Criterion Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol.2

[Matt]

Considering how much more wrinkled, bent plastic I've seen on those amarays, I'm amazed by the criticism of the digipaks.

A damaged Amaray case is easily replaced. Not so with a digipak.

[arsonfilms]

A damaged Amaray case is easily replaced. Not so with a digipak.[/quote]
If you've got a place that sells individual double and triple wide amarays, I'd love to hear about it.

[kinjitsu]

If you've got a place that sells individual double and triple wide amarays, I'd love to hear about it.

You'll find what you're loooking for right here.

[Antoine Doinel]

A damaged Amaray case is easily replaced. Not so with a digipak.

The only Criterion release whose packaging was significantly damaged for me was In The Mood For Love. The very weak little tabs that lock in the casing for the the second disc broke and now I have an amaray that doesn't close properly.

Mulvaney (with his apologies of course) said they don't replace casing and as far as I know, I don't know of any place that sells such packaging individually.

I'd rather take a slight corner ding here and there than having an amaray that won't close or open properly.

Also, why is no one bitching about Universal's packaging for their To Kill A Mockingbird or Double Indemnity? Gorgeous packages that are also happen to be digis.

[Matt]

Also, why is no one bitching about Universal's packaging for their To Kill A Mockingbird or Double Indemnity? Gorgeous packages that are also happen to be digis.

Because this is a thread for bitching about Criterion's packaging.

[Anthony]

Sorry, but I can't keep the mouth shut on this issue...

I hate (I mean really loath) the digi packs and love the amaray cases. Here is why: The digi packs become damaged with much handling and the amaray cases do not. If I loan a DVD in a digipack to a friend, it always comes back slightly bruised, scraped, or bent. Over time, the digi packs begin to resemble something that has been through a mock WWIII (and I just love it when the center fastener breaks). I also can't replace the digipack clear plastic backing.

On the other hand, the amaray cases can withstand a lot of abuse (and if and when they break can be easily replaced with a brand spankin new case). I have no fear loaning these to friends/family.

I wish Criterion would realize that its consumers don't buy their product just so it can look good up on their shelves for display purposes. No, we actually watch the movies many times over. I have learned that if I loan a movie to a friend or family member, that I need to take the DVD (s) out of its digipack and put it in an empty amaray case. Otherwise, the digipacks just become damaged with constant handling.

[Narshty]

Mulvaney (with his apologies of course) said they don't replace casing and as far as I know, I don't know of any place that sells such packaging individually.

Not trying to be funny, but what about the post directly above yours?

[Steven H]

Sorry, but I can't keep the mouth shut on this issue...

I guess I can't either. Criterion's a company, and the driving force is sales, so maybe the digipack releases are selling better than the amarays? They certainly look attractive in the store, even if they don't age terribly well. I could see the uninitiated picking them up for a once over, which is the most important part of marketing.

So far, I've enjoyed the enlarged booklets (though, some seem large for no reason, with oversized print and little content), but I would be just fine with a MoC Kwaidan style release (rather than have the booklet break the spine of the case, a la Brakhage or In The Mood For Love). I honestly don't really care. If I really want to keep my digipacks looking neat and tidy, I'll just throw the disc into a plastic sleeve to loan out. That being said, I'm all for Criterion to try using thinpacks. A bunch of thinpacks and a thick booklet in a thick cardboard sleeve would be ideal for a number of their releases.

[Antoine Doinel]

Mulvaney (with his apologies of course) said they don't replace casing and as far as I know, I don't know of any place that sells such packaging individually.

Not trying to be funny, but what about the post directly above yours?

They only sell in bulk (ie. 10, 20, 50) - I don't really feel like paying $7 + shipping for a single case.

[kinjitsu]

The digi packs become damaged with much handling and the amaray cases do not. If I loan a DVD in a digipack to a friend, it always comes back slightly bruised, scraped, or bent.

First of all, try taking better care of your disks, and if your friends are that irresponsible with your property then don't loan out your discs.

Mulvaney (with his apologies of course) said they don't replace casing and as far as I know, I don't know of any place that sells such packaging individually.

If you ask nicely, they might replace a badly damaged digipak. If the packaging is damaged during shipping you should immediately notify the retailer and then return the damaged package and its contents for replacement.

