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Best audio commentaries?

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Old 15-04-2009, 12:44 PM   #1
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Best audio commentaries?

I listened to the 2 audio commentaries on Sunshine and also the Peter Jackson commentary on the LOTR films and Kong and really enjoyed them.

What other commentaries are worth a listen?
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Old 15-04-2009, 12:54 PM   #2
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

I listened to the audio commentary on 'Before the Devil knows your dead' blu ray the other night (Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke & Sidney Lumet).

Very interesting, and also quite humerous at times. Well worth a listen, especially as it is such a fantastic film.
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Old 15-04-2009, 1:24 PM   #3
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

Just a few to add to the pot ...

Straight away, the chat-tracks between John Carpenter and Kurt Russell on The Thing and Escape From NY. Just two guys shooting the breeze over drinkies.

The group effort from Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell and co on Evil Dead II - which is hysterical.

Similar group effort from the cast on Dog Soldiers - over a lot of drinkies.

And, for sheer insight and considered opinion - Just about anything from film historian Sir Christopher Frayling - the likes of The Magnificent Seven, The Dollars Trilogy and various vintage horrors, such as The Innocents and Frankenstein (1931) spring to mind.

I'm also quite keen to hear from critic Kim Newman and regular pal, Stephen Jones, on things like The Old Dark House, The Bird With The Crystal Plumage, Halloween II and Hands Of The Ripper amongst many others. Informative, opinionated, amusing and laid-back.

Cheers,

Chris McEneany
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Old 15-04-2009, 1:55 PM   #4
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

Great thread idea. I largely agree with the comments made above by Chris about Chris Frayling.

The themed commentaries on Se7en are excellent.

All of the Ian Christie commentaries on various Powell & Pressburger DVDs are great, too.

On the whole, I personally find that I get more out of commentaries by (or chaired by) film academics/historians, rather than just the cast & crew chatting about how cold it was to film that day, etc.

Steve W
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Old 15-04-2009, 10:35 PM   #5
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

I'm not a great one for commentaries but I was greatly moved by one of them on Apollo 13. One is by the director Ron Howard but the other is by Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell and his wife Marilyn. She so obiously relives the event and becomes very upset. As I say I was very Moved by this.

Regards
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Old 16-04-2009, 12:27 PM   #6
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

I really like commentaries and would say they are the best part of the extras that DVD bring.

My faves are Speed Commentary with Writer and Producer, it's hilarious.

John McTiernans commentaries are great on Predator, Hunt for Red October and Die Hard 3.

One of the Speed commentary guys pops up again in Day after tomorrow which is a not bad commentary.

Liam
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Old 16-04-2009, 6:59 PM   #7
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

Diane Lane and Laura Dern's commentary on "Ladies and Gentlemen The Fabulous Stains". Absolutely hilarious and informative. Diane Lane's impressions of Ray Winstone are soooo funny.

Link to the AVForums review:
http://www.avforums.com/movies/index...tlereview=9466

Last edited by MJeeves; 16-04-2009 at 7:01 PM.
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Old 16-04-2009, 7:56 PM   #8
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

Quote:
Originally Posted by MJeeves View Post
Diane Lane and Laura Dern's commentary on "Ladies and Gentlemen The Fabulous Stains". Absolutely hilarious and informative. Diane Lane's impressions of Ray Winstone are soooo funny.
I've just this minute stopped watching Winstone in Auf Wiedersehen Pet. I had no idea he'd workwd with the lovely Diane,


Bri
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Old 16-04-2009, 9:00 PM   #9
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

The commentaries on Kevin Smith's films are normally very funny.
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Old 17-04-2009, 11:54 AM   #10
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

Quote:
Originally Posted by brian s View Post
I've just this minute stopped watching Winstone in Auf Wiedersehen Pet. I had no idea he'd workwd with the lovely Diane,


Bri
Yes. He had the hots for her back in the day when they were filming it. It is worth checking out. They have great chemistry.
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Old 17-04-2009, 12:29 PM   #11
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

Anything by Bey Logan on Hong Kong Legends disks are usually good, my most recent fav one was on The Mist
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Old 17-04-2009, 1:04 PM   #12
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

Quote:
Originally Posted by TylerDurden View Post
Anything by Bey Logan on Hong Kong Legends disks are usually good
Second that. Is anything regarding Hong Kong Cinema that he don't know?

The commentary on Cannibal The Musical is genius.
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Old 19-04-2009, 9:33 AM   #13
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

Braveheart.

Mel is on top form, not with the funnies just general info you wouldn't know about the film unless you listened.

His accountant got the part of one of the English guys he rode out to meet. You know, the scene where he says all your men must bend over and kiss his own arse or words to that effect.

Interestingly, the young guy that played William Wallace as a boy had never done anything like that before, he was picked from his school drama group.

Top notch
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Old 25-04-2009, 8:26 AM   #14
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shoka View Post
The commentaries on Kevin Smith's films are normally very funny.
Agree about Kevin Smith.

Fight Club is really good, with Fincher, Pitt and Norton.

Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.

Henry Hill and a former Police guy do a good one on Goodfellas.

Ridley Scott is often interesting.
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Old 25-04-2009, 10:05 PM   #15
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

Kenny johnson's commentary on the pilot show of the incredible hulk tv series is excellent - extremely informative throughout. Unlike others - he has actually taken the time to research and prepare his commentary.
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Old 25-04-2009, 10:15 PM   #16
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

Any of the Firefly ones with Nathan Fillion are great fun.
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Old 27-04-2009, 4:56 PM   #17
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

Out of Sight.
The Usual Suspects.

I was really really disappointed with The Crow though.
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Old 28-04-2009, 2:56 AM   #18
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

Coppola on the Godfather films is an excellent listen. I also really enjoyed the in character one done by the band on This Is Spinal Tap.
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Old 28-04-2009, 11:49 PM   #19
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Prawnee View Post
The commentary on Cannibal The Musical is genius.
Seconded....even if just to hear them get more and more drunk as the movie goes on
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Old 05-05-2009, 12:28 PM   #20
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

Sam & Bruce on Evil Dead 1 & 2
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Old 23-05-2009, 10:30 AM   #21
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Re: Best audio commentaries?

Quote:
Originally Posted by soundstory View Post
Sam & Bruce on Evil Dead 1 & 2
I second that. The commentary for 2 made me laugh until the tea I was drinking came out my nose.
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