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Greatest commentaries...

post #1 of 47
9/27/09 at 11:56pm
Thread Starter 
So, what are your favorite DVD/BluRay/etc commentaries? I finally checked out the (amazing) commentary on the Full Metal Jacket DVD from the new Kubrick boxset, and that got me thinking about how the forum could be a great resource to point me/us towards some of the more "essential" commentary tracks.

My top-shelf choices without actually going downstairs to look through my shelves:

-Boogie Nights (all of them)
PTA's solo track is a great semi-educational course in filmmaking, and his track(s) with the cast are absolutely fucking hilarious. I love his recurring questioning of everyone as to whether or not Guzman was stoned.

-LOTR: Extended Editions (The Peter Jackson/producer's track)
It's an easy/go-to choice, but these are really solid commentaries nonetheless. Never really a let up or dead air, and they're super informative. If you love the films and haven't listened to these tracks, you're really missing out.

-Anchorman (Unrated edition)
This one is comedy gold in my opinion. The whole thing is great, but when they got to the Lou Rawls bit, I was crying on the floor.

-Conan The Barbarian (The Governor of California vs. John Milius)
This is quite possibly my favorite commentary track ever, and also one that probably gets glossed over a lot. My descriptive words could never convey the sense of wonder that will consume you as you listen to Arnold and Milius reminisce about this film. If you've never listened to it, do it. Now.

And if you're into drinking games, throw one back each time Arnold:
a) Requests the location of one of his hotter female castmembers
b) says "I remember"
c) says "Exactly"


I know I'm leaving some of my other favorites out, but I'll post more after I think back/look through my collection.


ETA: Ah, the Arrested Development commentary tracks are gold, as you'd imagine.
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post #2 of 47
9/28/09 at 12:06am
Paul Verhoeven: Starship Troopers (All the different ones he did, both with Ed Neumeyer and then with the cast)

Paul Verhoeven: Robocop (I have only heard the Special Edition Directors Cut commentary. I missed out on buying a Criterion Collection version once when my Local videostore closed. I was so pissed because I could have gotten it for 7$ and it regularly goes for over 70$ on ebay. The Directors Cut non criterion version has someone else on the track who talks over Paul the whole time , it's awful)


Basic Instinct: Paul Verhoeven


Total Recall: Paul Verhoeven and Arnold


Fight Club: Fincher Norton and Pitt


Blade 2: Del Torro


Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: The track with Hunter Thompson on it. So amazing


Bubba Ho Tep: Bruce Campbell in character as 'The King'

I'll try to think of a few more after I have dinner.
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post #3 of 47
9/28/09 at 12:14am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Kate View Post

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: The track with Hunter Thompson on it. So amazing


Bubba Ho Tep: Bruce Campbell in character as 'The King'
These! Thanks for the reminders.

That Fear and Loathing Criterion edition (and all the commentaries) are pretty much required viewing/listening for fans of that film.
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post #4 of 47
9/28/09 at 12:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by joeypants View Post
These! Thanks for the reminders.

That Fear and Loathing Criterion edition (and all the commentaries) are pretty much required viewing/listening for fans of that film.
No problem. That is a fantastic DVD set all around. From packaging to content. It even includes that whole feature length BBC documentary on Thompson from the 70s.


I love Thompson's remarks about Toby McGuire though. He says he looks like a wax mannequin melting, and has random and loud exclamations
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post #5 of 47
9/28/09 at 9:31am
The Fight Club one is ace, very informative and funny at the same time. If I remember it right, it's only Fincher and Norton together with Pitt's comments dropped in? Still great though.

I love the bit were Fincher points out the extra cracking a big smile when he does the 'no look catch'


And of course, the Armageddon track is worth it just to hear Affleck mercilessly ripping on the movie, so funny.
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post #6 of 47
9/28/09 at 9:41am
Evil Dead 2, of course.
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post #7 of 47
9/28/09 at 9:46am
There was a similar thread here in the DVD section a while ago. I can't find it anymore, so I'll re post this:

Abel Ferrara on King of New York and Driller Killer. He's is completely off his rocker and a great listen. He's got a new commentary on the rerelease of Bad Lieutenant as well that I haven't heard. Check him out if you want some cracked out (literally, I think) madness in your life.

Nicholas Cage is pretty fun on the Vampire's Kiss commentary too.
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post #8 of 47
9/28/09 at 10:20am
Evil Dead 2's commentary is spot on and great fun, Cronenberg's for The Fly is intelligent, informative and never less than intriguing.

