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

[FrauBlucher]

Moe should be sent to the time-out room for mentioning the great Persona when discussing the pedestrian IAMMMW. A truly punishable offense.

[chatterjees]

It worries me now. I wonder if those 3-discs dual formats will have same fate. There is no 3-discs plastic case yet. If they don't want to do thick digipaks (e.g., Tokyo Story or Nashville) for the dual formats, they might go with this slot-system. This packaging for It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World doesn't look much thicker for a 5 discs set, surprisingly.

[swo17]

I'm mostly disappointed that after dousing the IAMMMMW digipak in kerosene and banging it repeatedly against a wall, it doesn't appear that it will make a satisfying "crack" sound.

[zedz]

If they don't want to do thick digipaks (e.g., Tokyo Story or Nashville) for the dual formats, they might go with this slot-system.

So this means we can officially blame Criterion's use of slots on those whiners who complained that having packages 1/16 of an inch wider than the norm would eat up their valuable shelf space and they'd have to stop buying Criterion titles altogether? Great! Bring on the pitchforks and torches!

[domino harvey]

There is literally no worse DVD packaging than slots. I'll even take that Polygram sliding door packaging over 'em. Do studios not realize that they get scratched in the factory when they get slid in and then scratched again in transit and then scratched every time someone tries to take out or put back in a disc? They are for coffee table complete series collections that I guess they figure no one will ever play anyways

[mfunk9786]

I'm still in the "Slots are fine if it's a Blu-ray" camp, so long as they're soundly made and glue doesn't get stuck to the disc or something. Some stiff cardboard isn't going to scratch the surface of a Blu-ray, it just isn't. DVDs, though: HISSSSSSSSSSS

[domino harvey]

Fair enough, though that Marilyn Monroe Blu-ray "box" from Fox was some real flimsy shit (and they just repackaged all their Shirley Temple DVDs in similar packaging and are now selling it via informercial!)

[chatterjees]

If they don't want to do thick digipaks (e.g., Tokyo Story or Nashville) for the dual formats, they might go with this slot-system.

So this means we can officially blame Criterion's use of slots on those whiners who complained that having packages 1/16 of an inch wider than the norm would eat up their valuable shelf space and they'd have to stop buying Criterion titles altogether? Great! Bring on the pitchforks and torches!

I am not sure if you are calling me a whiner here. Let me tell you something. I love digipaks. I just don't want digipaks for all the releases (3-discs). I don't worry about space anymore, I ran out of space long time ago

[Moe Dickstein]

It seems like the goal is to not exceed the old packaging sizes for these new titles, so they're trying things out. I'll have a copy any day and give my hands on impressions.

[zedz]

Not calling you a whiner, unless you were one of the people moaning long and loud about receiving free DVDs because:
a) the tiny amount of extra packaging would amount to worldwide ecological calamity in six months (even though consolidating releases would logically lead to less waste);
b) the very fact of owning so-called 'coasters' would create a Scanners-type situation in the living rooms of OCD collectors everywhere;
c) the slightly greater width of individual packages would lead to them reaching the end of their existing shelving slightly faster, just at the point when, all across the world, the manufacture and sale of shelves grinds to a permanent halt (presumably).

[Moe Dickstein]

I'm sure packaging expense is a factor as well. The Shoah box certainly cost more than whatever that slot thing looks like, and that makes sense as the price points on those two releases are quite different.

From what I understand IAMMMMW is one of the most expensive releases Criterion has ever attempted so they've got to be able to make back a few scheckels here and there. I don't love what I've seen, and I'd almost rather just have the 2 Blus in a nice Scanavo case, but if this is what it takes to get it, I'll be ok. The scratched up DVDs won't ever get used anyhow.

[FrauBlucher]

Not calling you a whiner, unless you were one of the people moaning long and loud about receiving free DVDs because:
a) the tiny amount of extra packaging would amount to worldwide ecological calamity in six months (even though consolidating releases would logically lead to less waste);
b) the very fact of owning so-called 'coasters' would create a Scanners-type situation in the living rooms of OCD collectors everywhere;
c) the slightly greater width of individual packages would lead to them reaching the end of their existing shelving slightly faster, just at the point when, all across the world, the manufacture and sale of shelves grinds to a permanent halt (presumably).

In our CC culture of obsession there is a sub-culture that is truly nutty.

[zedz]

Man, if you think the people here are precious, you should check out some audiophile forums sometime. More bleeding ears and splitting heads than a Lucio Fulci retrospective. I don't know why those folks even listen to music, if their physiology is so averse to it.

[Yaanu]

I can't wait to see the Berlin Alexanderplatz upgrade.

[chatterjees]

Not calling you a whiner, unless you were one of the people moaning long and loud about receiving free DVDs because:
a) the tiny amount of extra packaging would amount to worldwide ecological calamity in six months (even though consolidating releases would logically lead to less waste);
b) the very fact of owning so-called 'coasters' would create a Scanners-type situation in the living rooms of OCD collectors everywhere;
c) the slightly greater width of individual packages would lead to them reaching the end of their existing shelving slightly faster, just at the point when, all across the world, the manufacture and sale of shelves grinds to a permanent halt (presumably).

:-#

[boywonder]

I have purchased the Complete Motown Singles. 14 separate volumes, 70 discs, all cd's came in packaging similar to IAMMMMW. Never a scuff on a single cd, either in production, or in my careful hands. Plus, Blurays are pretty dang playable even all banged up (like from the library or Netflix.)

But then if we didn't have this to complain about I guess Swimminghorse could always be called out of retirement. He's still getting whacked around here! Jeez ... life is so dang long, why not obsess about minutia?

[domino harvey]

Jeez ... life is so dang long, why not obsess about minutia?

I and many others have spent a lot of money on boxed sets we actually wanted where several discs were rendered unplayable solely because of the stupid slot packaging. This isn't minutia, it's a legitimate and verifiable consumer concern

[tenia]

I'm still in the "Slots are fine if it's a Blu-ray" camp, so long as they're soundly made and glue doesn't get stuck to the disc or something. Some stiff cardboard isn't going to scratch the surface of a Blu-ray, it just isn't.

While I agree with you on this, you should tell this to a lot of people's Zatoichi BDs.

But you're right about the packaging needs for rigor : my Les Misérables case was only approximately made, and I almost wasn't able to get the 1st BD out of its slot. Because the slot was made smaller than what it should be to allow the disc to slide properly, which made me wonder how they put it in in the first place. Fortunately, no scratch.

But anyway, slots are just never the best option : discs are subject to risk of scratches anyway, and also to fall from their slots during transportation.

However, I'm impressed by the fact that this package of IAMMMMW has 5 discs and still is very compact.

I'm sure packaging expense is a factor as well. The Shoah box certainly cost more than whatever that slot thing looks like, and that makes sense as the price points on those two releases are quite different.

In this case, wouldn't Criterion have tried slots much longer ago ? They have plenty of boxsets on which they could have already tried it.

The scratched up DVDs won't ever get used anyhow.

On the other end, I feel worse and worse for DVD consumers, which will pay more than what they used to do before DF, only to get scratched up discs. For them, it's getting worse and worse every month.

[Moe Dickstein]

If someone hasn't switched to Blu yet they get what they deserve.

[Rolad]

April covers!

I love the Breaking the Waves cover especially. The image and the placement of the title look great to me.

[swo17]

["membrillo"]

Breaking the Waves - Cover of the Year!

[domino harvey]

That's it?

[chatterjees]

Worst month in ages.

[domino harvey]

Master of the House is okay, Italian Dudes Driving With Contrast-Adjusted Blend Background sucks shit, the other two are negligible