Are all "Extras" worth it?

[dwatts]

The thread on “The Others” speaks about the “extras” on the two-disc set. I thought that was interesting, but my comment is more general than a single disc.

I have quite a few DVD’s – and I’ve got to say, most of the time the “extras” really are quite lame. Advertised “documentaries” that last ten minutes – things that look like they were ripped off “entertainment tonight” etc. Not to mention the aforementioned extra discs that offer very little. How about soundtrack CD’s (love to get those) where they forget to give you a track listing?!?!?!

I’m all for getting “free” stuff – but buying anything based on “extras” is probably not such a smart move. I do like the commentary tracks – sometimes. But other times – they just don’t work. I listened to the Tenebre track the other day – and the guy interviewing Dario is one step up from moron IMHO. He keeps asking things like, “What was the significance of the broken window?” And Dario has to reply, “Well…. Ummm…. There is no significance.” Along with, “She’s a whore, right?” and Dario, “Erm, No, not whore.” –LOL-- The interviewer doesn’t seem to have a good handle on the movie at all – and it just becomes funny. And then – there are good ones – like the Hellraiser II commentary which I really enjoyed.

I guess my point is – at times they seem to pack on the extras just to say they have them. And despite what anything might thing – nothing is free. The cost of the two-disc “The Others” might be cheap compared to some single discs. But how about not having the second disc and having is retail at $15 (no doubt discounted down to the $10 range on the net)?

[fatclown]

I bought An American Werewolf in London dvd last september and it said 4 hours of enteraiment. The deleted scenes altogether are 2 minutes long. The rest is a making of and movie stills as extras. I thought it was going to have one hour of scenes added to the original version, what a rip-off.

[dwatts]

Yeah - don't you love those "stills" - what a bunch of crap. I don't mean to sound like I'm ungrateful - maybe it's just me - but I don't want to look at screen after screen of still shots. Some "extra" - "Look! a movie poster in horrible resolution!" --LOL--

[DefJeff]

the only extra i REALLY care about is the theatrical trailer, i love those.

i also like the galleries of poster/vhs artwork from around the world, but really, i only usually view that once or so

i think the worst extras are the radio interviews and radio spots for movies..

[KillerQ]

Hello...

If any DVD has a commentary, then that shows that some time went into it -- so i see that as one of the best extras. How come there are only a few 8 minute specials on the others -- and how does that justify a second disc?


Matt

[thrashard76]

The different trailers from different countries are cool. The running commentaries are a lot of fun to get thoughts from some people who were involved in the movie. The stills are neat...as long as they are rare photos (behind the scenes, promos, rehearsing etc.). Behind the scenes and documentaries are a nice treat too but I don't usually watch them that often.

[bigdaddyhorse]

Originally posted by dwatts
Yeah - don't you love those "stills" - what a bunch of crap. I don't mean to sound like I'm ungrateful - maybe it's just me - but I don't want to look at screen after screen of still shots. Some "extra" - "Look! a movie poster in horrible resolution!" --LOL--

I half agree.
If I wanna see pictures of the movie, I just pause it and frame by frame it.
Behind the scenes usually aren't too interesting in still pictures either.
I do kinda like poster/artwork galleries, when you can see em (zoom helps), esp. the Heavy Metal magazine cover gallery on the movie disc.

[thrashard76]

I think with newer horror movies should use the multi-angle option more...and I don't me being able to just jump from story boards to the actual movie scene either (as in the case of Re-Animator ME). ;)

[Max Yokell]

Well I am mainly a Give me a film in OAR and make it a good anamorphic transfer and I am happy.

One of the few extras I really enjoy are the Cast and Crew Bios & filmographies because when I am done with a movie and have that feeling like I have seen an actor before, it is easier to look there then have to go to IMDB or look else where. I personally wish they would do this much more on Horror especially Italian Horror where it seems that somehow all directors are some how linked to each other.

I also like Deleted scenes sometimes.

Unless I really really like a movie those are the only extras I dig into.

Max

[thrashard76]

Originally posted by Max Yokell
I also like Deleted scenes sometimes.Max

I wish the deleted or alternate scenes could be incorporated in the movie itself. Having some function turn on or off the extra supplements per the viewers discretion.

[darktrippers]

OAR anamorphic
5.1 DTS
Commentary
Decent in-depth documentary (at least 30 mins)

...then I would buy all those movies I've been holding out on (i.e. Apocalypse Now, Deer Hunter, Wild Bunch, The Frighteners).

Fingers crossed.

[maybrick]

"i think the worst extras are the radio interviews and radio spots for movies.."

Hey, I love the radio spots! Especially ones from the 60s and early 70s, they're so kitschy! The Theatre of Death has some great ones, and I absolutely love the ones that Something Weird includes on The Monsters Crash the Pajama Party! I wish more discs included them. :D

[DeepDownTraumaHound]

well, fellas. things might be going in the "Little to no extras" way anyhow. Fox is doing a ton of downgrades. if this trend is popular, then goodbye to all our so called spec. eds.
delteted scenes
commentary
trailer
makes one PERFECT DVD!
the rest is nonsense, unless there is actually a docu worth the time.

