Jon Peters' Top 10 DVD Extras
Written
on 17/4/08
I’ve came across some great and not so great bonus materials in my decade plus viewing of DVDs. We’ve been burned by boring audio commentaries, interviews that act as fluff pieces to resell you the movie that you just bought, deleted scenes that should have been left on the cutting room floor, and documentaries that are anything but documentations.
So, in turn, I have become rather picky with what extra features I watch, as one part is that my time is now precious and cannot be wasted with HBO First Looks anymore and the other part is I want to learn something.
I have compiled a Top 10 list of some of the best bonus material I have come across and that are worth watching and re-watching. I know there are plenty more great interviews, audio commentaries and documentaries that I need to see or have left off the list, but here they are, in my opinion:
10-Fear on Film from Videodrome: Criterion Collection: Hosted by Mick Garris, this 30 minute roundtable discussion from 1982 that includes John Landis, John Carpenter, and David Cronenberg is an exciting relic. Garris poses questions and the three express their approach to horror and their techniques. It’s from 1982 I remind you and Carpenter is about to unleash “The Thing”, Landis is coming off of “American Werewolf in London” and Cronenberg is about his craft “The Fly, “Videodrome, and many others. It’s a little slice of their careers prior to becoming legends. Great stuff.
9-Bruce Lee: A Warrior’s Journey from Enter the Dragon (2 disc edition) [Warner]: While covering most of Bruce Lee’s life, this documentary is incredibly noteworthy for reconstructing Lee’s intended cut of the “Game of Death”, his last film from which he died prior to completing. As anyone who has seen the film notes how off-putting the body-double for Lee is and how corny the film is, seeing this cut is a revelation. It’s a rare glimpse into some philosophical ideas Lee wanted to express as well as some excellent fight scenes, which were cut in certain places in the final version.
8-Cannibal Apocalypse: Redux from Cannibal Apocalypse [Image Entertainment]: While “Cannibal Apocalypse” will not be appearing on many great films list, it’s amazing on how thorough this documentary is, covering many basic elements of production, but more importantly covering the Italian Cannibal film cycle. Not every film is “Gone with the Wind” but every film has a story, so this is great viewing for those who love cult films.
7-Jack the Ripper: Six Degrees of Separation from From Hell: Limited Edition [20th Century Fox]: A long, interactive look at the era of Jack the Ripper, this documentary is an in-depth look at the case as you’re every going to get. Featuring interviews with historians and Ripper-ologists, the feature flows with photos, evidence, and speculation, while even touching upon Absinthe and its role in England during this time. Essential true crime viewing.
6-The Beginning from Star Wars-Episode I: The Phantom Menace [20th Century Fox]: Sure, Episode I sucked, but this amazing look at every single sep to bring Star Wars back to the screen is breath-taking. A “fly-on-the-wall” approach as they say, we see Lucas at home writing the script, having meetings with ILM, location scouting, and even facing turmoil when a violent storm interrupts filmmaking. It all leads to the premiere, but even more remarkable is little things like spats over ship design and ILM telling George how much the CG bill will be. Ken Burns crafted a more elaborate look at the entire universe of “Star Wars” but this documentary is purely focused on the film, which began as an idea to seeing it completed for an audience to enjoy.
5-Orson Welles: One-Man Road from F for Fake: Criterion Collection: This 88 minute feature explores the latter, unfinished works of Welles, as well as showing the footage he shot for unrealized projects like “Don Quixote”. Welles might have crafted one of cinema’s greatest accomplishments with “Citizen Kane”, but he had numerous troubles securing money for a slew of projects in the 1970s. While “F for Fake” is his last great film, this piece is a fascinating and rare look at what could have been, all beautifully designed by Criterion.
