The Criterion Collection

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Got Scanners and Repo Man in the mail today (along with Brazil) and I think you guys who complain about the digipacks are nuts! Scanners and Repo Man are really cool to look at compared to Brazil.

Just wait until they start falling apart, get crushed, or you have to move. Paper packaging is the worst.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Just wait until they start falling apart, get crushed, or you have to move. Paper packaging is the worst.

Mine are all perfect condition and I handle them daily

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Where were all you digipak lovers when I needed help defending them lol

And yes - digipaks all together on separate shelf looks incredible!

We were leaving you hanging in the wind -- because it was fun.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Mine are all perfect condition and I handle them daily

Wow, you handle every one of your paper Criterion cases every single day? You must only own a few because that would be impossible. :roll eyes:

Regardless, since I own most of the collection, many have arrived bent, or start coming apart at the seams the more you take out the digipack. It happens. It's paper. It will NEVER stay pristine. It fades, wears down, gets water damage, etc, A plastic case, though, most likely will, because its protected. Look at the WarnerDVD snap cases. Edges wear off, they tear, etc. Especially the ones I've had for 15 years.

The problem with Criterion's packaging is that its flimsy. Super thin cardboard. Luckily, it's only on a few releases here and there.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Wow, you handle every one of your paper Criterion cases every single day? You must only own a few because that would be impossible. :roll eyes:

Regardless, since I own most of the collection, many have arrived bent, or start coming apart at the seams the more you take out the digipack. It happens. It's paper. It will NEVER stay pristine. It fades, wears down, gets water damage, etc, A plastic case, though, most likely will, because its protected. Look at the WarnerDVD snap cases. Edges wear off, they tear, etc. Especially the ones I've had for 15 years.

The problem with Criterion's packaging is that its flimsy. Super thin cardboard. Luckily, it's only on a few releases here and there.

Honestly, I've never had a problem. I mean, let me re-phrase: I've never had a problem, given that I'm not completely OCD and I take care of my discs.

A lot of this sounds like the people who complain about their iPhone screens cracking 3 or 4 times. I mean, the simple answer is, "Don't drop the damn thing, and it won't crack."

Now, I won't argue that something won't remain pristine. That's life. But I haven't had problems yet with Digipaks.

My "Criterion Covers" book, OTOH, has a slightly bent corner that wasn't that way when I got it. And I for the life of me can't remember how it happened.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Regardless, since I own most of the collection, many have arrived bent, or start coming apart at the seams the more you take out the digipack. It happens. It's paper. It will NEVER stay pristine. It fades, wears down, gets water damage, etc, A plastic case, though, most likely will, because its protected. Look at the WarnerDVD snap cases. Edges wear off, they tear, etc. Especially the ones I've had for 15 years.

It depends on how well you handle them. I have paperback books that were published in the 60s that are still in such good condition, they look like they came off the press yesterday.

Plastic cases don't stay pristine. The plastic gets scuffed and scratched when they slide against the cases next to them as you pull them off the shelf. It's just not as noticeable.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Wow, you handle every one of your paper Criterion cases every single day? You must only own a few because that would be impossible. :roll eyes:

Regardless, since I own most of the collection, many have arrived bent, or start coming apart at the seams the more you take out the digipack. It happens. It's paper. It will NEVER stay pristine. It fades, wears down, gets water damage, etc, A plastic case, though, most likely will, because its protected. Look at the WarnerDVD snap cases. Edges wear off, they tear, etc. Especially the ones I've had for 15 years.

The problem with Criterion's packaging is that its flimsy. Super thin cardboard. Luckily, it's only on a few releases here and there.

The digipack which houses my prized copy of Last Year at Marienbad, which I just recently obtained, is a horrible mess. The plastic tray was misaligned when it was glued down to the cardboard, and the whole thing was slightly crushed on the bottom when it was shipped. If it weren't OOP and a fantastic bargain, I wouldn't keep it. As it is, I've put the disc and the booklet in a scanovo plastic case and am trying to create a decent-looking insert for it ... unfortunately, graphic design is not my forte.

