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The Most Boring Commentator Ever — Page 2

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I'm so glad someone else picked up on Ben's disdain on the special features. You also see it in the doc, "The Beginning", after they've watched the whole movie cut together for the first time and Ben is talking about cutting between so many story lines in the span of 30 seconds, and having it be overload for the audience. The look on his face and his body language say it all.

Another great moment is in the documentary about casting young Anakin. They show a bunch of little kids doing a scene with Natalie in Watto's shop as a screen test. One kid is a clear stand out, the best shown in the doc. I remember Natalie tells him he's just a little boy, and he replies (as Anakin) with an incredible amount of weight and depth...menace, foreshadowing, longing, etc..." I won't always be". The way he delivers that one line gave me chills, and in the doc, you can hear someone go. "woah" when he delivers the line. Lucas of course then pics Jake for the part because he's more "natural" and "unstudied", all the code words for "bad"...nothing against Jake at all. And all the minions start wringing their hands in agreement and chanting "yes, master".
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YES!! I remember that! For some reason - a family curse, no doubt - I've had to direct a lot of commericals that feature children, and as difficult as they can be to work with, they're the best to audition. You can tell right away if they've got it or not, and they're far more inventive than adults during the audition. Anyway, I remember the kid you're talking about, and he was a clear standout. And I'll bet anything he wasn't the only one, but I remember thinking at the time that if those had been MY dailies, Jake Lloyd wouldn't have made it past round 1.

Also, my other favorite part of that piece was the fact that it ends with the shot of the theater of excited fans BEFORE the movie starts, not a second of footage after they'd finally seen it.

_Mike

View the Restoration and join the discussion at StarWarsLegacy.com!

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I don't remember that part of The Beginning....but i've always known their had to have been better auditions than Jake Lloyd.

A commentary track I like a lot was The Goonies. They kinda cut between showing the movie or showing most of the main characters in the movie (now quite a bit older, yet still familiar) all sitting at a table by mics and just remiscing and giving enormous amounts of behind the scenes info and quite naturally "shootin' the shit". They did it in 1999 and I found it funny that Sean Astin left half way through it. I'll bet he was off on something LOTR related. Goddamn, it still blows my mind that I was in 6th and 7th grade when they started shooting those movies.

Hey look, a bear!

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Originally posted by: The Dark Lord
whoa, Jenny.
EDIT: for the record, i'm not actually a trucker, but i share some of their sensibilities.
btw, are you drunk or something?


Lord no. What would give you that impression? I wasn't actually yelling that outloud. It was what my brain was screaming while I was watching the movie. My outward appearence was calm and collected. I simpley got up, turned off the TV, sighed saddly, and said, "Well screw that."

Originally posted by: JediFlyer06
I'm so glad someone else picked up on Ben's disdain on the special features... The look on his face and his body language say it all.


I know people have noticed, those that watched the episode III featurette where Lucas comes into the storyboard room or something, and everyone around is all stiff and nervous. It is so painfully obvious.

And about the Jake Lloyd casting. I totally agree. I remember watching it and when we finally get to see Jake, I was not impressed. He even screws up his lines and starts ad-libbing. It sucked. I remember thinking, "Dude, this kid sucks. There were ton better kids at that audition. His was the worst. Why did they pick him? Oh I see...he "looks" the part. Pfft. That piss poor casting."

Also, also - I see an enherent flaw in Lucas's thinking and audiance expectations. Lucas cast Jake because he was the most "innocent." He didn't have the evil strength that some of those other boys did (like the "I won't always be" boy). Lucas wanted to present us with a pure boy. Okay.... it's going to make it that much harder for the audiance to accept him as our future Vader...
And with Hayden, during Episode II Lucas had to constantly reign him in, telling him "don't act so angry, lower the evil a bit." So how did Anakin come across in the film? That right, he became frustrated and whiny. We lost all of the deep, rummbly elements and got a high pitched, tinny sounding Anakin. So when the time came for the dark side "turn" we were left sitting there going, "Damn. That poorly excecuted."
"I am altering the movies. Pray I don't alter them any further." -Darth Lucas
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Originally posted by: greencapt
Originally posted by: Ozkeeper
they could have spiced up the SW commentaries by having Mr. Krabs from Spongebob pop up everytime Lucas speaks and just say " I like money!"


Money, money, money, money, money!!!!

http://php.scripts.psu.edu/users/m/a/mag357/midterm/img/mr_krab2.gif

Now THAT would be worth it!


HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I wish the Harry Potter Movies had commentary tracks. Maybe for an eventually super uber boxset extended edition/ SE/ Director Cuts ( ) They'll get some.
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Originally posted by: Ozkeeper
Back to the Future commentary was just an overdubbed discussion from some Uni. Sheesh, how lazy was that.


Actually, that's not quite how it worked. They did use the audio of an intereview as a commentary track, but there is an actual commentary track by Bob Gale and Neil Canton that's actually very, very good. It's one of the few commentaries (if not the only) I've listened to more than once (and fairly frequently actually) because it's just so entertaining and informative.

