Listening to DVD commentaries with no screen
 

I've got a new thing going. I've found it hard to get through a full movie's commentary track.

I like to listen to talk radio at night in my bed before going to sleep. So last week I connected a DVD player to the audio system in my bedroom and listened to one of the commentaries on The Return of the King Extended Edition. Sure it's taking a few nights to listen finish it, but I don't find I'm missing out on too much by not having a screen. I can close my eyes and concentrate on the commentary. My bedroom system is stereo and for commentaries, that's all I need. I think this is going to work especially well on certain types of commentary tracks like Guillermo Del Torro's track on Hellboy.

On long car trips I'll usually take my portable player, hook it up to the car stereo and listen to commentaries that way. I've done this a couple of times and haven't really felt I'm missing anything.... heck 1/2 the time commentaries are usually just describing what's on the screen anyway :(

I usually listen to commentaries when I'm working around the house and rarely look at the screen. If they point out something that sounds interesting I check it out on screen, if not, I go on washing dishes, folding laundry, etc.

Actually that's what I do! I listen to commentaries while I'm on bed trying to sleep. Glad I'm not alone. :D

I think there was a thread on this years back where someone expressed the same sentiment. I used to go to sleep listening to the Se7en or SOTL commentaries. For some reason, I am unable to sleep with the television on. I occasionally go to sleep listening to classical music......but that's beside the point.

Every single night I listen to a commentary when I'm going to bed. Usually takes me about 4 days to get through one.

If you're not alone, maybe you should be doing something in that bed besides listening to commentaries. -ptth-

Sorry.

Me, I play them in the background when I'm working at the computer. I also enjoy Simpsons commentaries while working out.

RichC

I've been doing that too. I also listen to them while working out on my treadmill.

I often listen to commentaries while at work. I'm not watching the movie on my screen, but listen to the commentary on my headphones.

I'd love to listen at work....but I wouldn't be able to hear my workers as we yank a baby grand piano up 4 flights of stairs.

At home...I usually always have my monitor fired up and ready, regardless of what I'm listening too.

I used to listen to music or watch films as I fell asleep. Seems like since I hit 40....I now need total peace.

I listened to the South Park S1 commentaries on a long car trip, and I loved it. Trey & Matt's commentaries never disappoint.

9 times out of 10 I'm not watching the screen during a commentary anyways. I'll be working on the computer, chores, whathaveyou.

Just don't ever listen to Paul Verhoeven's commentary on Starship Troopers (original release) when you go to sleep unless you want to be awakened.

I do the same thing. I even take it a step further and play it back at 1.75 speed with WinDVD. I find that to be about right on 95% of the discs.

You guys are hardcore. :D

I listen to commentaries through my portable dvd player when I go on long walks or hikes. That way I can get exercise, enjoy my dvd collection and be outside at the same time.

huh, I'd never even given this idea much thought. Sounds interesting.

What would be the most entertaining "no need to watch the screen" commentary you can recommend?

I always listen/watch commentaries on my portable player when online. It's amazing how many and how fast you can get through them this way.

good idea :up: I'm gonna try that tonight

I don't know of any specific commentaries, but I imagine a movie that you know pretty well would be a good place to start.

Comic Book-The Movie

You'll hear Elvis,The Cowardly Lion,Wayne Newton, and lots of others..

Some good ideas on how to listen to commentaries, especially since I am not a fan of them.

I have about 40+ commentaries on my 40GB MP3 player. I pick my favorite ones that I'll want to listen to again and again. People at work think it's odd but I enjoy listening to commentaries and having some with me at all times.

This is intriguing.

I have almost 300 movies and I've never listened to a commentary. I'm sure I'm alone here. I started to listen to the commentary on Forrest Gump a couple of years ago, but it kept interrupting the movie, so I shut it off. I haven't tried one since. When I want to watch a movie, I want to watch a movie, not hear someone talk about/over it.

Maybe I should look into this instead.


Stew

"No movie" might work for some of the gossipy and anecdotal-type commentaries, but it would be a waste of time for any decent commentary that offers insights into how the movie is put together.

For example, just this evening I watched <i>Panic In The Streets</i> with the commentary track - it's excellent, but would be a waste without seeing the movie at the same time since it is constantly referencing camera positions and movements, pointing out composition and background people, making note of costuming, etc.

I sometimes do this while I am playing video games that dont need sound to much.