Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

[Walter Kurtz]

I'm not against the Exotica cover (I don't typically have strong feelings about any covers), but it's so different than any other image, poster, or media cover I've seen from that film the last nearly 30 years that it didn't even register at first that it was a cover for Exotica. It's just a little weirdly too colourful.

It's a great cover that replicates the 'too colourful' title sequence where the backdrop to the title is EXOTIC. And throws in some key lounge people to boot. Thus. Perfect.

[acroyear]

Not crazy about Sound of Metal. I'm getting 70's biology textbook vibes.

[therewillbeblus]

I like it, but mostly because it's better than the film's deceptive original poster or anything else I can think of them doing with it

[Ribs]

Pink Flamingos has a slipcover.

[cdnchris]

Shaft [4K]

[yoloswegmaster]

Pink Flamingos even comes with a barf bag!

[Never Cursed]

It's really an excellent package. If you attended the first screenings of the restoration at IFC Center, they gave you a special "commemorative" barf bag too (not to mention that you'd probably walk out of there with a signed copy of the set)

[hearthesilence]

Yeah, I know someone who got their barf bag signed and was pretty excited about that. I'll revisit this someday but even though I highly enjoy much of Waters's work, I haven't gone back to see this one - it was the first Waters film I tried seeing and it was just too much to sit through at the time. Feels strange in retrospect because if anything I was very open to anything graphic and over-the-top at that age.

[therewillbeblus]

I had the same experience though I have a feeling I’ll re-evaluate this completely now that I’ve seen all his work and acclimated to Waters’ wavelength, which is so much more than the surface level stuff that deterred me originally.

[swo17]

Pink Flamingos has a slipcover.

Oh the irony of me inspecting every copy in store to find one in mint condition

[therewillbeblus]

Pink Flamingos has a slipcover.

Oh the irony of me inspecting every copy in store to find one in mint condition

That was the best (and worst, goddam OCD) thing about going in-store: Inspecting all the copies of a film, and lightly shaking them, to ensure no plastic was broken off inside, no dents were in the cover art sleeves, etc. and yes this was especially important/difficult for digipacks. However, I rarely have an issue with Amazon or site-direct these days (though there have definitely been times where Amazon would deliver and redeliver damaged products), so there's something relieving about removing that opportunity for unimportant distress even if there is a dopamine rush coexisting with it

[ryannichols7]

not getting the movie (no interest) but it was nice seeing Pink Flamingos have a straight up slipcover over a plastic case, a rarity for Criterion in the Bluray era (I can only recall Time Bandits otherwise having one, not counting the dreadful Sex Lies and Videotape one which is a digi). considering Arrow is big on these I'd like to see Criterion do more of them, especially as they stand alongside each other in both the US and UK!

[Matt]

I wouldn’t mind Criterion going the Vinegar Syndrome route and doing limited runs of slipcovers, maybe for direct orders only. I’m no longer much of a “collector,” but I’ve gone out of my way to pre-order a few of these VS limited releases because I particularly liked the slipcover (notably She Freak, which makes me laugh every time I see it).

[ryannichols7]

I wouldn’t mind Criterion going the Vinegar Syndrome route and doing limited runs of slipcovers, maybe for direct orders only. I’m no longer much of a “collector,” but I’ve gone out of my way to pre-order a few of these VS limited releases because I particularly liked the slipcover (notably She Freak, which makes me laugh every time I see it).

I'd be cool with it but given that Criterion is way bigger than Vinegar Syndrome, I can't even imagine the calamity of Criterion doing anything limited edition. one only needs to see the disaster that is the KL Studio Classics slipcover debacles to imagine what it would be like on a bigger scale

I do love O-card slipcovers though, I really do think they add a lot. my Arrow and Eureka titles that have them definitely stand out more than the ones that don't. I also wish Criterion did reversible art but then that would eliminate stuff like the Mississippi Masala and My Man Godfrey interiors (I bought both today and was pleasantly surprised by each)

[therewillbeblus]

It’s nice to have just one label where you don’t need to worry about a timeline with anything LE these days.. except random unadvertised stuff like the tarot cards in Nightmare Alley

[Computer Raheem]

Raging Bull is going to be a normal plastic case

[ryannichols7]

It’s nice to have just one label where you don’t need to worry about a timeline with anything LE these days.. except random unadvertised stuff like the tarot cards in Nightmare Alley

precisely, we're literally now down to just Criterion, since BFI is leaving out booklets and such. even Kino has their slipcovers that go quick.

after Pink Flamingos for June it appears July's releases will all have bland packaging. Okja looked more hideous at the store and I can't imagine Drive My Car or Summertime will come with anything special. very grateful for the big books on Mississippi Masala and The Funeral after purchasing them. Rouge, on the other hand, has to be one of my least favorite packages in my library. hopefully the movie is good at least..

[cdnchris]

I just got this month's titles and will post pics (along with last month's that i missed) but they are all standard cases.

[cdnchris]

June's
The Tales of Hoffmann
Farewell Amor
Rouge
Shaft [4K]
Pink Flamingos
The Worst Person in the World

July's
Summertime
The Virgin Suicides [4K]
Okja [4K]
Raging Bull [4K]
Devil in a Blue Dress [4K]
Drive My Car

[swo17]

[FrauBlucher]

I like the Cure cover. Better than MoC’s version

[domino harvey]

I like the La Llorona cover. This ends my positive remarks

[ryannichols7]

the two I care most about got really good covers - Cure and Arsenic. pretty glad the former got a subtle cover (and I didn't think the Janus poster would work as a cover) and that the latter got one that fit the film. which I'm sure some of you will see differently than I do!!!

[swo17]

I like the Cure cover. Better than MoC’s version

Agreed but it's also kind of a stick in the eye considering this is exactly the kind of high-contrast shot that UHD can handle so much better than Blu-ray!

[Kracker]

I like the Cure cover. Better than MoC’s version

but way to trigger my OCD with that non-centered title

The rest are great also including using the original poster for Lost Highway, no other complaints