And ADM, I think you're right for the most part about the Star Wars commentaries, but I know that at least some of the animators are actually watching the movie because they'll say things like, "And watch right... there, you'll see..." and they'll point out some obscure thing that they could only be doing if they're watching the movie.

But since George is the director, it would be nice if he'd actually tell some stories about what went on behind the scenes. What happened when they were shooting that particular shot. Some whimisical story of how Anthony Daniels couldn't see where he was going in the suit and fell down a flight of stairs. You know, funny stuff like that. Instead, he either talks about digital effects (like I've said before) or just narrates the story, as if we can't figure it out by watching it! It's not as though the prequels at least are thirty year old movies where it's hard to discern what happened on a particular day of shooting. But I guess all those blue screen sets do tend to blend together to the point that you don't remember what took place when...

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

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Originally posted by: Gaffer Tape
But since George is the director, it would be nice if he'd actually tell some stories about what went on behind the scenes. What happened when they were shooting that particular shot. Some whimisical story of how Anthony Daniels couldn't see where he was going in the suit and fell down a flight of stairs. You know, funny stuff like that. Instead, he either talks about digital effects (like I've said before) or just narrates the story, as if we can't figure it out by watching it! It's not as though the prequels at least are thirty year old movies where it's hard to discern what happened on a particular day of shooting. But I guess all those blue screen sets do tend to blend together to the point that you don't remember what took place when...


Considering the fact that I believe half the people here could have made better prequel movies than George Lucas, I believe you may be expecting too much of his great mind.

"Now all Lucas has to do is make a cgi version of himself.  It will be better than the original and fit his original vision." - skyjedi2005

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The Pirates of the Caribbean commentary is pretty damn disappointlingly dull as well. Just wanted to throw that in there.
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Originally posted by: Ozkeeper
I couldn't get thruugh the Pirates of the Caribbean commentary track. Was just way too ..umm..fruity.
Actors doing a commentary track as their or another char gets old fast too. I'm thinking of Bruce as Elvis in Bubba Ho-Tep and Jim Carey as Lemony Snicket.


OH! The Spinal Tap Special Edition commentary was HILARIOUS when the actors reprised their roles and looked back at the movie as being real and 20 years later. It was genius!

"He's dead now. Shame really."
"She's dead."
"He's dead."
"Dead."
"Dead."

ROTFLMFAO
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Just checked my Back to the Future boxset. It's an early release region 4, that didnt get the extra commentary track on the later released Region 1. Also has some framing errors.

From Michael D's Region 4 DVD Info Page:
Yes, to repeast that the Region 4 release has NO commentaries. What it does have is an interview/Q&A session with a live audience that doesn't even run the length of the feature.
The Region 1 get's an interview for ALL 3 films, plus commentaries for all 3 films. The 3rd "commentary" you refer to is no doubt, the awesome trivia track.
Yeah, the Region 4 version sucks big time, but we got it first. And I like Black more than blue for my case.


So, it's gonna have to go for a new Region 1 version if it has a commentary track as good as you say.


Yes, agree with you on the Spinal Tap track ThatArtGuy. That just kept the joke going.
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Didn't they release a new 4-disc version in the other regions that contained all the bonus features that the original Region 1 release had?

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

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Val Kilmer by himself does the commentary for Spartan. Wow, talk about a guy in his own world.
"KILLING IS MY BUSINESS, AND BUSINESS IS GOOD."
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How about those john carpener commentaries w/ kurt russel? I thought those were entertaining. I also love the commentary from comic book the movie.
"Who's scruffy-lookin'?" - Han Solo
"I wish my lawn was emo so it would cut itself." -sybeman
"You know, putting animals in the microwave is not a good idea. I had to learn that one the hard way." -seanwookie
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Originally posted by: Delicieuxz
The Pirates of the Caribbean commentary is pretty damn disappointlingly dull as well. Just wanted to throw that in there.
Which of the three? The Gore Verbinsky/Johnny Depp track is fairly dry, but I liked the Keira Knightley/Jack Davenport one. Doesn't hurt that I'm a fan of Davenport's from Coupling altough Keira actually got on my nerves a few times during it.

I'm actually convinced that what George Lucas needs is someone to do the commentary with him. Someone knowledgable who can ask him good questions and offer their own insight as well.
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Originally posted by: Switch Radic
I also love the commentary from "comic book: the movie."


Isn't that the little film that Mark Hamill was in? How good is that? I'm not a comicbook geek by any means, but I am quite the nerd. Unfortunatly, I think Hugh Hefner was in that film and well...I have a serious problem with that guy.
"I am altering the movies. Pray I don't alter them any further." -Darth Lucas
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yes that was the movie with mark hamill in it. Hugh hefner is in the movie but he's not talking about playboy in it. Just about his experience with comics as a kid and the fact that he wanted to be a cartoonist as a kid.
"Who's scruffy-lookin'?" - Han Solo
"I wish my lawn was emo so it would cut itself." -sybeman
"You know, putting animals in the microwave is not a good idea. I had to learn that one the hard way." -seanwookie
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Originally posted by: Switch Radic
yes that was the movie with mark hamill in it. Hugh hefner is in the movie but he's not talking about playboy in it. Just about his experience with comics as a kid and the fact that he wanted to be a cartoonist as a kid.
Poor guy - his childhood dream never came true...

