tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post6772889281490407265..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Friday QuestionsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64059482675459208142014-07-15T23:55:31.307-07:002014-07-15T23:55:31.307-07:00Ken, can you clarify one big thing about "Fig...Ken, can you clarify one big thing about "Fighting Nightingales": Was this intended as an actual spinoff of "M*A*S*H", or was it just a projected TV series that happened to share the same setting and situation (but not the same universe) as the show that involved Hawkeye and BJ?David G.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44336922948137425562014-07-04T09:10:16.237-07:002014-07-04T09:10:16.237-07:00Ken, the Lilith and Frasier characters are my favo...Ken, the Lilith and Frasier characters are my favorite all time. Is there one person responsible for their creation or was it a collaborative effort?Scott Casonhttp://scottcason.semonin.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90418171757473217202014-07-03T13:30:59.584-07:002014-07-03T13:30:59.584-07:00Someone mentioned Tim Robbins on the "Bull Du...Someone mentioned Tim Robbins on the "Bull Durham" commentary. I'll add a plug for his commentary on "dead Man Walking." He talks a lot about camera positioning and the designs of shots, as well as discussing the usual stuff in great detail.PD in Waterloonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43573912087932142492014-07-03T10:55:21.832-07:002014-07-03T10:55:21.832-07:00Friday question, and not unrelated to the commenta...Friday question, and not unrelated to the commentary theme: Have you heard Geoff Tate's podcast (mostly) all about his love for Cheers? It's called "Afternoon Everybody" and so far it's been talk about the show and baseball stuff I don't understand. He mentioned he was looking for insider guests...Sean Savagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05025063998143026962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11690058905956255862014-07-02T15:45:17.447-07:002014-07-02T15:45:17.447-07:00Peter Ustinov on Criterion's Spartacus. Great ...Peter Ustinov on Criterion's Spartacus. Great raconteur set loose.flurbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04826553966794535101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66249540268185293432014-06-30T20:30:34.428-07:002014-06-30T20:30:34.428-07:00Agree with so many of the above-cited commentaries...Agree with so many of the above-cited commentaries, no one yet has mentioned one of my personal favorite commentaries: Nicholas Meyers' for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.<br /><br />So damned articulate.Dave Oldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215102320199051371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47001920976092626632014-06-30T08:19:04.100-07:002014-06-30T08:19:04.100-07:00I will lend my vote to all the people that said Fi...I will lend my vote to all the people that said Firefly, Dr. Horrible -- basically, anything by Joss Whedon.<br /><br />Also, weirdly, the first Terminator movie. It's fascinating hearing James Cameron talking about being a young unknown and all the tricks they had to employ to get that film made on the cheap.MrTacthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13783996395528458895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-27251815135083689252014-06-29T03:14:11.128-07:002014-06-29T03:14:11.128-07:00Commentary tracks are usually the cheapest extra. ...Commentary tracks are usually the cheapest extra. I hope they don't die off, as they have been some amazing ones over the years (plenty of those mentioned I agree with). <br /><br />One funny (and rare) ones is Anchorman -- but only the UK DVD version. (The one where it DOESNT start with them swearing/bleeped out for 10 mins.)Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59884122034141345372014-06-28T19:04:39.786-07:002014-06-28T19:04:39.786-07:00Commentary tracks have become less common on DVDs ...Commentary tracks have become less common on DVDs and Blu-Ray discs. I suppose as home video sales have deteriorated, the commentary track is an easy cut to make in the budget.Ryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5515968323449465642014-06-28T18:54:24.518-07:002014-06-28T18:54:24.518-07:00I love commentaries -- often the presence of them ...I love commentaries -- often the presence of them influences my purchase decision. <br /><br />Several great ones have already been mentioned, including CITIZEN KANE. One of the impressive things about that is how Ebert points out all the special effects -- so many it rivals STAR WARS.<br /><br />For young filmmakers, you might want to check out Robert Rodgrigues' commentary for SPY KIDS 2. Not because of the movie, but for his generous explanations of how he makes his movies, and how he can keep down the budget.<br /><br />Also agree about MAD MEN - it was an outrage that the last set had no commentaries when they were so plentiful and informative before. I may think twice about buying Season Seven if that happens again. The show is accessible in other ways besides Blu-ray and DVD, so taking the things that make the disc so appealing is beyond doofy.