Criterion Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol.2

[tavernier]

And no, I have no idea what a "4-tired digipak" is.

Obviously a typo for "four-tiered."

[Matt]

Obviously a typo for "four-tiered."

Okay, smarty-pants. What's a "four-tiered digipak"? Four flaps?

[tavernier]

Do you have a problem with that sir?

Uh-oh, somethin's brewin'....

[Matt]

So I guess it's safe to say that every Criterion will be in a digipak from here on out. [-(

Do you have a problem with that sir?

Uh-oh, somethin's brewin'....

No, it's a long-established fact that gigimongas loves digipaks and I love thinpaks and we're never going to agree. Life goes on...

[tavernier]

According to DVD Beaver, Amarcord is packaged in a "4-tired digipak inside cardboard box."

And no, I have no idea what a "4-tired digipak" is.

Obviously a typo for "four-tiered."

Okay, smarty-pants. What's a "four-tiered digipak"? Four flaps?

You got it: it has 4 flaps - two hold the discs, one holds the booklet, and the fourth lists the chapters.

[Matt]

Considering that Image was already complaining about their profit margins being low on Criterions, they've got to be loving the switch to deluxe digipaks which surely cuts into their profits even further.

[tavernier]

And that means room for lots more art, which I'm sure isn't cheap either.

[Gigi M.]

Considering that Image was already complaining about their profit margins being low on Criterions, they've got to be loving the switch to deluxe digipaks which surely cuts into their profits even further.

Yeah, how much does a digipak design cost?

[justeleblanc]

Matt, good call with the bootlegs. Though I guess that wont become a problem until one of the new digipaks goes out of print.

By the way, my Cassavetes box was kinda flimsy as well.

[Narshty]

Digipaks and windowboxing - you keep raising that bar, Criterion.

[thethirdman]

Will all of the actual dvds from Criterion now have only the giant "wacky" C like the Moral Tales discs? I hope that is not the case. The deplorable proliferation of digipaks is bad enough. Do Kicking and Screaming or Seduced and Abandoned have disc art that does not involve the C?

[arsonfilms]

Yeah, how much does a digipak design cost?

It's very substantial, but is mostly based on the print run and who they get to replicate. Replication in amarays typically weighs in around fifteen cents a unit, but I'd guess non-amaray Criterions fall in roughly around a dollar.

[godardslave]

Digipaks and windowboxing - you keep raising that bar, Criterion.

and you keep lowering it.

[fdm]

Digipaks and windowboxing - you keep raising that bar, Criterion.

Agreed. I look forward to receiving all my Criterions pre-damaged, instead of just some of them.

[hammock]

Agreed. I look forward to receiving all my Criterions pre-damaged, instead of just some of them.

Maybe you should consider ordering your DVD's from another shop that packs their parcels better. I have all mine shipped from Criteriondvd (USA) to Denmark and never experienced any problems except my Short Cuts box had a little bump in one edge. Just an idea! And yes, I like digipacks and would be pleased to see all new releases in this packing.

[colinr0380]

So I guess it's safe to say that every Criterion will be in a digipak from here on out. [-(

Kicking and Screaming is in a clear Amaray

[Greathinker]

Kicking and Screaming is in a clear Amaray

That's a single disk release, a digipack would be unnecessary.

I hope this isn't a trend--for me it would make the films seem even more like shelf pieces that shouldn't be touched. I know criterion is striving for a more contemporary approach but these films don't need glossy packages to make them attractive.

[Gigi M.]

I can see why many people here don't like digipaks. Gary's got his Seven Samurai all dented on the edges.

[godardslave]

I must admit, I don't fully understand why some people seem to dislike digipaks.

If you look around the world, you will find the leading prestige dvd releases (especially box sets) in countries like
France and Japan are nearly alway digipaks.
Nearly all TV on DVD comes out on digipak.
Its not like this is a new thing or criterion are the only ones doing it.
theres hundreds of dvd sets which use digipaks.

they look better.
they use significantly less shelf space.
they provide more options for more beautiful packaging.

and if they get damaged in shipping, surely thats the fault of the shipping company?
Ive ordered numerous digipaks and they all came thru the mail just fine.

[Antoine Doinel]

I completely agree with godardlave.

They've done over 300 releases with the same format over and over and now they've trying something different. Give them a break. Sheesh.

[Gigi M.]

Ive ordered numerous digipaks and they all came thru the mail just fine.

Same here. All my Criterion's digipaks have come in excellent shape.

[fdm]

Count me among the apparent few who's box sets/etc often arrive damaged. I avoid them for the most part (exception mostly being criterion), or try to find copies of what I want in stores. Unfortunately even that's not possible sometimes, as their shippers and/or their staff are pretty careless as well, or they're not stocked at all. There've been several box sets I'd wanted to buy but couldn't get a decent copy shipped to me, nor could I find one in any of the local stores. So I don't own them.

I can't even count the number of times I've returned damaged cardboard. And I've ordered from most of the various on-line shops; they all have had stuff sent back to them at one time or another for replacement, or for return after mulitple tries (dvdplanet, digitaleyes, deepdiscountdvd, dvdempire, amazon, buy, dvdpacific, and I'm sure there's others I'm forgetting). Nowadays I usually give up after the second try and either try someone else or try again at some later time.

The rest of you all are wonderfully blessed to be in areas of the country where the post office/ups/whoever seems to be less destructive. Not the case here. The shot of Seven Samarai a few posts back is not unusual for me.

So, sorry, no break from me. Sheesh yourself. I despise cardboard.

Can barely wait to send back my copies of Seven Samarai, Six Moral Tales if it ever gets shipped, etc.

[CSM126]

Add me to the camp of Digi supporters. I like them because of all the nice art they can put on the innerspread, and I also do appreciate the space they save me. The worst damage I've experieced is slight - very slight - corner dings. And sometimes some of the slipcase interior comes off with with the security strip when I pull it out. But that's just the slip, so oh well.

It beats the crap out of those ultra-thick amarays ala Scenes from a Marriage. I'm fairly certain that I have text books that are thinner than that plastic monster.

[What A Disgrace]

I've never really had a major problem with digipaks, either...I have a little dent in the Fassbinder box, but it never bothered me.

I've had plenty of crooked, even broken double-amarays, however.

[arsonfilms]

Considering how much more wrinkled, bent plastic I've seen on those amarays, I'm amazed by the criticism of the digipaks. Sure there's some occasional wear on the corners, but for the most part the cardboard on my shelf is the best looking of anything.