tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post3236906072562315779..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: A Few of My Favorite Audio CommentariesAndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-41516130354342013112011-09-29T13:15:36.748-04:002011-09-29T13:15:36.748-04:00Retro Hound, Hal Needham is great! I love the stor...Retro Hound, Hal Needham is great! I love the story of how he made <i>Smokey and the Bandit</i> a success despite Hollywood's efforts to sink the film.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-61293437598593827692011-09-29T13:14:02.966-04:002011-09-29T13:14:02.966-04:00Scott, No, I don't think all war films should ...Scott, No, I don't think all war films should be rah rah. In fact, the best ones deal with the vagueries of war and give an accurate portrayal of what the guys on the ground really experienced.<br /><br />But this isn't that.<br /><br />After the opening, when the film settles down with its characters, it shows American soldiers as cowardly, murderous and conflicted. If he had portrayed the Germans as humans rather than as subhuman murders, you would have been disgusted at the Americans' actions. It also tries to interject this idea that Americans were tired of war and somehow had no idea what they were fighting for. None of that is true. That's the leftist anti-American, Vietnam attitude being foisted back onto World War II.<br /><br />If you removed Spielberg's name and replaced it with someone whose patriotism is in question like Oliver Stone, people would have been furious about this film. They would have called the opening unnecessarily gory and the rest defeatist and anti-American. And people would have been really upset that Stone aimed his BS at a treaured piece of American history -- D-day.<br /><br />Keep in mind, I like and respect <i>Platoon</i>, I actually think it's a masterpiece. I do recognize Stone's attacks on the American military and America in general, but I still respect what he's achieved and I respect his right to say what's on his mind.<br /><br /><i>Ryan</i>, on the other hand, bothers me because it's underhanded. In the guise of presenting a truly patriotic film, Spielberg slips in <i>Platoon</i> at the same time he's wrapping himself in the flag. It's the war film version of <i>High Noon</i>, which appears on its surface to be a heroic western, but underneath is a cauldron of anti-Americanism and defeatism.<br /><br />So I do stand by my statement.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-63123850707383699272011-09-29T11:29:42.617-04:002011-09-29T11:29:42.617-04:00A few days late here, I think, but I did want to c...A few days late here, I think, but I did want to chime in. I just read Hal Needham's biography, Stuntman! He's the director of Smokey and the Bandit and Cannonball movies and he gladly takes credit for starting the trend of using outtakes. <br /><br />I've listened to a few commentaries, usually the stars are worthless, the director or writer is better. One exception is The Outsiders which is a group commentary by the stars, many years later. I find some interest with commentaries by scholars on classic films.Retro Houndhttp://www.retrohound.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-71078009230252882012011-09-29T06:57:14.947-04:002011-09-29T06:57:14.947-04:00Andrew -
I won't be able to reply until late...Andrew - <br /><br />I won't be able to reply until later this evening but, re: <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>, surely labeling it anti-American is a bit of a stretch...? Isn't there some middle ground here? I know you're not one of those conservatives who thinks every war movie should be all rah rah flag-waving with soldiers who are flawless paragons of virtue... but is this film really that bad in your opinion?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-59536692905897258782011-09-28T23:08:43.577-04:002011-09-28T23:08:43.577-04:00And don't forget the one whose name rhymes wit...And don't forget the one whose name rhymes with "Michael Bay". If there were film police, they would have rounded him up and shot and raped him "while resisting arrest" already.<br /><br />The reason you have problems with <i>Ryan's Privates</i> is that the film IS off. Spielberg is trying to give you <i>Platoon</i> as a World War II film. It's nihilistic, anti-American, and dehumanized. Everything about their attitudes is wrong. And I feel like punching those conservatives who think it's a conservative film. Grrr.