Anyway, when I went looking for a copy of The Third Man, I was very careful to look for one that was housed in the plastic case and not the digipack. Thankfully, I found one, and am much, much happier.

To each his (or her) own, of course ... but personally, I loathe, despise, and vehemently repudiate (how's that for an adamant statement of rejection!) digipacks and digibooks.

[joie]

Paper packaging is biodegradable.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Just wait until they start falling apart, get crushed, or you have to move. Paper packaging is the worst.

I'm not really anal at all about a frayed corner here and there, personally. Maybe that's the difference between digipack lovers and the opposite.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Wow, you handle every one of your paper Criterion cases every single day? You must only own a few because that would be impossible. :roll eyes:

Regardless, since I own most of the collection, many have arrived bent, or start coming apart at the seams the more you take out the digipack. It happens. It's paper. It will NEVER stay pristine. It fades, wears down, gets water damage, etc, A plastic case, though, most likely will, because its protected. Look at the WarnerDVD snap cases. Edges wear off, they tear, etc. Especially the ones I've had for 15 years.

The problem with Criterion's packaging is that its flimsy. Super thin cardboard. Luckily, it's only on a few releases here and there.

Yes I do, I like looking at the artwork and getting the booklets out to read, I also like taking the discs out to watch the films or supplements. I even like putting some discs in just to watch the menu titles, especially Breaking The Waves.

Does that make me weird? Fine, I don't care - I spent a lot of money on these and I enjoy spending time going through them!

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Yes I do, I like looking at the artwork and getting the booklets out to read, I also like taking the discs out to watch the films or supplements. I even like putting some discs in just to watch the menu titles, especially Breaking The Waves.

Does that make me weird? Fine, I don't care - I spent a lot of money on these and I enjoy spending time going through them!

Well, that much handling will eventually wear them down. Just warning ya.

Originally Posted by jayembee

It depends on how well you handle them. I have paperback books that were published in the 60s that are still in such good condition, they look like they came off the press yesterday.

Plastic cases don't stay pristine. The plastic gets scuffed and scratched when they slide against the cases next to them as you pull them off the shelf. It's just not as noticeable.

I'm as anal as anyone about my collection, but try moving several times with 2000blu-rays. The paper ones always end up with damage. Plastic does not.

Thats fine if some people like them, but the fact is, they just aren't as durable. Paper vs plastic, and plastic is stronger. Any look at the spines and covers of old albums will tell you all you need to know.

Not to mention, if a plastic case does crack, you can easily replace it. Can't replace paper packaging.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Influenced by our talk here, I will be watching soon Stella (1955) and the Red lanterns (1968), which are considered classic here and I even knew them by name from my childhood!
I'll get back to you.
I've also seen Never on Sunday. It was quite good too..
Melina Merkouri was the best attribute of that movie (she was Oscar nominated for it for best actress in leading role, which i consider a feat for a foreign film. Especially Greek!)

edit: Oh, another film I really liked was Brides by Pantelis Voulgaris, executive produced by Scorsese.
Maybe something like this is your cup of tea..
and another one that I liked more aesthetically (it reminded me a bit of Mallick) is Mavro livadi (Black Field)

Trailers:

[Show spoiler]Brides / ��φες 2004 - YouTube


Μα��ο Λιβάδι trailer - YouTube

I respect your opinions because I just noticed you live in Athens, Greece. You definitely re-inspired me now to check out Mavro Livadi, as this film looks glorious. I cannot believe there is not a single DVD or Blu-ray release of this Greek film though. What a shame. It looks very mysterious and I'm particularly intrigued by 17th century culture. The trailer for Brides was good too. I think you read my mind.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Well, that much handling will eventually wear them down. Just warning ya.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Wow, you handle every one of your paper Criterion cases every single day? You must only own a few because that would be impossible. :roll eyes:

Regardless, since I own most of the collection, many have arrived bent, or start coming apart at the seams the more you take out the digipack. It happens. It's paper. It will NEVER stay pristine. It fades, wears down, gets water damage, etc, A plastic case, though, most likely will, because its protected. Look at the WarnerDVD snap cases. Edges wear off, they tear, etc. Especially the ones I've had for 15 years.

