Friday, July 14, 2006

DVD Discussion Two:



DVD Extra Features - Does anyone bother with them anymore?


First off, apologies for using a dull, shit picture twice. But hey - you try finding a decent (and funny) picture to go with DVD's.

Now then; The Curmudgeon is a right old sucker for deluxe, special, definitive, ultimate, extreme, uncut edition DVD's. And judging by the array of Special Edition discs out there - so is everyone else.

Controversial statement time - I hardly watch any extra's any more.

I dunno what it is. The first DVD I got (Night Of The Living Dead, fact fans) I watched everything on the disc. I watched the movie two more times with both commentaries and the same went for The Blair Witch Project (which was, I think, my second).

Now? I buy two disc DVD's, watch the movie and very rarely bother with the extra's. In fact, the first major extra I watched recently was that mammoth 2 hour documentary on the Indiana Jones boxset. I love that sort of thing, but, like I said - I don't bother with them all that much now.

Maybe its the novelty value of DVD's waring off. Maybe we've seen enough behind the scenes gubbins and talking heads gushing about what an honour it was to work with the director. Who knows? Hell, I couldn't tell you the last time I listened to a feature length commentary (although I do listen to every single Simpsons commentary - 'cos they're just a joy to listen to).

So, anyway - am I alone here, or has anyone else been burned out by DVD extra features?

6 comments:

The Curmudgeon said...

God almighty, I would rather chew my own legs off than watch those Lord Of The Rings boxsets.

I mentioned it on the DVD Board, but the Universal Monster Collection has some superb documentaries about, uh, the monsters (funnily enough) and that was the main reason I wanted it so badly. I like things like that, but I HATE tedious Special Effects showcases, where it's some bore sat by a computer showing how he designed the CGI effects. Those extra's are a skip-thru every time.

The Curmudgeon said...

No, that's NOT it, Mr Wolf. There are OTHER Dwellers on here, you know.

Hell, two at least....

The Curmudgeon said...

Welcome back, Ben. Get up to anything interesting during your Fortress Leave?

I watched the Pirates extra's as well. Ditto on the "meh" factor.

Anonymous said...

I'm a sucker for commentaries, even though most of them wind up boring me to death. "Evil Dead 2" has the best commentary ever, though. Almost as funny as the film itself. I agree that most bonus features are crap, but some are so awesome. Examples: 1) The double-disc edition of "Enter the Dragon" has an unbelievable documentary about Bruce Lee that includes an awesome reconstruction of everything he filmed for "Game of Death".
2) "Clerks: 10th Anniversary Editon" has a film-length making of feature hilariously titled "The Snowball Effect" that really makes you appreciate Kevin Smith as a man as well as a do-it-yourself filmmaker.
3) "Underworld: Extended Cut" has a full-length documentary about vampires and werewolves that is a must have if you're into that kind of stuff.

4) "Nightwatch" has a ton of pretty awesome deleted scens that I really enjoyed.

5) "Sin City: Recut, Extended, Unrated" has a ton of cool stuff as well, including the option to hear the audio recorded during the film's premier. Hearing the audience react to the film's various genital mutilations is a hoot. Plus, you get a free comic book. Sweet.
Those are the best examples I can come up with off-hand of bonus features that make a DVD awesome. I just wish this kind of quality wasn't so scarce.

Anonymous said...

Oi. Sorry about that ugly last post with it's kooky-ass spacing. I forgot to preview and look it over before I posted it.

The Curmudgeon said...

I'm sure we can let you off on that one, Trashy.

The documentaries (the ones about werewolfs and things) are the sort of extra's I love and will ALWAYS watch. Like, the Universal Monster boxset is worth the asking price alone for the documentaries that come with it.

I suppose it depends on what film it is. Put it this way, I'd much rather watch a documentary on the making of, say, Evil Dead, with interviews from the likes of Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi, than the making of Matrix III.