4-Flying Saucers over Hollywood: The Plan 9 Companion from Plan 9 from Outer Space [Image Entertainment]: It’s funny that Orson Welles and Ed Wood appear on my list here, especially if you have seen Tim Burton’s “Ed Wood” film and know that Welles is considered the greatest director and Wood the worst director ever. This is a two hour long look at Wood’s life and world, filled with interviews from all his collaborators and even a rare, brief piece of footage showing Wood directing a film! They explore his life in and out of film, his tragic latter years, and why he was so optimistic. It’s a great biography detailing a certain era in filmmaking, from an unlikely person.
3-Frazetta: Painting with Fire from Fire and Ice: Limited Edition [Blue Underground]: Frazetta’s influence over fantasy artists is untouchable. This portrait chronicles his early life and his unique talent from his humble beginnings to his stroke that forced him to learn to paint with his other hand! It’s a loving document to a great artist, one that within the art community is looked down upon. Show-casing his amazing paintings in detail and offering a glimpse into how he paints, there can be only one Frank Frazetta.
2-Dangerous Days: The Making of Blade Runner from Blade Runner: Final Cut [Warner]: Many documentaries show how the filmmaking process works, but few tell of the struggle. A sweeping, eight part, three hour long feature, we get every interview, every concept drawing, every story of what it took to bring this Philip K. Dick story to the big screen. Telling of fights within the crew to control issues between the money men and Ridley Scott, this is as thorough as one would want from a making-of documentary. By then end, you too are a scholar on “Blade Runner” with deeper appreciation of the final product, which was amazing that it even go finished.
1-The Battle of Citizen Kane from Citizen Kane [Warner]: When boy genius was awarded a rare opportunity to write, direct and star in anything he choose, the ending result was one of America’s greatest films and one of film’s greatest battles. If it wasn’t RKO wanting to make trims to the final film it was William Randolph Hearst undying hatred of the film. Welles fought for its right to exist as well as his artist visions and the final product is a brilliant look at this battle. Riveting as it is essential; this 2 disc set is a marvel of film school knowledge. I was almost tempted to place either one of its two audio commentaries here, but this story is one that needs to be seen, as the two audio commentaries offer insights to the man and film and why its placed on top of every critics list, but it was Welles battle versus Hearst and RKO that is pivotal to the reasons why it still is learned from and exists.
So, in turn, I have become rather picky with what extra features I watch, as one part is that my time is now precious and cannot be wasted with HBO First Looks anymore and the other part is I want to learn something.
I have compiled a Top 10 list of some of the best bonus material I have come across and that are worth watching and re-watching. I know there are plenty more great interviews, audio commentaries and documentaries that I need to see or have left off the list, but here they are, in my opinion:
10-Fear on Film from Videodrome: Criterion Collection: Hosted by Mick Garris, this 30 minute roundtable discussion from 1982 that includes John Landis, John Carpenter, and David Cronenberg is an exciting relic. Garris poses questions and the three express their approach to horror and their techniques. It’s from 1982 I remind you and Carpenter is about to unleash “The Thing”, Landis is coming off of “American Werewolf in London” and Cronenberg is about his craft “The Fly, “Videodrome, and many others. It’s a little slice of their careers prior to becoming legends. Great stuff.
9-Bruce Lee: A Warrior’s Journey from Enter the Dragon (2 disc edition) [Warner]: While covering most of Bruce Lee’s life, this documentary is incredibly noteworthy for reconstructing Lee’s intended cut of the “Game of Death”, his last film from which he died prior to completing. As anyone who has seen the film notes how off-putting the body-double for Lee is and how corny the film is, seeing this cut is a revelation. It’s a rare glimpse into some philosophical ideas Lee wanted to express as well as some excellent fight scenes, which were cut in certain places in the final version.
8-Cannibal Apocalypse: Redux from Cannibal Apocalypse [Image Entertainment]: While “Cannibal Apocalypse” will not be appearing on many great films list, it’s amazing on how thorough this documentary is, covering many basic elements of production, but more importantly covering the Italian Cannibal film cycle. Not every film is “Gone with the Wind” but every film has a story, so this is great viewing for those who love cult films.