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-37114043705494119922011-09-28T23:00:33.379-04:002011-09-28T23:00:33.379-04:00I'll ignore the other stuff about Spielberg fo...I'll ignore the other stuff about Spielberg for now and just say that, while I appreciate the work he's done with WW2 preservation--I mean, the "Band of Brothers" miniseries is just some really great stuff--I find some of it, mainly "Saving Private Ryan," a little off somehow. It's a very well done and captivating movie, but it just seems a bit nihilistic. I don't know.<br /><br />Oh, and like Scott, I'm not inclined to blame him for the CGI debacle, because it can have its place in a movie; I blame the subsequent directors who have made it 90% of the scenery and the plot (their names rhyme with "Hameron" and "Shmucas").T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-47205957285030768682011-09-28T22:04:50.004-04:002011-09-28T22:04:50.004-04:00Scott, I haven't traced the history of it, but...Scott, I haven't traced the history of it, but I truthfully think the modern blockbuster is something very different than <i>Jaws</i> and <i>Star Wars</i>. I think those were "films that became events."<br /><br />By comparison, the modern blockbuster is a marketing event around which a film is built. Modern blockbusters are not films, they are manufactured products put together under the direction of marketing departments. And that is exactly what happens when corporations take something over. You see it in product after product.<br /><br />So I don't think anything would have changed if Spielberg had never existed. You still would have had corporations taking over, developing a formula, and turning to that as the safest way to make films.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-49788349097544822112011-09-28T21:32:45.160-04:002011-09-28T21:32:45.160-04:00I'm sure this is fodder for another article an...I'm sure this is fodder for another article and God knows there have been volumes written about it but, re: the "blockbuster," there had been successful films before Spielberg (and Lucas) but, for better or worse, <i>Jaws</i> and subsequently <i>Star Wars</i> changed movie-going and "blockbuster" became the big buzz word. It may not be 100% but that's how history will remember it.<br /><br />On one hand, if every summer blockbuster we had now was as good as those two movies, I doubt we'd be complaining!<br /><br />On the other hand, while I'm not defending anything and I actually agree with you on this one (the sense of wonder was a different item), I read a very interesting defense of summer blockbuster filmmaking but I can't remember the link. Basically, the idea was: "What if these guys never came along? Would you really want a Hollywood dominated by Mike Nichols and Robert Altman films?"<br /><br />It would be interesting to take Spielberg out of the equation and chart the progress of Hollywood from the 70s till now. Again, if he hadn't come along, someone else would've done it. And taking into account the corporate take-over of the studios in the 80s and importance of foreign sales today, it's possible this all would've happened anyway; it would've just been delayed a decade or so.<br /><br />This topic is too big for me to handle. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-68660539438541116482011-09-28T21:16:05.316-04:002011-09-28T21:16:05.316-04:00Scott, then you will at least vote to convict on s...Scott, then you will at least vote to convict on seven of those counts right? We could move to sentencing!<br /><br />Also, let me point out that while maybe Spielberg should not be blamed for CGI, that still does not make it something we should be thankful for.<br /><br />Same thing with the blockbuster. First, it's pretty stupid to credit the blockbuster to Spielberg. There were blockbusters long before he came along. But in any event, there's zero reason to be thankful for the blockbuster. How has crappy, mindless, marketing-created films improved the world?<br /><br />Finally, the value of his World War 2 work is pretty debatable.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-67019709408773251742011-09-28T21:06:18.789-04:002011-09-28T21:06:18.789-04:00Yeah, I sent that link :-) I totally get your poin...Yeah, I sent that link :-) I totally get your point and I have my own issues with Spielberg, but I won't blame him for three of those things: I won't blame him for other filmmakers' misuse of CGI, nor will I blame him for any of his WW2-related activities, and I won't blame him for bringing back a sense of wonder, though one can argue if he wasn't around, another filmmaker would've done it.