Buffy DVD Commentaries

[Fox]

I haven't watched any Buffy episode commentaries yet, but I'm a big fan of movie and TV episode commentaries in general, they are so interesting (The Goonies commentary by the cast and director is one of the best out there! ).

Which (if any) Buffy commentaries have you watched? Do any stand out?

[Pandora's_Box]

The only one I watched is The Body commentary, really interesting!

[holypotatoes]

I've watched all the commentaries and none of them really impressed me. I usually love commentaries but I'm a fan of one's where they talk about things that happen on set or funny stories about a scene not so much about what light they used in the background and such. I agree with Cl?ment though about The Body one. It was fairly interesting. I'll get back to you once I look through the discs. There's probably one I like more than the others. I'll let you know what it is when I remember it.

[KingofCretins]

I'd say the best commentaries are any of the Joss commentaries and the four Doug Petrie commentaries. Depends on what you're interested in, really -- if you want a lot of technical and creative insights, those are the commentaries by Joss by himself, or by Petrie. If you want a lot of whackiness and humor, look for commentaries by groups.

[Fox]

I usually love commentaries but I'm a fan of one's where they talk about things that happen on set or funny stories about a scene not so much about what light they used in the background and such.

Yeah me too. The funniest commentaries are usually group ones with cast members.

As soon as they start banging on about why they used a 135mm lens or which camera they used and it's straight off!!

[KingofCretins]

Actually, I think there have only been three commentaries on "Buffy" with members of the cast -- "Wild At Heart" had Seth Green, "Dirty Girls" had Nick Brendan, and "Lies My Parents Told Me" had James Marsters and DB Woodside. The cast is much more chatty on "Angel" and "Firefly".

[selenspuffy]

I've watched a few commentaries of Buffy, yeah it didnt impress me that much, either. But I havent watched the ones on Angel and Firefly..so I dont know the chatty kind of cast

[LaJaula]

Which "Angel" episodes have cast commentary?

I've seen commentary for "Innocence", "The Body", "Restless", and "This Year's Girl". I've found them all more or less interesting- although Joss did three of the four I've listed, so maybe it's just him. But Joss talks a lot about how they shot scenes- how they got the budget, where the scene is actually taking place, how they had to cram everyone in to such a small space- and it really makes you appreciate how much work goes into the making of just one scene.

[Weredog]

I personally favour the commentaries by director David Solomon. In "Hell's Bells" and "Selfless", he commented along with the writer and showcased a great sense of fun. This guy is funny as hell. I also enjoy David Fury/Marti Noxon's commentary for "Bargaining" for the same reason. Like Joss, you find out that Marti literally speaks in Buffy language (prefixes, suffixes, pop-culture references and all.)

Joss' commentaries are pretty good, but he often pauses for a long time when he has nothing to say, which is a drag. He does, however, bring in more behind-the-scenes trivia than any other commentator ("Hush" "The Body" "Chosen" for examples).

The worst? Well, I'd say you should avoid any Jane Espenson commentary. For "Earshot" specifically, she doesn't comment. She narrates. By that I mean she'll say something like "In this scene, Buffy walks in the library because Giles called her. Giles has been angry with Buffy since episode 4 because Angel stole his paperclips." The little insight that she does provide is her limited memory of original dialogue (ie. "Buffy was originally supposed to say blah blah blah but Joss didn't like it.")

[Veverka]

I have a whole bunch of German/Region 2 discs that don't have some of the commentaries that you guys have mentioned, so I'll have to get my hands on those at some point.

In general, I do like the commentaries, but I have to like the episode a lot to want to watch the commentary, which is why I'm not into bothering with something like Superstar, for example.

Personally I prefer just one person, since I find their conversations with each other when there are two or more make me feel a bit cheated, like they were supposed to talk to me but found a better friend!

[alexa]

I'd say the best commentaries are any of the Joss commentaries and the four Doug Petrie commentaries. Depends on what you're interested in, really -- if you want a lot of technical and creative insights, those are the commentaries by Joss by himself, or by Petrie. If you want a lot of whackiness and humor, look for commentaries by groups.

Yeah that's pretty much what I would say. My favourite are the Doug Petrie and Joss commentaries. Actually rarely watch those episodes without those commentaries now.

