DVD Commentaries

Apologies if this has been covered before…

All of a sudden I've become a big fan of the DVD commentary. When done well, they can be either really interesting (directors' commentary on the Lord of the Rings) or extremely funny (Arnold watching Conan the Barbarian – classic).

What are some other good ones?

I've also liked the ideas of commentaries more than the commentaries themselves. The fact that every episode of the Simpsons features commentary tracks by the creators is amazing, but I've probably only watched about 2% of them.

Still, nothing will ever beat the commentary for This Is Spinal Tap, done by the band. Genius.

Originally posted by Relaxer:
Apologies if this has been covered before…

All of a sudden I've become a big fan of the DVD commentary. When done well, they can be either really interesting (directors' commentary on the Lord of the Rings) or extremely funny (Arnold watching Conan the Barbarian – classic).

What are some other good ones?

Originally posted by Relaxer:
or extremely funny (Arnold watching Conan the Barbarian – classic).

it just doesn't get better than ahnol on the first conan.

if you haven't heard this, go out and rent it tonight. to think this man is now the gov of CA… mindboggling.

The commentaries on the Kevin Smith movies are well done as well.

Originally posted by sweetcell:

Originally posted by Relaxer:
or extremely funny (Arnold watching Conan the Barbarian – classic).

it just doesn't get better than ahnol on the first conan.

if you haven't heard this, go out and rent it tonight. to think this man is now the gov of CA… mindboggling.

No shit! It is so funny, right from the get-go. At the very beginning, for some reason, John Milius introduces himself as Arnold, and Arnold as Milius, and then Arnold says, "Dat is as likely as de Richard Simmons having children."

Later, when Valeria is talking about the tragedies in her life, Arnold observes "Dis heeyuh is wheyah Cone-un gets soft, listening to the woman problems." And when Valeria is about to die, Arnold sneers "Yah, heeyuh she is crying and all dat."

And when Conan is lying down with yet another woman. "Wow, I get laid a lot in dis movie!"

Pure gold.

I used to be in nkotb's camp, in that I liked the idea of them but never really did it. But some of them are just fascinating. And Spinal Tap, where the guys do it in character, makes it a whole new movie.

Originally posted by Relaxer:
I used to be in nkotb's camp, in that I liked the idea of them but never really did it. But some of them are just fascinating.

I never listened to commentary myself either, but IFC used to play a directors cut with commentary and they were playing "Chasing Amy" at the lesbian bar scene and Kevin Smith points out how long it takes Lee's character to get that he's in a lesbian bar, based on everything he sees before he notices. It was brilliant.

I would also recommend Paul Thomas Anderson's commentary on "Boogie Nights" - his vision is incredible.

You should check out http://www.ratethatcommentary.com/

The Onion AV guide has "Commentary tracks of the Damned" which critiques commentary tracks from crappy movies. Great read.

For good ones, you have to really like the movie to sit through it with the sound going in and out as people talk. I just can't take it.

Originally posted by vansmack:

Originally posted by Relaxer:
I used to be in nkotb's camp, in that I liked the idea of them but never really did it. But some of them are just fascinating.

I never listened to commentary myself either, but IFC used to play a directors cut with commentary and they were playing "Chasing Amy" at the lesbian bar scene and Kevin Smith points out how long it takes Lee's character to get that he's in a lesbian bar, based on everything he sees before he notices. It was brilliant.

I would also recommend Paul Thomas Anderson's commentary on "Boogie Nights" - his vision is incredible.

You should check out http://www.ratethatcommentary.com/

I was going to mention "Chasing Amy"…Although, I watched the behind the scenes (yeah w/ Affleck) for that movie. Definitely can make a movie better. Or, a few can be ruined by completely dissecting the movie. It also feels like I watched the movie about ten times in a row. (especially with all the other features)
Can't think of any that stand out…Funny ones: Wes Anderson's movies, Eternal Sunshine…then generally war/dramas, stuff by Speilberg.

I liked the DVD extras on CANNONBALL RUN 2, especially the extended FBI warning.

Originally posted by nkotb:
[QB]Still, nothing will ever beat the commentary for This Is Spinal Tap, done by the band. Genius.
[QB]

yes. yes. yes. yes.

one of my favorite DVDs … i love how the opening menu starts

Some pretty good commentary by John Waters on the new version of "Mommie Dearest" too. The fact that he doesn't think it's campy is just insane.

Really good commentary by Terry Gilliam on the DVD of my favorite movie "Brazil"

the television series : "wonder shozen" series one. dear lord in an acid ridden heaven.