Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Jimmy Higgins · 07-01-2003, 06:33 AM

Mr. Show with Bob and David has commentary that is so obnoxious. Its like they just sat and watched the program and just talked. Very annoying.

The Powerpuff Girls Movie however had a very nice movie long commentary. They went over characters, cartoon design, what they were thinking when they did certain things, etc... Very informative.

Azathoth · 07-01-2003, 06:52 AM

Yes to having a commentary.I'll purposely turn down a DVD without,to get one that has one,even if it's slightly more expensive.

Big Trouble in Little China is really bad,though.I'm not sure about the rest of Carpenter's commentaries,but that one was lacking.There was very little talk about the movie itself.

I did find out that Kurt Russel's son was doing well on his hockey team,the year it was put out,however.

I'm dreading,getting the Thing,because of this.I'll get it,but I'd rather have him focus on the movie.

elwoodblues · 07-01-2003, 06:56 AM

Quote:

I just don't have the patience to watch a movie OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER again to get all the peoples' commentary on it.

Normally, neither do I. LotR was a definite exception, though.

cliff999 · 07-02-2003, 06:22 AM

The commentary track on This Is Spinal Tap is almost as hilarious as the movie. Not to be missed. I also thought Roger Ebert's track on Citizen Kane was very informative. I usually don't have time to watch many of them though.

Monkeybot · 07-03-2003, 10:53 AM

Overall, I like them, although of course there are bad ones. Sometimes, even bad movies can be enlivened by good commentaries -- case in point, Blade 2 (please don't laugh at me). The movie itself is stupid, but the commentary with Wesley Snipes and one of the screenwriters is hysterical. They get to several scenes were they're like "I'm not really sure what was supposed to be happening there." Snipes keeps obsessing about how he wanted James Brown playing in the background for every scene, including really melodramatic scenes involving the pasty, hideous villain dude. By the end, Snipes and Goyer are basically just making fun of their own movie, which is a dramatic improvement over the commentary-less version.

Hedwig · 07-03-2003, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cliff999
The commentary track on This Is Spinal Tap is almost as hilarious as the movie. Not to be missed.

I absolutely agree with that. I've seen This is Spinal Tap enough times outside of the DVD that when I watch the DVD now I almost always have the commentary on.

I have yet to catch the LOTR:SE commentary but my mother has watched it a couple of times and absolutely adores it...especially the actors.

bocajeff · 07-03-2003, 04:42 PM

The Sam Raimi/Bruce Campbell commentaries on the Evil Dead movies are absolutely hysterical. Talk abouy making fun of their own movie. That's all they do for 90 some odd minutes. They're also pretty informative too which is an added bonus

m00ner · 07-05-2003, 08:12 PM

"Cannibal! The Musical" has the best commentary ever. They get drunk during it. It's hilarious.

cjack · 07-05-2003, 08:39 PM

I'll second the vote for Ebert's commentary on Dark City. Its one of the only ones I've heard that actually adds something to the film.

It is informative, but not in the usual "here's what I was going for in this scene" commentary you often get from directors. In other words, his commentary is about the finished product, and not the process of filmmaking. IMHO, that sort of stuff is best left to behind-the-scenes featurettes and such.

Buddrow_Wilson · 07-05-2003, 08:55 PM

I'm not really attracted to audio commentaries, but I've listened to a few. What I love most as a feature is deleted scenes, especially if the option to watch it with the scenes in place is available. Often times these deleted scenes can add much clarity to the plot.

View Poll Results: are they good or bad?
good	20	38.46%
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depends on the movie/show	25	48.08%
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Voters: 52. You may not vote on this poll

07-01-2003, 06:52 AM	#12
Azathoth Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The centre of infinity Posts: 1,181	Does anyone really read these headers,anyway? Yes to having a commentary.I'll purposely turn down a DVD without,to get one that has one,even if it's slightly more expensive. Big Trouble in Little China is really bad,though.I'm not sure about the rest of Carpenter's commentaries,but that one was lacking.There was very little talk about the movie itself. I did find out that Kurt Russel's son was doing well on his hockey team,the year it was put out,however. I'm dreading,getting the Thing,because of this.I'll get it,but I'd rather have him focus on the movie.

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07-01-2003, 06:33 AM	#11
Jimmy Higgins Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Proud Citizen of Freedonia Posts: 42,473	Mr. Show with Bob and David has commentary that is so obnoxious. Its like they just sat and watched the program and just talked. Very annoying. The Powerpuff Girls Movie however had a very nice movie long commentary. They went over characters, cartoon design, what they were thinking when they did certain things, etc... Very informative.

07-02-2003, 06:22 AM	#14
cliff999 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fishers, In Posts: 37	The commentary track on This Is Spinal Tap is almost as hilarious as the movie. Not to be missed. I also thought Roger Ebert's track on Citizen Kane was very informative. I usually don't have time to watch many of them though.

07-03-2003, 10:53 AM	#15
Monkeybot Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: North Carolina Posts: 8,102	Overall, I like them, although of course there are bad ones. Sometimes, even bad movies can be enlivened by good commentaries -- case in point, Blade 2 (please don't laugh at me). The movie itself is stupid, but the commentary with Wesley Snipes and one of the screenwriters is hysterical. They get to several scenes were they're like "I'm not really sure what was supposed to be happening there." Snipes keeps obsessing about how he wanted James Brown playing in the background for every scene, including really melodramatic scenes involving the pasty, hideous villain dude. By the end, Snipes and Goyer are basically just making fun of their own movie, which is a dramatic improvement over the commentary-less version.

07-03-2003, 04:42 PM	#17
bocajeff Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: HelL.A. Posts: 1,157	The Sam Raimi/Bruce Campbell commentaries on the Evil Dead movies are absolutely hysterical. Talk abouy making fun of their own movie. That's all they do for 90 some odd minutes. They're also pretty informative too which is an added bonus

07-05-2003, 08:12 PM	#18
m00ner Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: St. Paul Posts: 180	"Cannibal! The Musical" has the best commentary ever. They get drunk during it. It's hilarious.

07-05-2003, 08:39 PM	#19
cjack Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Arizona Posts: 4,294	I'll second the vote for Ebert's commentary on Dark City. Its one of the only ones I've heard that actually adds something to the film. It is informative, but not in the usual "here's what I was going for in this scene" commentary you often get from directors. In other words, his commentary is about the finished product, and not the process of filmmaking. IMHO, that sort of stuff is best left to behind-the-scenes featurettes and such.

07-05-2003, 08:55 PM	#20
Buddrow_Wilson Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,589	I'm not really attracted to audio commentaries, but I've listened to a few. What I love most as a feature is deleted scenes, especially if the option to watch it with the scenes in place is available. Often times these deleted scenes can add much clarity to the plot.

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