All the Lord Of The Rings commentaries are great, not just the Jackson and cast ones, (Christian Rivers is great on the Production/ Post... ones, never afraid to lovingly take the piss out of the films... when the Rohan women praise Eowyn for leading them to Helm's Deep (Helm's Deep! Helm's Deep! they cry) he responds on the track "It's only a model")

One of my favourite tracks is the one on 'The Beyond' dvd... David Warbeck was in hospital by then (he died of cancer about 2 weeks after the track was recorded) but he and Catriona McColl have such a warm camaraderie and share so many great stories about Fulci that it makes for a great listen. There are many laughs to be had but it is also tinged with sadness. I wholly recommend it to anyone who has the disc but hasn't yet given it a listen.
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post #9 of 47
9/28/09 at 10:34am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Judson View Post
There was a similar thread here in the DVD section a while ago.
Apologies if I made a duplicate thread or anything. I looked, but couldn't find anything like it.
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post #10 of 47
9/28/09 at 11:02am
The 'Mallrats' and 'Talladega Nights' commentaries are both gold, imo.
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post #11 of 47
9/28/09 at 11:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Judson View Post
Abel Ferrara on King of New York and Driller Killer. He's is completely off his rocker and a great listen. He's got a new commentary on the rerelease of Bad Lieutenant as well that I haven't heard. Check him out if you want some cracked out (literally, I think) madness in your life.
I second Abel Ferrara's King of New York--one of the best I've heard. The man is just raw and honest.

Here are some off the top of my head:

Communion: Director Philippe Mora and William J. Birnes (Publisher of UFO Magazine)

The Shining: Garrett Brown and John Baxter

Aliens: James Cameron

The Doors: Oliver Stone

Blade Runner Workprint: Paul M. Sammon

The Fly and Dead Ringers: David Cronenberg

Road House: Scott Mosier and Kevin Smith
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post #12 of 47
9/28/09 at 11:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by joeypants View Post
Apologies if I made a duplicate thread or anything. I looked, but couldn't find anything like it.
Hey, I couldn't find it either! I love the idea of this thread. The commentary track is one of the cheapest and most prevalent of DVD/Blu Ray extras. Shit, sometimes they're better than the movies themselves. So as far as I'm concerned: No harm, no foul. In fact, I praise you, Mr. Pants! (praisepraise).
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post #13 of 47
9/28/09 at 11:40am
What with the craptastic looking 'Jack-O' getting a look in over at the 'Bad For Us...' list I decided to check out the dvd available before purchasing and I found this (on youtube, where else!?). Not sure if they are fakin' or not but it still sounds like a whole heap o' fun... have a listen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVMvfCmbejA
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post #14 of 47
9/28/09 at 11:43am
Generally, any track with Kevin Smith on it is gold.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog had a special feature called Commentary: The Musical that's better than the series itself.
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post #15 of 47
9/28/09 at 11:46am
Also any Simpsons commentary with David Mirkin.
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post #16 of 47
9/28/09 at 11:50am
The Mummy has a great commentary with Sommers and his producer. A solid mix of BTS/making of stories and enthusiasm. They had a blast making the movie, and their excitement really comes through on the commentary. They also pack a lot of stories into it, including how one cast member's nuts kept getting exposed during a take on an action beat. They finally had to duct tape the guy's pants shut.
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post #17 of 47
9/28/09 at 1:43pm
"Weird Al" Yankovic's commentary on UHF is funnier than the movie at many points, which is saying something.

Also, the only commentaries I'll listen to on Stargate SG-1 (yes, I own them all) are the ones featuring Peter DeLuise. I'd hire him to do any commentaries in a heartbeat, involved or not.
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post #18 of 47
9/28/09 at 1:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by FilmFuks View Post
I second Abel Ferrara's King of New York--one of the best I've heard. The man is just raw and honest.

Here are some off the top of my head:

Communion: Director Philippe Mora and William J. Birnes (Publisher of UFO Magazine)

The Shining: Garrett Brown and John Baxter

Aliens: James Cameron

The Doors: Oliver Stone

Blade Runner Workprint: Paul M. Sammon

The Fly and Dead Ringers: David Cronenberg

Road House: Scott Mosier and Kevin Smith
Oh god , how could I forget?

His tracks for Nixon, JFK, The Doors, Alexander (both versions) should all be required listening. I've heard all of those tracks multiple times each.
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post #19 of 47
9/28/09 at 1:54pm
C.H.U.D. commentary

Also, any crappy movie commentary done by Joe Bob Briggs.
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post #20 of 47
9/28/09 at 1:54pm
The commentaries on the Coppola Restoration set of the Godfather films are great. You learn a lot about the films themselves and you get the idea that Coppola is a good guy with excellent priorities in life.
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post #21 of 47
9/28/09 at 2:17pm
Hot Fuzz commentary with Edgar Wright and Quentin Tarantino.

