Criterion Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol.1

Message

godardslave · #1 Post by **godardslave** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 10:03 pm

I think the January Becker covers are obvious and lazy. Discuss.

I Agree.

Next!

Steven H · #2 Post by **Steven H** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 10:31 pm

I'm not sure about lazy, but certainly obvious. They're still not garish, more in the "less is more" camp. I always lean more towards original poster art, but I think they look "fine".

Cinephrenic · #3 Post by **Cinephrenic** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 10:50 pm

I find the Becker films cover alright, but agree that the Suzuki covers has no creativity at all. I hope Kagemusha will be much better as a special edition release.

#4 Post by **cdnchris** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 4:15 am

Actually I really like the Youth of the Beast cover, but am not too fond of the others. I'm sure Kagemusha will kick ass, though.

Pinback · #5 Post by **Pinback** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 4:45 am

I like both Suzuki covers, though I prefer the Fighting Elegy one. Maybe because I really like monochrome covers for black and white films...and not so much for colour films.

jcelwin · #6 Post by **jcelwin** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 7:12 am

The synopsis for 'Youth of the Beast' says, "a breakthrough for director Seijun Suzuki, introducing the flamboyant colors...". The cover doesn't exactly show that...

Napoleon · #7 Post by **Napoleon** » Thu Nov 04, 2004 12:39 pm

Touchez pas au grisbi is astonishingly lazy. The most uninspired and uninviting cover of the last 12 months. I like Jean Gabin as much as the next man, but that cover does nothing for the film. They pulled a similar trick on Pepe Le Moko, which is another howler of a cover.

The Fighting Elegy (viewed large) is just downright ugly.

Heck, of all the unreleased criterions only the King of Kings does anything for me.

djali999 · #8 Post by **djali999** » Thu Nov 04, 2004 4:01 pm

Not too fond of any of the posted covers... Perhaps they're going to look better in person, but the two Becker covers lack any sense of design or panache. The Suzuki covers are a bit more imaginative, with Fighting Elegy easily outpacing Youth of the Beast (I love the goofy little ladder standing in for the I), but they don't quite capture the garish pop-art of the HVE Suzuki titles, which in my mind are 'just right'.

Perhaps after the mess they made of the cover art for Tokyo Drifter and Branded to Kill, there was a desire to swing in the opposite direction - but I honestly don't think these covers are bright or 'pulpy' enough.

Cinephrenic · #9 Post by **Cinephrenic** » Thu Nov 04, 2004 10:56 pm

The Fanny and Alexander discs will be digipack. I just recieved some promotional material on these. They look beautiful.

Narshty · #10 Post by **Narshty** » Thu Nov 04, 2004 11:01 pm

Short Cuts - Back cover and spine

Back covers and spines of Fanny & Alexander:
The boxset
The theatrical version
The television version
The Making Of

analoguezombie · #11 Post by **analoguezombie** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 4:40 pm

I like the basic concept f the suzuki covers but agree that they don't really convey the pop art aesthetic of the films contained therein. I do like them a lot more than the HVE covers though. But I love the covers for Tokyo Drifter and Branded to Kill.

bjeggert82 · #12 Post by **bjeggert82** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 6:47 pm

I haven't been too impressed with any of the cover art for the Criterion single disc releases in the past 4 or 5 months. All the two-disc releases are excellent thought... Videodrome, for example, was brilliant. Maybe if they put more time into the special features, etc., they automatically take extra care with the cover art.

I believe Kagemusha is a 2-disc set, and I've liked all of the previous Kurosawa disc art... I'm anxious to see what it looks like (so far, it hasn't been posted on the website).

Caligula · #13 Post by **Caligula** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 7:31 am

I have a gripe with cover art that gives away the ending or integral parts thereof. On the previous forum someone mentioned Ikiru. In my opinion Ordet comes close as well.

