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post #31 of 55
5/19/03 at 3:04pm
Cronenberg's commentaries -- on the Criterion Crash and Dead Ringers LDs I own are good, as well as the one on the Canadian eXistneZ DVD.
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post #32 of 55
5/19/03 at 3:12pm
Definately the cast of Spinal Tap (Guest, McKean and Shearer) in character doing the commentary on the MGM DVD. Not only is it hysterical, but it is almost like a sequel to the movie (if that makes sense). Their disdain for EVERYONE in the movie, especially Marty, is just too funny.
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post #33 of 55
5/19/03 at 3:39pm
The best commantaries I've listened to are:

Toy Story 1+2
Prince of Egypt
Road to El Dorado
Chicken Run
Shrek
Evil Dead
Evil Dead 2
Fellowship of the Ring (PJ, cast)
The Abyss (text)
The Thing
Big Trouble in Little China
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post #34 of 55
5/19/03 at 3:42pm
I just listened to Gillian Anderson's commentary on the X-Files Season 7 episode "all things" which she written and directed. Its a very candid and informative commentary with almost no gaps of silence. She talked about everything from the amount of footage cut to an actress who was breastfeeding between takes.
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post #35 of 55
5/19/03 at 3:47pm

One of the greatest commentaries I've ever heard is with director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Lem Dobbs on The Limey. Dobbs is very bitter about how much of his screenplay didn't make the final cut and he's not afraid to share his feelings. It's a very lively commentary, to say the least.
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post #36 of 55
5/19/03 at 3:56pm
Glengary Glenn Ross - Jack Lemmon's commentary on the Pioneer Special Edition Laserdisc. I cannot believe they didn't include it on the DVD.
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post #37 of 55
5/19/03 at 5:01pm
Quote:
Kingpin - Farrely brothers: so many stories about where jokes came from


I never thought I'd see Kingpin listed in a poll of the best commentaries. Agree to disagree time!

Quote:
I'll disagree with Rob Lutter on Austin Powers 2 commentary, while the first movies' commentary is quite enjoyable, I felt that the second movies' commentary was a huge letdown.


I thought the Shagged track was better than the Mystery one, though both were pretty similar. Not sure why the second commentary seemed like a "huge letdown". (The movie itself, on the other hand...)
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post #38 of 55
5/19/03 at 6:08pm
A few more good ones:
Conan the Barbarian
Pitch Black
Oceans Eleven
Total Recall

A couple Stinkers:
Zoolander
Spaceballs
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post #39 of 55
5/19/03 at 6:09pm
Anthony Minghella's commentary for The Talented Mr. Ripley is the best I've ever heard.
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post #40 of 55
5/19/03 at 7:33pm
I'm sure I'm repeating stuff here...but here are my favs

All Kevin Smith (except J&SBSB)
Rushmore
The Royal Tenenbaums
Evil Dead
Evil Dead 2
Halloween
Big Trouble in Little China
LOTR (Jackson, Cast)
Citizen Kane (Ebert)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Scream 1
Scream 2
Last House on the Left

I'm sure there are more...
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post #41 of 55
5/20/03 at 12:54am
The 2 minute commentary from Trey Parker & Matt Stone on the

Kids in the Hall: Same Guys New Dresses DVD

and the MOST IRRITATING DVD COMMENTARY goes to:
Disney's The Kid

Spencer is awful awful on the commentary(I know he's just a kid but, geez)
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post #42 of 55
5/20/03 at 7:00am
Well, to echo what others have already said:

1. Cannibal the Musical is probably my all time favorite, hands down!

and other very good ones....

Bruce Campbell on The Evil Dead
Campbell, Raimi, Nicotero on The Evil Dead II
Carpenter + Russel on both The Thing and Big Trouble...
Fincher, Norton, Pitt on Fight Club
Terry Gilliam (track 1) and Dr. Thompson (track 3) from Fear and Loathing Criterion are both excellent.

and for me, probably the funniest opening line for a audio commentary is David Spade on the Joe Dirt disc

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
It opens with the Columbia studio logo and Spade says something like "Yeah, we used to date, but.....we broke up"
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post #43 of 55
5/20/03 at 7:16am
Evil Dead
Evil Dead 2 (awesome)
Army of Darkness
Armaggedon (Criterion)
Citize Kane
FOTR: Extended
Fight Club
Seven Samurai
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post #44 of 55
5/20/03 at 9:56am
I forgot about the Fight Club track. I also like one with just Fincher.
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post #45 of 55
5/21/03 at 2:40am
Quote:
and for me, probably the funniest opening line for a audio commentary is David Spade on the Joe Dirt disc


Matt, that may the funniest to you,
but I think alot of people will agree that the opeing of the commentary to UHF
which is when, the Orion logo appears and the logo music plays and Weird Al says..."Orion...Orion...is bankrupt now!"

CLASSIC!!
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post #46 of 55
5/21/03 at 7:25am
I do like 'em funny, like the Kevin Smith commentaries, but I entered in to laserdisc with stuff like The Graduate Criterion commentary, more like an essay. Roger Ebert's commentaries are like that (and I wish he would do more!)