<br /><br />I love hearing John Cleese comment on every episode of FAWLTY TOWERS. It's like hearing Gleason for THE HONEYMOONERS or Lucy & Desi for I LOVE LUCY. Beware of the earlier DVD sets of the series though, unless you want to hear one of the directors eat his lunch.<br /><br />Speaking of "lesser" commentaries in which participants smack their lips as they eat or -- believe it or not -- take phone calls, the two worst offenders are, so far, DISTURBIA and IRON MAN 3.<br /><br />Film historians usually do excellent commentaries because they not only know a lot of facts off the top of their head, they usually prepare ahead of time. Leonard Maltin, Jeanine Basinger, Rudy Behlmer and others put forth great effort.<br /><br />Three favorite commentaries are for BAMBI and FANTASIA, in which Corey Burton does an astonishing Walt Disney voice from the original story notes, and Brian Sibley's work on AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, in which he details every actor who appears -- with mini-biographies -- as they are seen onscreen.Greg Ehrbarhttp://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/category/animation-spin/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38148552072428015212014-06-28T09:18:29.897-07:002014-06-28T09:18:29.897-07:00Speaking of DVD commentary tracks, the one on &quo...Speaking of DVD commentary tracks, the one on "Birth of a Nation" by Donald Sterling and Paula Deen is less than insightful.Waynenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80297839495334731472014-06-28T06:42:09.640-07:002014-06-28T06:42:09.640-07:00I've always liked the "Say Anything"...I've always liked the "Say Anything" commentary with Cameron Crowe, John Cusack and Ione Skye. <br /><br />The one with Cameron and his Mom on the bootleg addition of "Almost Famous" is great as well.XJillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70222874402692795112014-06-28T06:32:24.839-07:002014-06-28T06:32:24.839-07:00This is a question
In your explanation of job titl...This is a question<br />In your explanation of job titles, what is a "post production supervisor" or "post production coordinator"? Okay, the post product part is obvious enough, but why is this job apart from the original producer, director show runners, etc. along with their own collection of assistants at IMDB?Herbert Jack Rotfeldhttp://www.auburn.edu/~rotfehjnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-75763899973248138602014-06-28T06:09:31.095-07:002014-06-28T06:09:31.095-07:00I deliberately sought out DVDs with directors who ...I deliberately sought out DVDs with directors who were known to be good storytellers to listen to commentary. Mel Brooks is one, Garry Marshall is another. Carl Reiner's commentary for Oh God is great, and it includes Larry Gelbart and Terri Garr. Richard Benjamin's commentaries for The Sunshine Boys and My Favorite Year are very entertaining. My favorite is Bonnie Hunt and her writing partner Don Lake talking about her Return to Me. Wonderful movie, and Bonnie's stories and observations (and pointing out all her family members who played roles in the film) are top-notchJohn Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4736960265553678892014-06-28T03:15:04.805-07:002014-06-28T03:15:04.805-07:00For me it was the commentary of the late director ...For me it was the commentary of the late director John Frankenheimer. I wish he had done more of them. Barry Traylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14134880916215990198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12553120446423308812014-06-28T02:50:08.959-07:002014-06-28T02:50:08.959-07:00The commentary for CATCH-22 is worth listening to ...The commentary for CATCH-22 is worth listening to - Director Mike Nichols talking with Steven Soderbergh, who is clearly a fan...B Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16618583443442543086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59752344377423411432014-06-28T00:17:32.401-07:002014-06-28T00:17:32.401-07:00@Bradley
Sadly, the blog that used to have that T...@Bradley<br /><br />Sadly, the blog that used to have that Tootsie commentary track no longer has a working link. But here's the page that used to have it, along with the Gelbart script: http://cinearchive.org/post/44633306192/tootsie-screenplay-by-larry-gelbart-pdf-note<br /><br />You may want to contact the site host and ask him to repost the commentary track: http://cinearchive.org/ask <br /><br />Otherwise, that 1991 Criterion Tootsie laserdisc is usually on eBay. (Of course, that means you'd need access to a laserdisc player.)Sheldrakenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71760267342098388702014-06-27T20:30:40.941-07:002014-06-27T20:30:40.941-07:00There is a commentary track for This is Spinal Tap...There is a commentary track for This is Spinal Tap done by the three lead actors in character. It essentially serves as a sequel to the original film. Essential listening.<br /><br />My favorites are the commentaries for The Thing and Big Trouble in Little China. Old friends John Carpenter and Kurt Russell. Lots of good info, but mainly just the fun of listening to these two guys laugh and tell stories. Fantastic. The Mutthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09149977320388415139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70193102914962372542014-06-27T19:33:02.635-07:002014-06-27T19:33:02.635-07:00Hi Kate,
