Running commentaries that you listen to while you watch the movie.

Articles in January, 2012

Commentary: Harry Potter 3 (Prisoner)

2012.Jan.30 | by in Entertainment | , , | 0 comments

It’s Harry Potter, back for a third helping of myth, magic, teen angst, and lots and lots of chocolate! I walk thru the structure of the story, character motivations, and time travel theories. I wonder who needs a permission slip to go shopping but not to fly around in a thunderstorm. I ask the musical question “Why does any of this happen?” And I worry about illegal boggart abuse.

I try to figure out the story-behind-the-story to understand what Lupin and Black are thinking and come up confused and bewildered. I wonder if there is a little homosexual subtext to go with the homosexual text. And I worry that Hermione, like Buckbeak, is going to be sentenced to death for striking a Malfoy.

Harry Potter 3 commentary [ 2:11:34 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (240)

Commentary: A View to a Kill

2012.Jan.23 | by in Entertainment | , , | 1 comment

Roger Moore is back for his last rodeo as James Bond! It’s a rather slow, somewhat dull, kind of haphazard adventure filled with lovely women and also Grace Jones!

Honestly, there’s not a lot to say about this one. The whole formula is a bit tired and threadbare. I try to make the best of it and have fun by noting how stopping a guy who is making EMP-proof chips available to the world is kind of a jerk goal for British Intelligence. I point out how Zorin is awfully clumsy about keeping his activities quiet when he puts his name on every chip and has them packed for shipping in his basement.

View to a Kill commentary [ 2:11:38 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (262)

New Year’s Resolution: requests

2012.Jan.16 | by in Tysto | | 0 comments

Having recently agreed to do a commentary for Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, it occurred to me to go back and look at other requests I’ve had and see how I’ve done at fulfilling them. And it turns out… not so good. I’ve had some good feedback and many more requests than I’d realized, but I’ve [...]

Commentary: Harry Potter 2 (Chamber)

2012.Jan.16 | by in Entertainment | , , | 0 comments

Join me for the second leap into fantastic adventures of puddles of water and CGI spiders and cars that act silly as I watch and comment on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I like this film second or third best of the series, but that doesn’t mean I cut it any slack. (Actually, I think I cut it slack on at least two occasions.)

I again analyze the plot and compare it to myths and folklore. I admire the structure and pacing. And I wonder why NO ADULTS ARE INVESTIGATING THESE TERRIFYING EVENTS.

Harry Potter 2 commentary [ 2:34:20 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (271)

Commentary: Harry Potter 1 (Stone)

2012.Jan.9 | by in Entertainment | , , | 0 comments

Join me in for the first step into the magical world of British character actors, child-sized horror mystery, and wild swings of tone as I watch and comment on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I like the series quite a lot and this film is no exception. Your mileage may vary.

I’ve never read any of the books, so I stick almost entirely to exploration of the movies. But I analyze the plot and compare it to myths and folklore and the other films in the series. I compare the characters here with their development (or lack thereof—or even regression) in the later films. And I touch on visual effects, consistency, setup-and-payoff, and mommy logic.

Harry Potter 1 commentary [ 2:29:42 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (279)

Commentary: Batman & Robin

2012.Jan.2 | by in Entertainment | , , , , , | 0 comments

Join me as I join Josh from Soulless Minions of Orthodoxy, Mike and Damon from Geek Fights, and (about 90 minutes in) Mike from Commentary Tracks Stars as we celebrate the awfulness of Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin. Josh is ambivalent (in that he can barely stand it). I praise the set design and remain staunchly in denial of any gay subtext. Mike and Damon profess love that sours over the course of film. And CTS Mike just despises it. Over all, we have a great deal of fun with it.

I quote my 8-year-old nephew a few times. We speculate on superhero Donald Trump and Richard Branson. We try to figure out how a 21-year-old Barbara has a mother who was young in the 1940s. We wonder why Bane is even in this movie. And we marvel that Mr. Freeze’s suit is powered by puns.

Batman and Robin commentary [ 2:10:38 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (309)

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