[thrashard76]

The audio interview on the Night Of...ME edition was a bit of a yawn. Especially when the only images we see during the interview are movie stills (and only like 2 or 3 at that). :(

[dwatts]

The way around the "downgrade" scam is to not buy them. if you simply MUST have a copy of a movie - and therefore buy it, you're contributing to the problem.

For instance - I'd die for a copy of Argento's - "sleepless" - but I simply won't even consider the version that is out right now - it's lame beyond belief. As much as I want to see it - I'd rather do without. When they do it right - they can have my $.

[Max Yokell]

Hey you know you can order an R1 version of Sleepless that is widescreen, I am sure I saw one at Diabolikdvd.com.

Max

[thrashard76]

I know its not right but I'm gonna skip the first release of Return Of The Living Dead. I'm planning on picking up the next (much better) version sometime next year. Maybe by then Return....2 will be available. :rolleyes:

[dwatts]

I just did a search and don't see it.

There's a disk that is region free - but it's PAL.

[DefJeff]

Originally posted by dwatts
I'd die for a copy of Argento's - "sleepless" - but I simply won't even consider the version that is out right now - it's lame beyond belief. As much as I want to see it - I'd rather do without. When they do it right - they can have my $.

yo, i feel the EXACT same way! seroiusly, everythign you just said right there is how i see things

[Wez4555]

i do agree with you about the trailers defjeff. i love them..thats the first extra i watch after the movie. i think every dvd barebones or not should have one. i also like the tv spots. im not a big fan of commentaries tho. the only one i really sat threw is the cannibal the musical one..where they got drunk. maybe i need to start haha. got i have over 200 dvds and most of them have commentaries.

[Werner Von Wallenrod]

F' that. Give me loads and loads of extras.

[Choptop]

Extras now-a-days seem to be just that, "extras". In the days of LD extras were refered to as supplements, and it was just that, material that supplemented the feature film. Today's extras just seem to be blurbs of miscellaneous extra crap thrown in to sell a product. "Over 12 hours of bonus material!!!" I must be blind, because I havent been able to find those 12 hours of bonus materials on any disc I own. The worst, are those "behind the scenes featurettes" that turn out to be 8 minute long EPKs from the 80's.

Give me a widescreen presentation, commentary track and a trailer, and I'll be happy.

[Max Yokell]

On Sleepless, I thought there was an NTSC widescreen version avalable at one time that was R1 or region free. I think it was from south america or something like that. I will try to find out more.

Max

[wago70]

I love ALL extras - they make a movie purchase that much more interesting than boring ol' VHS. Sometimes I'll devote an entire viewing of a movie I've seen hundreds of times to surf the extras. I had a great time last night surfing thru the newer EVIL DEAD dvd and then went thru the old one by Elite. True, not all films need commentaries and deleted scenes, but making of's and trailers (especially) are favorites of mine. Why, I even love the radio spots and TV spots as well.
Now, I'm not much interested in the newest releases like Rollerball and such - I like collecting DVDs for stuff like Cannibal Ferox, Re-Animator, Grapes of Death (you guys HAVE to see that one - what a good show) and the like. Extras are good for those films that are older and, after seeing a certain film over the years, it's nice to know what went into the production and what not. Why, I'll take a still gallery over NOTHING any day.

"But I can't fire them...they came with the hotel."

[KillerCannabis]

You know whats funny? I love a disc thats chock-full-o-extras. But more than 75% of the time I dont even go through them. I just like knowing that they're there. I only watch extras that I really am into. Trailers, deleted scenes, and maybe a documentary. And thats really about it. Anyone else like that? You love a stocked disc, but just dont utilize all the features on it?

[thrashard76]

I love watching the movies extras. I'll watch the extras first sometimes as a personal treat to myself before actually engaging in the full movie. Still, the more extras included on a DVD the better. By the time I actually start the movie I'm already pumped up and ready to go. ;)

[maybrick]

One of the reasons I originally wanted a DVD player was the extras, but frankly, I don't usually watch them more than the first time around. I used to listen to every commentary as well, but I don't even remember the last time I did that. Not in the last year at any rate. I still think they should be there for educational purposes though.

In many cases the worst "extras" I see included are the still galleries. When they include actual production photos, movie posters, and lobby cards I'm all for them. But all too often it seems that they just take stills directly from the movie itself and I don't see any point in those at all considering that one of the benefits of DVD is it's ability to make "picture-perfect" pauses.

[thrashard76]

On the Re-Animator ME the extra with the music and how it helped work the movie's atmosphere was a great added feature.

[Werner Von Wallenrod]

I think you guys are getting burned on "bad extras"... But extras can suck or not, just like the movie can. That really says nothing to extras in general...
There are certainly examples where I (and I'm sure others - are you reading this, studios?) buy DVDs of films we wouldn't otherwise bother to pick up, because they have a bunch of interesting extras. Heck, there are a few examples where the extras are better, more interesting and more substantial, and the movie itself is more like the "extra."

