Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol.3

[domino harvey]

like this:

[Gigi M.]

Think Great Adaptations or Hitchcock: Wrong Men and Notorious Women or Rebel Samurai (that one is too, right?)

All those have top covers.

[arsonfilms]

Wow, thats pretty

[Matt]

Could it possibly be that much cheaper to make a box with no top and bottom as opposed to a box with only one open side?

[arsonfilms]

Could it possibly be that much cheaper to make a box with no top and bottom as opposed to a box with only one open side?

Believe it or not, its enough to make a noticable difference. It isn't the extra paper, its the additional assembly required.

[Matt]

Could it possibly be that much cheaper to make a box with no top and bottom as opposed to a box with only one open side?

Believe it or not, its enough to make a noticable difference. It isn't the extra paper, its the additional assembly required.

That's what I figured. Something like the Bergman box above can probably be completely machine-assembled: cut, folded, and glued. Something more enclosed probably requires a person to tuck a flap in--increasing the cost significantly. Oh well. At least they're finally using ThinPaks.

[thethirdman]

Oh well. At least they're finally using ThinPaks.

Over the past year, I wrote three emails asking why they never used ThinPaks, which could be replaced if there was a damaged hub. I never received a response. This new development makes me optimistic that they could carry the ThinPak approach over to the Criterion boxsets, but I hope those would merit a top and bottom.

[Anthony]

It's good to see they went with the plastic thinpacks.

[Matt]

It's good to see they went with the plastic thinpacks.

As opposed to the cotton ones? Just kiddin' ya.

[tavernier]

I was hoping for glass meself...

[Cinephrenic]

Gold platted here. Isn't that why the high price on their disc?

[godardslave]

Digipaks, as in the rohmer moral tales set are way classier and cooler than plastic thinpaks. I guess this is another economy measure.

The open top/bottom box is really annoying though, and somewhat of a silly decision. I can only hope criterion change their mind on the boxes.

[sidehacker]

I'm sort of disappointed that they do come in plastic thinpaks. It seems quite cheap and something a distributor like Fox would do (they do something similar on their television boxsets) How long are the linear notes? Since they're just on the reverse side and not an actual booklet I can't imagine them being that long. I suppose chapter titles and cast lists are included too?

[a.khan]

On the ‘strength' of that picture and all the comments on the packaging/liner notes/etc, Eclipse feels like El-cheapo.

Of course the idea is for CC to keep their costs down on this line as far as supplements and pristine restorations are concerned, but come on, spend some dime on the packaging! I have preordered the Malle set, so for purely selfish reasons, I hope the good folks at CC are reading this and taking notes.

[domino harvey]

On the ‘strength' of that picture and all the comments on the packaging/liner notes/etc, Eclipse feels like El-cheapo.

don't worry, it looks even worse in person. I feel like I picked this set up over at Ross

[Bajaja]

I have nothing against ThinPaks, but the paper sleeve without the bottom is ridiculous and it will most probably not find its way onto my shelf...

[balzer]

The case is fine and the discs fit pretty snug in there. I didn't think there would be such a fuss.

To me it is like someone saying that they want to spend the money a VW costs and expect to get a brand new BMW, sure the VW will run fine and is a great car, the BMW has a much nicer package and has a better chance of getting ya laid.

End statement, the films are great, I am glad I own them. I have to make sure that they are not levitating on the shelf and I am ok.

[arsonfilms]

Excellent analogy.

The only flaw in your theory though has to do with the fact that no part of my DVD collection has ever gotten me laid. Well, scratch that. None of my Criterion discs have had that affect, and I doubt Eclipse will have any effect on that either for better or worse.

[Cinephrenic]

Perhaps you should resort to porn.

[LightBulbFilm]

Excellent analogy.

The only flaw in your theory though has to do with the fact that no part of my DVD collection has ever gotten me laid. Well, scratch that. None of my Criterion discs have had that affect, and I doubt Eclipse will have any effect on that either for better or worse.

All you need to do is hit up the art house theatres, libraries and joints where wannabe-hipster-college kids hang out and scope out the pussy wearing the thick framed, "in" glasses.

All you need to do is drop the name Bergman, no matter if they've seen a film by him or not and those poseur sluts will be all over ya'.

[Cinesimilitude]

All you need to do is hit up the art house theatres, libraries and joints where wannabe-hipster-college kids hang out and scope out the pussy wearing the thick framed, "in" glasses.

All you need to do is drop the name Bergman, no matter if they've seen a film by him or not and those poseur sluts will be all over ya'.

My town doesn't have any arthouse theaters, but I've been thinking about holding a classic filmfest at my college and only putting up ads for it in the girls residence buildings...

[arsonfilms]

Wow guys, those are some really good ideas! I'll have to try those out sometime!

Now I just need to find some way for my fiancee not to find out. The only movie I ever got her into bed with was Sex and Lucia.

[fdm]

These look OK enough that I probably won't even mind them arriving banged up.

(Can't say as much for the Robeson box; similar to the Rohmer box -- but without the free replacements available from Criterion, each copy/replacement has arrived damaged to various degrees, and/or they still sit at the various local Borders stores similarly pre-damaged...)

(Still) wish Criterion would put a little more effort into their prime time line and quit it with the flimsy cardboard boxes... premium prices should allow for sturdier containers. Don't care so much about the contents (digipaks/whatever) at this point, just put it in a box (or reasonable facsimile) that won't get banged up if you look at it the wrong way... The digipak boxsets seem to be the worst.

At least Eclipse isn't pretending to be anything other than what it set out to be.

[zedz]

Think Great Adaptations or Hitchcock: Wrong Men and Notorious Women or Rebel Samurai (that one is too, right?)

All those have top covers.

Technically correct, but the key issue with them (the risk of the discs falling out when you pick up the box) is the same. In fact. it's probably worse. At least with the Eclipse design you can reduce this risk by leaving the shrinkwrap on.

[domino harvey]

The packaging on the individual discs looks even worse. I don't know who greenlit this thing.