DVD extras - do they matter to you?

cashback

Is the number of extras on a DVD a deciding matter when you're buying? Would you pay twice the price for a Special edition DVD?
I don't care that much for them. I mean, I appreciate when there is some extra features, but I don't know if I'd miss them if they weren't there.
Watched most of the extras on Oldboy today and I have to admit they were pretty interesting.
But often they can be pretty boring.
Bought One flew Over The Cuckoos nest last week. Pretty bare disc but I'm not too bothered.

S.M.B.

When a bit of effort has been put into the extras then they're well worth it. Next on my to buy list is Panic Room SE which is a film that I don't rate that highly. Pretty much buying it for the extras alone.

Karl Hungus

Yes, I like extras a lot, they can be very interesting and entertaining.

lodgepole

Generally all I want for a film I like is a solid commentary and a decent documentary. The Hills Have Eyes remake has both of these and it gives a clear, concise look into the film.

Sometimes the extras outweigh the film... From Dusk 'Til Dawn for example, has a wonderful feature length documentary called Full Tilt Boogie which is infinitely better than the film it's (sort of) about.

I rate the quality of the transfer highest, then a good commentary and finally a good set of features. I hate fluff like out-takes and I hate piss poor EPGs disguised as documentaries. For older films, I also appreciate archived material (Dr. Strangelove and Lawrence of Arabia are good examples of this). Packaging is also important to me, since i'm spending a decent sum of money on it.

Children of Men is a film with weak special features and rubbish packaging and I haven't purchased it for those very reasons.

However, I would be hard pushed to pay twice the amount for a special edition. I have done several times (my Criterion Rushmore was outrageously priced) but generally I won't. I always wait for DVD's to reduce in price.

Ruu_Old

Don't really watch them or go looking for a Special Edition, I did like the stuff on the Batman film from 1966. Making of the car, how the cast met, etc.

TheIrishGrover

but there are a couple of GREAT exceptions, namely the Magnolia Making of: Brilliant and very funny. And the making ofthe Abyss. Brilliant too. Man sounds like they HATED working on it........... also, the commentary tracks on Kevin Smith or Joss Whedon films/series. Very funny too. Other than that though: Trailers?..... For a film I've just watched? ........ No thanks

dodgey69

I would never buy a DVD just for the extras or even based on the extras, i only want to watch the film and thats it. More and more films being released now just because of the extras so theres obviously loads of people out there who watch them. Me id rather just stick the next film on.

c - 13

I use a logical system for this -

I like the film enough to watch the extras
OR
The extras have soemthing I really want
AND
The extras pack is not outragously priced
THEN
I will probably buy it

The Denouncer

I'd be happy to get the one disc 95% of the time especially if it has a nice DTS soundtrack and remastered picture. I very rarely look at extras except for those films I'm really interested in with excellent documentaries, as said above The Abyss, 12 Monkeys, Taxi-Driver etc all these films have superb documentaries. As for commentaries, very rarely listen to them. I did listen to Father Ted, Spinal Tap, Alien, The Wicker Man and Ghostbusters - seem to remember them to be quite good.

Petey2006

If I've a choice between vanilla and Special Edition DVDs, I'll take the SE every time. But really, I'm buying the DVD for the film and not the extras.

311

Buying old special editions are great I think ,Scarface ,Alien and kubrick films.

No one buys a DVD solely for the extras. They're a nice bonus, but the film is always the main selling point.

I bought Children of Men even though the extras are poor, because I love the film. Extras are a bonus and some can give an insightful look inside the process.

The R1 cersion of Waiting is an example of a mediocre film that had great extras, and a very original commentary. The extras were one of the determining reasons for me purchasing the disc.

One DVD I'm really looking forward to getting is Pan's Labyrinth, Del Toro commentaries are always entertaining and anyone whose seen the Hellboy DVD extras know that the extras are'nt the usual fluff pieces.

Petey2006

Deleted User wrote:

I bought Children of Men even though the extras are poor, because I love the film.

I did the same. Though it might irk you to know the 2-disc special edition is out in a few weeks!

Petey2006

Petey2006 wrote:

I did the same. Though it might irk you to know the 2-disc special edition is out in a few weeks!

I heard about that. That's one of the few things that really annoys me. Releasing a DVD then coming out with a Special Edition a few months later.

Shops or the company releasing the DVD should implement a return policy regarding certain DVDs when a Special Edition is released. You could walk into a shop with your copy of the initial release and trade it against the new edition and receive a discount.

raido9

It depends on the extras. Most are useless but there are some good extras.

I like commentry on movies, great idea.

Galvasean

It depends on the film really. Most of the films in my collection are vanilla flavour. However if I really like a film and I'm interested as to "How did they do that?" I'll go for the Special Edition like Jurassic Park, Lord of the Rings or King Kong.
Alot of the time Ive noticed if I pick up a SE cheap I tend to forget the features disk even exists.

Saruman

I do not watch the extras most of the time. The only time i will get a special edition is if the movie itself is a directors cut or has some extra scenes in it.
Such as the Lord of the rings special edition movies.

tman

Extras would usually sway my decision to purchase, I'd be far more likely to get a 2 disc+ special edition than a 1 disc release...
I never actually bother watching the extras though:p