Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 6

[Moe Dickstein]

They don't seem to go by stature for a Digipak, but rather how large the booklet is.

[swo17]

The Zatoichi box...will be Blu-ray height in one dimension, DVD height in the other.

I assume this means the height will be the same as a Blu-ray case and the length will be that of a DVD case from top to bottom. Which means it will just barely fit on my shelves!

[jindianajonz]

The Zatoichi box...will be Blu-ray height in one dimension, DVD height in the other.

I assume this means the height will be the same as a Blu-ray case and the length will be that of a DVD case from top to bottom. Which means it will just barely fit on my shelves!

I'm kind of irked by this decision- I'll probably have to place it on my shelf sideways if I don't want it sticking out. A bit ironic that while assuring us that the new dual format editions won't take up any extra space, they reveal that a set will be (for me, at least) their most space inefficient yet.

But on the bright side, I'll get a better view of that beautiful artwork every time I walk past!

EDIT: Or a better solution: Keep buying earlier Criterion spine numbers until Zatoichi is pushed to the bottom shelf, where sticking out won't be as notable. Jindi, you're a genius!

[captveg]

I'm kind of irked by this decision- I'll probably have to place it on my shelf sideways if I don't want it sticking out. A bit ironic that while assuring us that the new dual format editions won't take up any extra space, they reveal that a set will be (for me, at least) their most space inefficient yet.

I'll have to figure out how to shelve it as well, and I get your point about inefficiency, but I guess that's a matter of what it's being compared to, as it is efficient for the # of discs compared to similar sets I own.

[zedz]

27 discs in a box that size - which Criterion have ensured will conform to either BluRay or DVD height on your shelves - and you're still moaning about inefficient packaging.

This is what inefficient packaging actually looks like - and it's only 21 discs:



EDIT: Actually, this is probably the worst offender, though the image doesn't quite get the wacky dimensions across (the width of the box is that of two DVD cases lying down)

[jindianajonz]

27 discs in a box that size - which Criterion have ensured will conform to either BluRay or DVD height on your shelves - and you're still moaning about inefficient packaging.

It's not a huge complaint, but I'm just afraid that if it sticks out it will get bumped into and the box would get scuffed up. I agree that it's great they managed to get the "depth" of the case as shallow as they did with that many discs, but with the way I'm going to have to display it, that dimension is the least problematic. I would have preferred if they managed to make a case similar to how the Wire complete series was issued, though I'm fully prepared to eat these words as soon as I see the book that is included in the set (which I'm guessing is what really dictated the overall dimensions)

And as for inefficient packaging, I can't quite make out what the second picture you posted is of, but the worst I've seen so far is the Tudors box set that I picked up this weekend

[knives]

It's a de Oliveira set.

[Matt]

I would have preferred if they managed to make a case similar to how the Wire complete series was issued

I believe that's what they've done (if the Zatoichi box is not, in fact, smaller than that set), but there are more discs plus a book included. From what Becker says, it's 7 1/2 inches wide, 6 1/4 inches tall, and probably no thicker than 2.5 inches. You'd have to have some seriously tiny, cramped shelves not to be able to make room for this set.

You could always save space by not buying it and watching the films on Hulu+.

[Moe Dickstein]

That's great news, Matt - for those of us that don't have short shelves made just for DVDs this should be no issue as it can stick in rather than out, my shelves are 12" deep, so I can line the spine up and it will be perfect, and I'm sure I'm not the only one using a bookshelf or something where this won't be an issue

[zedz]

It's a de Oliveira set.

Yes, and it consists of slimline DVD cases (yay!) laid down in two bricks head to toe (boo!) in a box. So its height is the width of a normal DVD case, its width is twice the height of a normal DVD case, and its depth is a few inches. You can either place it shallowly on a shelf, where it would take up the space of, like, forty regular DVDs (benefit of this option is you can display knick-knacks in front of it!), or you can minimise the shelfspace it takes up and have six inches of box set poking out just waiting to take out an eye!

[knives]

Lord, that sounds like the Kazan set which I just gave up on and put over my bed.

[andyli]

A quibble after today's annoucement: I think it's high time for Criterion to stop using 348x490 (DVD size) cover art on their web site. It serves no purpose any more. And why they always wait for a few days only to upload the high-res, blu-ray sized images on amazon.com is beyond me (which they have been doing for a few years!).

[acroyear]

To Be or Not to Be

Because I think skulls are cool, I will be blind-buying this release.

[fdm]

I didn't know my opinion wasn't welcome...

We welcome your opinion, but only if you have something more interesting to say than "I won't buy this."

Fair enough. Looking back, I guess there really wasn't much of a point to my comment.

There's a big pro-cardboard, pretty packaging contingency here, so that's a pretty typical reaction from them. Don't worry about it. Cardboard and coasters seem to set them off.

[jindianajonz]

From what Becker says, it's 7 1/2 inches wide, 6 1/4 inches tall, and probably no thicker than 2.5 inches. You'd have to have some seriously tiny, cramped shelves not to be able to make room for this set.

