A quick commentary...

So a lot of people aren't really interested in special features, they're happy enough to watch the film and move on, which I can understand. When you read, few people even bother to read the authors bio, let alone do any independent research about the topic or whatever, so it's fair enough to just enjoy the film for what it is. But I love special features, in fact I feel ripped off a bit if there aren't any. In particular, I love Directors Commentaries.
Very few people watch as many directors commentaries as I do. I watch Directors Commentaries more than I watch regular films, to me it's far more interesting, and sometimes better than the actual film.
So here's my top directors commentaries. They're not in any particular order, they're just a few nice commentary tracks that jumped to mind. Some are informative, some are funny as hell, and some are both. But they're all worthwhile, so if you happen to own these bad boys then crack them out and give it a shot. I can say with almost certainty you'll enjoy most of them.



This is Spinal Tap

This is probably my fave commentary amongst them all, 'cos it features David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean) Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest)and Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) riffing for an hour and a half, completely in character, and it's almost funnier than the film itself. Almost.
Notable classic lines:
Nigel: Do you still have that castle David?
David: No, I eventually had to sell it. The buyer demolished it and used the stones for a roadway cul de sac.
Derek: A roadway called De Sack?
Classic.


Cannibal, the Musical

I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone, it's OK, but there's much better fare from the boys behind South Park. But it's worth it if you're 15 years old or reeeaaallly drunk. Or baked. Obviously.
However (again you need to be reeeeaaaaaaallly drunk. Or baked.) the DVD commentary actually improves this film, mainly because the participants are themselves, reeeeaaaalllly drunk. And probably baked.
Funny stuff.


Spaced


Admittedly, you do need the 3 disc special edition to get these commentaries, but if you get a chance to watch Spaced with the commentary, go for the US commentaries. With mad guest spots like Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith and Patton Oswalt, they're well worth putting your ear to, because the only person who can outnerd Simon Pegg on film references is Quentin Tarantino, so you can almost hear the nerd bar being raised throughout the commentary. Plus, they're all pretty funny dudes.


Any Robert Rodriguez Film

All of Rodriguez' films have ace commentaries, full of info about the filmaking process and the cast. I would highly recommend listening to the El Mariachi commentary, to learn how to make a film for under $10,000, or From Dusk till Dawn, which is Rodriguez and Tarantino together. Killer gear.


Ross Noble

Ross Noble can talk for hours and hours about nothing. DVD commentaries were invented for people like him. If you ever get bored with the show, just listen to the commentaries for more non-sequiter crazyness. Just don't fall asleep with the commentary on, as you'll wake up to Ross ranting about angry badgers and automatic Hassidic Jews, and you won't know if you're still asleep or awake.


The Late Show

I could watch the Late Show forever, but I love the commentary that comes with this bad boy as well. Clearly put together by Tony Martin (who has definately seen more Directors Commentaries than I have) this is 6 1/2 hours of the full cast reminiscing and talking shit about the horrible 90's fashion. Well worth it.


Jackass

Any of the commentaries for the Jackass (or indeed, any of the the spin-offs Viva La Bam, Wildboyz etc.) movies and TV shows are worth a listen, but the cast commentary on the first movie is probably the best. Self deprecation all round, and every line from Preston Lacy is gold, pure gold.
Notable funny lines:
Bam: Damn dude, look how fucking fat Phil is.
Preston: He's a medium build.

Well, there's my humble suggestions for the best DVD commentaries, so give them a shot.
You just might learn something, but probably not. At least most of them are good for a laugh.
Peace

5 Minutes to Midnight.....

Who watches the Watchmen?
I do, that's who.
Fuck the critics, they're always looking for reasons to hate a movie so they don't look like Stans, fuck the punks claiming that no film could do justice to the comic, Watchmen is the best comic book movie of the decade, possibly of all time.
Unlike The Dark Knight, which (let's face it kids) was essentially boosted to cult status by Heath Ledgers performance (BTW, if you haven't seen I'm Not There, the Bob Dylan bio-pic, get it out for 2 reasons. A: It's a killer film with great cinematography and an all round classic cast, but more importantly B: Heath Ledger uses almost the same accent he uses when he's playing The Joker, so if you close your eyes and listen you get a weird feeling that The Joker is a washed up musician arguing with his estranged wife. It's hella funny.)
Anyway, unlike TDK, Watchmen has phenomenal performances from pretty much every cast member, ass kicking action, epic scope with the story switching almost randomly through time periods and planets (Dr. Manhattan's glass palace on Mars is an amazing sequence) and the greatest anti-hero ever, Rorscharch.
It's worth the ticket price just to see Rorscharch tell a prison full of murderers and rapists "None of you seem to understand, I'm not locked in here with you... you're locked in here with me."
I know I sound like a nerdy Watchmen Stan, I don't really care. If you don't go see this film, it's your loss. And a big loss it will be.
Peace.

Overpriced Popcorn '09

So '08 was pretty good for movies, The Dark Knight was killer, 300 rocked, Judd Apatow came out with some great comedy, and the gangster movie was reinvigorated with American Gangster.
But '09 looks even sweeter, with some monster comic book adaptations, apparently some new Tarantino, and a bio of one of the greatest rappers ever.
Here's the rundown of the movies i'm most looking forward to this year. I don't guarantee they'll all be for everyone, and they're not necessarily Cannes material, but they will be dope.

NOTORIOUS



Biggie was one of the best to do it, and i'm glad it looks like they made this bio the right way. Jamal Woodard is actually a pretty good rapper, and looks and sounds a hell of a lot like Biggie, and whoever is playing Puff does a damn good job. Hopefully the movie lives up to the trailer.


THE SPIRIT



The Spirit looks dope like Cheech and Chong. You have Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Jaime King and Eva Mendes all rocking the Frank Miller film noir style. Sweet.

WATCHMEN



Yeah, you know i'm looking forward to this one. If you don't know about Watchmen, you really should get a copy and read it. There's a reason it's the most celebrated Graphic Novel of all time, and i'd highly recommend reading it before seeing the movie, as movies can change the way you read things, and Watchmen wil be way more potent as a book if you don't know the ending.

WOLVERINE



'nuff said, you know it will be sweet.


AVATAR

You can count on James Cameron to come with the heat, and the Times tipped this to be the film of the year, perhaps even Titanic proportions.
Cameron wrote the script himself, and the plot follows a future human invasion of a planet rich in natural resources that is also a biological time-bomb, appropriately known as Pandora.
We follow an ex-marine who changes sides, choosing to defend the ammonia-breathing indigenous creatures on the target planet against his fellow invading Earthlings. The film straddles two of the most important current themes, the fear of environmental catastrophe and an endemic sense of guilt about the destruction of nature.
No trailer as of yet, but the concept art can be seen at avatarmoviezone.com

Well, that about sums it up for the movie releases for this year, there's probably a few that I missed but these would be most of the standouts. Get out and see these bad boys, as there's nothing like a massive screen and banging sound, even if most movie crowds suck these days.
Peace,
~Broke