I just remeber Tarantino rattling off movies and being like "have you seen x movie?" and Wright just saying "no" multiple times. Even though Wright is a huge film fan, Tarantino proves that he is the bigger nerd(in a good way).
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post #22 of 47
9/28/09 at 3:31pm
Any time John Carpenter and Kurt Russell get together
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post #23 of 47
9/28/09 at 5:35pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuchulain View Post
The commentaries on the Coppola Restoration set of the Godfather films are great. You learn a lot about the films themselves and you get the idea that Coppola is a good guy with excellent priorities in life.
Excellent. I have those, but have yet to check out the commentaries.

I'm assuming the Apocalypse Now commentary is good as well.
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post #24 of 47
9/28/09 at 5:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by joeypants View Post
Excellent. I have those, but have yet to check out the commentaries.

I'm assuming the Apocalypse Now commentary is good as well.
If the AN commentary track is anything like the ones on the Coppola Restoration, it is bound for glory. The commentary track actually makes Godfather III interesting, which I thought was impossible. I sort of wish they had released the theatrical version with that commentary track. You get the sense of what he actually wanted to say with III as you're essentially watching what he had to settle for when all sorts of things on the project--most importantly Robert Duvall's decision to not participate--got away from him.

Also, the commentaries show you that the Godfather films are really formulaic, which you don't really notice as you watch them: the Godfather, the Michael side of Godfather Part II, and Godfather Part III all have the exact same story structure, which Coppola calls attention to in the commentary.
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post #25 of 47
9/28/09 at 6:15pm
Danny Dyer and Nick Love's witless and profane cartoon cockney commentaries are starting to gain a cult following:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5h9ZPBuBEs&fmt=18
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post #26 of 47
9/28/09 at 6:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by RCA View Post
Hot Fuzz commentary with Edgar Wright and Quentin Tarantino.

I just remeber Tarantino rattling off movies and being like "have you seen x movie?" and Wright just saying "no" multiple times. Even though Wright is a huge film fan, Tarantino proves that he is the bigger nerd(in a good way).
It's an excellent bit of fun, and the first commentary I've listened to in forever. A lot of great bits like discussing the spin off movies with Doris Thatcher and the Andy's, lesser known British cinema and movies in which the main title is uttered (Wright's favorite being "Boom").

Other commentaries I've enjoyed in recent times would be Ebert's on Casablanca and Citizen Kane. Also Brad Bird, well worth picking up the Ratatouille Blu-Ray for the exclusive commentary.
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post #27 of 47
9/28/09 at 6:35pm
Boogie Nights is the gold standard.
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post #28 of 47
9/28/09 at 6:37pm
Most likely it has been mentioned in every other commentary thread here, but Paul Verhoeven's commentary on Starship Troopers DVD (sadly, it's not available on Blu-ray disc) is a lot of fun. He leaves an impression of a very intelligent, but slightly crazy guy. His description of how each shot was made during one of the action scenes is priceless.
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post #29 of 47
9/28/09 at 6:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by billylove View Post
C.H.U.D. commentary
Ha... I totally forgot how great that one is! It had me crying at one point. You guys are already saying all my favorites. Which one is it that Trey Parker and Matt Stone did while they were drunk? That was pretty solid, as was the Step Brothers musical commentary. Got old but whatever, you guys took all the good ones.
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post #30 of 47
9/28/09 at 6:54pm
I like the soldier's commentary on the Black Hawk Down DE. They go into detail on what is Hollywood, what really happened, and how the battle has affected their lives. It's a really good listen.
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post #31 of 47
9/28/09 at 7:09pm
I mentioned this on his thread, but any commentary with Joe Dante is aces. I'd pay the man to get him in the booth to record tracks for Matinee & The 'Burbs in a second. Joe Bob Briggs I Spit on Your Grave track is fun and very informative.

And yes, i've listened to ALL the Cablin Fever & Hostel 1/2 commentaries a couple of times over. I don't get out too much.
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post #32 of 47
9/28/09 at 7:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Darth Chocula View Post
Other commentaries I've enjoyed in recent times would be Ebert's on Casablanca and Citizen Kane.
Speaking of Ebert, his Dark City commentary is also excellent despite the questionable merits of the film itself. After listening to it, one can easily be deluded into thinking that it is a masterpiece. Fortunately, I think I came to my senses (although I do think it is a decent film).
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post #33 of 47
9/28/09 at 9:43pm
Thief with Mann and Caan, If you didn't think Mann had a light side, listen to this is, the only commentary I have listened to more than twice.
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post #34 of 47
9/28/09 at 9:55pm
Sweet Moses Magnum! I can't believe no one has mentioned This is Spinal Tap yet! For shame, all of ye.

I'll echo the Evil Dead 2 love, and also consider the Army Of Darkness DC one to be almost as glorious.
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post #35 of 47
9/29/09 at 1:10am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Episode29 View Post
Sweet Moses Magnum! I can't believe no one has mentioned This is Spinal Tap yet! For shame, all of ye.
Oh, that one is awesome. In character and everything. I love their recounting of Marti shooting it and everything.
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post #36 of 47
9/29/09 at 1:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Strangefist View Post
Any time John Carpenter and Kurt Russell get together
This times a hundred.

