Commentary Commentary

Mark Nelson
7 December 2003

In an effort to help the DVD-buying consumer make better use of their time and money, The Film Basement offers "Commentary Commentary", capsule reviews of DVD commentary tracks. While there are numerous internet and print sources for reviews of DVDs, few seem to devote much space to a discussion of a disc's audio commentary. Here, we present our thoughts on nothing but the commentaries, geared for the enthusiast.

Ratings Key
* Skip it / ** For fans only / *** An interesting fun listen / **** Watch it for the commentary alone!

The Cannonball Run

http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemID=HBD090609

Commentary features director Hal Needham and producer Albert S. Ruddy. First of all, I must confess that this is my favorite movie. So, you can either look at it as me being easier on this commentary because I love the film, or harder on it because I want more hardcore information than the average viewer. Both would be true, I suppose. Needham and Ruddy hunker down for a commentary that manages to be every bit as fun and outrageous as the film itself. Needham is the primary voice heard here, recounting stories of the time he actually ran in the real Cannonball race with screenwriter Brock Yates, in the actual ambulance seen in the film. The stories Needham tells are hilarious, and it's astounding to realize how much of the incidents and dialogue featured in this film actually happened. They close with a pledge to each other to do another Cannonball Run, set in Europe. Gimme!
****

Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter

http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemID=PRD008484

Commentary features writer/director Brian Clemens, actress Caroline Munro, and Hammer film historian Jonathan Sothcott. A somewhat sedate commentary that often falls into "mutual admiration society" territory. Writer/director Clemens (of "Avengers" fame) has some interesting stories to tell, but still seems to feel burned after all these years that this film never spawned a film or TV series (and after he reveals his ideas for such a series, the viewer may well share his regret). Actress Munro has relatively little to say, but her presence is sure to be welcomed by fans. Interesting for fans of the film, probably a rough ride for the casual viewer.
**

Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell

http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemID=PRD008485

Commentary features actress Madeline Smith, actor David Prowse, and Hammer film historian Jonathan Sothcott discussing the film. Really quite a fascinating and fun listen for fans of the film, Hammer, and 60's/70's British films in general. Stars discuss their experiences on the film in detail, as well as their involvement with Hammer and their careers as a whole. Many interesting and amusing anecdotes about fellow actors Peter Cushing and Bernard Lee, as well as a peek into the inner workings of Hammer. It's often amusing to hear Sothcott reveal details about Hammer and the actors' careers that the actors themselves were unaware of.
****

Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday

http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemID=NLD005626

Commentary features director Adam Marcus and screenwriter Dean Lorey. Okay, here's one where the disc is redeemed by the commentary. Writer and director seem to know that what they've made is not exactly a classic, and have a ball talking about the film. A lot of fun, especially when Lorey tells about a conversation on-set with Erin Gray, her telling him how her son's friends thought she was a MILF, and her explaining to the stunned writer what a MILF was. If you liked the film, this commentary will be a blast. If you didn't (like me), it's still a good time.
***

Mr Show: The Complete First and Second Seasons

http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemID=HBD099212

Commentary by Bob Odenkirk, David Cross, and most of the featured cast members. The commentaries here are certainly a mixed bag. Recorded at Odenkirk's house, it really feels like what it is; a bunch of friends sitting around goofing on a show they did together a few years earlier. Sprinkled throughout are some insights into the inspirations for certain sketches, ideas that never made it onto the screen, and cameos by then-unknown players. Cast members also make appearances on the commentary as various characters, some from the series and some not. These moments range from funny to grating, and your enjoyment of them may depend on how much you like the individual performer. Fans should enjoy this, casual listeners will probably not make it too far.
**

Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy

http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemID=NVG009537

Commentary features Ron Jeremy and director Scott J. Gill discussing the film. Star Jeremy spends most of the track talking over the director, endlessly promoting all of his accomplishments and (jokingly?) berating the director for leaving out more details regarding his parents' WWII involvement and his mainstream work. Jeremy's seeming inability to yield to Gill's comments makes for a frustrating listen, and goes some distance in undoing the goodwill for the actor that the film has built up for the viewer. Some interesting tidbits do get through, but on the whole you don't really glean much more about Jeremy from this commentary than you do from simply watching the film itself. Most interesting are the director's comments about what was "faked" and his reactions to the some of the odd situations he found himself in during production. Would have been infinitely better as two separate tracks, one for the director / one for the star.
**

The Possession of Nurse Sherri

http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemID=VMG032037

Commentary by producer Sam Sherman. Sam Sherman's commentaries for the films of the late director Al Adamson (and other Independent International releases) are always a treat for fans of exploitation cinema, as they give keen insight into the both the creative and business end of screen schlock. Here Sherman details the production history of what began as Nurse Sherri, a softcore knock-off of the New World Pictures nurse films, and eventually morphed into an almost sexless Exorcist knock-off, via re-shoots and re-edits. True to the form of the films of Independent International, the commentary is also amusingly low-budget, recorded in Sherman's office, where he occasionally announces that he has to stop the tape to answer the phone! As with most of Sam Sherman's commentaries, this is arguably more interesting and entertaining than the film itself.
****