Audio Commentary 101
04-11-08, 12:01 AM
#1
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Audio Commentary 101
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_commentary
The first audio commentary was featured on the Criterion Collection release of the original King Kong movie, on laserdisc in December 1984. It featured film historian Ronald Haver and his first words were:
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen, I'm Ronald Haver, and I'm here to do something which we feel is rather unique. I'm going to take you on a lecture tour of King Kong as you watch the film. The laserdisc technology offers us this opportunity and we feel it's rather unique — the ability to switch back and forth between the soundtrack and this lecture track...”
Despite its history with laserdiscs, the idea of audio commentary was still such an uncommon notion that, in its January 1998 review of the Contact DVD, Entertainment Weekly scoffed, "Who in the universe would want to journey through more than eight hours of gassy, how-we-filmed-the-nebulae trivia included in this "Special Edition" disc?"
04-11-08, 12:17 AM
#3
Is it Audio Commentary's birthday today?
04-11-08, 02:26 AM
#5
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Originally Posted by FinkPish
OK.
Was there something you wanted to discuss or was this just informational?
Was there something you wanted to discuss or was this just informational?
-The very presentation of information should hopefully lead to discussion without me having to dictate the parameters of the thread.
-Every once in a while I like to post something that isn't completely self-indulgent. I get sick with myself after posting "I bought this" or "I own this" so many times in a row.
Post what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.
04-11-08, 02:33 AM
#6
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Originally Posted by domino harvey
I can't believe there's a Wikipedia entry for audio commentaries
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVDTalk
04-11-08, 07:48 AM
#9
Audio commentaries are truly my favorite feature. When done right they can be really rewarding.
Anyone know if this Ronald Haver criterion commentary was ever reused? I do not think it is on the 2 Disc SE.
Anyone know if this Ronald Haver criterion commentary was ever reused? I do not think it is on the 2 Disc SE.
04-11-08, 09:48 AM
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Great tidbit...did not know that.
I do have something to add:
The commentary track for me is hit or miss. You get ones that are good and others that are awful. It would be nice if there was an audio commentary 101 for people to go through to make sure they don't suck, but that doesn't happen. But there are plenty of good ones out there...listen to any of The Shield ones. For a bad one, listen to almost all of the Sopranos ones. You can really see the difference between them.
I do have something to add:
The commentary track for me is hit or miss. You get ones that are good and others that are awful. It would be nice if there was an audio commentary 101 for people to go through to make sure they don't suck, but that doesn't happen. But there are plenty of good ones out there...listen to any of The Shield ones. For a bad one, listen to almost all of the Sopranos ones. You can really see the difference between them.
04-11-08, 10:17 AM
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Originally Posted by macnorton
It would be nice if there was an audio commentary 101 for people to go through to make sure they don't suck, but that doesn't happen.
04-11-08, 10:43 AM
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Originally Posted by dvd182
The problem is that there is no set formula that makes one good or bad...it just is or isn't. Some commentaries have little to do with the film and are hiliarious and entertaining, while others go deep in the technical side or are too pretentious and aren't that good, and vice versa.
04-11-08, 11:07 AM
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There was a thread either here or at HTF where someone created a page for reviewing commentaries. Someone has to know what I'm talking about.
sneak edit: Found it--http://www.ratethatcommentary.com
sneak edit: Found it--http://www.ratethatcommentary.com
Last edited by canaryfarmer; 04-11-08 at 11:43 AM.
04-11-08, 11:42 AM
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Originally Posted by canaryfarmer
There was a thread either here or at HTF where someone created a page for reviewing commentaries. Someone has to know what I'm talking about.
sneak edit: Found it--http://www.ratethatcommentary.com
sneak edit: Found it--http://www.ratethatcommentary.com
04-11-08, 12:04 PM
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Interesting stuff. I'm not usually a big commentary listener, but I have made exceptions for some of my favorite films. Usually I'll put them on in the background when I'm doing things around my room.
04-11-08, 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by KillerCannibal
Interesting stuff. I'm not usually a big commentary listener, but I have made exceptions for some of my favorite films. Usually I'll put them on in the background when I'm doing things around my room.
04-11-08, 03:14 PM
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On a related note, "Commentary Tracks of the Damned" on the Onion A.V. Club Web site (http://www.avclub.com) are often quite entertaining.
04-11-08, 09:25 PM
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Originally Posted by JackBurton
Audio commentaries are truly my favorite feature. When done right they can be really rewarding.
04-11-08, 09:27 PM
#22
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This was the first scene that we shot. He's really great in this scene.
04-11-08, 10:02 PM
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It would be nice if the producer of the DVD would explain to the person doing the commentary what exactly a commentary is.
I've listened to so many "commentaries" from old former TV stars who are now in their seventies who just sit there and watch the episode and laugh at the jokes, and barely provide any remembrances or insight into the making of the TV show. Maybe they will comment about their hair or old clothes.
It makes me wonder if they knew what they were supposed to do? Most of them are old and probably haven't kept up with the DVD technology. Either that or they truly have no memories because the work they did was too long ago.
I've listened to so many "commentaries" from old former TV stars who are now in their seventies who just sit there and watch the episode and laugh at the jokes, and barely provide any remembrances or insight into the making of the TV show. Maybe they will comment about their hair or old clothes.
It makes me wonder if they knew what they were supposed to do? Most of them are old and probably haven't kept up with the DVD technology. Either that or they truly have no memories because the work they did was too long ago.