Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol.4

[movielocke]

I have no objection at all to the Ozu covers -- but prefer the artwork (and style) of the Shochiku Shimizu sets.

that's what I first thought of, and the Shimizu sets have better art, but this is a step in the right direction. Glad to see two of Ozu's masterpieces (including my favorite of his, There Was a Father) released to DVD.

The box cover of the ozu films reminds me both of film texts and the eclipse series of course. The coloring seems identical to Mizoguchi's Fallen Women

That French Eclipse set sounds very cool, but I keep rooting every month for another Ozu, Mizo or Shimizu eclipse release. but I have to confess I love the breadth and variety of releases in the eclipse line so far, so I can't complain, I just want more, 12 eclipse releases a year, to be precise.

[MyNameCriterionForum]

Jesus Christ, is there a more boring and predictable artist on the planet than Adrian Tomine? I'd rather Thomas Effing Kinkaid had painted those Ozu covers, however inappropriate it might have been. Tomine is dull as paste, and just about as useful. He's never taken the slightest chance (on his stories or drawing) in his entire life. Utterly uninspired, his whole oeuvre. Dude either has no intuitive skills or no access to them. Kill me now.

This makes me wonder how you react to Ozu himself, as the criticisms sound very similar...

I Adore Ozu. Tomine's work has about as much in common with Ozu as it does with Pasolini.

[bugsy_pal]

I can't believe that this thread has ventured into personal insults on the designers. Sure, we can all express an opinion, but how many of us here have the training and skill to really critique all aspects of the cover designs?

Gosh, maybe those of us who make our livings as artists and designers too?

Or are we not allowed to criticize any medium/form we ourselves are not expert practitioners in? If that's the case, you better shut the forums down, because I'd bet 97% of the contributors here are not filmmakers -- and according to you their thoughts about film don't matter.

Dude, it's the fucking I N T E R N E T

Well, I'll ignore the tone of extreme indignation, because as you say, it's the I N T E R N E T, and that entitles anyone to slag off at anyone else, including professional designers who really should be doing their job properly.

Look, we are all entitled to an opinion and to voice it here - sorry if I offended your sensibilities. But I really objected to the offensive remarks about that designer fellow - I thought that was totally over the line. You may be a designer yourself - which would give your opinions more credibility in my view - but you're still an offensive pratt.

[MyNameCriterionForum]

I thank you

[bugsy_pal]

I thank you

Thanks for thanking me. Hey, I'm sorry I called you an offensive pratt - I felt bad about that. And I certainly didn't mean to suggest that we shouldn't debate the merits of films - that's a lot of the fun of this place. And sure, graphic design should be debated too. It just seems that there's a lot of statements being made to the effect that "so and so's design/typography is crap", without any reasons given or justification.

[Cinephrenic]

I wish this forum critiqued films and cinema as much as they do on cover art. ;(

[ilan]

Unlike the amazing Close-Up cover, the Secret of the grain design is really disapointing, I LOVE this movie and Criterion could use for the front cover one of the many gorgeous images the film has to offer.

[mteller]

From the Criterion Facebook page:

The samples for the new Brakhage sets came in and they look great! Check 'em out:

[Murdoch]

Someone's maid is on vacation.

[MyNameCriterionForum]

Bunuel's?

[bearcuborg]

I wish this forum critiqued films and cinema as much as they do on cover art. ;(

C'mon - if we lost those posts, along the hyperbolic claims (ie release of the year), the [-o< begging, or the glib one sentence contrary for the sake of being contrary postings then there wouldn't be much of a forum left - also many of our 1,000+ posters wouldn't have much to crow about...

[knives]

Are you saying all we would have is Nothing? (god, I'm terrible)

[bugsy_pal]

I wish this forum critiqued films and cinema as much as they do on cover art. ;(

But don't forget that this particular thread is specifically about packaging, etc.

Those Brakage covers look very cool indeed. Almost makes me want to blind-buy em on day 1...

[swo17]

But don't forget that this particular thread is specifically about packaging, etc.

Yes, a thread already 114 pages long. Meanwhile, Fanfan la tulipe can barely muster 27 posts. And half of those are jokes. I believe the other half are cover art related.

[Cinephrenic]

Forum views to this thread: 287453 (highest I believe).
Total pages: 114

The only problem with this is that new covers are posted once a month.

[HistoryProf]

But don't forget that this particular thread is specifically about packaging, etc.

Yes, a thread already 114 pages long. Meanwhile, Fanfan la tulipe can barely muster 27 posts. And half of those are jokes. I believe the other half are cover art related.

which are themselves comments on a joke.

[domino harvey]

What would really turn this board around are more posts complaining about complaining

[HerrSchreck]

The Black Narcissus cover (...) The Red Shoes. (...)
One negative for me about both of them, though: the black "BLACK" and the red "RED." So literal, they make me cringe a little.

Thanks for keeping me company in noticing this. The word BLACK in grab-your-eyes black, and the word RED in ditto red? It's one of the most piss-your-pants funny design choices.. that would get you laughed at in a 10th grade commercial art class... I so could see one of my old Art & Design H.S. teachers holding those fonts up and saying "So uh class, how do we feel about these logos?" (Cue classroom laughter)

[cdnchris]

Walkabout Blu-ray

[zitherstrings]

The interior shot doesn't meld well with the rest of the package.

[Alphonse Doinel]

What's going on with that crazy scribble on the left of the disc face?

[Cinephrenic]

What's going on with that crazy scribble on the left of the disc face?

That's a swastika.

[HistoryProf]

They could wrap this one in tinfoil and wax paper for all I care. I just WANT IT NOW.

[cdnchris]

Walkabout DVD

[zitherstrings]

DVD is much better. Why would they use different art?