Big Trouble In Little China in particular where two thirds of the way through the film they simply forget they're doing commentary and start just talking shit about how their kids are going and catching up.
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post #37 of 47
9/29/09 at 2:08am
For sheer fun points, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang wins. Shane Black, RDJ and Val riff off each other perfectly.
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post #38 of 47
9/29/09 at 2:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by FilmFuks View Post
Speaking of Ebert, his Dark City commentary is also excellent despite the questionable merits of the film itself. After listening to it, one can easily be deluded into thinking that it is a masterpiece. Fortunately, I think I came to my senses (although I do think it is a decent film).
I was fascinated by that commentary. Ebert's so much smarter than the movie he's discussing. And you're right, he makes it seem to rub off onto the film.

Oliver Stone's commentaries are superb, as mentioned above. My favorite of his in on Natural Born Killers. As inaccessible as the film can be, Stone comes across as speaking from the heart on his track.

All of the commentaries on the LOTR films justify the repeated viewings, but my favorite is the cast commentary. Beyond the breadth of insight this huge ensemble cast brings to the proceedings, it's so brilliant to me that the four Hobbit actors recorded their Fellowship commentary together, then split up in pairs to record their Two Towers and Return of the King commentaries just as their characters were separated.

It's one brief snippet in a feature-length commentary, but I adored Ron Perlman's self-effacing recollection of the moment the female extras on the set of Hellboy 2 first saw how schlubby he looks without the Hellboy muscle suit.
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post #39 of 47
10/7/09 at 6:48pm
Thread Starter 
Finished Part I and am halfway through Part II, and I have to confirm the nods towards Coppola's commentaries on the Godfather. Awesome.

Loved the anecdote in Part II about Roth's sweater.
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post #40 of 47
9/14/10 at 2:08pm
The commentary on This is Spinal Tap always kills me. It's so damn good it almost feels like a sequel.
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post #41 of 47
9/14/10 at 2:16pm
Tropic Thunder. If you've heard it, you know the reason why. It's often just as if not more enteraining than the movie, but I also find it funny that Downey took the opportunity to repeatedly needle and disrespect Jack Black and then try to put it off on his being "in character" at the end of the commentary.

I love Cronenberg because he's actually quite funny on top of being extremely intelligent. As has been said, Carpenter is great, but Carpenter with Russell is magic. Also, a shout out to Paul Verhoeven, his commentaries are enthusiastic, informative, and not cluttered with a bunch of banal recollections like "it was so cold that day".
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post #42 of 47
9/14/10 at 2:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timothy Q View Post
Which one is it that Trey Parker and Matt Stone did while they were drunk?
Pretty sure it's all of them, but the classic is Cannibal! The Musical. FUCK STING!
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post #43 of 47
9/14/10 at 2:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Kate View Post
Total Recall: Paul Verhoeven and Arnold
This. Worth it for the battle of the accents alone, but it's definitely solid.

The Futurama commentaries are also gold. Often funnier than the episodes themselves. I can't remember what episode, but there's one where all of the voice actors do their own version of Zoidberg and challenge the viewer to figure out which was the real one. Great stuff.

The Forgetting Sarah Marshall cast commentary is light and fun but mostly forgettable. But there's a nice moment where Russell Brand randomly leaves only to come back with sandwiches. Stuff like that easily wins me over on these things.

Weirdest commentary I've ever heard: the Eddie Kaye Thomas solo commentary for American Pie 2. Yes, he had his own commentary track for that movie. One of FOUR they decided to make for it. Because of course it needs that many.
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post #44 of 47
9/14/10 at 3:03pm
For sheer enjoyment I found that the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory commentary done by all the child actors, now adults, is great. For anyone who grew up watching that film 100+ times, it's like sitting down and reminiscing with old friends.
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post #45 of 47
9/14/10 at 3:11pm
Last great one i heard was Buddy Giovinazzo and Jorg Buttgereit (Of all people) on Gioinazzo's Combat Shock. It's my favorite kind of commentary: "interview style".
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post #46 of 47
9/14/10 at 3:39pm
It's definitely been mentioned in one of the commentary threads before, but for anyone who doesn't know- STEP BROTHERS. McKay, Reilly and Ferrell sing the fuckin' thing.

To a score by Jon Brion.
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post #47 of 47
9/14/10 at 4:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uth Vaspetad View Post
The commentary on This is Spinal Tap always kills me. It's so damn good it almost feels like a sequel.
You mean the in character one?

David: "Look at how young we are!"
Nigel: "Yeah, though we looked pretty young back then as well"

Or something like that. Ok kind of an obvious commentary gag but the delivery fucking cracked me up.
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