What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
06-24-09, 09:37 AM
#26
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
When I first bought a DVD player in 1999, the audio commentaries were my favorite feature. When I was working I used to put one on ones I had even listened to before. Back then, a lot of these commentaires were carried over from laser disc, so they were for movies that actually had a lot of background information worth talking about. Whether the commentary was by a critic or participants of the production, a lot of time had passed so these people could get nostalgic, and look back at the production with some hindsight and really have some interesting thoughts to impart.
Now that every movie has a commentary (many that seem to be recorded even before the release of the movie), the final product plays more like a contract obligation than anything an audience would find interesting. I rarely bother listening to them any more. It took me awhile to even remember the last commentaries I listened to.
I sampled Alan Ball's commentary on the final scene of the great 'Six Feet Under', and his comments all seemed pithal against the finest, most emotional six minutes of film I've ever seen.
The last one before that was Malcolm McDowell on A Clockwork Orange, which I listened to over a year ago. And while there was many interesting moments, they were spread out too far from one another. Generally, the runtime of the movie is an inefficiant way to deliever the information in the average commentary. Now days I'd rather have a video of an interview that runs as long as the speaker has things to say.
Now that every movie has a commentary (many that seem to be recorded even before the release of the movie), the final product plays more like a contract obligation than anything an audience would find interesting. I rarely bother listening to them any more. It took me awhile to even remember the last commentaries I listened to.
I sampled Alan Ball's commentary on the final scene of the great 'Six Feet Under', and his comments all seemed pithal against the finest, most emotional six minutes of film I've ever seen.
The last one before that was Malcolm McDowell on A Clockwork Orange, which I listened to over a year ago. And while there was many interesting moments, they were spread out too far from one another. Generally, the runtime of the movie is an inefficiant way to deliever the information in the average commentary. Now days I'd rather have a video of an interview that runs as long as the speaker has things to say.
06-24-09, 09:48 AM
#27
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06-24-09, 03:34 PM
#28
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
How awesome is this movie. Listened to this track a while ago, it's pretty solid, Terence Stamp while, one of my 5 all-time favorite actors, is a strange strange dude, so it's not surprising he didn't do the commentary. The extremely in-depth interview w/ him on the DVD makes up for it IMO.
06-24-09, 11:40 PM
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
Kurt Russell and John Carpenter for "The Thing", Escape from New York, and Big Trouble in Little China, Peter Jackson & gang for all the Lord of the Rings films. Russell and Carpenter just have such a great time you can't help being caught up in the fun. If anyone has any questions at all about the Lord of the Rings films, four commentary tracks per film should answer them!!!!
06-25-09, 11:01 AM
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
Stamp does a good commentary track on Billy Budd with Steven Soderbergh.
06-25-09, 03:18 PM
#32
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
The last 3 Troma commentaries I listened to were all like that and it really made me think of him as a giant douche even though I grew up with Toxic Avenger when it first came out and thought they were an awesome company.
Anyhow, I also found a related website that has commentaries you can listen to, or if you look at the link for playing it, you can see the mp3 and can download it.
http://listentoamovie.com/list.php?A...vieList&Filter[64]=0&Search=commentary&&Page=1
The have The Toxic Avenger, Kevin Smith's stuff(including An Evening With), the 007 films, classic horror films like dracula, frankenstein, creature from the black lagoon, Mel Brooks stuff and some Bruce Campbell films.
Oh, and Cannibal: The Musical which is highly recommended.
edit: As for the last commentary I listened to, it was some Korean film about a girl that was an assassin. The commenter was some American, know idea who or why he did it, and the only thing he did was narrate what was on the screen, "Oh, she has nice breasts".
I turned it off halfway through, since it was pointless and at the time I was listening to every commentary, and haven't listened to a commentary since then. It's been around 4 years since that day.
It was a thousand times worse than the kids commentary on School of Rock which I sat through the previous day where I watched it for the first time and then with 2 back to back commentaries. Yes, that's School of Rock back to back to back.
Last edited by The Man with the Golden Doujinshi; 06-25-09 at 03:23 PM.
06-25-09, 07:54 PM
#33
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
^ I'm referring to Toxic Avenger 2 commentary, even though I had heard the commentary with the first edition of the DVD, which inadvertantly was the R-rated cut, it was odd to hear Lloyd talk about the uncensored gore scenes and the viewer still watching the MPAA R-rated version.
06-25-09, 10:37 PM
#34
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
I listened to a few the other day.
Aliens. Great commentary mostly Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd. The have a great fondness for each other and have some great stories to tell.
Hostel 2 - not so good. Eli Roth and Tarantino fighting for the microphone.
Mission: Impossible 3 - Cruise and JJ. Cruise wasn't taking it very seriously but still a good listen.
Aliens. Great commentary mostly Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd. The have a great fondness for each other and have some great stories to tell.
Hostel 2 - not so good. Eli Roth and Tarantino fighting for the microphone.
Mission: Impossible 3 - Cruise and JJ. Cruise wasn't taking it very seriously but still a good listen.
06-26-09, 08:11 AM
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
I've always found this site interesting when it comes to commentary reviews:
http://www.ratethatcommentary.com/
http://www.ratethatcommentary.com/
06-28-09, 08:00 PM
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
Listened to Titanic (1997), Director's Commentary (Cameron). A lot of the comm was him just saying whether a shot was CGI, miniature, or the boat set in Baja. Was interesting to hear about how some of the stuff was done, but overall not that great. The parts where he talked about the collaboration and rehearsals between himself, Kate and Leo were the best parts.