*SPOILER AHEAD*

You're watching the film, Inger dies, but you keep thinking to yourself, hmmm... there's wasn't a scene thus far where Inger & Mikkel embrace, so... and there you go.

godardslave · #14 Post by **godardslave** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 8:38 am

steca wrote:I know im in the minority here but i think eyes without a face was an extraordinary cover!

im also in this minority.

#15 Post by **cdnchris** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 1:55 pm

steca wrote:I know im in the minority here but i think eyes without a face was an extraordinary cover!

I hate the pink!! With the white font!! It just doesn't look right, in my opinion. Take that pink away and just leave the white font and I think you would have a fantastic cover

daniel p · #16 Post by **daniel p** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 4:12 am

Caligula wrote:I have a gripe with cover art that gives away the ending or integral parts thereof. On the previous forum someone mentioned Ikiru. In my opinion Ordet comes close as well.

*SPOILER AHEAD*

You're watching the film, Inger dies, but you keep thinking to yourself, hmmm... there's wasn't a scene thus far where Inger & Mikkel embrace, so... and there you go.

This happened to me with Ordet too...I leave the case on top oy TV while I watch the films, and I kept looking at the coverart, wondering when that embrace would come...and it gave away the ending for me.

Still absolutely loved the film though.

Tribe · #17 Post by **Tribe** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 9:42 pm

Oy...I have something to bitch about regarding packaging. The Short Cuts box has a "stopper" along the bottom towards the side, in order to keep the paperback level with the film case when in the box.

Watch Mrs. Tribe fuck the packaging up when she attempts to put the disc back in along the wrong end, it won't go all the way down and she will decide to jam it in.

*Sigh*

John

mbalson · #18 Post by **mbalson** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 2:10 am

I just recieved the Fanny box and Short Cuts and all I can say is that Criterion continues to raise the bar.

godardslave · #19 Post by **godardslave** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 4:33 am

mbalson wrote:I just recieved the Fanny box and Short Cuts and all I can say is that Criterion continues to raise the bar.

if they raise the bar much higher we will need a pole vault.

[ok sorry, im just bored].

rumz · #20 Post by **rumz** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 5:32 pm

I just received a screener of Douglas Buck's "Family Portraits: A Trilogy of America." Not a Criterion title, but the packaging is a blatant rip-off, from the typography to the spine number. Have a look.

analoguezombie · #21 Post by **analoguezombie** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 5:54 pm

rumz wrote:I just received a screener of Douglas Buck's "Family Portraits: A Trilogy of America." Not a Criterion title, but the packaging is a blatant rip-off, from the typography to the spine number. Have a look.

imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, or is it copyright infringement?
No doubt someone just glancing at that could easily mistake it for a Criterion release.

#22 Post by **cdnchris** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 7:27 pm

I thought it was fan art for a second.

BTW rumz, awesome avatar.

justeleblanc · #23 Post by **justeleblanc** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 8:59 pm

analoguezombie wrote:
rumz wrote:I just received a screener of Douglas Buck's "Family Portraits: A Trilogy of America." Not a Criterion title, but the packaging is a blatant rip-off, from the typography to the spine number. Have a look.
imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, or is it copyright infringement?
No doubt someone just glancing at that could easily mistake it for a Criterion release.

Don't designers have copywrite protection?

Narshty · #24 Post by **Narshty** » Sat Nov 20, 2004 2:02 pm

Speaking of packaging, my copy of In The Mood for Love curiously comes in one of these crazy contraptions, presumably because of the thick booklet. Anyone else have one?

#25 Post by **cdnchris** » Sat Nov 20, 2004 3:53 pm

Jon wrote:Speaking of packaging, my copy of In The Mood for Love curiously comes in one of these crazy contraptions, presumably because of the thick booklet. Anyone else have one?

Is this how the movie is being released now? It makes sense because that booklet is way too thick. I had to take it out because it was warping my double alpha and it would keep flying open.

Internal Resources

External Sites

Specialty Labels

Site Menu

Criterion Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol.1

Criterion Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol.1