic ways to view the film (character piece, procedural, and parable on the dangers of vigilanteism). I examine where Lang may be fudging or unsure of what he wants to say. I suggest little improvements like “I would have done this all differently” and “I would have cut out this whole section of the film”. And I praise Lorre’s performance and the directing in general.

I fail to note that the only music is whistling, and it’s done only by the killer (famously), the lead detective, and the lead criminal. Why? No idea. Also, I fail to note that the film was shot in 1.2:1, which is kind of weirdly skinny.

Observers: John Pavlich, Tysto

Record Date: July 27, 2012, 02:42 PM

Plot Summary: Two innocent Hillbillies are mistaken for cold-blooded killers, when a group of college kids start dying in random accidents.

Note: Requested by frequent contributor Tysto, he returns to the podcast to discuss this underrated, Horror-Comedy gem. We talk about our mutual appreciation of Alan Tudyk, the subtle nuances of Tyler Labine, the revelation that is Katrina Bowden and the new, creative voice of writer/director, Eli Craig. Mostly though, we just laugh hysterically at this side-splitting splatterfest. Remember to listen for the preemptive countdown before starting the film on your DVD.

From Tysto commentaries:

Join John Pavlich of Sofa Dogs and me for a look at Eli Craig’s clever slasher-in-the-woods spoof. We examine Tucker; we examine Dale; and we examine Evil; and we like what we see (well, not Evil, so much). We don’t have a lot of profound insights, but we do have a good time and learn a thing or two about who’s who in Hollywood (and Canada).

Tysto

Sofa Dogs

Mike and Max are joined by Damon and Mike from Geek Fights, Josh and Justin from The Soulless Minions of Orthodoxy, and Tysto to discuss the pros and cons of Tim Burton’s take on the Dark Knight.

From Soulless Minions of Orthodoxy:

Both Soulless Minions are joined by special guests Mike Ortiz and Damon Shaw of Geek Fights, Tsyto and Mike and Max of Commentary Track Stars for this commentary on the 1989 film Batman.

There was a lot of anticipation in the summer of 1989 as this new version of Batman was nearing release. It had been many years since Batman graced the screens of our nations cinemas and many people feared it would be a let down. Some even thought it would be a catastrophe. However, Batman turned out to be a critical and financial success that ecplised doubters and naysayers.

Does the film still hold up after all these years? Is this film more noir than its sequels? Is Michael Keaton the best Batman? Does the charasmatic Joker overshadow all the other characters?

These are some of the questions The Minions and our guests ponder.

From Tysto Commentaries:

Batman is back! Keaton starts his role as Batman against the greatest villain he has ever known: Alexander Knox! I join Soulless Minions, Commentary Track Stars, and Geek Fights for a free-for-all. We mostly like the film but have a lot of fun with its ridiculousness.

Tysto

Soulless Minions of Orthodoxy

Commentary Track Stars