The Criterion Collection

[Stoicdelon]

Originally Posted by Bn43

I dislike more than a few Criterion covers. Find so many of them pretentious for the kinds of movies they are. Masters of Cinema has the right idea, using original theatrical posters.

My small collection as an example:

Agreed.

Also, what I love about Arrow is that a lot of their films have reversible covers, one new commissioned and the other side would be the original theatrical cover. I almost always flip mine to the theatrical.

[dragon53]

Does anyone know when the original THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX is going to be released on bluray in the US?

[Stoicdelon]

Probably not mutual for a lot of people, but I heavily dislike the cover of Day for Night

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by Stoicdelon

Also, what I love about Arrow is that a lot of their films have reversible covers, one new commissioned and the other side would be the original theatrical cover.

Shout Factory does the same thing.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by dragon53

Does anyone know when the original THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX is going to be released on bluray in the US?

Since it's a Fox catalog title, I wouldn't count on it happening.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by latehong

That cover is definitely inferior to this one:

[Reddington]

I don't really have a least favourite Criterion cover, so I thought I'd post a couple that I think are among the very best.

The cover of the original DVD release of Notorious is probably my favourite of any Criterion artwork.



And a close contender would be the BD release of A Matter of Life and Death.

[BenOswald]

Here's a few Criterion releases who's cover art I loathe, but movies I love.

[Cremildo]

That Malkovich one is ghastly.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by Reddington

I don't really have a least favourite Criterion cover, so I thought I'd post a couple that I think are among the very best.

My personal favorite Criterion commission art is probably "Sweet Smell of Success".

[Show spoiler]

[Gunsnroses092789]

I really don't like these covers from my collection:



On the other hand, I really like these:

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by Gunsnroses092789

[Show spoiler]

"Ace in the Hole" features my favorite use of the leaflet. I know people tend to rag on leaflets but the newspaper layout works really well.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by BenOswald

Here's a few Criterion releases who's cover art I loathe, but movies I love.

[Show spoiler]

I rather like the cover as it reflects the main protagonist's intensity and anguish. Great film and performance by David Thewlis.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

This is one of my least favorites:

I didn’t know Orson Welles was in that movie.

[kvnbhovis]

Just my opinion but I'm not happy with very many of the original covers though I do love the one they are using for War of The Worlds. Some of the real turkeys are

[kvnbhovis]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Since it's a Fox catalog title, I wouldn't count on it happening.

I don't know. Disney might let Criterion do it. Most of the major studios seem to like Criterion and take pride in one of their movies getting the Criterion stamp of approval.

[kvnbhovis]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I didn’t know Orson Welles was in that movie.

Bwah-ha-haaa!!!! Good one!

[Scholer]

Originally Posted by ravenus

That cover is definitely inferior to this one:

Not to me, the original DVD cover gave off a more traditional vibe of intensity which goes completely against the quiet contemplative nature of the film. The new cover in that respect fits the tone of the film perfectly, and looks more aesthetically pleasing by itself too, and it also gives off the sense of mystery which the original cover conveys but now in the right understated fashion.

[Scholer]

Originally Posted by BenOswald

Here's a few Criterion releases who's cover art I loathe, but movies I love.

Originally Posted by Reddington

I don't really have a least favourite Criterion cover, so I thought I'd post a couple that I think are among the very best.

The cover of the original DVD release of Notorious is probably my favourite of any Criterion artwork.



And a close contender would be the BD release of A Matter of Life and Death.

I am not a big fan of either of these covers aesthetically, but I find them very fitting for the films themselves, so I'm happy with them.

Originally Posted by kvnbhovis

Just my opinion but I'm not happy with very many of the original covers though I do love the one they are using for War of The Worlds. Some of the real turkeys are

Agree with most of these, but I find City Lights and Shock Corridor to be fairly representative of the films. So similarly, even if I don't find the covers the most appealing, I am happy with them.

Originally Posted by Gunsnroses092789

I really don't like these covers from my collection:



On the other hand, I really like these:

I like all these covers equally, both your likes and dislikes (except City Lights, which I'm more 50/50 about). Does well to show the diversity in tastes among cineastes.

Originally Posted by Dailyan

My personal favorite Criterion commission art is probably "Sweet Smell of Success".

[Show spoiler]

Now this is the perfect scenario for me, a cover which is both appealing by itself, but also fits the films.

Generally, I find it more disturbing when the covers don't fit the films as opposed to being not great by themselves. Like Tom Jones to me actually has a great cover, but it's totally antithetical to the film itself which is completely unacceptable to me. The Lady Eve is the worst, as it's both a shitty cover and totally against the style and tone of a Sturges comedy.

[regeyer]

Maybe it's just me, but I've always gone by the notions that "it's what's inside that counts" and "don't judge a book by its cover." I really couldn't care less what the DVD/BD cover looks like. I only care what the movie looks like. I have never bought a DVD/BD because of how the cover looks. I buy them because I like the movie.

Now, with that said, I certainly can appreciate nice cover art. But 99% of the time I see only the spine of the cover, and even when I take the movie out to watch it I see the cover for 30 seconds or less.