Criterion Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol.2

[Cinephrenic]

I knew it!!!

[justeleblanc]

I got my Kicking and Screaming today and the packaging is great. They really are emphasizing how quotable this movie is, now they have a crossword puzzle. But even so I enjoy the extra effort.

[cdnchris]

The crossword was actually a nice little touch, though I don't see the promised answers on the website. I'm guessing that they're not using the clear keep cases from now on, though. I actually think it looks pretty nice with the clear keepcase.

[Cinesimilitude]

clear cases are so R2.

[arsonfilms]

When I was a disc producer, I think we were the only company other than Palm and Blue Underground (that I can think of) that regularly used clear cases, and I always wondered why they weren't more popular. They're a little more expensive (on top of the additional printing costs for the wraps), but I've always been a big fan of them, both for the design possibilities and the unique look. I'm certainly a supporter of digipaks (although I may be on my own in this crowd), but if Criterion were to continue using clear cases instead of the black amarays, I'd be pretty pleased indeed.

[Theodore R. Stockton]

The system they have been using so far is, that if a multi-disc set has an incredibaly thick book that is guled not stapled then they go with digi-packs. Malle gets amary but thick books like Rohmer get digi-packs. Dazed and Confused gets a digi, Equinox gets an Amary.

Also, It seems that the flimsiness of the Rohmer set is a result of it being designed to be two slip cases like the Cassavettes but for some reason only coming with the outter case.

[Lino]

That's what I was thinking too. Why didn't they bother to make it a double slipcase? That would have solved it.

[zedz]

I've just got my Rohmer box and I see what you all mean. It's definitely a design stuff-up - unexpectedly sloppy from Criterion. Did they drastically underestimate the page count of one of the books? Did they originally intend to include another big glossy catalogue of the collection to commemorate the new look? Were there some 'Wit and Wisdom of Blaise Pascal' collectors cards they withdrew at the last minute?

I'm glad my copy happened to come from Amazon, with their air-padded packaging, as I dread to think what the more toss-it-in-a-box-and-cross-your-fingers companies would have done to it. Nevertheless, it still arrived a little squashed, and it was the shrinkwrap that was responsible, by pulling the loose sides tight and slightly buckling one of them. You know you've got a problem when the shrinkwrap is too tough for the box!

Regarding other packaging trivia, I'm delighted that the cover of Yi-Yi looks just as elegant in person. One of the company's best designs, in my opinion, and a nice last hurrah for the old cover format.

[justeleblanc]

It looks to me that they had room for a 7th disc in the Rohmer set.

[arsonfilms]

Granted there's a little more room in there than there would usually be, but honestly, if there were much less room I'd have a hard time taking the sleeves out. In any case, I'm sure the space came from an estimate on the size of the two books (probably from different publishers).

[leefarber]

Does anyone know if the new 3-disc edition [of Brazil] will feature new packaging, or if it'll literally be the same box as last time, with the new single disc edition replacing disc 1 in the box?

Being a collector, I'd get the revised 3-disc edition if they've revamped the packaging. Otherwise, I'd just pick up the new single disc version.

[Gigi M.]

Yes, a digipak.

[leefarber]

So the new 3-disc Brazil will be in a digipack. Damn! More money to spend.

Anyone seen any scans of the new 3-disc version? I've only seen scans for the single disc edition.

[pmunger]

Does anyone know if the new 3-disc edition [of Brazil] will feature new packaging, or if it'll literally be the same box as last time, with the new single disc edition replacing disc 1 in the box?

Being a collector, I'd get the revised 3-disc edition if they've revamped the packaging. Otherwise, I'd just pick up the new single disc version.

Yes, a digipak.

Do you mean for disc 1 only or that disc 1, 2 and 3 will feature the new packaging (new logo, digipak...)?

[Narshty]

Yes, a digipak.

Those cheap fuckers.

[justeleblanc]

I prefer that over the bulky original three disc set.

[Gigi M.]

Those cheap fuckers.

No offense Narsh, but for one of the most expensive DVD ever, I expect no less.

[Narshty]

Than tatty cardboard replacing a lush set of three clear Amarays in a translucent blue box? The old Brazil package was a thing of beauty - now we get some crumpled corner fold-out dreck. Booo, I say! BOOOOOOO!!!

[cdnchris]

I have to agree with Narsh. Boo-urns! Boo-urns!

[kinjitsu]

I have to agree with Narsh. Boo-urns! Boo-urns!

Same here. A gorgeous set diminished. Digipaks are not a blessing, in fact, I have had to re-glue a couple of them already.

[miless]

what are you guys doing with your DVD cases? are you involved with some strange sport that I am yet unaware of?

I dislike amaray cases because of when they rub together the clear plastic gets dirty and clouded... I'd take a digipak any day

[bjeggert82]

Good news and bad news (depending on your point of view) for those of you that ordered the new Brazil 3 disc set...

I just received my copy from DVDplanet.com. The outer box of the set is basically the same as the previous release, made out of plastic, except perhaps a little more square around the edges. You certainly won't get smushed corners from shipping.

However, I'm concerned. The only physical difference between this release and the previous one is a sticker on the shrink wrap the reads, "Remastered in High Definition, Now Anamorphic." Otherwise all the print on the box, from what I remember, is identical.

Let me know if this is the same on yours, when you folks get your copies, because I can't really tell a difference. I don't want to open it in case I have to return it.

ALSO: The cover art on the "new" disc is the same. No new logo.

[godardslave]

the "love / hate digipak divide" is clearly the most pressing and damging division within society in the modern world, and must be adressed by all our best scholars, scientists, spirtual and political leaders immediately.

I demand action now.

[tavernier]

The cover art on the "new" disc is the same. No new logo.

My "new" disc was all new: new logo, new copyright date on the back, new date of the film on left side of front cover....in other words, the new packaging.

[leefarber]

Okay, confused.

Is the new 3-disc edition the same thing packaging-wise as the old 3-disc edition with Disc 1 replaced with the new version? Or is it an all-new 3-disc digipack?

Can anyone who's received theirs post some pictures?