I think it's more of an attitude of 'If you want to watch the film, watch the film. If you want to go behind-the-scenes, don't do it while watching the film.'
While it's received some serious praise in this thread, I for one think it's a very bad film, even borderline terrible. It's well crafted, but it commits the cardinal sin of any comedy: it's not funny.
Well, I believe that Steven Spielberg would be in agreement with you. I've heard him say pretty much what you did (more or less) on the TCM interview with him.
But, I think 1941 was really funny. I think it's the type of comedy that presses only a few people's funny buttons.
Interesting. I don't think I've heard an explanation for it. It's kind of like Lynch not wanting scene indexes on his DVDs to force us to watch Eraserhead in one sitting. To both directors, whose work I admire highly, let me be the judge of how I watch yer stuff!! Lynch, gimme scene stops, Spielberg?!!! Talk during your movie my friend! Talk talk talk!!!!
check you big lots. I paid $3 for the 2-DVD version. Yep, it isn't very good but still fun to watch. Hell...Steve should commentary that one!! Ain't no "magic" there to ruin!! Hahahaa!
Just a thought - if and when Jaws comes out, I really hope they rescan the photos and artwork from the still galleries. The galleries on the DVD versions (the 1- and 2-disc) are taken straight from the laserdisc and it shows (very low-rez).
With his Universal films, I doubt we'll get any sort of U-Control features, which would suit me fine. Spielberg doesn't do commentaries so it's safe to assume he won't allow any other features that might interupt the flow of the movie (PiP interviews, etc.)
Re: 1941, I just hope we get the extended version or even (fingers crossed) both versions. It's simply a matter of additional footage so seamless branching shouldn't be a big deal
And I can't stress this enough... TRAILERS! The laserdiscs and DVD releases all had their trailers intact (I think the 2-disc Jaws dropped them).
Re: the Indiana Jones Trilogy, I hope they keep the bonus disc contents (trailers, the full-length documentary, and the featurettes on the stunts, music, sound design, and FX) in addition to the bonus materials on the individual releases and anything new they come up with (how about some educational materals like the Young Indy sets but about the Ark, the Holy Grail, etc.?)
Does Spielberg own the movies with Universal? With the recent news about Dreamworks and Universal's fallout I wonder if Universal would release these now without his say so.
Speilberg has control via his Amblin Entertainment of his films at Universal from E.T. on. Universal has control of the earlier films. However, it is doubtful they would release, say, Jaws without Speilberg's involvement/ok because then they'd have a harder time releasing E.T., Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, etc.
Release the big movies that everyone is waiting for now and they will be bought. At the same time people on the edge or wanting to get into BR will see these titles already on the shelf and it may give them that little push.
I'm fine with out commentary's. Honestly I never listen to them. I have a problem with watching a movie with out the correct sound. I love to hear what Speilburg has to say, but I prefer it either in a interveiw or in some kind of extra.
With me it's almost a social thing since (and this may confirm my insanity) I'll talk back to them as the commentary is going on...stuff like "yeah, I figured that shot was inspired by that scene in Casablanca..." or "Hahahaha! I'll bet you wished you'd hired a better prop guy!!" Some of the best are Gilliam films since his words during the film explain a lot about why he does the things he does, the ones for every episode of Red Dwarf since they are like watching the show in a pub in the UK with the cast...truly awesome, and I also like Used Cars produced by Spielberg with the director, Kurt Russell, etc. I was wishing they'd gotten more of the cast on that one, and Stevie of course! But they have a ball watching it and so do I. For me, an interview is nice but not quite the same as such experiences as these. It really is almost like you're sitting there watching the movie with the people who made it.
I find it interesting that Spielberg doesn't do commentaries, because I read where he had actually sat with David Lean and watched Lawrence of Arabia. Apparently Lean talked about it all through the movie. Spielberg said he loved it because it was like having his own personal commentary.
Having enjoyed that, I would think he would understand the desire for people to hear his thoughts and off the cuff comments on his own films.