Boring/ Annoying Audio Commentaries
12-04-03 | 05:42 AM
#27
Originally posted by Panda Phil
Probably the deadliest commentaries I've head are on some of the Dr Who episodes, notably those from the sixties. (Tomb of the Cybermen for example) Nothing duller than ninety minutes of listening to two actors in their 50's or 60's struggling to remember names and stories. I'm not blaming the actors of course. It must be next to impossible to remember specific details after almost thirty five years.
Probably the deadliest commentaries I've head are on some of the Dr Who episodes, notably those from the sixties. (Tomb of the Cybermen for example) Nothing duller than ninety minutes of listening to two actors in their 50's or 60's struggling to remember names and stories. I'm not blaming the actors of course. It must be next to impossible to remember specific details after almost thirty five years.
That reminds me of those awful "commentaries" on the Fawlty Towers DVDs.'Sniff..... slurp.... cough cough.... Oi, I'm doing a DVD commentary?... Blimey!'
12-04-03 | 07:03 AM
#28
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Tim Burton in Sleepy Hollow, he sounds irritated to be there and put-upon. Comes off as a real *******, and a boring one at that.
Ang Lee and the Writer on CTHD. They spend the whole time arguing and making obscure in-jokes. Really annoying to listen to.
Jonathan Mostow and the Cast on T3- the only commentary I've heard where they proudly proclaim that each person was recorded separately. There's zero interaction between the people and the stuff they do say is boring and mostly un-related to the movie.
Ang Lee and the Writer on CTHD. They spend the whole time arguing and making obscure in-jokes. Really annoying to listen to.
Jonathan Mostow and the Cast on T3- the only commentary I've heard where they proudly proclaim that each person was recorded separately. There's zero interaction between the people and the stuff they do say is boring and mostly un-related to the movie.
12-04-03 | 07:25 AM
#29
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Originally posted by Wild Yams
IMO, the worst commentaries are usually by the composers, especially Danny Elfman. Man, I like Elfman's music, but in his commentaries he'll speak up maybe every 15-20 minutes or so, make a few comments then go away again.
IMO, the worst commentaries are usually by the composers, especially Danny Elfman. Man, I like Elfman's music, but in his commentaries he'll speak up maybe every 15-20 minutes or so, make a few comments then go away again.
12-04-03 | 07:39 AM
#30
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Someone mentioned a commentary track where the original sound of the movie is completely absent, so ALL you hear is the commentary.
The Fawlty Towers set is a good example of this - at least the R2 version is.
It is not helped by the fact that the commentaries are done by the various directors, who sound like they are about 90 years old now, and leave long pauses in between (possibly having 40 winks), and whose powers of recall are suspect at best. But it's so frustrating when you can hear them laughing and s******ing at the jokes - but you cannot hear them yourself!
Aaaaarrggghhhh!
A totally brainless idea.
Actually complained to the BBC about this, but never got a response.
The Fawlty Towers set is a good example of this - at least the R2 version is.
It is not helped by the fact that the commentaries are done by the various directors, who sound like they are about 90 years old now, and leave long pauses in between (possibly having 40 winks), and whose powers of recall are suspect at best. But it's so frustrating when you can hear them laughing and s******ing at the jokes - but you cannot hear them yourself!
Aaaaarrggghhhh!
A totally brainless idea.
Actually complained to the BBC about this, but never got a response.
12-04-03 | 08:34 AM
#32
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Originally posted by Matt Millheiser
The Donnie Darko commentary made me wish for Jake Gyllenhaal to get disemboweled by wolves and anally violated with a boat hook. By a midget. In August.
HERE'S A TRANSCRIPT OF THE DONNIE DARKO COMMENTARY:
Richard Kelly: Now, here is where I will explain the significance of key plot elements as well as engaging in detailed discussion of scattered symbols and allegories that tie into the overarching storyline. Now starting out with--
Jake Gyllenhaal: (interupting) Hey look at me, I'm a big loud stupid idiot!!
Richard Kelly: (chuckling) Yeah Jake, you're just too much. Now where was I? Hmm... I seem to have forgotten. Shoot. Ah, forget it...
(Continue this basic rapport for about two hours or so.)
The Donnie Darko commentary made me wish for Jake Gyllenhaal to get disemboweled by wolves and anally violated with a boat hook. By a midget. In August.
HERE'S A TRANSCRIPT OF THE DONNIE DARKO COMMENTARY:
Richard Kelly: Now, here is where I will explain the significance of key plot elements as well as engaging in detailed discussion of scattered symbols and allegories that tie into the overarching storyline. Now starting out with--
Jake Gyllenhaal: (interupting) Hey look at me, I'm a big loud stupid idiot!!
Richard Kelly: (chuckling) Yeah Jake, you're just too much. Now where was I? Hmm... I seem to have forgotten. Shoot. Ah, forget it...
(Continue this basic rapport for about two hours or so.)
Thanks for that.
12-04-03 | 09:07 AM
#34
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From: Taxachusetts
The two that popped immediately to mind was Mel Gibson's commentary on Braveheart. A lot of time he would just narrate what was happening on screen, or he just wouldn't talk at all. I remember a span of about 8 minutes where he said absolutely nothing.
The other is the group commentary on Jerry Maguire. Everyone spends the 2+ hours laughing and saying how wonderful everyone else is and how wonderful it was working together.
