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

[Matt]

I think the "broken" type treatment is done well on Death of a Cyclist, but it's kind of odd how they used a similar treatment on what looks to be the only other film they're releasing that month. I would have preferred continuing the hand-lettering as used in the "bar" sign.

The cover image for DoaC is also great given the dimensions of the cover, but I guess credit for that goes to Bardem and his set photographer. The Blast of Silence cover kind of looks like Frank Miller manqué. I'll be embarrassed if it really is him or some other "name" illustrator.

[colinr0380]

I think those covers look great. I'd disagree that the broken titles are too similar - it might be a small difference but the shattered window effect of Death of a Cyclist is different from the bullet hole cracked window of Blast of Silence. Perhaps a similarity was intended by the emphasis on the result of the act rather than the actual accident or gunshot itself, which would seem to fit with the titles and descriptions of the films being more focused on the thought processes behind preparing for a shooting or covering up an accident. That might be reading too much into a cover though!

I'm actually quite happy with these titles and the Ozus with the lack of commentary on the Blast of Silence disc that Herr Schreck has pointed out being the only real disappointment (Would someone who has listened to the commentary be able to describe a little of the contents and how essential of a listen it is? Even better would be a comparison of the commentary with the extra features on the Criterion when it comes out to see if they get covered there instead), but at least I'll be picking up the film itself now!

[Svevan]

Image from DVDBeaver, hosted by me.

[domino harvey]

Awesome

[carax09]

I like it! It looks like an old Nelson Algren paperback...

[ianungstad]

That's definitly Sean Phillip's art. He did a pretty good mini-series with writer Ed Brubaker "Scene of the Crime", published by DC/Vertigo.

I really like the idea of having him do a 4 page comic strip as a feature of the dvd.

[Nuno]

Excuse me... but since when do we write "YasujirU"???

[Cinephrenic]

I Was Born, but they misnamed me. Fucking parents!

[arsonfilms]

This is a pretty nice looking spine.

[domino harvey]

They used the same color scheme as Beulah's the Coast is Clear

[exte]

This is a pretty nice looking spine.

That's a HUGE spine. What the hell's in it? Another 90+ page book? Am I missing something here?

After checking their page, they say booklet, which judging by the pic sounds disingenuous, unless that's what they've been calling them all along...

[colinr0380]

Perhaps with it being a four disc set instead of one long gatefold including all four discs there will be two two tray gatefolds and that along with the booklet might take up all the space?

Have they ever used a four tray gatefold before? They went up to three with Battle of Algiers but otherwise their digipacks are usually two trays. It might also make sense in separating the directors cut from the theatrical one in their own sections.

[Jeff]

I would imagine that it will be packaged like Fanny and Alexander.

[klee13]

I've got to say that the artwork for the Monsters and Madman set is one of my favorite Criterion's ever had. More then anything else, it has been the source of my (probably unwarranted) interest in the set.

On closer inspection of the production credits, I noticed that they were illustrated by Darwyn Cooke. That's pretty cool.

Also, I was wondering whether Criterion has ever had the same artist illustrate more then one cover before.

[domino harvey]

Also, I was wondering whether Criterion has ever had the same artist illustrate more then one cover before.

Heaven Can Wait and Amarcord

[denti alligator]

The beauty of the Varda set almost makes me believe in the digipak.

[godardslave]

The Varda set is certainly one of the most beautiful digipak sets Criterion has ever released, more digipaks please Criterion! =D>

[Kinsayder]

Image from DVDBeaver, hosted by me.

Or is it Lino Ventura?



Criterion could maybe recycle that cover for Le Deuxième Souffle.

[thethirdman]

[Matt]

How lovely. Another lavish digipak that will be going straight into the trash for not being library-friendly.

[colinr0380]

How could you throw something looking that beautiful away? Better watch out Matt - with comments like that you might end up having to shoo scavanging Criterion packaging fans away from your dustbins as they scrabble over who gets possession of the empty case!

Ever thought of putting it on eBay as "The Last Emperor box (without discs)"? I'm sure you'll get at least some bids!

[Jeff]

And people say that there's no way to replace a damaged digipak. You can just order replacements from Matt!

[TheGodfather]

That looks really gorgeous.

[fdm]

Looks like a bunch of cardboard to me. (Blech.)

[Gigi M.]

Looks like a bunch of cardboard to me. (Blech.)

As much as I've said I love digipaks, for once I have to agree with you. I accidentally dropped my Varda set and it got an ugly dent. So yes, no more cardboard please, Criterion. Your packages are lovely but very expensive.