7-Jack the Ripper: Six Degrees of Separation from From Hell: Limited Edition [20th Century Fox]: A long, interactive look at the era of Jack the Ripper, this documentary is an in-depth look at the case as you’re every going to get. Featuring interviews with historians and Ripper-ologists, the feature flows with photos, evidence, and speculation, while even touching upon Absinthe and its role in England during this time. Essential true crime viewing.
6-The Beginning from Star Wars-Episode I: The Phantom Menace [20th Century Fox]: Sure, Episode I sucked, but this amazing look at every single sep to bring Star Wars back to the screen is breath-taking. A “fly-on-the-wall” approach as they say, we see Lucas at home writing the script, having meetings with ILM, location scouting, and even facing turmoil when a violent storm interrupts filmmaking. It all leads to the premiere, but even more remarkable is little things like spats over ship design and ILM telling George how much the CG bill will be. Ken Burns crafted a more elaborate look at the entire universe of “Star Wars” but this documentary is purely focused on the film, which began as an idea to seeing it completed for an audience to enjoy.
5-Orson Welles: One-Man Road from F for Fake: Criterion Collection: This 88 minute feature explores the latter, unfinished works of Welles, as well as showing the footage he shot for unrealized projects like “Don Quixote”. Welles might have crafted one of cinema’s greatest accomplishments with “Citizen Kane”, but he had numerous troubles securing money for a slew of projects in the 1970s. While “F for Fake” is his last great film, this piece is a fascinating and rare look at what could have been, all beautifully designed by Criterion.
4-Flying Saucers over Hollywood: The Plan 9 Companion from Plan 9 from Outer Space [Image Entertainment]: It’s funny that Orson Welles and Ed Wood appear on my list here, especially if you have seen Tim Burton’s “Ed Wood” film and know that Welles is considered the greatest director and Wood the worst director ever. This is a two hour long look at Wood’s life and world, filled with interviews from all his collaborators and even a rare, brief piece of footage showing Wood directing a film! They explore his life in and out of film, his tragic latter years, and why he was so optimistic. It’s a great biography detailing a certain era in filmmaking, from an unlikely person.
3-Frazetta: Painting with Fire from Fire and Ice: Limited Edition [Blue Underground]: Frazetta’s influence over fantasy artists is untouchable. This portrait chronicles his early life and his unique talent from his humble beginnings to his stroke that forced him to learn to paint with his other hand! It’s a loving document to a great artist, one that within the art community is looked down upon. Show-casing his amazing paintings in detail and offering a glimpse into how he paints, there can be only one Frank Frazetta.
2-Dangerous Days: The Making of Blade Runner from Blade Runner: Final Cut [Warner]: Many documentaries show how the filmmaking process works, but few tell of the struggle. A sweeping, eight part, three hour long feature, we get every interview, every concept drawing, every story of what it took to bring this Philip K. Dick story to the big screen. Telling of fights within the crew to control issues between the money men and Ridley Scott, this is as thorough as one would want from a making-of documentary. By then end, you too are a scholar on “Blade Runner” with deeper appreciation of the final product, which was amazing that it even go finished.
1-The Battle of Citizen Kane from Citizen Kane [Warner]: When boy genius was awarded a rare opportunity to write, direct and star in anything he choose, the ending result was one of America’s greatest films and one of film’s greatest battles. If it wasn’t RKO wanting to make trims to the final film it was William Randolph Hearst undying hatred of the film. Welles fought for its right to exist as well as his artist visions and the final product is a brilliant look at this battle. Riveting as it is essential; this 2 disc set is a marvel of film school knowledge. I was almost tempted to place either one of its two audio commentaries here, but this story is one that needs to be seen, as the two audio commentaries offer insights to the man and film and why its placed on top of every critics list, but it was Welles battle versus Hearst and RKO that is pivotal to the reasons why it still is learned from and exists.
