Criterion Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol.2

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Gregory · #51 Post by **Gregory** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 4:25 am

Too bad they couldn't have squeezed "BILL MURRAY IS HILARIOUS!" on the DVD cover.

cbernard · #52 Post by **cbernard** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 4:31 am

"HIGH-SEAS STAR POWER!"

I'm there! I'm there yesterday!

mbalson · #53 Post by **mbalson** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 4:39 am

Well, here's hoping those Life Aquatic covers aren't final. First, the line under the criterion logo defies years of convention by not going all the way across the cover. Second, the Special Edition 2-Disc Set banner does not belong on a criterion, ever.

justeleblanc · #54 Post by **justeleblanc** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 3:46 pm

I'm kind of not digging the Bill Murray is Hilarious line, it's trying too hard to sell a DVD. It's like if they wrote a sign on the back of the BLOOD FOR DRACULA DVD "Lots of Male Ass!"

mbalson · #55 Post by **mbalson** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 3:58 pm

Keep in mind that the ad is geared towards clueless retail chains. They're always riddled with shameless advertising conventions.

bunuelian · #56 Post by **bunuelian** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 4:57 pm

Vastly better cover for Life Aquatic now appearing on CC site . . .

Cinephrenic · #57 Post by **Cinephrenic** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 5:15 pm

Isn't this the same cover?

solaris72 · #58 Post by **solaris72** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 5:26 pm

mbalson wrote:the line under the criterion logo defies years of convention by not going all the way across the cover

No line going all the way across the cover=NO SALE!!!

Kudzu · #59 Post by **Kudzu** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 9:59 pm

They have the cover for the Phantom of Liberty up now on the CC site.

I really hate to be a jerk but this cover just seems lazy, like they photoshopped the omnipresent ass onto a background. I can see how they'd want to separate this from the cover of The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie by changing the background color but the black makes the ass-legs look grainy, as if they were disintegrating.

If we're going to be pedantic about the graininess of the transfers then why not apply the same attention to the covers?

Lino · #60 Post by **Lino** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 11:10 am

The black doesn't work. I'd much prefer it in white.

godardslave · #61 Post by **godardslave** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 4:31 pm

why not have the whole cover black?
why have a cover existing at all?
what does one mean when we say anything "exists"?

#62 Post by **cdnchris** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 4:34 pm

godardslave wrote:why not have the whole cover black?

That would be great. Then I could work "none more black" into a conversation.

bunuelian · #63 Post by **bunuelian** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 4:46 pm

Sorry, I hadn't seen the Life Aquatic cover anywhere . . .

the Phantom cover is a reproduction of one of the original poster designs (including the title and director text), except with a black background.

ola t · #64 Post by **ola t** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 8:27 pm

bunuelian wrote:the Phantom cover is a reproduction of one of the original poster designs

Was it designed specifically for the American market, or was the same image used elsewhere too?

Nihonophile · #65 Post by **Nihonophile** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 12:50 am

Sorry guys, but I saw the new black Phantom of Liberty cover and my first thought was 'Daddy likes, Daddy wants!' (not intended to be disturbing)

The separation from Discreet Charm's cover is neat plus I think I like anything with a "lazy photoshop black background"

swimminghorses · #66 Post by **swimminghorses** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:14 pm

I am sure that none of us have anything to worry about. This will be boxed exactly the same way "The Royal Tennenbaums" was with an outer cardboard slipcover with the regular advertising artwork (?!) - inside will be the third great cover by Anderson's brother. My only curiousity remains to be seen how they will be numbered. My guess is that the single disc set wont have a number and the double disc will. ( I think it is even possible that the single disc will not have an outer cover and use the ugly cover instead of the Anderson drawing. I say this because the single disc will be bought by Blockbuster and Walmart and their customer base will not "get" the Anderson drawing and are already familiar with the film advertising poster. Hmmm....)

The Elegant Dandy Fop · Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:40 pm

The single disc set has a reversible cover. It's going to have an Eric Anderson drawing and movie poster cover.

They are probley going to be both numbered 300.

duane hall · #68 Post by **duane hall** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 7:51 pm

the Burden of Dreams cover has been modified. i know most of you disliked it (i liked it) but in any case i think it's gotten a bit worse.

initially posted cover:

currently posted cover:

in the former, herzog seems fittingly immersed in the jungle. the brightening in the new version doesn't convey any soul-wrenching struggle. it also seems to be a different picture of herzog altogether in the new version. the integration of the photo elements is more organic in the first. in the second, herzog looks more cut-and-pasted on top of the background, esp. around the perimeter of his head and hair.

i suppose he does look more resolved in the second... still could be refined for subtlety, though

EDIT: actually.. the more i stare, the more the new one seems determined and passionate, and the earlier version forlorn. (still too cut and pasted, though!)

jcelwin · #69 Post by **jcelwin** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 8:29 pm

The brightning makes his face stand out more agains the background. I still like the darkness of the first around the eyes, looks like more 'burden' and interesting; makes you want to learn more about him.

Cinephrenic · #70 Post by **Cinephrenic** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 8:41 pm

This looks horrible. Looks like a Herzog bobble-head on the cover. They should go back to the previous.

oldsheperd · #71 Post by **oldsheperd** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 9:00 pm

I like it. Very German. Very scheizen-film.

Doctor Sunshine · Wed Mar 23, 2005 11:15 pm

Before this I'd never realized he looked so much like Alex Trebek.

Andre Jurieu · #73 Post by **Andre Jurieu** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 5:07 pm

While we wait for this week's announcement of June titles, gaze upon Spine #294

Nihonophile · #74 Post by **Nihonophile** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 5:48 pm

I'm not familiar with the movie (although after checking IMDb I am interested), but its got a nice tint and font to my eye. I bet criterion will change this cover before it's out.

#75 Post by **cdnchris** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 6:37 pm

I only knew of the Finney version. I didn't even know that was a remake. And I got all excited (like with the Heaven Can Wait thread) that Paramount was licencing out. Should have known better.

That is a nice cover, though.

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Criterion Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol.2