<br /><br />To paraphrase Voltaire: "If Spielberg didn't exist, it would've been necessary to invent him." :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-13937121874660686062011-09-28T21:01:00.467-04:002011-09-28T21:01:00.467-04:00Scott, That's a good use for modern technology...Scott, That's a good use for modern technology. The Enterprise looks nice.<br /><br />I have to say that what they did to the original series was not good. I won't watch the cartoon versions CBS has put out as "remastered." A~~holes.<br /><br /><br />Also off topic, I just followed a link at BH from the ScottDS Link-tacular, and I have to say it's made me want to become a terrorist. The guy listed 10 things we should thank Spielberg for. Thank.... uh. It's reads like an indictment for crimes against movies. Every one of those has helped to destroy movies. Here's the link: <a href="http://io9.com/5843909/10-ways-steven-spielberg-has-made-the-world-a-better-place" rel="nofollow">Utter Bullsh!t</a>.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-17962832762863017282011-09-28T20:52:37.863-04:002011-09-28T20:52:37.863-04:00Lucas is just into the wrong extra material. :-) (...Lucas is just into the <i>wrong</i> extra material. :-) (I assume we're talking about George.)<br /><br />To go off-topic for a moment...<br /><br />...it looks like Paramount/CBS is bringing <i>Star Trek: TNG</i> to <a href="http://trekmovie.com/2011/09/28/tng-remastered-is-official/" rel="nofollow">Blu-Ray</a> next year. But unlike George Lucas' tinkering, they're actually recompositing the original FX to bring them up to HD resolution. The show was originally edited and posted on video so they've been going back to the original negatives and re-editing every episode from scratch. And yes, I wish I was there. :-)<br /><br />(Check out the link and scroll down for a comparison.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-5107771954716422052011-09-28T20:39:34.413-04:002011-09-28T20:39:34.413-04:00Scott, Like Lucas, I hear he's not really into...Scott, Like Lucas, I hear he's not really into extra material. ;-)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-88521980164331543362011-09-28T20:30:16.255-04:002011-09-28T20:30:16.255-04:00Ed -
No worries! Some directors don't bother...Ed - <br /><br />No worries! Some directors don't bother with extras features either. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-77224787917960116902011-09-28T20:28:59.711-04:002011-09-28T20:28:59.711-04:00T-Rav -
These certainly aren't required view...T-Rav - <br /><br />These certainly aren't required viewing/listening and even I find myself skipping a lot of this stuff. When I used to have a long commute, I ripped the commentaries from DVDs and listened to them on my iPod... yes, I'm a nerd! I can't rip Blu-Rays, unfortunately. (Such is life for a Mac owner.) :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-36058375911224878152011-09-28T20:18:19.743-04:002011-09-28T20:18:19.743-04:00Scott, you've mentioned some interesting thing...Scott, you've mentioned some interesting things. But I hate to say it, but I never bother with the extra features. I just watch the films and not the rest.Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18122308626703654554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-46227591337657750592011-09-28T19:40:53.300-04:002011-09-28T19:40:53.300-04:00Scott, I can imagine the T2 commentary being a bla...Scott, I can imagine the T2 commentary being a blast. I'd also like to check out those Black Hawk Down and Apollo 13 pieces as well. <br /><br />Unfortunately, most of the time I don't have either the time or the spending money to pick up a lot of DVDs, so I haven't had much opportunity to look at those bonus options. But you've piqued my interest, so next time...T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-67930038171922456662011-09-28T19:31:35.811-04:002011-09-28T19:31:35.811-04:00Scott: Black Hawk Down is one of those I mentione...Scott: <i>Black Hawk Down</i> is one of those I mentioned that I actually did go to the comments on. And you're absolutely right about it being enlightening.LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-81969483368344288252011-09-28T18:58:20.210-04:002011-09-28T18:58:20.210-04:00Andrew - I remember Pop-Up Video and I even rememb...Andrew - I remember Pop-Up Video and I even remember thinking it would make a great DVD extra. This was in 1998 or 1999 and then <i>Ghostbusters</i> was released on DVD with the trivia track - they stole my idea! :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-21466939935617415882011-09-28T18:57:20.378-04:002011-09-28T18:57:20.378-04:00LawHawk -