The problem with Criterion's packaging is that its flimsy. Super thin cardboard. Luckily, it's only on a few releases here and there.

I gotta add to this that of all the flimsy, thin cardboard releases from Criterion, the BBS: America lost and found box set has to take the cake for fragility. That is the one release I have from Criterion that I need to wear latex gloves when handling so I don't accidentally leave an imprint on the paper, nor scratch the surface with my soft skin. Man, now that is one sensitive piece of packaging.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Originally Posted by jw007

I gotta add to this that of all the flimsy, thin cardboard releases from Criterion, the BBS: America lost and found box set has to take the cake for fragility. That is the one release I have from Criterion that I need to wear latex gloves when handling so I don't accidentally leave an imprint on the paper, nor scratch the surface with my soft skin. Man, now that is one sensitive piece of packaging.

That's funny. Mine actually tore open at the top after only handling it a few times. I'm careful by the way. I wonder why Criterion doesn't use hard cardboard outer slip cases. Eureka definitely make better quality packages.

[I KEEL YOU]

Digipaks are really classy, I love them!! But, as someone already mentioned, they should be on the shelf by themselves, then they really look nice. There are some issues with them though, such as the fear of them getting beat up during the shipping process, which they sometimes unfortunately do. And the cardboard Criterion uses on their digipaks is way too soft. It needs to be a lot sturdier, at least the outer box.

For me, living in Europe, it's been a complete gamble when ordering them, with various issues coming up:

My BBS set came absolutely pristine, which I am very happy about. As did my copies of Seven Samurai, Battle of Algiers and Slacker.

Repo Man had slightly rounded corners. The cardboard on the Persona digipak was in great shape, but the plastic disc holder had a crack in it. In the case of Il Sorpasso, one of the DVD discs were loose, which created a scratch on the disc.

However, Carlos and Dazed and Confused were COMPLETELY banged up with corners rounder than the Avogardo Project silicon sphere.

A little tip for those who are bothered by rounded corners: The Criterion digipaks are easy to unfold, they don't have those cuts in the corners other companies use on their horizontal cardboard slip cases. Which means that you can repair them to a certain degree. If you unfold them, make them flat, and then use a rounded object to even out the corners, you can make them look a lot better. I did that for my Carlos and Dazed and Confused copies and while they don't look like they're in mint condition, they look a lot better than they did when I first received them. For example, I used this rounded paper holder to apply pressure and even out the corners after I unfolded them:



I hope that Mulholland Drive release will be a digipak. Would look great next to Criterion Eraserhead digipak and the Twin Peaks digipak set, as well as many other digipaks/books from Lynch movies available around the world. Maybe it was Lynch's wish that the Eraserhead director approved edition be a digipak:



It wouldn't surprise me that it was his wish that the Twin Peaks set be a digipak too, especially because early promotion photos showed it to be an amaray set:

[Yami]

In an article in The Indian Express, Criterion's Lee Kline lets slip:

We will soon work on Ray’s Devi. We are also trying to get some Guru Dutt as well as classic Bollywood titles. But as proven with The Apu Trilogy, these things can take a while to come through

Fantastic news to say the least.

[ravenus]

^Very interesting to know. Guru Dutt will be a slightly harder sell to non-Indian viewers than Ray because his films are more steeped in traditional Bollywood culture, but it would be great if we could see a good release of Pyaasa (The Thirsty One) or Kaagaz ke Phool (Paper Flowers). The latter was India's first Cinemascope film and featured fantastic cinematography from Guru Dutt's regular man VK Murthy.

On an aside, check out this short poem actor James Mason wrote about Max Ophuls' love for tracking, dolly and crane shots

A shot that does not call for tracks
Is agony for poor old Max,
Who, separated from his dolly,
Is wrapped in deepest melancholy.
Once, when they took away his crane,
I thought he'd never smile again.

[Polaroid]

If I damage my digipaks I just replace. Easy.

Both had to yet though!

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

If I damage my digipaks I just replace. Easy.

I still have not started watching the films in my box set of The Essential Jacques Demy, but I know that I'm going to have to be extremely careful when I do so. That box set is the most fragile Criterion package that I've seen to date.