I refer you to this blog post. http://k...Hi Kate,<br /><br />I refer you to this blog post. http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2012/06/adam-carolla-is-moron.html<br /><br />By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-75983940308610682922014-06-27T19:05:42.742-07:002014-06-27T19:05:42.742-07:00One of the funniest commentary tracks is by Joe Be...One of the funniest commentary tracks is by Joe Berlinger, director of BLAIR WITCH 2: BOOK OF SHADOWS. The film was taken away from him and recut, with some reshooting as well. In the commentary track, Berlinger goes into detail about the war over the movie, and constantly tries to distinguish his choices from the studio's choices. It's sad for him, but hilarious for anyone else.euphoria0504https://www.blogger.com/profile/03395162178212636466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47551033133071004522014-06-27T19:03:53.769-07:002014-06-27T19:03:53.769-07:00It may be because Ken often talks about women by t...It may be because Ken often talks about women by their physical attributes, or their "craziness," or "bitchiness." There have been only two or three times in the last year I've been reading when he spoke of a woman's talent in a positive way. Good news if you're Shelley Long, not so good if you're Adrienne Barbeau, or Cobie Smulders. Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13498390749682637882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26542214348245450532014-06-27T19:01:49.749-07:002014-06-27T19:01:49.749-07:00Plus one on liking the Mad Men commentaries. Matt...Plus one on liking the Mad Men commentaries. Matthew Weiner is really great at them in my opinion and makes a show that I already enjoy even better. I was very upset that there were no commentaries in the most recent season's set. I look forward to them every year and had set aside a weekend to dive in and learn more about the show. I'm still pissed ;-)<br /><br />In general, I prefer listening to writer commentaries because I always want to know more about how characters were developed, if any of the story lines happened to anyone personally - that type of thing. I get annoyed when the people doing the commentaries haven't prepared and are watching it for the first time in X years and, therefore, tend to get lost in watching instead of commenting.<br /><br />The worst commentary I ever started listening to was for Vanilla Sky. I was optimistic that with Cameron Crowe and Nancy Wilson I might learn more about the musical aspect of movie making and why they selected certain pieces of music but they seemed totally uninterested in doing an actual commentary. I gave up ten minutes in so maybe it improved.ACnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22053695980633735692014-06-27T18:55:29.421-07:002014-06-27T18:55:29.421-07:00Seriously, someone posted Leverage already? Seriou...Seriously, someone posted <b>Leverage</b> already? <i>Seriously?</i> [he said like he was on Leverage.]<br /><br />I'm going to say that Edgar Wright gives damned good commentary on anything he's done: the Cornetto Trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, World's End), Scott Pilgrim and Spaced (barring some of ones with celebrities). They're very relaxed, convey a lot of information about the film as a whole while also keeping up with what's happening on screen and talking about sight gags, like the names of the pubs in World's End.<br /><br />I will say, though, that World's End kind of pisses me off just because the Blue-Ray edition comes with some two or three additional tracks that I can't get to because I have a Mac and no TV. Annoying tech detail...<br />Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07159294212873576818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-42003902643246854922014-06-27T17:56:14.237-07:002014-06-27T17:56:14.237-07:00I always liked the Firefly commentaries. I always ...I always liked the Firefly commentaries. I always listen to the commentaries; it's my favourite 'extras' feature. I find there are less commentaries, and extras in general, on DVDs now which is unfortunate. I was disappointed when Becker didn't have extras at all, not even a blooper reel.<br /><br />That awkwardly leads to my question(s): Can you share more Becker stories? Like where did the idea to have Becker keep cigarettes in the diner register come from? Was there plans to have more Cheers cast on the show? I thought George Wendt as the bartender was perfect. What kind of research did Ted Danson do? I always thought he pulled off a convincing doctor. Thanks!Drewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-73964447339296030312014-06-27T16:49:19.343-07:002014-06-27T16:49:19.343-07:00I logged in to make a note about Roger Ebert's...I logged in to make a note about Roger Ebert's commentary on Citizen Kane, but I notice that three others had the same idea before me. Let me just cast my vote. For anyone who's seen that film and wondered, "What's supposed to be so great about it anyway?", Ebert explains in entertaining detail just how ahead of its time and audacious the film was. Even if you still don't care for the film afterwards, you'll get the historical context. You'll rarely hear a commentary track that's so entertaining and well informed.Marty Fufkinnoreply@blogger.com