I agree that a movie shouldn't req...LawHawk - <br /><br />I agree that a movie shouldn't require a commentary to improve it but it's nice to sometimes hear filmmakers admit when they're wrong (see my article on <i>Star Trek Generations</i>). Of course, that rarely happens. :-)<br /><br />If you'll excuse an aside... I know what you mean, but it ain't all angst. I was just listening to an interview with a writer/director named Mike Binder. He did <i>Reign Over Me</i>, <i>The Upside of Anger</i>, <i>Indian Summer</i>, and a few other things. He started as a comedian and he was talking about the lost art of the joke and complaining about how young people today (not me!) aren't into joke-telling because it's not edgy and it's not trying to make a statement. So there are some filmmakers out there who would agree with you!<br /><br />As for me, like everything else, moderation is the key. A little angst... okay. A lot... not so much. :-)<br /><br /><i>Kentucky Fried Movie</i> is not in my comedy pantheon but, if I maybe so bold, the commentary is funnier than most of today's comedy movies.<br /><br />If you want commentaries on real events, <i>Apollo 13</i> features a commentary with Jim and Marilyn Lovell and <i>Black Hawk Down</i> features one with some of the real Task Force Rangers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-57028890005032266262011-09-28T18:51:52.295-04:002011-09-28T18:51:52.295-04:00Scott, the Story Notes thing is the same as the ol...Scott, the Story Notes thing is the same as the old MTV Pop Ups -- where they put up written facts as the movie runs. Fortunately, there is no annoying bubble popping sound with these.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-5326124000802800392011-09-28T18:45:49.062-04:002011-09-28T18:45:49.062-04:00T-Rav -
I've never seen "Story Notes&qu...T-Rav - <br /><br />I've never seen "Story Notes" but if you like it, then you'll love the aforementioned text commentaries. The ones for <i>The Abyss</i> and <i>T2</i> are like mini-film schools on a disc. And it helps that they were written by a guy who actually worked on the films.<br /><br /><i>Airplane!</i> also has one which points out all the mistakes in the film with animated arrows and word balloons, etc.<br /><br />As far as new movies, what sucks is most DVD/BR extras are completed before the movie is out so the filmmakers aren't able to properly reflect on their work in a greater context.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-39478902105700972932011-09-28T18:42:52.165-04:002011-09-28T18:42:52.165-04:00TJ -
I love a good gag reel. Speaking of Smokey ...TJ - <br /><br />I love a good gag reel. Speaking of <i>Smokey and the Bandit</i>, I wasn't a big fan of Will Ferrel's <i>Anchorman</i> when I first saw it...<br /><br />...BUT one thing I loved was the gag reel at the end. Why? Because they actually included a blooper from <i>Smokey and the Bandit</i>! I had never seen a gag reel with content from a different movie.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-13821445523255189282011-09-28T18:40:38.589-04:002011-09-28T18:40:38.589-04:00Andrew -
Yeah, I know you mentioned the Lost in S...Andrew -<br /><br />Yeah, I know you mentioned the <i>Lost in Space</i> commentary to me before. That's why I read reviews: The Digital Bits, the Home Theater Forum, etc. There are dozens of websites that review DVD/BR audio, video, and extras. Of course it's subjective but I usually have a good idea if a commentary is good or not before I start listening to it.<br /><br />By biggest fear is, once all the studios commit to streaming, they'll stop producing extras. But I'm not gonna worry because extras are a selling point and even iTunes and other places have started peddling "deluxe editions" of streaming titles. I downloaded the Beatles Collection and it includes artwork, documentaries, etc. I imagine it'll be the same for movies: $9.99 for a movie; $19.99 for a movie with all the bells and whistles.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-17359323233104299702011-09-28T17:36:28.903-04:002011-09-28T17:36:28.903-04:00Andrew, I was watching that. Yeah, I agree, a lot ...Andrew, I was watching that. Yeah, I agree, a lot of those "notes" are pretty corny, but some of them are kinda interesting, like the fact that the director took out insurance policies on the cast when they went to North Africa to shoot. I think some of the others, for movies like "GoodFellas," are good as well.T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.com