Also enjoy the Selfless commentary, David and Drew are pretty funny 'you killed a bunch of frat boys. -yeah it's really not a big deal'

Think the only ones I didn't enjoy that much were Jane Espensen's commentary for I Was Made to Love You.. but I just don't like that episode, she should have done commentary for The Replacement or Intervention, I love those episodes. Also Marti Noxon was a little dull commentating What's My Line.

Which "Angel" episodes have cast commentary?

Umm.. that I can think of

'Destiny' - Juliet Landau, (David Fury and Drew Goodard etc)
'A Whole in the World' -Amy, Alexis, Joss
'Soul Purpose' - David, Christain and the chick who played Eve
'You're Welcome' - person who played Eve again with others I'm not sure.
'Underneath' - Adam Baldwin with others

More as well I think. Don't remember right now.

[KingofCretins]

I think the worst commentary is the guy on either "Consequences" or "Enemies", whichever it was. It was the director by himself.

A surprisingly pleasant commentary is Greenwalt on "Reptile Boy".

Joss' best commentary is "Innocence" -- when he gives his secret away, that the things that really matter to him in television are "emotional resonance, and rocket launchers".

[ThePoet's<3]

Probably my favorites are from "Fool for Love" (Petrie) and "Smashed". I love learning that the writer who wrote "Smashed" - Drew Greenberg - the pivotal scene in Spuffy - that was the first Buffy episode he wrote!!! Can you imagine the first Buffy episode you write is Smashed?!?!?

(KoC - I'm reading your mind right now - that's not nice... )

[alexa]

Yeah I know! I love the commentary for Innocence (I think he might have taken the 'Buffy in pain show better' thing a bit too far in season 6 though)... Don't think I'd watch The Body more then once if Joss didn't commentate it, too sad all on my own.

I also like Greenwalt on Reptile Boy. David Fury's in Helpless was good.

[vampmogs]

I think the worst commentary is the guy on either "Consequences" or "Enemies", whichever it was. It was the director by himself.

It was 'Consequences' and I think it was Conter. I actually really liked it for some reason, I watched it again earlier during the week. I'd say the worst was 'The Killer In Me' I found that commentary particularly dullsville.

[atrixa]

I like watching the commentaries. Joss tends to go on and on- his 'Once More with Feeling' commentary, for example. I liked the 'Fool for Love' one a lot, and the one for 'Smashed'. (I only have seasons 5-7 on DVD, the rest are on video)

[The Watcher]

I've watched a couple of the commentaries in the Buffy Box Set and some were interesting but I was hoping for more input from Joss and Sarah Michelle Gellar but from what i've skimmed through so far, there's only one with SMG in it.

I've yet to watch over any of the Angel commentaries, hopefully they'll be better.

oh and I have a question for you all too; would you watch the commentaries as you're going a long each season or would you watch them once you've finished watching the entire seven seasons?

It's just personally I would prefer to watch them afterwards because when I get immersed in the show I really don't want to see the real life people because it'll bring me down to earth that it's really just a show. I don't know if that makes sense to anyone but hey it's sometimes good to be different.

[patxshand]

Worst commentary has to be "Reptile Boy" by far. He was pretty much just telling us what was happening on screen, giving absolutely no insight.

[holypotatoes]

I've watched a couple of the commentaries in the Buffy Box Set and some were interesting but I was hoping for more input from Joss and Sarah Michelle Gellar but from what i've skimmed through so far, there's only one with SMG in it.

I've yet to watch over any of the Angel commentaries, hopefully they'll be better.

oh and I have a question for you all too; would you watch the commentaries as you're going a long each season or would you watch them once you've finished watching the entire seven seasons?

It's just personally I would prefer to watch them afterwards because when I get immersed in the show I really don't want to see the real life people because it'll bring me down to earth that it's really just a show. I don't know if that makes sense to anyone but hey it's sometimes good to be different.

The Watcher I don't think there are any with SMG unless you have special discs! Do you have special dvds?

About watching the commentaries I would watch them after you're done with the series. A lot of the time they talk about episodes that would be in the future if you haven't seen the entire series yet. Which would therefore spoil what's going to happen.

[patxshand]

I've watched a couple of the commentaries in the Buffy Box Set and some were interesting but I was hoping for more input from Joss and Sarah Michelle Gellar but from what i've skimmed through so far, there's only one with SMG in it.

SMG? On a commentary? ....Are you sure?