Most of my favorites have been mentioned, but I will recommend something a bit unusual. I'm a fan of Jodie Foster's Little Man Tate and when I listened to the commentary, I found Foster to be very thoughtful and eloquent about her work. It's just her, and it can be a little dry, but if you're into acting or the process of actors, by all means listen to a Jodie Foster commentary.

Oh, and if you're a Monkees fan, you might like my audio commentary for their film Head
http://www.dvdtracks.com/track/track.php?track=23
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post #47 of 55
5/21/03 at 8:18am
Doris Wishman on A NIGHT TO DISMEMBER is just priceless.
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post #48 of 55
5/21/03 at 9:06am
I may be repeating...but Frank Oz does some of my favorite commentaries...especially Little Shop of Horrors.
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post #49 of 55
5/21/03 at 1:49pm
Quote:
I may be repeating...but Frank Oz does some of my favorite commentaries


I liked the one for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels but thought his track for Bowfinger was a bore. Haven't heard Little Shop...
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post #50 of 55
5/21/03 at 3:23pm
Some of my favorites-

P.T. Anderson (solo) for BOOGIE NIGHTS- pulls no punches
Kurt Russell and John Carpenter for THE THING- they
enjoy doing the track and it's informative as well
Peter Jackson and the writers for FELLOWSHIP EE- lots
of information
The cast audio for FELLOWSHIP- good time
Danny De Vito for WAR OF THE ROSES- he is a good host
Fincher, Pitt and Freeman for SE7EN- toward the end
of the movie Fincher tells what happened after the
first test screening. Priceless.
The group commentary for THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
Criterion Edition- Hopkins has fun with it
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post #51 of 55
5/21/03 at 6:15pm
Since I haven't seen it mentioned so far, I wanted to add my vote for the Pleasantville commentary by Gary Ross. It was one of the first commentaries I had ever listened to, and it made a big impact on me. It remains one of my favorites to this day. Definitely recommended!

Also enjoyed the commentary on American Beauty, as it helped me to notice several little details I had missed, and also helped me to appreciate some of the more difficult shots.

Enjoy!

- Bob P.
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post #52 of 55
5/21/03 at 6:28pm
i'll try to mention some i didn't see in other people's lists:

Almost Famous: Untitled- cameron crowe gets personal alongside his mother in one of my favorite commentaries.

Die Hard (1) and Die Hard With A Vengeance- i guess i just like director John McTiernan's sense of humor. it's kind of dry like mine, although the writer kind of bogs down the WAV track. he doesn't at all ruin it, and he does say some interesting things, but he was just kind of annoying. oh, and McTiernan's closing words on Die Hard (1) equates to the best commentary closing ever.

Masters of the Universe- director Gary Goddard surprised the hell out of me by giving one of the most entertaining commentaries i've heard. it's like he talks about the movie now, 15 years later, with as much passion as he had when he was making it. plus it's MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE.

and i'll back up what others have said about these:

True Romance- quentin tarantino decided to talk about himself and not the movie for the first, i dunno, 30 minutes or so, but even still i enjoyed the entire track.

Spinal Tap- the in character commentary on the MGM disc is by far the funniest commentary ever. the actors' commentary on the criterion disc is also great, but i didn't much care for the director/producer commentary. it was ok, but i doubt i'll ever listen again.
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post #53 of 55
5/21/03 at 7:20pm
My favorites have been listed, but I'll add Dead Again- an insightful and engaging commentary (I find most commentaries dull) for a wonderful, elegant film.

Dream Theater: Scenes From New Yok (obviously only of interest to fans of the band).

5 episodes of Babylon 5.
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post #54 of 55
5/22/03 at 12:28pm
My favorite thus far, & it edges out both Evil Deads by just a hair, is the cast & producer track on Re-Animator. What I love is that they obviously had loads of fun making the movie! If you have any interest in DVD commentaries then you must listen to this one, even if you don't like the film.

Others I like:

Conan the Barbarian - Milius & Ah-Nuld claim the gratuitous violence isn't really gratuitous...
RoboCop (Criterion)
Fight Club - All 4
Godfather Series
Boogie Nights - Cast & Director
Citizen Kane
The Evil Deads
Brazil (Crit)
Life Of Brian (Crit)

Any with Kevin Smith & Jason Mewes

...and of course...

Fellowship of the Ring - Jackson, Boyens, Walsh
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post #55 of 55
5/22/03 at 2:18pm
Quote:
Since I haven't seen it mentioned so far, I wanted to add my vote for the Pleasantville commentary by Gary Ross. It was one of the first commentaries I had ever listened to, and it made a big impact on me. It remains one of my favorites to this day. Definitely recommended!


Gotta disagree here. Actually, Ross covers the film well, but he's tremendously pretentious and full of himself. His tone made me actively dislike the movie itself!

Quote:
Die Hard (1) and Die Hard With A Vengeance- i guess i just like director John McTiernan's sense of humor. it's kind of dry like mine, although the writer kind of bogs down the WAV track. he doesn't at all ruin it, and he does say some interesting things, but he was just kind of annoying.


Funny - I liked the writer's comments best in that track. McTiernan's okay, and the two Die Hard commentaries are his best. Listen to Thomas Crown Affair and Hunt For Red October and you may change your positive impression of his commentaries, though...
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