The documentary on Gladiator SE and the long doc on The Frightners come to mind-
Also the Black Hawk Down docs are excellent(3D)

I have yet to see a DVD documentary I enjoyed more than The Snowball Effect on the Clerks. X DVD.

But I haven't seen the one on the Chasing Amy Blu, and Brian Orndorf seemed to think that one was even better.

I've only commented so far, so I figure now is as good a time as any to offer up my personal favorite. On Disc 2 of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, you'll find a documentary called "Within a Minute." It examines the role played by every department in the making of one isolated minute of the film, from the screenwriter (George Lucas) to props, to wardrobe, to John Williams scoring the scene...everyone who had a hand in that minute of footage in some way is represented. I don't recall now just how long it runs, but it is exhaustive. Even if you care nothing for that particular movie, I would recommend it for any "Moviemaking 101" course.

My favorite is the Clarice Music Video Easter Egg on the Hannibal DVD. It was made of footage filmed before "action" was called or after "cut" was called. A unique look at the filming process, with a haunting song over it.

(Note, I linked to the video rather than embedded it because it contains some disturbing images and some spoilers)

When movies are based on real events I like documentaries or commentaries about the actual event. Bank Job had a doc about the actual bank robbery and Gettysburg and titantic had historians discussing actual events being depicted in the movies.

Other than that some of the gag reels are pretty good but I'm the anti-junkie whn it comes to features. Really don't care about 99% of them.

A really top-notch making of doc, like "Under Pressure" on the Abyss.

I also enjoy roundtable discussions like "Charlie Rose" segments.

Sounds well worth a watch, despite the film

This reminds me of a plan I'm about to implement.

Like many of us I imagine, I always plan to explore the special features on my discs but rarely get around to them. I'm going to vow to fully explore the special features on at least one disc per week, fully watching all of the featurettes and commentaries and whatever else.

I'm very list oriented, and currently use the monthly unwatched threads to help keep me honest on my other watching goals (one new DVD per day, three TV seasons per month). I think I'll just add it to those posts, maybe catching up and making it retroactive to January 1.

I've always enjoyed the Saw film commentaries. Other than that, I don't watch commentaries for any other films.

I started doing this in earnest last year. I have a movies blog, and I have a rule that, unless it's a rental that I'm returning before I really have time to explore the features, I only post a review once I've visited every feature.

Then, we got a Blu-ray player in November. I'm more likely to watch bonus features in the bedroom, so I've severely fallen off with bonus features.

I also recall the doc on the SE of The Exorcist being really good as well-

JJE-187 Can I ask you where you found that XXX rated version?-Thanks

Yes that was an awesome insight into film making If I recall correctly it runs over an hour. It goes into every person around the world that directly and indirectly worked on it. You really get overwhelmed onto all that goes on into creating a movie

Also the making-of-documentary on HELL BOY II GOLDEN ARMY blu-ray is extremely detailed. It might actually run longer than the movie. I was impressed to find out most of the creatures are actually people in costumes mixed with some animatronics. Even behind the cameras those creatures looked damn real to me.

Just learned a trick in the 'watching movies faster' thread. Most items can probably be easily understood at 1.5 speed, making it much easier to get through all of the special features.

I really love the commentaries and docs on the Criterion of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. One of the best overall DVDS IMO. I also love the interviews and story telling from the Reservoir Dogs DVD. The story of Lawrence Tierney told by the cast is a riot and makes me laugh non-stop...especially the Chris Penn BBQ story.

Favorite bonus feature is the inclusion of an alternate cut. The whole cut, not just 'deleted scenes'

Absolutely essential DVD features :

1. Original aspect ratio presentation
2. Original language soundtrack, with English subtitles (no dubbing)
3. Inclusion of original mono soundtrack (older films. Not a big fan of remixed soundtracks)

I thought we were past the days of counting things like OAR and proper soundtracks as "bonus features." In any event, I did think of another couple of favorites of mine from Sin City:

The Long Take: 14 Uninterrupted Minutes of Tarantino's Segment - Rocks because you really get a glimpse at what goes on on-set, and the crafting of different takes.

10-Minute Cooking School with Robert Rodriguez - I know he's done other cooking school segments, but this was the first one I saw. Dude even showed how to make tortillas from scratch!

Maybe so, but DVDs like that are still being made and still being released.

I did state that alternate cuts were my favorite "bonus" feature....the rest I put under "Absolutely essential DVD features"


Cooking School with Robert Rodriguez sounds interesting.

I really like the historical DVD's like Valkyrie, for example that have the added historical footage in the special features. Another example would be Public Enemies with actual footage of Dillinger in the Special Features. Things like that are the stuff that I really enjoy.
That and of course having the full, uncut movie, not making another version later on with added footage
that I won't be able to buy when I already have a copy of an earlier release.

I'm a sucker for a great commentary, and the three commentaries which have me laughing right along are:

1. Futurama. Those guys clearly had a lot of fun doing that show.
2. Mr. Show.
3. The Simpsons.

I'll think about what I like beyond commentaries that really stands out...

Oh, maybe the Cohens talking about The Big Lebowski's relationship to Raymond Chandler writing or the MTV movie award short films on Rushmore criterion.

I was going to mention "The Snowball Effect" as well.

Say what you will about Kevin Smith, but the guy is an open book and his fans no exactly where he's coming from. It is sad watching that one and seeing how much he respected and was loyal to the Weinstein's, only to be crapped on them following Zack and Miri, despite never delivering a financially losing film for them, unlike another early 90s Weinstein find.

I like any and all unaired pilots. The one listed above. The extended version of "The Cage" on Star Trek TOS Season 3 blu-ray with new additional footage never before seen. Gilligan's Island with a completely different Calypso-like opening theme song and three different castaways, no Dawn Wells (Mary Ann), Tina Louise (Ginger) or Russell Johnson (Professor).


For movies I agree with Jim and Joe. The Blackhawk Down dvd including The History Channel Presents: "The True Story of Blackhawk Down" would be a good example.

How great would it have been if Disney would/could have put the "Miracle on Ice" hockey game against the Russian's on the Miracle dvd/blu disc?