Does anyone else NEVER watch any Blu-ray extras?

[Confidemus]

Just browsing various topics on here I notice quite a lot of people saying they won’t buy a certain release because of the lack of extras or won’t upgrade from DVD because it has extras and the Bluray doesn’t.

I have over 300 Bluray movies and can’t remember ever watching any extras on any of them. When I’m buying a movie I try to choose the release from whichever country has released the best transfer in terms of PQ but the extras have never interested me in the slightest.

Same with commentary tracks. Never bothered with them either.

[blu-ray snob 1979]

I am trying to commit to watching more, especially if its a boutique label or a film I hold in high regard. One thing to note is you learn about things that put you on a track to discover more cinema. For example, you may gain an appreciation for an actor, director, or special effects person that you can then follow from film to film.

[jvonl]

Originally Posted by Confidemus

Just browsing various topics on here I notice quite a lot of people saying they won’t buy a certain release because of the lack of extras or won’t upgrade from DVD because it has extras and the Bluray doesn’t.

I have over 300 Bluray movies and can’t remember ever watching any extras on any of them. When I’m buying a movie I try to choose the release from whichever country has released the best transfer in terms of PQ but the extras have never interested me in the slightest.

Same with commentary tracks. Never bothered with them either.

You're not alone. I can't find time for the movies I want to see, much less extras....

[gunnerg]

It all depends on the title.
Mother's Day, Microwave Massacre, Blood Harvest, The Burning, Maniac, Friday the 13th, Henry: Portrait, Nail Gun Massacre, Stand By Me = watch every supplement and listen to all commentaries.

IT chapter 1 & 2, The Banana Splits, Rambo: Last Blood = hell no!

[Ricky G]

It's funny you bring this up because I have been the same way. However, after watching the The Lighthouse blu-ray I decided to watch the extras and they were really great! I actually learned a bunch about that time period and location the movie is set in as well as how films are made. I may try to watch more extras for other blu-rays, but I mostly like not looking behind the curtain and keep up the movie magic.

[blu-ray snob 1979]

Originally Posted by gunnerg

It all depends on the title.
Mother's Day, Microwave Massacre, Blood Harvest, The Burning, Maniac, Friday the 13th, Henry: Portrait, Nail Gun Massacre, Stand By Me = watch every supplement and listen to all commentaries.

IT chapter 1 & 2, The Banana Splits, Rambo: Last Blood = hell no!

My thoughts exactly. If you delve into the special features on newer studio release be prepared for what is essentially an advertisement for the film/brand. The studio uses the special features to control the narrative. I can't really blame them. Why would they want a director cutting open a vain about production issues or any kind of lurid tales from the set.

[gregmtl92]

I very rarely watch the extras, even when it's a movie I love, I'll start watching the extras but stop within 10 minutes because I'd rather watch another movie instead.

[BamaDullard]

I sometimes like to play commentaries just as a sort of background for when I'm doing something else, but that's not very often. Rarely are the extras more interesting than the actual film.

[HD Goofnut]

Rarely for me as well. If there are new extras for one my favorite catalog titles I might watch this otherwise it's the director's commentary and/or deleted scenes for me.

[InuYashaCrusade]

If I don't watch them on the first day I purchase the movie then I never will. Or so I've noticed.

[CinemaScope]

I used to, I don't seem to now. I buy for the film & the transfer.

[slimdude]

I don't watch any special features on Blu-ray and DVD, I never had. The time you spend watching all of that crap, you can watch another movie.

[MifuneFan]

I don't watch a lot, but I'm glad they're there. I find they add a lot of value to my purchases. I've gotten a lot of great insight from supplements.

I remember watching Memento on DVD for the first time, and I was so impressed by it that played the movie again with Nolan's commentary. Then I unlocked the elaborate Easter egg for the chronological version, and watched that.

I will say, there are certain films that I'd rather not watch a lot of behind the scenes stuff for because I'd rather not ruin the "magic" of it all. Films like Titanic, the LotR trilogy, and Harry Potter for instance. The filmmakers created such immersive, and believable worlds that I'd rather not see how it was all done.

[atfree]

Other than an occasional trailer or a classic WB cartoon on some of WB's classic titles, I never watch extras and extras don't influence my buying a title or not. I consider myself a movie lover/watcher, not a collector.

[jvonl]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I will say, there are certain films that I'd rather not watch a lot of behind the scenes stuff for because I'd rather not ruin the "magic" of it all. Films like Titanic, the LotR trilogy, and Harry Potter for instance. The filmmakers created such immersive, and believable worlds that I'd rather not see how it was all done.

And there it is. As I've said before, movies are magic for me partly because I saw so few in my "formative" years. I don't want to look behind the curtain.

[thecalm_7]

Deleted scenes, trailers, yes. Extra cut of a film or work print, must watch. Making of and interviews, no. Making of features take away the magic of the film lately. It’s hard enough to break my mind away from constant worry and stress of daily life even during a movie. If I watch making of, then I think it would just kill what’s left of the film. That being said, when Alien Resurrection feature was on HBO back in the day, I could watch the swimming making of feature every time I would pass it. That one comes to mind.
As it is now, my wife sighs every 8 seconds and clicks her phone, watching her metrics and customer reviews. Then complains and grumbles. Those metrics have become such a burden and the regional manager now says if they don’t check them at midnight and they score low they have to be on a 7am conference call. It’s so constant it ruins life.

[andyman1970]

I don't usually watch the extras, unless it's a movie I really love and it has some good interviews with the cast and director. Same applies to commentaries as well. I guess if one is a film school student then it could be interesting but I just want to watch the movie.

[Bradsdadg]

I'd say I watch extras about half the time. Things like deleted scenes, gag reels, making of, etc. Commentary I don't think I have ever watched/listened to with the exception of the Lord Of The Rings Trilogy.

[drush9999]

Boutique labels I generally watch everything, docs and commentaries.
Big Studio releases, sometimes just the trailer and any deleted scenes. Depends on whether it's personal favourite or not.

Weirdly I like re-visiting some extras, the commentary and main documentary on The Thing is an example.

[AgentOrange]

Depends on the film, generally I'd have to really enjoy the film first, and then it depends on how interesting the extras seem. The only ones I almost always watch (save for movies I end up disliking immensely) are the deleted scenes and trailers - at least if they are properly scanned in HD, I get a bit irked when they are poorly presented. Other than that, the answer is "it depends". I'm sure it's a pretty low %. Esp of the studio releases which tend to just be marketing for the film (or for other films). With something like a Marvel movie I generally don't watch any of the "making of" nonsense, but I'll watch the gag reel and the deleted scenes. With something like Criterion I will tend to watch extras a bit more fully just because they tend to be more informative or perhaps they are even giving you another lesser known film by the same director or a short film, but it's still probably less than 50% of total, so there is still a bit of an "it depends" aspect.