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Do you watch a DVD's Special Features?
10:55 PM on May. 10, 2008
Filed under: Personal

I was just wondering because my husband and I are in totally opposite camps on this. I love all the extra stuff, especially the "Making of..." or "The Story Behind..." type features and cast interviews. Deleted scenes are about the only thing I don't really bother watching but anything that's a mini show, I'll watch. Some of them are better than the movies and some are just disappointing filler because they're expected to be on it in some shape or form.

I take great delight in settling down to watch them. My husband on the other hand never wants to see them. When he's seen the movie, he's done with it and the DVD goes back in the box. Then he wonders why I know all this other stuff about the movies when we're chatting to friends about what we've seen!

I'm old enough to remember DVD's coming out. Heck, I'm old enough to remember Beta video recorders with big silver push down buttons on the front but who's counting. The idea of having all this added value was seen as a huge plus of the DVD format compared to VHS when they were hitting the market as the next big thing, but does anyone care for it much really?

Would you miss the DVD Special Features if they stopped adding them and only had the movie on the DVD? I know I would but I might be the only one.


Comments (6)
Rusty - 5:32 PM on Oct. 8, 2008  [ message ]
No, you are not the only one scribbler! I like watching those special features, and my husband does as well. Sometimes they are disappointing, but I still like checking them out, and if I come across some gems I am happy. Deleted scenes are not my favorite, but I love messups when the actors just can't do a scene or keep laughing... It is hilarious. :) I like to know more about the movie, so The Making and some of the history behind it is always a plus with me, too.
Anonymous - 3:40 PM on Sep. 11, 2008  [ message ]
I'm like you scribbler. I like to see how the movie was made, what the directors and actors had to deal with. It all makes me appreciate all of their movies that much more. For example, I was watching the extra stuff for a movie that Michelle Yeoh was in. Turns out she doesn't know any martial arts and speaks Cantonese and not Mandarin, but in the movie she looked and sounded pretty authentic.
cirereyes - 8:44 AM on May. 12, 2008  [ message ]
I like watching special features because I’m always curious on how they made the special effects on movies. I’ll definitely feel sad if they remove this from DVD’s. I was also hoping they’ll also add the music video for the soundtrack of the movie.
scribbler - 6:51 AM on May. 12, 2008  [ message ]
xiflada: You're not allowed to side with him! ;) I know what I'll do, I'll just not tell him.

JanuaryGirl: That's not a bad idea actually. I might even do that myself and have a rerun. At least they're short and you can potter about doing other stuff in between them.

Dartz: Yay, someone on my side! As to why they remove scenes, that's a good question. From what I've learned from the extras, it's usually because either they've tested the movie on an audience and the audience didn't like that particular scene or for adhering to length. The LOTR movies couldn't have been any shorter and still come even close to doing the books justice, I don't think.
AriesWren - 1:25 PM on May. 11, 2008  [ message ]
I'd freak if they stopped putting on the special features. I LOVE the directors commentary tracks on DVDs, you learn about a lot of tiny details. For example, when it shows the Disney logo in the second Pirates of the Caribbean movie, you can see a pirate ship in the canal. Also, in the opening of Star Wars 3, a kitchen sink can be seen flying into one of the larger ships.

Directors Cuts are only bought by me because the DVD lacks a "Play with deleted scenes" function unless I put the Program to good use. Dunno why they'd remove certain scenes, movie length isn't an issue anymore, the LOTR movies are 3 hours long, each.
JanuaryGirl - 10:26 AM on May. 11, 2008  [ message ]
I always mean to watch them, but usually it's late when the movie is done so I skip it... maybe someday I will take an afternoon and watch all the special features on my favorite movies.