Bonus DVD features that actually are a bonus

March 27th, 2009 at 03:20pm Will Pfeifer

Here’s the good news: Most DVDs come with bonus features.

Here’s the bad news: Most DVD features are nothing but self-serving hype.

Thankfully, “most” doesn’t mean “all,” and over at his blog, David Bordwell alerts movie fans to some DVD supplements that are actually worth your time. Among his favorites: the making-of feature on COLLATERAL, all the stuff on HELLBOY 2 (director Guillermo del Toro always packs his DVDs with great stuff — check out the documentary on BLADE 2, too), and the supplements on THE GOLDEN COMPASS.

Read the whole article here.

And, as long as we’re on the topic, here are a few of my favorite DVD features:

* “The Hamster Factor” making-of doc on 12 MONKEYS, which is one of the only making-of docs I’ve ever seen that covers the good and bad of making a movie. It’s funny and fascinating.

* “Glorious Technicolor,” a short documentary about the Technicolor process including on THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD

* The two promo ads for FIGHT CLUB that were produced to be shown (but never actually shown) before movie trailers. Each one features one of the stars (Brad Pitt and Edward Norton) supposedly delivering important information to the audience, only to end on a wonderfully uncomfortable note. For example, as Brad Pitt fades out, he says “Did you know urine is sterile? You can drink it.” I would’ve paid double to see these in a theater with an unsuspecting crowd.

* “Thou Shalt Not Sin,” a documentary about Pre-Code Hollywood included on the second Warner Bros. FORBIDDEN HOLLYWOOD boxed set. The clip from the Bosko cartoon, which is one of the most unbelievable things I’ve ever seen, is worth the price of the set all by itself.

* And speaking of cartoons, all the Fleischer Studios Superman cartoons of the early 1940s are included on the SUPERMAN and SUPERMAN II sets released a few years ago, along with tons of other stuff. Some of the most beautiful cartoons ever released, these still look great more than 60 years later — especially in these remastered versions.

Any other recommendations?

Entry Filed under: DVD reviews