My conern isn't squeezing it between other DVDs on the shelf, it's the 6 1/4 inch dimension that will be sticking out of the face otherwise flush surface (assuming I place it so that the 7 1/2 inches is the height)

But again, I was just voicing a preference for a more unform design. I'm not too bothered by the whole thing, certainly not enough avoid purchasing this set. Quite contrarily, this is my most eagerly awaited release. Quibbles about the dimensions aside, it is gorgeous.

[tenia]

There's a big pro-cardboard, pretty packaging contingency here, so that's a pretty typical reaction from them. Don't worry about it. Cardboard and coasters seem to set them off.

I'm actually quite sure most of the people here don't like digipacks due to its fragility and impossibility to replace VS plain Scanavo cases.
Also, I think very valid points have been made on the dedicated topic to justify why DF should not be an issue for BD-buyers.

[Matt]

There's a big pro-cardboard, pretty packaging contingency here, so that's a pretty typical reaction from them. Don't worry about it. Cardboard and coasters seem to set them off.

I missed this comment the first time around. Since I was the first to respond (and, perhaps too harshly, for which I apologize to criterion10), I can only assume this is directed primarily at me. Once again we have a case of someone with their own axe to grind, projecting their own obsessions onto someone else's words. I am probably one of the more anti-digipak, anti-pretty-packaging people on this forum. But I am also anti-empty-comments, which is what I was reacting to. I just want people here to post more substantial comments than, "I'm bothered by this, but I wasn't going to buy it anyway." Nobody cares much what I (or anybody else) think about digipaks or what discs I (or anybody else) plan to buy or not buy, so I don't make a habit of posting about that stuff.

I'm going to buy Tokyo Story on Blu-ray because I like Tokyo Story and want to see it in the best possible version. I couldn't give a fuck whether it comes in a digipak, a Scanavo case, or (as I have said before) a greasy Wendy's bag.

[Moe Dickstein]

Thanks Matt, now I got a craving for Wendy's for dinner tonight.

[criterion10]

(and, perhaps too harshly, for which I apologize to criterion10)

Thanks Matt, and don't worry, I don't get offended easily.

I'm sure this has already been discussed for, so I don't wish to beat a dead horse, but generally speaking, I almost always prefer simple, concise packaging among Criterion releases than fancy, oversized packaging, which I consider digipacks to be. The regular scanvo plastic cases that Criterion's come in fit very nicely on my shelf, where as making room for digipacks is often much more difficult (I actually have all of my box set and digipack Criterion releases separate from the scanvo ones). I understand that sometimes it is necessary for a bigger, bulkier package (this may be the case with Tokyo Story), though my general rule is that whenever possible, a standard release case from Criterion is my preference.

[fdm]

I'm going to buy Tokyo Story on Blu-ray because I like Tokyo Story and want to see it in the best possible version. I couldn't give a fuck whether it comes in a digipak, a Scanavo case, or (as I have said before) a greasy Wendy's bag.

I want to see it in best possible version also, but in the end it won't be a banged up digipak, or a greasy one for that matter. And I'll grudgingly tolerate that it is in a digipak that wouldn't have been necessary if the coaster hadn't been included, and thus will probably have to try several times to make my first sentence true. And no doubt more such annoyances to come soon enough. But enough of that.

[Moe Dickstein]

We don't know how big the booklet is. if it's big then it would have been a digipak anyway (see Babette's Feast, Repo Man...)

[swo17]

I don't know how many more times I have to say this, but the cover sleeves included in the Scanavo cases are just as likely to be banged up, crumpled, torn, cut, etc. as digipaks are. If you don't believe this then you're either not scrutinizing the Scanavo cases as closely, or you've been extremely lucky.

[domino harvey]

I'm going to buy Tokyo Story on Blu-ray because I like Tokyo Story and want to see it in the best possible version. I couldn't give a fuck whether it comes in a digipak, a Scanavo case, or (as I have said before) a greasy Wendy's bag.

I want to see it in best possible version also, but in the end it won't be a banged up digipak, or a greasy one for that matter. And I'll grudgingly tolerate that it is in a digipak that wouldn't have been necessary if the coaster hadn't been included, and thus will probably have to try several times to make my first sentence true. And no doubt more such annoyances to come soon enough. But enough of that.

Stop. Calling. These. Discs. Coasters. Numerous people here have already mentioned what you can do with your "useless" disc, including donating to schools, universities, libraries, old folks homes, prisons, the less fortunate, etc instead of complaining, but that hasn't stopped you. Good work.

[Yaanu]

Scanovo cases are as likely to get banged up as digipaks. My copy of BADLANDS has a nice scratch in the plastic coverslip holding sheet thing from what I can only assume to be from a box cutter.

[johnnysnatchclub7]

Yes, a Scanavo case can be shipped damaged or human error box cutter activity can come in to play. But for the most part if you purchase in store and scrutinize your selected copy, it probably won't really ever be damaged. Whereas, the edges of Digis get worn over time on shelves as your collection grows and shrinks. I own every single Criterion Blu and most of their DVDs and have been collecting since the laserdisc days. I'm proud that all of my keep case copies are in top form. Most Digis are too but some show damage.