'Making Of' Documentaries about films - Recommendations

MrMacca

MrMacca

MrMacca

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I've recently been watching a lot of Documentaries that focus on the behind the scenes of movies.

Here's a few for example:

Blade Runner - Dangerous Days


Abyss

I was wondering if anyone else knows of any documentaries similar to the ones above.

I've watched all the Aliens, Star Wars, Terminator 2 ones but would love to know of any highly recommended documentaries on a variety of movies.

Thanks in advance!
 
The making-of documentaries that accompany the extended edition Lord of the Rings movies are excellent, on a par with the SW Episode One documentary (which arguably is better than the film itself)!!

I haven't seen it but I've heard good things about the making-of Blade Runner documentary which is on the most recent edition - Directors Final Edition or something?

Sci-Fi films always seem to have the best making-ofs...

Edit: D'oh, didn't see the Blade Runner one you've listed (firewall at work won't let me see video)
 
I always make sure I watch the film first. I know what you mean though, the Taken special features had a section which showed the final version of the film next to what it looks like as it's shot, and things like fight scenes look really strange as punches go nowhere near their targets.
 
Why does it ruin the film for you Mark1?

For me it often makes me love the films even more. Take for example the Blade Runner documentary. The difficulties that film had from funding, actors, scripting, producers and everything it was surprising it even got made.

But also the detail of the story boards and the set design just blows me away. They should offer museums for these kind of things.

Going to dig out my Episode 1 DVD to see the extras on it.
 
I really enjoyed the Predator one

Think it's the only dvd that I've watched EVERYTHING that it has to offer..
 
Some of the Iron-Man extras are quite good as well, although they're split into the standard 10 to 20 mins shorts on various aspects rather than an all-in-one making of film.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull also has some good stuff, with more than 2 hours of documentaries.

Both of those I have on Blu-Ray but I'm assuming the 2 disc DVDs have the same...
 
I'm always blown away when I watch how films are made. The sheer amount of talent needed from so many people, and the diversity of skills is amazing. The director probably has the easiest job. :p

Found one of Jurassic Park, part 1 of 6:


It's presented by James Earl Jones so it's automatic win. :cool:
 
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Watch the Alien Quadrilogy docs that are on each disk. I loved them even though there's no chapter skip.
The one for Alien 3 is my favourite even though they cut a lot of it because of all the negative things that were being said about 20 th Century Fox
 
MrMacca said:
Why does it ruin the film for you Mark1?
Click to expand...

If i ever go to re-watch the film i'd be sitting there thinking 'I know how they did that' rather than enjoying the movie for what it is. So i try not to watch them, although it is tempting to see how certain scenes were done for some films.
 
Don't you get the feeling sometimes that it just 'ruins the magic'? I've watched these in the past but i've never been overly keen on them.
 
Love these making of features for movies. The LOTR Appendices were fantastic to watch, i loved seing how they made everything and the chemistry of the actors off screen. Great stuff. Same goes for those included with the Alien Quadrilogy. Also although not films quite like extras on various anime dvd's that have behind the scenes snippets on the recording process. I'd reccomend a series of documentaries called 'Adventures in Voice Acting' if theres anyone that wants an insight into the world of voice acting in films, tv and games.

Also as has been said before i don't believe that watching these documentaries spoils the films at all but rather enriches the experience. Going back to the LOTR for example it was a joy to watch how the people who worked on the film put in such much time, effort, commitment and creativity into the project, it makes me appreciate good films even more :).
 
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I think the Shining has been the only one I have watched and been amazed.

The film sets the scene so bloody well that I still disbelieve that all the internal scenes were shot in a studio in London!
 
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