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My guess is that packaging templates already exist for big releases like these with sleeves, so it’s easier/cheaper to utilize those than develop a new hybrid with plastic hubs or use an existing fold-out digipak solution (which can take up more shelf space than desired)

I know sets with 10 discs that are perfectly compact. There are enough possibilities around for multi discs sets to avoid going to sleeves, from slim plastic cases to foldout digipacks to cardboard cases, and Criterion went through so many different ones they probably can provide templates for most of them (I also doubt they're constrained and/or constraining designers with this beforehand, but probably instead choose a format and then ask the designed to work within it).

Using sleeves is a design choice, and I'm sure shelf-space saving hasn't weighed much in such decision, just like the special All About Eve design was extra-work but for counter-productive results. On the other hand, I'm fairly certain designers think cardboard sleeves packagings make for a more premium feel, and that's why they go to it, and that most consumers share that impression.

onedimension wrote: Sun Mar 03, 2024 3:02 pm Sleeves are awful, I can’t stand the cardboard paper they use for other box sets and releases too. Citizen Kane, Three Colors… Go all plastic. Is it more expensive? Is Criterion committed to sustainability?

Plastic cases are in fact cheaper than cardboard/digipaks.

Universal's recent Monsters UHD set is shaped like Criterion's Showa Godzilla set but it has plastic disc holders in the back instead of sleeves. I think that is a better solution to this type of multi-disc set.

Sleeves are fine as long as they have a circle cut out in the center, so that we can insert the finger and slide the disc out of the sleeve. This is what they did for the Bergman big box.I don't know why they did not continue that design subsequently.
Pasolini is truly terrible. It is impossible to pull the discs out without leaving finger marks each time.
I wrote to Jon Mulvani about it some time ago. He was quite gracious in responding. He said he was passing on my description of the problem to their design folks for future consideration, and that if the discs in that set did not play at any time in future Criterion would replace them for me.

I agree. The cardboard sleeve storage design is atrocious. I nearly resorted to cutting up the cardboard to remove the discs. Six of the nine discs have scratches.

It's good to know that Mulvaney has written that Criterion will replace any damaged discs. I plan to check each disc.

Has anyone gotten replacements discs from Pasolini 101 because of this specific issue?

After hearing complaints about the packaging I didn't even bother to use it. I removed
all the discs, bought an eight-disc blu ray case, made a new label from the box set and
used that instead (takes up less shelf space). There wasn't enough for one disc so I put
Teorema in a stand alone case.

I was aware of the bad packaging before I purchased the set and really wish I hadn't bothered.

As others I stated the discs are impossible to get out without marking them so I haven't even bothered checking the discs and have kept all my earlier editions but the set is going to sit and the cupboard and never get watched.

I suppose I should remove them and place them in cases or even paper slips but some of my discs are already badly disorganised and I'm in no mood to add to that.

Live and learn.

Does anyone know which email to use for getting replacement discs? Most of mine came out okay with the paper trick but two were clearly damaged before they made their way into my set

Looking forward to doing a slow reassessment of Pasolini (I’ve seen all of the features here except Mamma Roma) to see if I can finally “get” him

domino harvey wrote: Tue Dec 30, 2025 12:30 pm Does anyone know which email to use for getting replacement discs? Most of mine came out okay with the paper trick but two were clearly damaged before they made their way into my set

Looking forward to doing a slow reassessment of Pasolini (I’ve seen all of the features here except Mamma Roma) to see if I can finally “get” him

enjoyed Mamma Roma when I watched it for the 60s project, but Gospel is so far and away my favorite so far. I've been threatening to go through this box for awhile, still need to..

Hawks and Sparrows, 2020 4K Ritrovata restoration
La ricotta Director´s Cut, info about the restoration of the film as it was released in February 1963, before being withdrawn in March 1963; also reinstates two censorship cuts made before cinema release.
https://www.fondazionecsc.it/centro-spe ... glio-2025/
(go screen top right to change language to English)