Let me preface by saying that I LOVE commentaries. Naturally, there are some that are lame; but when they're good, they're right on! It's easily my favorite supplement, and the reason I bought a LD player in the first place.
I just recently listened to Steve Haberman's commentary on WB's MAD LOVE. Nothing earth-shattering, but I enjoyed it very much...that is until Haberman started doing his Peter Lorre impression. It didn't bother me at first (he's actually not bad), but every, single time that he quoted the man, he felt the need to do it using a Lorre impression. It reminded me a couple of weeks ago when I listened to the commentary for BRINGING UP BABY. Peter Bogdanovich had alot to say, and it's a great track...but the CONSTANT Howard Hawks impressions made me wanna pull my hair out! In his defense I will say that Bogdanovich does a better Hawks than Hitchcock, but still, it just got annoying after awhile. I'm not saying that impression shouldn't be used at all; done by the right person for the right subject, it could be fun. But to impersonate the fellow being quoted, each and every time, does not give me the feeling that I'm actually listening to that person...it's just obnoxious. So if you care to take the advice of a humble movie fan, that loves dvd commentaries, please, just take it easy on the impressions. Rich Little and I will thank you for it :)
I just recently listened to Steve Haberman's commentary on WB's MAD LOVE. Nothing earth-shattering, but I enjoyed it very much...that is until Haberman started doing his Peter Lorre impression. It didn't bother me at first (he's actually not bad), but every, single time that he quoted the man, he felt the need to do it using a Lorre impression. It reminded me a couple of weeks ago when I listened to the commentary for BRINGING UP BABY. Peter Bogdanovich had alot to say, and it's a great track...but the CONSTANT Howard Hawks impressions made me wanna pull my hair out! In his defense I will say that Bogdanovich does a better Hawks than Hitchcock, but still, it just got annoying after awhile. I'm not saying that impression shouldn't be used at all; done by the right person for the right subject, it could be fun. But to impersonate the fellow being quoted, each and every time, does not give me the feeling that I'm actually listening to that person...it's just obnoxious. So if you care to take the advice of a humble movie fan, that loves dvd commentaries, please, just take it easy on the impressions. Rich Little and I will thank you for it :)
