Criterion Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol.2

[souvenir]

I was just wondering if any other releases besides Armageddon came in both single and double alpha cases? Life Aquatic is in a slipcase so nothing can be done about that but has anyone seen Down by Law or Tanner '88 in a double alpha?
Yes, I am very anal about my collection and hate two discs in a single alpha case.

I think the Beastie Boys Video Anthology has used both since I've seen the double alpha in stores but mine, that I ordered from cd-wow, is a single case.

[oldsheperd]

Maybe the Harakiri cover will have like a little opening where the red part is, kind of like a tear, and you can like stick your finger or toy samurai swords or what ever else you like in there.

[GringoTex]

[In Heaven]

Muuuch better.

[chaddoli]

I still don't like it. It seems very lazy. I really hope it's just a filler cover, but because it took so long to be revealed, that seems doubtful.

[jorencain]

I really like this one. I've never seen the movie, but this cover definitely intrigues me and makes me want to check it out. That's not the case with Masculin féminin, unfortunately. Oh well, you can't please all the people all of the time.

[Hrossa]

That Naked cover is amazing. Makes me want to plunk down the cash for it right now. Criterion continues their spate of design schizophrenia. On one hand we have the Naked cover and on the other we have Masculin Feminin.

[viridiana]

That Naked cover is a really good, expectations-exceeding cover. I can't wait to have it in my friggin' hands.

[Narshty]

Wages is quite nice, but, gosh, the rest are shit. Shame.

What an incredibly undynamic bunch of stills they've picked for the samurai set. Samurai Spy looks like some sort of KKK-wannabe swinging his keys. Sword of the Beast man looks annoyed at having his picture taken and Kill! chap has a definite pout coming on.

[cdnchris]

Oh baby! Now I like all of those. If I didn't want to pick up Le Samourai already I would pick it up anyways on the basis of the cover.

[cafeman]

I though it was Masaki Kobayashi.

I love these covers, though I think they coudl`ve done a better cover for Le Samourai. I thgought that the french DVD cover with the original poster was fantastic.

[Cinephrenic]

gosh, the rest are shit. Shame.

Are you kiddin. These are great. Maybe Le Samourai could have been better.

[Narshty]

Look at Samurai Spy. Do either of the words in the title spring to mind?

[Cinephrenic]

Well Samurai Spy and Kill! is not a aesthetic title for a film, but they put it out nicely. Well talk about geekiness.

[Alonzo the Armless]

The Samurai covers are all good, especially Samurai Spy. Very stylish and eye catching.

Wages Of Fear is very disappointing and dull. It doesn't look like a lot of thought went behind the concept or the design.

[flambeur]

I was hoping for a bird in a cage cover for Le Samourai, but oh well.

Good job CC.

cheers

[bunuelian]

The Kill! and Spy covers made me laugh. After seeing the covers, I'll definitely be buying this set. I think they are very appropriate, even if they aren't necessarily serious enough for "serious cinema," whatever that is . . .

The Wages cover is the weakest of the lot. The original cover is one of the most striking in the collection. A big step backwards.[/i]

[Brian Oblivious]

The Sword of the Beast font is too similar to the Youth of the Beast font. Otherwise, nice.

[Hrossa]

The Sword of the Beast font is too similar to the Youth of the Beast font. Otherwise, nice.

How can something be too similar to a good thing. I think all of the new covers are great. That's the first time in a while that I've thought so. Criterion has been picking my brain and taken my mental advice concerning catchy sans serif fonts and creativity with pastel colors in the backgrounds.

[Martha]

Despite the total lack of connection to the film's mood or any of its iconic images, I dig the Samourai cover, as well as the pulpy samurai ones. Though since I've not seen any of the latter, I may not be well-positioned to judge.

[daniel p]

Can't decide which cover I like better for Wages of Fear, looking at them both together. I just feel the older image is more iconic.

[djali999]

Wages of Fear is pretty compositionally dull, although the placement of the text is eye catching. What a boring cover. Le Samourai is fun though, and I like the placement of the X. Although I was at first rather displeased with those swordplay covers, they're starting to grow on me, regardless of the fact that Samurai Rebellion, the big title for me, is the ugliest of the bunch. Those bright primary colors and fun cascading letters are going to win over many a casual shopper, especially "Kill!". They look rather like HVE covers, which is both good and bad.

I probably won't be able to afford anything but Samurai Rebellion from the set on that week (week before that is Val Lewton and week after that is Batman), but perhaps some reviews could change my mind... well done Criterion.

[Doctor Sunshine]

I just feel the older image is more iconic.

But the composition's much better on the new one and it's more dynamic. Plus the old one is too "Star Warsey".

[Cinephrenic]

What a great still they used.

[daniel p]

Yeah, I agree that it's (new cover) an incredible still, and they used a better font, but as far as coverart goes, I still prefer the image used on the original cover.

I have to say though, I actually really like all of these October covers.

Also, here's the small image for the Samurai box: