I am in the process of watching all of the extras on all of my DVDs, and some DVDs go way out there. Do we really need 3-4 commentaries on each DVD? For example: (1) American Pie 2: 4 commentaries. Why couldn't they combine all the commentaries into one? And why does Finch get his own commentary? (2) Fight Club: 4 commentaries. Again...Do we really need that many? (3) Joy Ride: 3 Commentaries I know it seems that I'm complaining about having extras, but that is not the case. There was two threads earlier about who watches extra, and who listens to commentaries, and about 80% of the people never watch any of the extras/commentaries, because they barely have enough time to watch the movie. Anyway, since *MOST* people don't listen to them, why do the studios feel the need to have SO many commentaries on 1 disk. I would think it would be better for the studios *AND* the public, to have 1 commentary with all the cast & crew, that way, the people who *DO* listen to commentaries only have to listen to 1, instead of 4 seperate ones. Anyway, for those interested, I am watching all of the extras on my DVDs in alphabetical order, and my next DVD is going to be "Independence Day" (5 Star Collection). I believe that has two commentaries as well. Earlier today, I skipped ahead and watched the "Moulin Rouge" Director's commentary, and I still have to watch the "writer's commentary". I have noticed that I am now, more "used" to listening to commentaries now that I have listened to well over 150 of them. I can remember that I had a lot of trouble sitting through my very first commentaries, because I had never heard them before, and I was really bored. But now, I know what to expect from them, and I can sit through one quite easily.
I think it's gotten too specialized. Now, you get a directors commentary, a stars commentary, a cinematographers commentary, a lighting guys commentary, the guy who showed up one day to vacuum the stars trailer commentary...where does it all end? In all seriousness:
It doesn't bother me too much to be honest. I could live with the director, screenwriter and cast doing some combination of commentary tracks but there are definitely people into the DOP and other such specialized people contributing tracks so I'm ok with it.
Out of all of my DVDs the only commentary that I've taken the time to use is the Dru Hill video on Rush Hour. It's hard finding time to watch films and even harder finding time to watch extras but I just can't bring myself to watch a feature legnth commentary.
Well in the case of Fight Club you get a loud and enthusiastic YES from me. I found it fascinating to hear comments from the various professions involved with making this movie, the director, the stars (which, in this case, is one of my favorite commentaries ever) and especially the writer of the screenplay AND the writer of the novel it was based on (where else did you get that?). And finally the technical commentary which wasn't that important but nevertheless very interesting for me. American Pie is another story, I don't think you really need 4 commentaries there but in the case of a complex movie like Fight Club I enjoyed the multiple commentaries.
I couldn't disagree more. I absolutely love multiple commentaries on a movie. Commentary tracks are easily my favorite supplement, unless there is a really well produced documentary which are few and far between. They add immeasurably to my perceived value of a disc. Although I haven't watched many of the multiple commentaries yet, there are all on my waiting list and these add infinitely to my enjoyment of the movie. As many other people have stated, I love putting on a commentary track and then working around the house, and if I need to look at the screen at a specific moment, I do so.
I'm not going to vote for LESS content as opposed to MORE... but sometimes, multiple commentaries are just too overwhelming. I like to try to experience EVERYTHING a disc has to offer, and I still feel "guilty" for only listening to two of the Fight Club commentaries. It seems like many commentaries could easily be boiled down into a 30-minute interview/featurette. Or in the case of Tim Burton or Rob Reiner... 10 minutes.
It all has to do with the quality of the supplement. If they all have added value, then by all means, put 4 commentaries on the movie. But if it is just a bunch of self-love, "that's a cool shot", "here's what happens now" crap, then leave it off to make more room for a higher quality main title transfer. Plus you can lower the cost since you don't have to pay the stars for their time. (you can see that I think actors' commentaries have the lowest value)
It really depends on the quality of the commentaries. I think every commentary on Fight Club was worth it. Additionally, every commentary on Contact was worth it. On the other Hand, I never enjoy commentaries by Tim Burton (alone anyway), and I wasn't fond of most of the Bond technical commentaries. However, I'd be willing to bet that somebody was.
Do we need them? No. But the commentaries for "Se7en" were all good. Both commentaries on "Titus" were worth the price of the disc. I am not going to fault a studio for giving us more stuff.
As a big fan of commentaries, bring em on, the more the merrier! I'd much rather have the three great commentaries on my Contact dvd than 10 HBO smiling faces featurettes. I get more out of the commentaries than any pseudo-documentary, and its great to hear from different people who worked on the film, for example on Contact we have the director on one, the leading actress on another, and the effects guys on the third, I LIKE it!
Do we really need so many titles on DVD? There must be 10,000 of them! Who has time to watch that many discs?
Some commentaries are great Others so-so Kevin Smith? Always great. Terry Gilliam, same. Kenneth Johnson on "V" was great for 4 hours by himself. Paul Verhovan great. Sam Raimi(especially with Bruce Campbell, great, I hope they're both on Spider-Man ) Richard Donner, usually great. Brad Pitt is one of the few stars that really gets into it well, Ben Affleck too. Michael Bay tracks are always a gas, especially if he has Affleck ripping on him Mel Brooks, enthusiastic, but it's all "That's Joe, he did a great job, real professional". Ahnuld, I really thought he'd be good, nope. Mike Meyers, snooze. Tim Burton tries, but he really needs a partner to be entertaining The best solution? Get a DVD-ROM and just listen to them like a CD. Oh, I DARE Hollywood to do a commentary with the food services guy. I will buy any movie, no matter how bad that has that
The Only Commentarys that should be needed are /Producerirector Commentary with both in the same room, and a main star commentary with all in the same room. For instance, Ivan Reitman and the producer for Ghostbsuters on one. Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray, and Dan Akroyd on the other..
