Commentary Tracks: There should be a commentary database online

[Race Bannon]

I didn't use to ever listen to commentaries. Or any extras. All I cared about was watching the movie.

Now, commentaries are my main "extra feature" that make a difference in whether I'll pull the trigger on a borderline purchase decision.

Do you ever wonder things like "What are all the commentary tracks Arnold Schwarzenegger has ever done?" Or Ridley Scott? Or whoever?

I wish there was a searchable database of commentary tracks that are known to exist. I often search manually, and have a good idea of the ones I'm interested in that are out there.

Any ideas about how to efficiently search and track this info somehow, by actor or director? I wish that feature were somehow searchable here at this wonderful site.

[Six Demon Bag]

Ratethatcommentary.com is a nice database. They even review them to tell you whether or not it's worth a listen

[babybreese]

Thanks SDB, I am also a recently converted commentary fanatic.
Appreciate the review site reference.

[Edinburghoscar]

Originally Posted by babybreese

Thanks SDB, I am also a recently converted commentary fanatic.
Appreciate the review site reference.

Thanks for the find as well.

Love commentaries especially silent pictures, like Sunrise / Metropolis or any John Ford ones

[AaronJ]

I do agree that commentaries are the break-point for me when it comes to something that's on the ledge. I absolutely hate that commentaries have become less common. And a lot of the ones that we are getting are boring as heck, e.g. Joe Wright's commentary on Pride and Prejudice. I mean, come on! The guy's a heck of a director. But his commentary on that disc just sucked.

There are two sorts of good commentaries:

1) Very informative. These can be by anyone, from someone involved in the prod. to someone like a critic.

2) Hilarious. These are always fun.

Then there's the third type:

3) Boring as hell. *sigh*

[meremortal]

I've thought about finally listening to them again albeit selectively. I probably listened to every commentary track when I was first buying DVDs but then for whatever reason just stopped giving them the effort...probably haven't sat through one in at least 10+ years now. I guess once I watch a movie I'm just not in the mood to sit through it again and hear the analytical talking pieces afterwards or I just don't want to dedicate another 90-120 minutes to an already crowded day. A database would be cool, though.

[captainjoe]

I've got a TV in my room with a player so I usually will listen to commentaries just before I fall asleep. Good way to relax a bit before bed and I usually space it out over a few nights.

[tylergfoster]

Another thing I recommend if you have the technical know-how is to rip commentary to .mp3 and just listen in the car or at work like you would a podcast. Rarely do I find people talk about something I can't remember (or they don't explain enough to prompt a memory).

[Jennifer Lawrence Fan]

I love me a good commentary. Sometimes if I can find a MP3 of a commentary. I'll just listen to that while I'm on the computer.

Comedies usually tend to have the funniest commentaries as you think.

[Race Bannon]

Originally Posted by captainjoe

I've got a TV in my room with a player so I usually will listen to commentaries just before I fall asleep. Good way to relax a bit before bed and I usually space it out over a few nights.

I do this as well. Good to fall asleep to.

Also good background when I'm doing something else.

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by Michael Bay Fan

I love me a good commentary. Sometimes if I can find a MP3 of a commentary. I'll just listen to that while I'm on the computer.

Comedies usually tend to have the funniest commentaries as you think.

I do this at work sometimes. YouTube has a surprising number of commentaries on there; the Fincher ones are always nice, and surprisingly re-listenable. Favorite commentary ever is still Tropic Thunder, though; as funny as the movie is, the commentary might be even funnier.

[Six Demon Bag]

There is a website that has zips of commentaries that I've listened too. They have a nice catalog of Criterion LD commentaries, which is what attracted me to the site...

I think you have to convert them
To mp3s but it's well worth it.