The other is the group commentary on Jerry Maguire. Everyone spends the 2+ hours laughing and saying how wonderful everyone else is and how wonderful it was working together.
12-04-03 | 09:22 AM
#35
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From: IAD
After listening to it for a review of my own, the Bryan Singer commentary on X2 is dreadful.
McTiernan gets my vote (not for Die Hard, haven't heard that one), but for Hunt For Red October.
McTiernan gets my vote (not for Die Hard, haven't heard that one), but for Hunt For Red October.
12-04-03 | 09:22 AM
#36
DVD Talk Special Edition
I enjoyed the SLEEPY HOLLOW commentary. If anything Burton sounds like a nice guy who really enjoys making films. Nothing pretentious about him. I laughed a bunch of times and learned alot about the making of that film. He doesn't talk non-stop like Terry Gilliam or some others do but thats fine with me.
THE VAMPIRE LOVERS has a really painful commentary with people getting on in years babbling about things that have nothing to do with the movie. Though listening to Ingrid Pitt's voice made me think she really is a vampire.
Joel Schumacher in PHONE BOOTH. Had to shut this one off half way through which says a lot. Just way too much of "this actor or actress is really talented and did such a great job" kinda stuff.
Commentary on THE CROW, for never going into the details of Brandon Lee's death and thinking themselves geniuses for the songs they chose to use in the movie. I lost out on hearing Alex Proyas' commentary to hear that? Sure I'd rather listen to the people responsible for Crow 2, 3, 4, etc. than the guy who directed the first and only good one.
Also agree the DONNIE DARKO track was irritating as well. Both of them actually. First I hate listening to people interpret the movie for me like its great literature. Second, actors for the most part are dopey. Get too many in a room and the collective IQ drops 80 points and the ass-kissing reaches Mt. Everest.
THE VAMPIRE LOVERS has a really painful commentary with people getting on in years babbling about things that have nothing to do with the movie. Though listening to Ingrid Pitt's voice made me think she really is a vampire.
Joel Schumacher in PHONE BOOTH. Had to shut this one off half way through which says a lot. Just way too much of "this actor or actress is really talented and did such a great job" kinda stuff.
Commentary on THE CROW, for never going into the details of Brandon Lee's death and thinking themselves geniuses for the songs they chose to use in the movie. I lost out on hearing Alex Proyas' commentary to hear that? Sure I'd rather listen to the people responsible for Crow 2, 3, 4, etc. than the guy who directed the first and only good one.
Also agree the DONNIE DARKO track was irritating as well. Both of them actually. First I hate listening to people interpret the movie for me like its great literature. Second, actors for the most part are dopey. Get too many in a room and the collective IQ drops 80 points and the ass-kissing reaches Mt. Everest.
12-04-03 | 09:28 AM
#37
DVD Talk Godfather
I gotta add these two (assuming I didn't miss them prior to this post):
Braveheart - Mel Gibson (I would think making an epic like this would come with great insight...zzzzzzzzzzzz)
Armageddon - the one with Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck. Affleck was pretty funny but Willis was a bore.
Braveheart - Mel Gibson (I would think making an epic like this would come with great insight...zzzzzzzzzzzz)
Armageddon - the one with Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck. Affleck was pretty funny but Willis was a bore.
12-04-03 | 11:32 AM
#41
Enter the Dragon - it has the worst commentary I ever heard from the producer and writer. The writer actually phoned his commentary in. How lame is that?
They should of hired Bey Logan; who is entertaining and gives the listener a ton of interesting facts. His commentaries on Bruce Lee's other films were excellent.
They should of hired Bey Logan; who is entertaining and gives the listener a ton of interesting facts. His commentaries on Bruce Lee's other films were excellent.
12-04-03 | 12:00 PM
#43
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From: My chair
Any commentary with Tim Burton. He starts out okay, but then he's either falling asleep or busy watching the movie. Paul Ruebens pretty much saved the co-commentary for PEE WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE.
12-04-03 | 12:15 PM
#44
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by JM1
But it's so frustrating when you can hear them laughing and s******ing at the jokes - but you cannot hear them yourself!
But it's so frustrating when you can hear them laughing and s******ing at the jokes - but you cannot hear them yourself!
12-04-03 | 02:30 PM
#45
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From: london,a small town outside the USA
I've said it before on this forum and I'll say it again, Rob Cohen for XXX. I love the film for what it is but, he goes on about "cubist action" , and how when they filmed the bridge jump at the beginning with different types of cameras and it being the first multimedia film. God! it sounds like he was re-inventing film AND the wheel at the same time. Very pretencious (sp?).
12-04-03 | 02:49 PM
#47
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I can't beleive that no one has mentioned the grand poobah of commentary silence............. ROB REINER! He starts watching the movie and says nothing for ten minutes. This applies to any Rob Reiner Commentary, especially WHMS.
12-04-03 | 05:46 PM
#50
Originally posted by Ayo
Re: Spike Lee...He was boring as hell on his 25th Hour, as well. Maybe he's just a boring person.
Re: Spike Lee...He was boring as hell on his 25th Hour, as well. Maybe he's just a boring person.
For someone who seems to have made a career out of shooting his mouth off and making outrageous statements, I'm shocked that he delievers such bland, empty commentaries. Baffles the mind.