They only sell in bulk (ie. 10, 20, 50) - I don't really feel like paying $7 + shipping for a single case.

What are you talking about? $6.69 for 10 Dual DVD cases is a bargain considering your investment. I bought a 10 pack to replace three figure-eight cases, then used several others to replace some of the flimsier double-disc sets in my collection.

[backstreetsbackalright]

Perhaps I'm a little over-prissy, but I never loan out digipaks. If I loan out a DVD or CD that comes packaged in a digipak, I leave the digipak on the shelf and hand the disc over in a spare jewel case. I suppose this increases the risk of losing the disc, but it's a policy that's worked pretty well for me.

[justeleblanc]

Perhaps I'm a little over-prissy, but I never loan out digipaks. If I loan out a DVD or CD that comes packaged in a digipak, I leave the digipak on the shelf and hand the disc over in a spare jewel case. I suppose this increases the risk of losing the disc, but it's a policy that's worked pretty well for me.

Me too, especially Criterion digipaks. I loaned out both Faces and Stolen Kisses in a Family Guy case.

[backstreetsbackalright]

I loaned out both Faces and Stolen Kisses in a Family Guy case.

Pretty much the same thing, right?

[Cinesimilitude]

the family guy cases are the ultra thin amaray cases, which house most fox tv shows, and then the thin amarays are in a slipcase. I do the exact same thing by the way, I have bought a few horrible dvds, some i just throw away artwork and disc, and keep the case for loaning purposes.

[thethirdman]

Has anyone ever emailed Criterion to ask them why they do not use thinpaks for box sets. Anchor Bay's Herzog thinpak box sets are space efficient and very attractive, although they would have benefited from thicker outer boxes.
I am always worried that the hubs on digipaks will break. I have had that happen with a few and there is no way to replace the plastic tray. At least thinpaks are fungible if there is damage.

[domino harvey]

this forum is sometimes amazing in the worst sort of way

[Gigi M.]

You got that right.

[Jem]

We need a new cover to bitch about, PRONTO!

[domino harvey]

whatever Spine#360 ends up being, I am so pissed that a corner might get damaged whenever I buy it based on the cover as long as it's not a digipak that I'll wait for DVDFile.com to rewrite the press release before I decide whether or not to pretend to have seen the potentially windowboxed film, which already has a perfectly acceptable release in R2.

[Steven H]

The higher the horse, the longer the fall. Christ.

[godardslave]

whatever Spine#360 ends up being, I am so pissed that a corner might get damaged whenever I buy it based on the cover as long as it's not a digipak that I'll wait for DVDFile.com to rewrite the press release before I decide whether or not to pretend to have seen the potentially windowboxed film, which already has a perfectly acceptable release in R2.

The higher the horse, the longer the fall. Christ.

i think DH's post(s) are often meant to be:

[a] joke
sarcasm/joke
[c] trolling

you may mark only ONE answer.

[fdm]

Also, why is no one bitching about Universal's packaging for their To Kill A Mockingbird or Double Indemnity? Gorgeous packages that are also happen to be digis.

Haven't seen the Double Indemnity package yet, but Mockingbird is not nearly as flimsy as just about everything like it that Criterion has put out. Universal seems to at least have a clue about durability. Compare Mockingbird packaging to Six Moral Tales packaging, and let me know which one is likely to stand up to wear and tear more better, or even to just being shipped cross-country. Hopefully D.I. is similarly robust, since my (first?) copy arrives tomorrow...

(Caveat is that I'm just going by the posts regarding Moral Tales... looks like my (first) copy will arrive end of next week or so.)

[Cinesimilitude]

the universal legacy series digipaks are far and away the sturdiest most durable ones I've ever seen. the outer cases are very thick, practically book bindings.

[Antoine Doinel]

Got Double Indemnity yesterday via Amazon. The package is a beautiful, very sturdy digi. No dings or nicked corners at all. I should also mention that the artwork for the DVD would look nowhere near as nice if it were printed on whatever stock they use in a standard keepcase.

[cdnchris]

I didn't know Criterion released Double Indemnity!!!??? Holy shit!! When did this happen!!??

Please note the sarcasm