The other thread on commentaries being passe made me very curious about what some of the best/most interesting commentaries are available. I used to love having the commentary feature on dvds, but I haven't actually listened to one in awhile because must do end up sounding quite boring. I did a quick search and didn't find much on the topic so please chime in and discuss your favorite commentary tracks. Which ones are actually worth the time and add something to the movie? My favorite was the actor's commentary for Fight Club.

Charade: Criterion Collection is very funny and informative.

Also any of the Kevin Smith, Evil Dead and Monty Python commentaries are highly recommended.

The MGM This is Spinal Tap commentary is a hillarious in character commentary and the Criterion version has a very informative commentary with them out of character.

Kurt Russell/John Carpenter on Escape From NY-have it on laserdisc and I guess its the same as the recent dvd release.

The Station Agent.

It was as enjoyable as the film, which IMHO, says a lot.

Big Trouble in Little China is another good one.

Dawn of the Dead(original)

Anything with Bruce Campbell

Here's the thread from earlier this year on the same topic:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=415915

Roger Ebert's commentaries are always great cause he only does films he knows a lot about and really loves. His commentary on Casablanca is one of the best. He also has a commentary on a film that doesn't seem like his type, certainly not in the vein of Casablanca and Citizen Kane. That film is Dark City, a 1998 neo-noir thriller made by the same people who made The Crow.

Usually Cast commentaries aren't the best unless you really like those actors. When you pair up the main star or stars with the Director though, those are usually interesting enough because there's not as many gaps in the conversation, and you usually get an even mix of technical talk and general tidbits about the experiences of the actors. Occasionally though, a couple of actors will just have great chemistry and produce a great commentary, such as the case of the film Sideways with the commentary with Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church.

The Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell commentaries on the Evil Dead series are always fun and informative because they're best friends who actively had a part in making the films.

Robert Rodriguez commentaries are always good such as in El Mariachi and Desperado, just because he is active in the entire process of making most of his movies and can provide enough cool info to fill 3 or 4 commentaries. Quentin Tarantino is very much the same way with his commentaries. I'd say his best may very well be one he wrote and didn't direct though, True Romance, because that was a very personal script for him.

John Carpenter commentaries are always good, but as the composer of most of his films, he usually drifts in and out a lot about talking about the music more than the film. That could probably annoy some people.

If you like Fight Club, you may like the commentaries on the 2 Disc set of Seven. There's like 4 or 5 on there just like on Fight Club. Also, Terry Gilliam commentaries are usually interesting. You may want to check out 12 Monkeys.

I've never heard one personally, but I hear that Joe Bob Briggs, movie critic and the guy who use to host TNT's Monstervision late saturday nights, gives very entertaining commentaries on a series of B-movies and cult horror films.

Joss Whedon's Commentary for Buffy/Angel/Firefly. His solo commentary on the first two episodes of Buffy teh Vampire Slayer is the reason I'm going to film school...

In the other thread i put down Cannibal! The Musical as one of my favorites (drunken one, being the great part), but i recently watched/listened to Darren Aronofsky on Requiem For A Dream and have to say I was mother fucking impressed.

So far, anything by Cameron Crowe (especially in Almost Famous: Untitled), Bob Zemeckis and of course Roger Ebert (have yet to listen to his commentary in Floating Weeds but the DVD is sitting there waiting for its turn.

Conan the Barbarian commentator John Milius and Arnold Schwarzenneger is one of the greatest, i like how they joke around (while providing many deeper angles to the movie) and there's a light hearted mood to the whole thing.

Schwarzenneger: "Boy i get laid a lot in this movie"

Always loved Joe Bob Briggs and MonsterVision. Have no doubt he does great commentaries.

One of the best I've heard--and the first I listened to beginning to end--is by Kenneth Johnson for V. His love and reverence for the project came through in every word. He repeated a given thought every now and then, but listening to him was a solid treat. As far as I was concerned, his anecdotes and attitude set the standard for how commentaries should be done.

The director/producer/writer commentaries for The Lord of the Rings are great. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyen were totally personable, and gave tremendous insight into how the films were done.

Had great fun with Stephen Sommers and Bob Ducsay on The Mummy Returns. Regardless of what one may think of Sommers' films, he, himself, is a delight. Sure he and Bob were equally as good on the original feature.

James Cameron and William Wisher on the "Extreme DVD" release of Terminator 2. Loved 'em. Anytime Cameron wants to comment on a movie, I'm there. He's one of those types that always has some interesting bit of information to share, and shares everything with flair. Good stuff. Can't wait to hear his commentary for Titanic.

Does Quentin Tarantino do commentaries? Would no doubt be a livewire. Love to sit through Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 with him.

And although I've yet to hear Wes Craven, I think he's absolutely amazing in interviews, and somehow know he is in the same league with James Cameron and John Carpenter in expression and demeanor when discussing his films.

--THX

Other than the mentioned Kevin Smith, Sam Raimi/Bruce Campbell commentaries i'll add:

Verhoven+ Arnold commentary on "Total Recall"
Verhoven on "Robocop Criterion"

I don't remember his name but the guy who did the commentary on "Godzilla 2000"

Ebert's Dark City commentary and Eli Roth's commentaries on Cabin Fever. He is a pretty cool dude I think. I enjoyed McKee's May commentaries too and the Wes Craven/Williamson Scream commentary, which was the first one I ever heard.

Any David Fincher commentary is time well spent. Steven Soderbergh does very good ones as well. His one for Solaris with James Cameron is one of the better ones I've listened to. As others have said, Robert Rodriguez always does great commentaries. He's always prepared and it shows. Another vote for Kevin Smith and love or hate his movies, Michael Bay does great commentaries, always willing to point out the flaws in his own films.

I'd say most of the commentaries on the 4-disk Blackhawk Down SE are impressive. Especially the author/screenwriter track. Those two guys just have a ton of great stories. The track featuring the soldiers who were at the actual battle is a little dry, but still interesting to find out how much of the movie is real, and how much is Hollywood. And of course, Ridley Scott is always interestign to listen to.

I would have to add the tracks from Way of the Gun and The Usual suspects. Very funny, they do take the piss out of their own films and very informative.

Cimino's commentary on the region 2 edition of The Deer Hunter is superb : insightful and sometimes simply moving - the man almost cries during the veterans' hospital scenes !
You can tell this film was a labour of love...

The commentaries on the Simpsons DVDs are consistently entertaining, especially considering they've done one for every episode. The same can be said for the Futurama DVDs as well.

The Steven Soderbergh/Lem Dobbs commentary from The Limey.

Joss Whedon's and Nathan Fillion's commentary on the episode "Serenity" on the Firefly set. It is a very fun commentary.

Emma Thompson's commentary on "Sense and Sensibility" is priceless.

The Joe Bob Briggs commentary on "I Spit on your Grave" had me rolling on the floor. And it's not just funny, the guy really knows his stuff. If you combine entertainment value with content, this one is at the top of my list.

I also enjoy the James Ursini/Alain Silver commentaries on film noir, but I can't stand Drew Casper.

True Romance and From dusk till dawn are the only 2 he's done so far to my knowledge.

Carrot Top - The Rules of Attraction (funny and over the top)