I think it's pretty standard that a "featurette" is one of those those press kit, clip-heavy mini-docs and a "documentary" is something more substantial. So, if you see "featurette" on the sleeve, don't run in with your expectations too high (although sometimes those featurettes are still pretty good... generally depending on how interesting the interview clips are). Since the studios generally already have very easy access to these featurettes, and they're already complete, I think they ought to be as standard as the trailer, IMO. If you've got 'em - put 'em on!

And, for the record, I watch all the extras except for the "minor" ones (photo galleries, bios, filmographies, and trailers - unless the trailer is somehow unique, like Woody Allen's Bananas or Albert Brooks The Muse; then I watch those, too).

And, for the other record, I'm pretty sure there's not a r1 or R0, widescreen, NTSC Sleepless...

[Atmims]

You know whats funny? I love a disc thats chock-full-o-extras. But more than 75% of the time I dont even go through them. I just like knowing that they're there. I only watch extras that I really am into. Trailers, deleted scenes, and maybe a documentary. And thats really about it. Anyone else like that? You love a stocked disc, but just dont utilize all the features on it?

I'm exactly like this too! I usually even pay extra bucks to get the "Deluxe special edition" version with all the extras, music CDs, etc. KNOWING I'll probably never look at the extras. They're just nice to have.
Adrian Mims

[thrashard76]

Originally posted by Atmims
I usually even pay extra bucks to get the "Deluxe special edition" version with all the extras, music CDs, etc.
...They're just nice to have. Adrian Mims

I always try to wait til the most definitive version is released. I am still undecided if I should get the Evil Dead BOTD LE cuz I have heard that it (the cover) falls apart and stinks. :( Not to mention that another ED release may (most likely) be cooking on the back burner. ;)

[wago70]

The Evil Dead BOTD is terror-ific - what DVD was made for, really - if you think about it. Mine didn't fall apart (and it has been handled quite a bit by curious lookers on. That latex smell goes away if you leave it out to breath for a few days. Don't hold off...it's a total must-have.
Also, don't expect Paramount to do anything similar to any of our old favorites, either.

"Who's to say that isn't Matul?"

[Atmims]

I always try to wait til the most definitive version is released. I am still undecided if I should get the Evil Dead BOTD LE cuz I have heard that it (the cover) falls apart and stinks.

I pre-ordered the BOTD LE and paid around $40 plus shipping. A few weeks later I went to K-Mart and they had 4-5 "Book of the Deads" in stock for only $25! I was sorta mad that I paid so much more. K-Mart also had the standard DTS release of Evil Dead so I got It so I won't have to take my "Book of the Dead" out to watch the movie.<BR>
The book doesn't really stink, it smells kinda like a halloween mask. I like that smell. ;) The cover to mine hasn't fell off yet, but I've been careful looking at it and stuff.<BR>
I would say the "Book of the Dead" is a must get if your a fan of Evil Dead and have around $20-$30 to blow. I just wish the disc would have came in something better than that little pouch. When I took the disc out for the first time it had scratches on it like the pouch scratched the disc.<br>
Adrian Mims

[Trout]

The more extras the better. Companies should take advantage of the DVD format as much as possible. Even if extras aren't available I would like to see additional trailers for other films included (kind of like Shriek Show does).

[thrashard76]

Originally posted by Trout
The more extras the better. Companies should take advantage of the DVD format as much as possible. Even if extras aren't available I would like to see additional trailers for other films included (kind of like Shriek Show does).

I agree. The new Zombie Holocaust is supposed to have quite a few trailers of some upcoming Shriek Show movies. That is a great idea not only for the fans to check out the previews and ultimately decide but good for self promotion on the part of SS. ;) I suppose these upcoming trailers are fully revitalized like there movie counterpart will be and not crappy second rate trailers.

Originally posted by Atmims


I pre-ordered the BOTD LE and paid around $40 plus shipping. A few weeks later I went to K-Mart and they had 4-5 "Book of the Deads" in stock for only $25! I was sorta mad that I paid so much more. K-Mart also had the standard DTS release of Evil Dead so I got It so I won't have to take my "Book of the Dead" out to watch the movie.<BR>
The book doesn't really stink, it smells kinda like a halloween mask. I like that smell. ;) The cover to mine hasn't fell off yet, but I've been careful looking at it and stuff.<BR>
I would say the "Book of the Dead" is a must get if your a fan of Evil Dead and have around $20-$30 to blow. I just wish the disc would have came in something better than that little pouch. When I took the disc out for the first time it had scratches on it like the pouch scratched the disc.<br>
Adrian Mims

The pricing at the time sucked goat but at the time everyone wanted it so it evens out. ;) I've seen the Book first hand so I know what you mean about the pouch. It shouldn't be a problem to take the DVD movie out of the pouch and putting it inside a regular CD case. Then folding the Book over the case so it stays inside the Book. That way the CD is safe inside and won't get scratched all to hell. :p