Best Fan DVD Commentary Tracks

I should probably explain in the author comments, eh? A 'Fan DVD Commentary' is a brand-new commentary track recorded by someone as an mp3 (or other compressed audio) that can be played simultaneously with a DVD. Roger Ebert popularized this idea. For example, MST3K wannabees could mock Catwoman or Cat in the Hat on their own commentary track that others would download and listen to when you watch the movie. Or, a film critic could record a commentary that dissects one of their favorite films (as Ebert has done for Dark City and Citizen Kane - but those were on the DVDs, not distributed online as mp3s).

I think it's a fantastic idea that hasn't gotten enough attention yet. But it will.

Oh, I'm not so sure. The only difference between these and ordinary commentary tracks are that these are downloadable online. I hope the way films become more interactive is that, in a few hundred years, they will be a series of virtual reality scenes where each viewer is 'in' the scene but cannot interact with it, so they can look at the scene from any angle and any position, and any MOVING position and angle as a sort of ghost.

Good question. Most of these I did not get a copy of the movie to watch with the commentary, but I was able to evaluate the audio tracks anyway. I've listened to all of them, though not completely. Generally, I listen to a few minutes at a time from different pieces of the audio track. This is especially easy with the Renegade Commentaries because they break up their tracks into 4MB chunks, so I just download, say, the first, 3rd, and 8th pieces and listen to most of that. However, the quality of a commentary is surprisingly predictable working only with the first 4 minutes of it, I've found. But it's also possible that, by chance, I happen to hear the worst parts of a commentary and miss the best parts, so if someone listens to the whole thing and disagrees with my assessment, I hope they will let me know. This has already happened with The Matrix commentary (from Renegade Commentaries). I first listened to the first 50 minutes or so and didn't care for it. The folks at the Renegade Commentaries thought it was one of their best, so I gave the second half a shot and like it much better and moved it up the list on category. There are many for which I listen to the whole thing, though (mostly, the ones at the very top of the list).

I've never listened but I've been intrigued by the concept ever since I read about it a few years back. I'm interested in knowing how you, lukeprog, personally sync up the audio with the visuals.

Yay, my new American Beauty commentary track is up. Yay, my brother joins me for half of this one. Yay, I like saying 'yay'.

Of course. Just realize that if the commentator makes specific reference to the shot that would be onscreen if you were watching the DVD, you'll probably have no idea which shot he's talking about. That's actually how I evaluate most of these tracks because I can't be bothered to hunt down the DVD for each of them.

Some are more personal than others. Also, many are mostly humorous while others are more analytical. Hosting is no problem if you record your own - you can just upload it to OurMedia like me, once you sign up for a free account.

Thanks!

Fan commentary tracks die? If anything, they were ahead of their time and the format is just now coming into its own. This is the era of the "podcast" after all; now it's easier than ever to do a fan commentary track and find an audience for it. Heck, when you've got the makers of current TV shows recording their own podcast commentaries, you have to step back and say, "Wow...people really are starting to get it."

Great, thanks for the link! I'll very shortly have to give up tracking alternate commentaries, but not before one last, massive update that will now include your commentary.

Wow. Your commentary is incredible. Please do more!