Tysto Film Commentaries

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.

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.

Join us! John Pavlich of Sofa Dogs and I embark on a close examination of Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg's ingenious zombie comedy. We spot a few 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!

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.

Tweet 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 … Continue reading The Invisible Man →

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.

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?

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.

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).

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. Stay tuned for the post credits scenes. (TWO of them!)

Join me as I join Mike and Max of Commentary Track Stars to watch Watchmen. I've never read the comic book (apparently, they still made comic books for a while after 1984), but Max thinks it's the greatest thing since sliced Shakespeare, so we discuss the relevancy and point of even having a film. We deconstruct the story, themes, motifs, and symbolism. Max and I disagree over whether or not a human could catch a bullet, whether or not Superman could win the Vietnam War, and what Lee Iaccoca's role in the world was. I try to figure out if Ozymandias is gay and if Jackie Earl Haley qualifies as a dwarf. Max and Mike try to figure out how Rorschach's mask works. We all try to figure out what is meant to be satirical versus what is meant to be awesome and is actually kind of lame and also who is history's finest nine-fingered actor. Also, I quiz Mike and Max about other movies I am confusing with this one, but Mike nevertheless answers correctly. Max and I perform a play about gravity. Max angrily denounces Pa

Batman is back! This time, Josh of Soulless Minions and Mike and Max of Commentary Track Stars take us on a dark and twisted fairy tale to Tim Burton's Gotham City, where penguins inhabit sewers and mystical cats roam alleyways freely. We like the film better than the Schumacher films, but no one likes it as much as I do. It's my favorite of the four. Why are we doing them in reverse order? Because WE'RE CRAZY. Not crazy enough to run around in leather and vinyl, fighting crime, but pretty crazy. I compare the film to Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Raw Deal, Yojimbo, and The Beautician and the Beast (not really, but I should have). I suddenly notice that Bond has sex with Pam. I question Cubby Broccoli's motives for "testing out" a see-thru swimsuit. I heap praise on it in nearly every respect, but I still don't like it, BUT I admit that I'm probably being unfair, so your mileage may vary.

Join me as I watch Green Lantern for the first time. I marvel as video game characters talk to each other with bad lip sync and an alien gives power limited only by the imagination to a patently irresponsible guy with no imagination. I suggest that 24 is a little young for a woman to become a defense contractor executive. And I boldly imply that character development doesn't consist of various characters simply saying the same words at each other over and over. ("Are you scared, because... your dad, you know?") But Ryan Slightly-Grizzled Reynolds powers thru the pain. The fish guy from Hellboy, a racial stereotype, and an incredibly rude Jedi master are the worst instructors in the galaxy, so he lays down his gun and badge and quits the galactic police force! HA! No, seriously, he totally keeps the gun and badge.... And then—stuff!—and some chit chat, etc. 5-6-7-8-aaaaaand I'm spent.

Bond is back, and Timothy Dalton is here to stay! (Until the end of the movie.) It's the end of an era, with John Barry already gone, Cubby Broccoli on his way out, and a new Bond, M, Moneypenny, director, and writers waiting in the wings. It's an action-packed, adrenaline-fueled, revenge tale like no other (except for every other '80s action movie). The stunts are spectacular, the villains are unsavory, and the girls are absolutely to die for. I compare the film to Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Raw Deal, Yojimbo, and The Beautician and the Beast (not really, but I should have). I suddenly notice that Bond has sex with Pam. I question Cubby Broccoli's motives for "testing out" a see-thru swimsuit. I heap praise on it in nearly every respect, but I still don't like it, BUT I admit that I'm probably being unfair, so your mileage may vary.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is back in all his 1980s glory! He's at the height of his killing/quipping powers and ready to— okay, I can't kid you. There's a reason why you and I have never seen this, and it's because it stinks. Join me anyway as I watch for the first time and fill this gap in the Schwarzenegger ouevre. I pick out my favorite quip, revel in the intriguing setup, and marvel at the sets and suits. I identify many of the actors and their cars. I shake my head at the weird plotting. And I accuse Arnold of being a mass murderer.

Join me as I again join Josh from Soulless Minions of Orthodoxy and Mike from Commentary Tracks Stars as we lament the awfulness of Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever. We don't have quite the fun we had with Batman & Robin, but there's plenty to discuss. We note most of the costume changes (and reel changes), compare the film to others in the Batman collection, and speculate on what might have been and what might be in the store for Batman in the future.

Join John Pavlich of Sofa Dogs and me as we relax with an old favorite. Men in Black 3 is in the theaters, so we nod our heads along with Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in the original. Often imitated (I'm looking at you, Hellboy), never duplicated, it's a modern classic—all the more remarkable for being rewritten on the fly and helmed by the hit-or-miss Barry Sonnenfeld. We talk about Smith and Jones and Sonnenfeld's other films, discuss the sequel, and marvel at the cast in general. I call it a nearly nearly perfect film, and we analyze what makes us hold back on the unconditional love.

IT ALL ENDS in a grand assault on Hogwarts that is in no way like Lord of the Rings! It's a terrific, emotional ending to a terrific series. However, once again, I lament setup-and-payoff issues. I lament Snape's worthless death and Harry's nonsensical non-death. And I lament plot ellipses (they're not holes if they are explained in the book) and propose new endings and variants of key scenes that would make them stronger (YMMV). I compare the film to the Indiana Jones movies and The Wizard of Oz, and I compare The Wizard of Oz to Shakespeare. I accuse Harry of being illiterate. I also decide who gets to graduate.