How often do you actually watch the special features

[DrrnHarr]

When DVD entered the mass marketplace in 1997 one of the key factors for me to make the switch was the promise of more involving and extensive special features.
Indeed when the first wave of James Bond movie Special Edition DVDs landed on the scene in Oct. 1999 (many had previously been released in the accursed snapper cases in 1997) their special features content was hailed as the new benchmark (though by today's standards they are rather slim and the Special Editions have since been replaced by Ultimate Editions).
Then in 2002 I landed the job as a DVD reviewer for a newspaper and would spend hours, whole weekends in some cases, wading through special features to properly review movies and TV shows for the DVD collecting audience. Hey in addition to the paycheck I got to keep the movies too
This all got me to thinking about how often I actually take the time to wade through the special features of Blu-rays and I reached the surprising (for me) conclusion that, aside from movies that are particular favorites of mine, I actually don't usualy bother with the special features.
Sure I may sit through the occassional documentary here and there, but do I sit all the way through the commentaries (of which one Blu-ray I can think of has 9 such tracks) - nope. I am much more inclined to just sit back and watch the movie.
So, what's your feeling on this? Do special features really matter as much as some people think they do?

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[Idioteque...]

It's hard to make time for them. After the movie you're exhausted and then you never get the chance to go back to them. Though I should start watching them soon since it'll help me as someone who wants to major in film.

[tiger roach]

So far, almost never. Lately though I have been thinking about changing this - some evening very soon I'm going to have a special-features-fest.

[Chordata]

This has been done before, but to repeat my answer:

I don't have a whole lot of time to do it, but if the feature is good and I like the movie, I'll do it.

Some of my favorites and/or "must-sees" include the 3:10 to Yuma featurettes, the Blade Runner 2-hour documentary, the Tropic Thunder stuff (ESPECIALLY the BD-Live stuff which is incredible Downey material), and the Casino Royale extras.

Do they "matter"? I don't know what that means. But I'd rather have them there, and decide whether to watch or not, than not have them there.

[tilallr1]

I'd have to agree with you. When DVD's first came out, I spent alot more time with Special Features, but the newness faded. Over time I spent less and less time looking at Special Features, unless they were Deleted\Extended Scenes. Which were usually wastes of time, and correctly cut from the film.

Now with Blu-ray I barely even touch special features, unless its a film I am a fan of. Most of the time, I don't even bother. With the exception of Deleted\Alternate\Extended Scenes. Which is usually more misses than hits.

I do think they are simply put in there to add more value to the movie you are buying. But in the end if they reduced the price by $10 and removed the special features. I wouldn't care, in fact I would be happy. Hell, if they increased the PQ and AQ instead of adding Special Features I would pay the regular price gladly.

[Chaotic]

Only once

[bhampton]

Almost never.

I found myself watching some of the special features of a Blu Ray I bought the other day for $10... I guess... I thought the movie left a little to be desired and maybe the "extras" would make up for it somehow. Actually... they sort of did. Not only did the extras and the commentary give me a different way to think about the movie but there were extras that had nearly nothing to do with the feature that were interesting by themselves.

Still... My answer would be mostly never. There are times when I check them out but it's very, very rare.

-Brian

[Iron-Blu-123]

Only 1/4 of my collection watched once.

[P@t_Mtl]

Less and less. Like a lot of you, in the early days of DVD I would watch a lot of the special features but now a days I've hardly even think about them. I am just interested in the movie.

[owa]

Earlier on, I was checking them out fairly often just to see what kind of stuff they could do on blu-ray and so I'd be able to discuss the special features here. But, lately I haven't been checking out the special features at all and in general, only check them out if there was something in the movie I didn't understand. In that case, I'll go looking in the special featues looking for the commentary or something that might explain what I had questions about.

[solott55]

A lot more with blus than I ever did with DVDs. They can be interesting, plus it makes me feel more like I'm getting my money's worth.

[JackKnightStarman]

I usually watch extras about 65% of the time. Usually after the movie itself. If I don't, I have a hard time getting back to them. I didn't get a chance to watch the extras on Funny People, and Apatow releases usually are hilarious.

[DNinja]

I like "making of" documentaries and special effects featurettes, but to be honest I only watch them on movies I really love, and even then usually only once.

[DrasticPlastic]

I almost never watch the extras or special features, but I have on occasion checked them out.

[Fighter]

I never watch the special features

[the sordid sentinel]

I watch all special features at least once (rare exceptions for multiple viewings such as the Blade Runner doc). Maybe I'm just trying to justify my purchase..but I hate knowing they are on the disc and I haven't watched them.

[KingLeonidas300]

Never.. I think of the 300 blu's I own I have only watches the special features on one of them and that was Zodiac and I didn't even finish watching them.

[42041]

Rarely. Though some releases do give you lengthy, in-depth features, most of the time they just seem like tacked-on afterthoughts. I don't like how they cut the extra material into 10 different 2-minute segments to make it seem like there's more than there really is too.

[ManUtd]

I rarely do it, probably less than 5% of my BDs and DVDs.

[Todd Smith]

Hardly ever.