Commentary Madness

So, anyway, last week I picked up a DVD of Mister Roberts at the library. It's one of my favorite movies, and I have the video (not the T-shirt, though... did I mention that my BIRTHDAY is April 23rd?)--it hadn't even been that long since I had last watched it, but I was most [excited] 'cause the DVD has a commentary by Jack Lemmon. (Love them commentaries!)

I made sure I had plenty of water, got Sir Harvey all settled next to me with his petite movie snack (uncooked veggie pasta), little Button Kitty jumped up on my lap, and we were READY! It started out well--I was getting a big kick out of listening to Mr. Lemmon's stories when I see, superimpose on a still playing movie: "To continue listening to the commentary, go to Select Scene and choose Scene 3."

I looked at Sir Harvey, and he looked at me, then we both looked at the kitty, but she was already asleep (her goal). I went to Select Scene and almost dislodged feathers and fur when the music blasted. I *hate* it when the menu music is much louder than the movie. I clicked on Scene 3, and we continued on our way. Harvey and I laughed, and Button--well, she kept on sleeping. And, then: "To continue listening to the commentary, go to Select Scene and choose Scene 5."

I was not pleased. Harvey threw a veggie pasta at the screen. Button almost woke up. I wondered if I really wanted to go through this, but was so enjoying the commentary, so I lowered the sound (damned if I can find a MUTE button on this remote), went to the menu, went to Scene Selection, chose Scene 5 and raised the volume. I had to do this about every two scenes. I get to the part where the nurses were sayin' they had to go back to the hospital, and... "In order to continue..."

I stopped myself from saying sumpthin' in front of little pitchers, clicked my way to the scenes, raised the volume, and there's Mister Roberts, gathering some of the crew around him to read them the letter about orders to a liberty port... [double-take] Having seen this movie a [koff!] few times, I knew that part of the movie was missin'... just a few minutes, but HEY! I rewound to where the nurses say they gotta go, and this time I saw the missing part... but the commentary was completely gone.

I was so [peeved] that that became the first time that I have ever put on Mister Roberts and did not watch it all the way through. That constant scene selection thingy is just plain crazy--and MEAN! Has this happened to anyone else with another movie? Has anyone happened to have watched a Mister Roberts commentary version that played through the whole movie? Why the heck would they do that? It... it just ain't fair!

Anyway, disgusted, Sir Harvey glided down to go Walk-About, Button complained piteously about not gettin' her full movie nap, and I brooded. Then I popped in "Arsenic and Old Lace", and we three cheered up in petite order. But, golly, I wish that I could hear the rest of Jack Lemmon's stories... in peace.