PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database. Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
That's My Say
That's My Say
Extras are ruining my life! - by DanielB
DVD Extras - Just how crap are they? As someone who watches a LOT of DVD extras, I am getting more and more ticked off with the direction they are heading. On a recent disc one of the extras was a making of for one of the film's trailers. You have got to be kidding! Extras started out as a great way to add extra interest to films (especially classic ones) by providing interesting background information about the film and how it was made, however, they seem to have turned into something that 'has' to be added in order to release a new film on DVD. Most recent films have very ordinary extras indeed, where no-one says what they really think instead just going on and on about how wonderful everything was in order to avoid pissing off the studio. Extras are also becoming extremely formulaic and generally fall into a small number of categories... a) Commentary - Force the director to sit down and talk about camera angles, editing and how great everybody was while watching the film. Especially on recent films these rarely lead to any great insights. If the director has a boring speaking voice, get someone else to do it! b) Making of featurettes - Usually very promotional in nature and therefore...boring. c) Deleted Scenes - Whatever ended up on the cutting room floor, stuck on the disc. Nearly all of these were cut for a reason. d) Storyboard comparisons - Yawn! e) Photo Galleries - Most of these are just stills from the films themselves. So, what do I want more of then? 1) Commentaries which actually give insight into the film making process, warts and all. Be honest, forthright and interesting. One example I enjoyed recently was Ronald Neame's commentary on the new Poseidon Adventure. He pointed out things he would have preffered to do differently whilst also being interesting and entertaining. 2) Commentaries by cast members who are entertaining (eg Roger Moore on the Bond Ultimate Editions) or by film critics (eg The two commentaries on Laura : Special Edition) 2) Featurettes about the development process from start to finish. Again warts and all. There is a great one of these on the disc for Secondhand Lions. 3) Background documentaries about the novel, author, situation, politics etc etc of the film. Not just about the film itself but about the story or situation depicted. 4) Warts and all making of featurettes. There is a good one on the new GoldenEye Ultimate Edition which has footage of the director swearing his head off when things go wrong. Its real and shows what working onset is really like rather than everything always being sweetness and light. In short, I want extras to be real and interesting not just advertisements for the film. A smaller number of quality extras is always better than lots of rubbish ones. I know I am probably asking the impossible but it never hurts to ask... Please feel free to add your comments of what you want to see more of in DVD Extras (or the sort of extras which really drive you mad)!