For those of you who don't like Michael Barrier's LTGC commentaries...

[J Lee]

...he has a post up on his website (http://www.michaelbarrier.com/)saying he won't be doing any for Vol. 4 of the Golden Collection, and also explains why there was no mention of Michael Maltese having written "Odor-able Kitty" in his GC3 commntary (Tedd Pierce is credited in the original listings, but the Maltese story is in Barrier's 1999 book).

[Cartman]

I noticed that Barrier tends to mumble/talk fast while doing his commentaries.

[Duck Dodgers]

I noticed that Barrier tends to mumble/talk fast while doing his commentaries.

That' s the second reason I hate his commentaries .

the first reason : He misses the point of every single cartoon he made commentaries for !!

Did he explain the " Mr . Anthony " gag in " Baby Bottleneck "?

I'm asking this because I have not listened his commentary for this cartooon .

I want Jerry Beck , Daniel Goldmark ( for the music- themed cartoons ) , Leonrad Maltin , John K or Steve Stanchfield to do commenatries .

And I would like a Joe Dante commentary on his favorite Tashlin cartoon , " Puss 'n' Boots "

[gdX]

For my money, they could lose the commentaries altogether and fill that disc space with more cartoons... there is seldom anything divulged in the commentaries that I've not already heard.

Extras should be comprised mostly of lost / unseen / forgotten archival footage... and once that material is exhausted, I'd prefer to see the LTGC boxes contain nothing but the toons themselves.

My grumpy 2¢... guess I got tired of 'extras' way back in the laserdisc days.

[Miss Marnie]

Extras should be comprised mostly of lost / unseen / forgotten archival footage... and once that material is exhausted, I'd prefer to see the LTGC boxes contain nothing but the toons themselves.

That could work. I mean, they're going to have to stop doing the Behind the Featurettes sometime and the commentary is just tedious. I do want them to continue with the music or voice only tracks since it's very interesting listening to a cartoon without the lines (or music) we already know. And what about some more of those opening sequences. They have The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show and The Bugs Bunny Show (I don't know if it was the one that came on October 11, 1960 [which, if anyone cares, came on fifteen years before SNL] or the Bugs Bunny/Roadrunner Show which was shown on CBS Saturday Mornings). What about some opening sequences for LT installment shows around the world?

[MF TOON]

I enjoy the commentaries and extras immensely, they're just as much a selling point for me and I think the number of cartoons featured is not an equation of content versus space but of the remastering process which is continually carried out for each of these releases. So trimming down one facet of these sets is not necessarily going to mean more cartoons can be included anually. It takes time to create quality restorations and I think so far Warner Bros have been very effective. I also think it's a blessing that they are actually including the commentaries and extras that they are, as it's nice to have a collection of animated films from this company that isn't directed entirely at 13 year olds. I'm very happy with the direction WB is taking and I don't think we of all people, should be complaining about the number of commentaries and insightful extras included on these sets. WB could just as easily issue the sets barebones with 40 cartoons on each volume and it would still sell because of the quality of the content... but the powers involved seem to want to offer us as much as they can in the way of high quality collector geared collections, and that's pretty commendable!

[Mark J]

I find the commentaries overall generally worthless - they rarely answer any questions I have about the toons and many are hard to hear, especially the grainy old interview clips and Greg Ford - I never understand what he says. The old animators and colorists never have anything enlightening to add, although I'm glad they are getting recognition for their work. I do like the featurettes, especially when they relate to a specific toon or show interesting footage, so they should do more of those and less commentaries.

[Studio Toledo]

That' s the second reason I hate his commentaries .

the first reason : He misses the point of every single cartoon he made commentaries for !!

Did he explain the " Mr . Anthony " gag in " Baby Bottleneck "?

I'm asking this because I have not listened his commentary for this cartooon

I believe he did. I thought he was OK in the commentaries, he has that local small town newsreader voiceover I used to hear back in the '80s, and
I do learn a bit about certain references or other tidbits in a cartoon I never knew or thought about before.

[Chow Hound]

For my money, they could lose the commentaries altogether and fill that disc space with more cartoons... there is seldom anything divulged in the commentaries that I've not already heard.

Extras should be comprised mostly of lost / unseen / forgotten archival footage... and once that material is exhausted, I'd prefer to see the LTGC boxes contain nothing but the toons themselves.

My grumpy 2¢... guess I got tired of 'extras' way back in the laserdisc days.

Absolutely!!! I'd rather more meat and less potatoes.

[corey3rd]

It would be nice to get 100 cartoons per boxset.

[Jack G.]

I noticed that Barrier tends to mumble/talk fast while doing his commentaries.
Yeah. There's also a certain "disconnected" impression I get. Like he's talking about the cartoon but not really responding to what's on the screen.

I have nothing against the guy. He's into classic animation and writes well.
His commentaries just don't do it for me.

I don't find the commentaries useless, though. I've learned a few things.

[cbrubaker]

I doubt they'll all more cartoons in each set than usual. It takes a LONG time to restore cartoons from negatives. So more cartoons=longer time for the DVD sets to come out:

I kinda enjoy Michael's commentaries. It's interesting to hear recordings from various Looney Tunes crews who's been dead for long time, like Robert McKimson. I wish they clean up the soundtracks, though.

If there was one commentater I'd get rid of, it's John K.

[Daffysleftfoot]

For my money, they could lose the commentaries altogether and fill that disc space with more cartoons... there is seldom anything divulged in the commentaries that I've not already heard.



Well, remember that these sets are designed for people who may be discovering or rediscovering these toons for the first time. I think all these commentaries and extras are a great way to inform the public on what the Looney Tunes are all about. In order to preserve the name and legacy of the LT we need to shwo people what these toons accomplished along with the original toons. Otherwise the general public will still regard them as simply "slapstick cartoons we watched in the '70's" and nothing more.

[cbrubaker]

Well, remember that these sets are designed for people who may be discovering or rediscovering these toons for the first time. I think all these commentaries and extras are a great way to inform the public on what the Looney Tunes are all about. In order to preserve the name and legacy of the LT we need to shwo people what these toons accomplished along with the original toons. Otherwise the general public will still regard them as simply "slapstick cartoons we watched in the '70's" and nothing more.
You worded on the commentaries better than I did.

Yes, you're right. There ARE interesting histories on these cartoons, whether we heard it million times or not.

[corey3rd]

I doubt they'll all more cartoons in each set than usual. It takes a LONG time to restore cartoons from negatives. So more cartoons=longer time for the DVD sets to come out:

I remember when the first set was coming out, there was talk from people involved that as the sets continue there will be more cartoons and less bonus features. Maybe they'll increase the "From the Vault" output so they don't have to do a perfect restoration job on some of the lesser LT/MMs.

[Chow Hound]

It takes a LONG time to restore cartoons from negatives. So more cartoons=longer time for the DVD sets to come out

But they could double the number of people and resources assigned to the project and get two sets per year out.