06-28-09, 08:30 PM
#37
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
I listened to Cameron's Titanic commentary last night and I agree. He barely said a single word of interest other than that the shot of Leo at the front and then the reveal of the ship cost a million dollars. Wow. But no production history, on-set experience. Zilch. I thought he loved this movie more than his children.
06-28-09, 08:48 PM
#38
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
Finally listened to Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven commentary. I think Scott has provided the most consistant, informative commantaries of any director. Just about every time he does a great mix of technical and antidotal and knows how to make use of his commentary time. I make it a point to listen to his stuff. I just missed this one and never got around it.
06-29-09, 01:52 AM
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
Just listened to The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly commentary by film historian Richard Shickel. Very informative and scene relevant. Naturally a tad dry as he was never on set. He talks mostly about Leone's unique style, the influence on Leone of certain (painted) artistic styles, and his deteriorating relationship with Eastwood.
Especially interesting were the speculations on Leone's religious views. Most prominently (though I had never even thought/noticed it) was the fact that at the end of the film, Tuco is perched on the graveyard cross and it's unstable and ready to break apart at any moment.
Shickel makes an error during the character introduction scenes, calling Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef) "The Ugly" despite the fact that Eli Wallach's initro scene had only ended a few minutes previous with the on-screen titling splash. Though he does later refer to Angel Eyes as "The Bad."
Especially interesting were the speculations on Leone's religious views. Most prominently (though I had never even thought/noticed it) was the fact that at the end of the film, Tuco is perched on the graveyard cross and it's unstable and ready to break apart at any moment.
Shickel makes an error during the character introduction scenes, calling Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef) "The Ugly" despite the fact that Eli Wallach's initro scene had only ended a few minutes previous with the on-screen titling splash. Though he does later refer to Angel Eyes as "The Bad."
06-29-09, 10:43 AM
#40
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
Finally listened to Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven commentary. I think Scott has provided the most consistant, informative commantaries of any director. Just about every time he does a great mix of technical and antidotal and knows how to make use of his commentary time. I make it a point to listen to his stuff. I just missed this one and never got around it.
Just listened to the Hulks commentary with Tim Roth and Louis Leterrier. Quite good as it was abit technical and Roth did mention how he finds directing.
Just gotta decide what's next to listen to. Just got Eastbound and Down and the new Do The Right Thing BD so perhaps one of them next!
06-29-09, 11:23 AM
#41
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
Finally listened to Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven commentary. I think Scott has provided the most consistant, informative commantaries of any director. Just about every time he does a great mix of technical and antidotal and knows how to make use of his commentary time. I make it a point to listen to his stuff. I just missed this one and never got around it.
his commentary for Legend is also fascinating.
07-15-09, 08:16 PM
#42
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
The seinfeld cast commentaries are horrible. Mostly talking about what they were wearing and elaine's hairstyles.. lol..
Started watching A fish called wanda commentary. Not sure if i will finish it, going to finish all the specials first. Had a lot of deleted scenes to watch.
Started watching A fish called wanda commentary. Not sure if i will finish it, going to finish all the specials first. Had a lot of deleted scenes to watch.
07-15-09, 09:30 PM
#43
DVD Talk Limited Edition
07-16-09, 09:51 AM
#44
Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
The fan commentary on Friday-13th:Final Chapter. Great deal of fun (Much,much better than the director's) It even got me interested in checking out their work(s) (Hatchet,Wrong Turn 2)
07-16-09, 10:02 AM
#45
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
Even though at times it seems like Ron Howard kind of just stops talking and enjoys rewatching his film during his commentary for Cocoon - he provides alot of fun, interesting facts of the filming. The funniest part is when he calls his brother Clint an 'asshole' - which he says lightheartedly.
July commentaries:
- Killer Klowns from Outer Space [great commentary]
- Sunshine [Danny Boyle does some of the best dvd commentaries]
- The Blob (1958) [both commentaries from the Criterion release]
- Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope
- Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
- Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow [blah blah blah]
- The War of the Worlds (1953) [Joe Dante commentary a definate highlight of the special edition]
- Predator 2 [Director commentary: a few interesting tidbits here and there, but largely dull]
- Invasion of Astro-Monster
- Return from Witch Mountain [a definate surprise and favourite commentary of the month]
- In the Shadow of the Moon
- Flash Gordon Brian Blessed commentary track is almost as entertaining as the film itself
July commentaries:
- Killer Klowns from Outer Space [great commentary]
- Sunshine [Danny Boyle does some of the best dvd commentaries]
- The Blob (1958) [both commentaries from the Criterion release]
- Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope
- Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
- Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow [blah blah blah]
- The War of the Worlds (1953) [Joe Dante commentary a definate highlight of the special edition]
- Predator 2 [Director commentary: a few interesting tidbits here and there, but largely dull]
- Invasion of Astro-Monster
- Return from Witch Mountain [a definate surprise and favourite commentary of the month]
- In the Shadow of the Moon
- Flash Gordon Brian Blessed commentary track is almost as entertaining as the film itself
Last edited by Giles; 07-16-09 at 10:13 AM.
07-16-09, 03:24 PM
#47
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
Listened to the entire Fanboys commentary last night. Good stuff, never a second of silence, plus it has the love of my life Kristen Bell on it. Her story of when Billy Dee first walked on set was hilarious.
07-17-09, 02:55 AM
#48
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
Gee, its been about 3 years since I watched through a film with the commentary on. That film was the original King Kong, which came with 2 discs in a tin box..
07-17-09, 07:54 AM
#49
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Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
Both commentaries on The War of the Worlds (1953) were good, other than Gene Barry being somewhat comatose..
07-17-09, 08:03 AM
#50
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: What's the last commentary track you listened to & how was it?
Last commentary I listened to was the historian one on An Affair to Remember. Excellent.