Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol.4

[cdnchris]

“You have to tailor to your tastes and what you think the market will like. Somebody’s always going to complain about something for sure. There’s a whole list on the Criterion forum about the cover art for the packages, and I swear to God that 90 per cent of the time, people hate what we did.”

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2010/ ... z0iyBX6pbR" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Cinephrenic]

It's true, we do. But we still love the films Criterion and the work you do on them.

[Jeff]

To be fair, it's actually closer to 85%.

[mfunk9786]

So I've got the following releases on my shelf in spine number order: Repulsion BD, Wings of Desire BD, Z DVD, Revanche BD, Hunger BD, and Bigger Than Life BD. Why so I mention this? Because it's this quantity of BD cases in a row with a DVD case shoved in-between that's making it worth mentioning how damn cute and fantastic the Criterion Blu-Ray keepcases are. They really outdid themselves with these, instead of standing out, they're starting to fit right in with the rest of the shelf and make perfect sense.

[aox]

So I've got the following releases on my shelf in spine number order: Repulsion BD, Wings of Desire BD, Z DVD, Revanche BD, Hunger BD, and Bigger Than Life BD. Why so I mention this? Because it's this quantity of BD cases in a row with a DVD case shoved in-between that's making it worth mentioning how damn cute and fantastic the Criterion Blu-Ray keepcases are. They really outdid themselves with these, instead of standing out, they're starting to fit right in with the rest of the shelf and make perfect sense.

Yes! I wish they would do the occasional digipak for 'special' releases, but I love the consistent Blu cases they have going. Best in the business. I would like to see them maybe do something special with the upcoming The Seven Samurai blu release very similar to the SD reissue. But, not the end of the world if they don't. The SD box is just pretty sweet.

[Jun-Dai]

I'm just grateful that CC is sensible enough to eschew any form of the Blu-ray bar. I'm guessing they've had a few more Blu-ray returns over it than other companies, but that blue bar is just an eyesore. Has any other company followed in their footsteps?

[kaujot]

It bums me out that MoC blus have the standard blu-ray case.

[Peacock]

Personally I prefer the blue bar cases, makes them look separate from dvds.

[kaujot]

The smaller size of the Criterion cases helps me separate them.

[aox]

I'm just grateful that CC is sensible enough to eschew any form of the Blu-ray bar. I'm guessing they've had a few more Blu-ray returns over it than other companies, but that blue bar is just an eyesore. Has any other company followed in their footsteps?

Yeah, they are hideous. I was hoping that would go away.

[bigP]

Jun-Dai, I believe - though I don't have one at hand - that the Studio Canal line [through Optimum Releasing] have done away with the Blu-Ray banner, though they have discarded the entire packaging format as a whole.

[mfunk9786]

I would like standard Blu-Ray cases more if they weren't so damn fragile. The cases that Sony/Disney use are the only ones I haven't opened from the plastic to find them cracked or broken at one time or another.

[domino harvey]

Told you they read the board

True story: I once got a PM from a cover designer (who will remain unnamed) who sent me a six paragraph missive imploring me to better explain my thoughts on his cover. Oh, and this was for a cover I generally liked except for one particular aspect

[swo17]

I once got a PM from one who thanked me for complimenting his cover so highly.

[Brian C]

Wow, I'm going to start quote-whoring for Criterion covers.

[Arrow]

I know if I was a cover artist I would be reading the forums in hopes of satisfying my narcissism with posts of praise. I probably wouldn't find much here though...(this is of course not to suggest that's the reason they read the forums, just why I would.)

[colinr0380]

To be fair, it's actually closer to 85%.

Although closer to 99% on that pink and purple, cut out drawing, dirt speckled original Viridiana cover (wasn't domino the only dissenting voice on that one?)

[mfunk9786]

I would have been another had I posted here at the time. I love the pink Viridiana cover and still have no clue why everyone got so worked up about it.

[domino harvey]

(wasn't domino the only dissenting voice on that one?)

I'm the original Armond White!

[knives]

I would have been another had I posted here at the time. I love the pink Viridiana cover and still have no clue why everyone got so worked up about it.

Ditto. The texture's a bit off, but that's true with most of the old covers, but otherwise I prefer it a bit over the present one, actually.

[Brian C]

Huh ... I had heard a lot about the pink Viridiana cover since I came across this forum, but hadn't actually seen it until just now. I don't really like it, but I have to say, I expected far worse.

[Jun-Dai]

Jun-Dai, I believe - though I don't have one at hand - that the Studio Canal line [through Optimum Releasing] have done away with the Blu-Ray banner, though they have discarded the entire packaging format as a whole.

Hmm. I wonder if the Blu-ray line in the Amazon picture is added for clarification, or if it's in the packaging (maybe just for US?). Different from the standard Blu-ray packaging, but not really an improvement.
http://www.amazon.com/Ladykillers-Studi ... 872&sr=8-2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ccfixx]

Jun-Dai, I believe - though I don't have one at hand - that the Studio Canal line [through Optimum Releasing] have done away with the Blu-Ray banner, though they have discarded the entire packaging format as a whole.

Hmm. I wonder if the Blu-ray line in the Amazon picture is added for clarification, or if it's in the packaging (maybe just for US?). Different from the standard Blu-ray packaging, but not really an improvement.
http://www.amazon.com/Ladykillers-Studi ... 872&sr=8-2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For the U.S. Lionsgate Studio Canal blu-rays there is a slipcover over the case. This is the picture shown for Amazon's placeholders. The slipcovers have the blue banner going across the top but the covers in the case do not.

CC

[denti alligator]

Told you they read the board

In that case we really ought to have polls for each cover. It's a small cross section of the board that comments on the covers, and it's usually those with negative comments who are most vocal.

I will speak up and say that I really like the Red Desert cover, as well as the Close-Up cover. The Red Desert cover evokes the feel of the first part of the film.

[Anhedionisiac]

I like all of the covers as well, including the Red Desert one. I'd rather the Night Train to Munich didn't have the swastika on it but it's quite wonderful anyways.
Truth be told, I usually like their covers so it'd probably be better I only speak out when I don't like one. The only ones I haven't liked recently are the Bigger than Life and Downhill Racer covers. Other than those, squeaky clean.