Do you listen to DVD commentaries?
 

I just want to know what you folks' attitudes are toward DVD commentaries.
Do you listen to all of them?
Listen to only the ones worth listening to?
Listen commentaries of films you really like?
Consider it a waste of time?
Will eventually get around to it?
If you were to watch the film again, you would watch it normally?

Vote in the poll and discuss.

I'm somewhere between ALL and ONLY FILMS I LIKE. If I purchased the film I will eventually give the commentary a try, sometimes I'll turn them off (or they'll put me to sleep so either way I miss it ;)). For ones I rent if I like the film I'll listen to it, or wait until I purchase it (if I like it) and listen to it then.

Yes. ALL of them. Even if I don't like the film, sometimes the commentary will shed new light on the film and get me to come around to liking it.

Some commentaries are even more entertaining than the movie! ("Cannibal: The Musical")

Usually the second time I watch a DVD, I watch it with the commentary on. On occasion, it's been so boring I have turned it off. But usually I give them a listen just to see.

I like the commentary tracks. If I like a movie, I'll watch it again immediately with the commentary track running. If it's chatter about on-set interactions, I'll get tired of it. If it's about the movie, or making the movie, I'll love it. I really enjoyed the music-with-commentary track on The Matrix. Eventually, I will have at least started all my commentary tracks.

My wife likes the storyboarding extras. She's a professional artist, and seeing other people's working sketches keeps her interested.

For me, usually the most important "extra" is the commentary. Granted, there are some dogs out there in commentary-land, but for the most part I find them entertaining and informative.

I listen to every commentary. They are essential to truly understanding what a film is about. They also allow for a more intimate interaction with your favorite directors, actors, writers, etc. Like they're in the same room as you, talking about film. It's fun.

Never, I still have to find time to watch the movies. About 150 unwatched and counting.

Same here, I listen to any and all commentaries on a DVD and I've enjoyed the vast majority of them.

<----Another audio commentary junky.

Usually the writer's commentary is my most favorite subject to listen to since the story of the film is what matters the most. The origins and the additions/improvments on the script are always interesting for me to hear.

I also like hearing factoids from the director/producer/actor that occur during filming that aren't often mentioned in the documentaries and so forth.

And Mallrats!

Very rarely will I listen to a commentary track. Got too many other movies to watch.

it depends on the movie, even if I love it, I can't stand listening to some monotone guy continually saying the same uninteresting crap, I will almost always start watching all of them but if it gets too boring I will turn it off, example listening to the Richard Taylor commentary on fotr ee

it is definitely my favorite special feature

Ditto! I buy DVDs for the films/TV shows themselves, not the extras.

I skip the actor commentaries altogether; listen to some of the director and screenwriter commentaries; and, eagerly listen to nearly all film critic/historian commentaries.

I try to watch as many as i can

I will listen to the director's commentary if it is of a movie that I really enjoyed. Ideally, I'd listen to all of them but I really don't have the time considering the pace that I'm accumulating unwatched DVD's. Joining Columbia House isn't going to help matters either! I've never been able to convince any of my family or friends to watch a movie with the commentary on. They just aren't interested.

I listen to the commentary from time to time - and if it's any good.

I love Govenor Ah-nold on Conan and Total Recall, a laugh riot to be sure. I thought that Kenneth Johnson on V and The Hulk was pretty good - he could explain the technical side of what he was doing without getting too dry or over the head of the layman. JMS on the B5 commentary was pretty cool - getting into the hell that the show had to go through to get made was pretty facinating stuff. And of course the Spinal Tap 'in character' commentary was downright roll on the floor funny.

I *HATE* commentary where they describe what is going on. Mel Brooks on Spaceballs was painful to listen to. The commentary on the restored Metropolis not only described what is going on, but was dry and boring to boot. I dont think I got more than half an hour on either of those two commentaries.

So - if the commentator has something to say, or if it's a couple of good friends just shooting the shit for 2 hours (Carpenter and Kurt on Big Trouble in Little China) then I'll listen. If it's just some blowhard trying to collect a check, then I'm outta here.

Something I will eventually get around to once I find the time.

I only listen to commentary of films I really like.

I love commentaries. Commentaries and deleted scenes are my favorite features of dvd. They come in handy when I am in the kitchen or cleaning and need something to listen to.

I try my damnest to listen to the commentaries. It's just, I don't always have the time.

I would listen to more but Groucho never told me how to put it on a cd.

I try to listen to them all although i do have some i haven't got round to listening to yet but will do so in the near future.

Personally i find the inclusion of a commentary track on a DVD's features to be of most benefit in relation to other features which are often included.

Definately. Its one of my favourite extras. You'll get the occasional clunker, where they descibe everything on screen (I really want to smack those people), but most of them are pretty good. Well the ones I've listened to anyway.

I didn't vote because none of the categories for voting include the following:

If a DVD has a commentary track or tracks I will generally (75% of the time) listen to at least one of them. I like to learn about how a film was shot, shooting locations, difficulties, if a praticular scene was difficult or just average, and so on. When a DVD has 4 commentary tracks --- well --- maybe after I am retired!

I voted the first option. I listen to a commentary nearly every day while I'm falling asleep. It will usually take me 2-3 days to finish a whole one but I always listen to them.

I listen to them if I liked the movie or at times I'll listen to scene specific details to see how they justify some of their descisions. I prefer screenwriter, director and historian commentaries. I will give actor commentaries a chance, but I'm much quicker to stop listening if they don't catch my attention quickly. I want to learn about the film, how they made it, anecdotes about others who were working on the film, etc. As soon as I hear some telling me exactly what I'm seeing they get turned off.

No. It's a waste of my time. I can use that extra 2 hours and try to finish watching my DVD collection

I've only listened to one commentary out of the 80+ dvd's that I own and that was the Blackhawk Down Special Edition with the commentary from the guys in Taskforce Ranger.

I listen to the commentaries of my favorite films, if possible, and I'll listen to those that have a good word-of-mouth.

I've been getting into them lately. Two great ones I listened to this week are The Smashing Machine and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Both are lively, fun and informative. :thumbsup:

I have learned alot about film making by listening to the commentaries. But after awhile, they start sounding the same. It is awesome when one comes along that really teaches you how they made the movie.

Sometimes, If i have time.

I'm finding that a lot of the supplements that i thought I would love having are a dissappointment. First of all it's really the movie that matters most. Bottom line is that no matter how many extra discs and fancy package features are thrown in, if the movie sucks, the rest ain't worth diddly. I admit that given the choice, I still go after the special ultimate platinum anniversary editions if the price is not a detererrent.
I do still check every commentary track out to see if it's worth the trouble. Probably end up listening to about 75% of them.

There's definitely an art to doing commentary. Some people get it and do a great job while others don't seem to have a clue. To much detail can be as bad as not enough. IMO John Carpenter strikes about the best tone, giving a nice mix of technical info and anecdotes. I especially like the commentary Carpenter did with Kurt Russell for The Thing. They must have had a great time shooting the film, they are just sitting around recollecting as it plays and sharing it with you. I already have the Escape from NY DVD without commentary but I'm tempted to buy the re-release for the commentary if it has those two chewing the fat again.

I personally prefer commentary by historians/film historians.
A commentary to me is more valuble if the film has aged and commentaries can be a way of learning about the era and techniques, etc. used then and an indication of whether or not the film has aged well.

The one commentary that stands out in my mind is the one by Donald Richie on the Rashomon Criterion Coll. Extremely informative and fascinating!

I look forward to listening the commentaries on Casablanca and the Warner Legends discs.

I live in Los Angeles and these commentaries on classic films can often be educational in learning more about the city.
(Most often it appears that commentators when speaking about films made in and around LA have a LA audience in mind as they refer to certain streets and parks that only someone living in LA can relate to.)

Otherwise, I listen to commentaries only when I have the time, but will eventually certainly listen to the commentaries on all my discs.

Commentaries also factor into whether or not I purchase a certain set.

I normally listen to the commentaries on the second viewing of the film, unless it's a commentary of one of my absolutely favorite films of all time or Ebert is involved. Those are listened to immediately.

I'll listen to a commentary whenever I am cleaning the house or doing something that I don't have to devote my full attention to. Usually it'll be the latest movie I purchased.

I'll try anything once...

I try to listen to all of them. Its more interesting to me if the person is not just describing the action onscreen.

Let's give this thread a bump.

Vote if you haven't yet!

(Studios and DVD companies are known to search through these forums, so let your voice be heard!)