Criterion Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol.2

[Cinesimilitude]

fdm, in an attempt to be less of a jerk, can I ask where you are from?

I'm in canada and have always made my criterion purchases from criteriondvd.com or amazon and all of them arrive in excellent condition...

[fdm]

Colorado. I've had so-so luck with box sets from Amazon as well. When I first used them they were okay, but a year or two later they seemed to take too many short cuts as well; probably should have given them a shot for Moral Tales, but now that it's back up to list price... Haven't tried Criteriondvd yet, but perhaps will. Have tried everyone else at one time or another. And whenever these boxes make it to the store shelves -- more and more of a rarity the past year or two -- they're typically in similar shape.

The problem seems to be that the even the closest online vendors are 1000+ miles away, so their shortcuts often result in anything from crunched corners to pretty smoosed up packages.

[justeleblanc]

pretty f-ink stupid

Mine came crunched a little, I ordered it from amazon with a 25 dollar gift certificate so it was a great deal -- I payed 44.99 for it.

I think what bothers me more about the crunch is just the flimsiness of the packaging in general. Chloe's naked body isn't really secure in there, and I'm saving up a bunch of cardboard to throw in there to absorb the extra space.

[Cinesimilitude]

I would recommend just ordering one copy. If the case shows up in a state you are unhappy with, email criterion with a picture (I'm sure they would replace it for you) and when its a packaging replacement that they fulfill themselves, I'd assume they do it right to avoid problems.

[Gigi M.]

I live in the Dominican Republic, and I've used almost every retailer at one time or another. All my Criterions have come in excellent shape from DVDPlanet, including Six Moral Tales. I got the later on Saturday in great shape. Only a small dent on one the edges.

[hammock]

I would recommend just ordering one copy. If the case shows up in a state you are unhappy with, email criterion with a picture (I'm sure they would replace it for you) and when its a packaging replacement that they fulfill themselves, I'd assume they do it right to avoid problems.

I tried this once with MoC. The kind people at customs sliced up the spine of my DVD and just taped the package as if nothing happend. I then e-mailed MoC and they send me a new case + cover. Remember to include a picture of your damaged packing!

Never had anything damaged with the 240 CC discs I received with overseas shipping. I guess your problems must lie within your local post district!

[fdm]

I guess your problems must lie within your local post district!

Post office, UPS, DHL and Fedex sometimes... similar results. Post office seems to be acting up a bit more lately though.

On the other hand, my orders from amazon/uk seem to arrive in consistently decent shape (and via the same post office). Knock on wood.

[Gigi M.]

No one, not even CriterionDvd nor DVDEmpire, has yet to post a back cover for the new 3 disc edition of Brazil. My copy from DVDPlanet hasn't been shipped yet. In the meantime, here's some spine accion:

[justeleblanc]

To Those Who Hate the Flimsy Case that is RohmerBox,

1) Take some modeling glue and secure the outer flaps of the box spine.

2) Cut from the side of a box a piece of cardboard to go next to the book.

3) Cut out a second piece, a little smaller, to go in toward the back, to make up for the tapering of the DVD cases.

I did this and the box is maybe 90 percent better. You can hold it and squeeze it and it's all secure -- none of that crunch wobbly bullshit.

Peace in the Mideast,
2Pac

[leefarber]

No one, not even CriterionDvd nor DVDEmpire, has yet to post a back cover for the new 3 disc edition of Brazil. My copy from DVDPlanet hasn't been shipped yet. In the meantime, here's some spine action:

Thanks for posting that. I would be very surprised at this point if the 3-disc version is just the same old artowrk. Can anyone who's gotten theirs snap a photo to post?

[Gigi M.]

Yeah, and if is possible please add a pic of the discart.

[godardslave]

what kind of packaging is the re-issued playtime? anyone got a photo/pic of the case?

[Gigi M.]

what kind of packaging is the re-issued playtime? anyone got a photo/pic of the case?

Digipak.

[justeleblanc]

What the hell is that flap on the spine?

[CSM126]

That is the spine. Criterion digis open to the left. The photographer undid the right side of the box to show off the spine.

[Cinesimilitude]

is it possible that it's a flap you have to open to get access to the digipak?

[Lino]

I still think the Rohmer set should have been packaged like the Cassavetes one. I think it what we're getting is a last minute decision (a bad one, of course).

With that out of the way, I'm still wondering after all these years, just why in the name of all that's sacred aren't DVDs packaged in the same sized cases as CDs are?

[godardslave]

I'm still wondering after all these years, just why in the name of all that's sacred aren't DVDs packaged in the same sized cases as CDs are?

#-o

[Lino]

Why the d'oh? Aren't DVDs and CDs the same size? Oh, I see -- next you're telling me that film is more important than music. And that's why the boxes should be bigger. Right.

Just because we were used to the format of the VHS, it doesn't mean that that particular format and size should have been perpetuated into the DVD era. But I guess we got Warners to blame for that. They were the ones to introduce the new digital format in those horrid snappers.

Would a film lose stature if released in a smaller format case?

[Cinesimilitude]

That's exactly what they are doing with HD-DVD, the cases are as thin as CD cases and only slightly taller than them.

[Matt]

With that out of the way, I'm still wondering after all these years, just why in the name of all that's sacred aren't DVDs packaged in the same sized cases as CDs are?

Because video store fixtures were sized for VHS tapes. Similar to the reason why CDs came in longboxes for years.

[gubbelsj]

I'm still wondering after all these years, just why in the name of all that's sacred aren't DVDs packaged in the same sized cases as CDs are?

I quite agree with you about the arbitrariness of case sizes, but just to play devil's advocate for a minute, what about booklets? Having a full-sized booklet nestled inside the DVD case is much more satisfying to me than the smaller cd booklet. Even the heftier cd booklets, for full operas and boasting four languages, seem a little shoddy compared to, say, the new Seven Samurai set.

Aside from that....I guess the artwork can be better appreciated? But overall I agree - bring on the smaller cases. I could fit more on my shelf.

[hammock]

Not to mention that it is easy to determine if you're looking at a CD or a DVD! I can imagine how complicated things would get if everything looked the same and were placed right next to each other.

[domino harvey]

just chiming in to say my Rohmer box arrived today from DVDPLanet and it was in PERFECT, I mean PERFECT condition. not even smallest of dents.

[rwaits]

Yeah, mine finally arrived from Planet too, and was also perfect. Although it was tough waiting it out, it was certainly worth the wait...I'm pleased.