War does not make one great.

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The only SW-commentary I've took the time to listen to was EP1, since it was the first SW-DVD ever to be released (how thrilled i was!)... I thought it was quite interesting, but back then I was just so happy to have ANY SW-movie on DVD that I didn't mind GL glorifiying CG as much (after all I work as a CG-guy, so this IS a cool thing... but not when it's going out of control like in GL's hands).

The most boring commentary I've ever heard was the Farelli's "Me, Myself & Irene"... it basically consists of nothing more than "That guy in the background ist my uncle... and that girl left of that building is my sister's ex college-roomate... oh, and that couple on the right is my brother-in-law and my wife..." I GOT IT!

Really funny commentaries are made by Trey Parker and Matt Stone (the "Orgazmo" one is just classic... the booze-level rises with each minute of the film). Funny: Bruce Campbell's "Evil Dead 2" bashing in his commentary... I still have to listen to his "King"-commentary on Bubba Ho-Tep.

Funny AND damn interesting: All commentaries by Kevin Smith... and basically most interviews and articles he does...
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Originally posted by: Laserschwert
The only SW-commentary I've took the time to listen to was EP1, since it was the first SW-DVD ever to be released (how thrilled i was!)... I thought it was quite interesting, but back then I was just so happy to have ANY SW-movie on DVD that I didn't mind GL glorifiying CG as much (after all I work as a CG-guy, so this IS a cool thing... but not when it's going out of control like in GL's hands).


Believe me, I think the stuff about the makings of the CG is pretty interesting. That's what the animators talk about, and I enjoy listening to them. But Lucas doesn't do any actual work on that. He should talk about stuff he actually knows, rather than just saying, "This is great. This is wonderful. I wish I could marry a computer and have it make all my storytelling dreams come true. I bet it could do better role-playing than my ex-wife ever did."

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

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Originally posted by: Yoda Is Your Father
Originally posted by: Switch Radic
yes that was the movie with mark hamill in it. Hugh hefner is in the movie but he's not talking about playboy in it. Just about his experience with comics as a kid and the fact that he wanted to be a cartoonist as a kid.
Poor guy - his childhood dream never came true...


lol

I have a good friend that wants to show me Comic Book the movie. I'm mostly interested in seeing it because it stars actors who are cartoon-voice actors and it would be so neat to see them and not just hear them. I'll probably try and guess if whose voice I've heard where when watching it. (BTW, Mark Hamill as the Joker in Batman the animated series was brilliant work of his.)

"Now all Lucas has to do is make a cgi version of himself.  It will be better than the original and fit his original vision." - skyjedi2005

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Originally posted by: Tiptup (BTW, Mark Hamill as the Joker in Batman the animated series was brilliant work of his.)



Correction: THE most brilliant work he has done. I mean, damn I must have been 14 by the time I found out that he was providing the voice. I didn't believe it and had to watch the animated movie again to just verify it. I think I told my dad and he was all like, "No way!" and I was all like "Yea-huh!" and he was all like "dude, that is awesome!" and I was all like "Yeah, I know!"
"I am altering the movies. Pray I don't alter them any further." -Darth Lucas
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Originally posted by: Invader Jenny
Correction: THE most brilliant work he has done.


Arguably so, yes.

"Now all Lucas has to do is make a cgi version of himself.  It will be better than the original and fit his original vision." - skyjedi2005

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Not including Yoda's Death Scene in ROTJ. Mark Hamill and Frank Oz both deserve and Oscar for that scene.

War does not make one great.

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Originally posted by: Yoda Is Your Father
Not including Yoda's Death Scene in ROTJ. Mark Hamill and Frank Oz both deserve and Oscar for that scene.


No shit! Thank you! Someone else thinks so too! I, and I kid you not, cry every time I see that scene. I mean, for someone who knows it coming a tear will still fall down my cheek. And kudos to John Williams for that heart breaking music right there too.

I also get goose bumps every time I hear the music during the scene where Luke's rage takes over and he wails on Vader in the passionate father-son dual. I was on the bus listening to it and I noticed the little hairs all over my legs and arms were standing straight up. It was 82 degrees in there.
"I am altering the movies. Pray I don't alter them any further." -Darth Lucas
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I also get goose bumps every time I hear the music during the scene where Luke's rage takes over and he wails on Vader in the passionate father-son dual. I was on the bus listening to it and I noticed the little hairs all over my legs and arms were standing straight up. It was 82 degrees in there.


I'm the same way. I picked up the ROTJ soundtrack just for that one bit. It's really emotional yet really eerie at the same time.

http://i.imgur.com/7N84TM8.jpg