Suggestion to make separate blu-ray release entries for initial Criterions

[TheDean]

Originally Posted by Cephalopod

I have the Digipack version with the slip. When Criterion first started doing blu-rays all their releases were digipacks with slipcovers, and the ISBN would be on the slipcover, the inner digipack doesn't have the tag. It was only after negative feedback that they decided to switch to the clear scanovo keepcases for their BRs. Unfortunately, both versions I believe have the same UPC number.

Here are some pics.

[Show spoiler]

So it actually was a slipcover. I had no idea. I knew they did DigiPacks, but not slipcovers.

These cases definitely call for 2 entries.

I have changed the original back to a DigiPack and made a new entry for the standard case.




I uploaded your pics to the packaging section for the DigiPak, https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Bottl...198/#Packaging

If you feel like taking some of the others you mentioned. You can upload them to their packaging sections and I'll make sure to make standard case versions of all of them.

[Scottie]

The original DigiPack + slipcover releases were:

The 400 Blows
Bottle Rocket
Chungking Express
The Last Emperor
The Last Metro
Last Year at Marienbad
The Man Who Fell to Earth
El Norte
The Third Man

It's not like the original packaging was some special limited edition type of release. If I remember correctly, Criterion received criticism for the packaging and they reissued them (with the same UPCs). They even sold replacement cases for each movie through their site for $5 so folks didn't have to repurchase them.

So I don't really see a need for two separate database entries per film. If anything, I'd suggest making a note in the title section saying "Reissued in standard Scanavo case shortly after release."

[TheDean]

Originally Posted by Scottie

The original DigiPack + slipcover releases were:

The 400 Blows
Bottle Rocket
Chungking Express
The Last Emperor
The Last Metro
Last Year at Marienbad
The Man Who Fell to Earth
El Norte
The Third Man

It's not like the original packaging was some special limited edition type of release. If I remember correctly, Criterion received criticism for the packaging and they reissued them (with the same UPCs). They even sold replacement cases for each movie through their site for $5 so folks didn't have to repurchase them.

So I don't really see a need for two separate database entries per film. If anything, I'd suggest making a note in the title section saying "Reissued in standard Scanavo case shortly after release."

I can understand that but.

If I owned this



I wouldn't want my collection to reflect that I owned this



and vice versa.


I don't see why there wouldn't be a need for two separate entries. I bet several people feel the same. Especially if your are looking at your collection in spine view.

If you only own the original version and looked at you collection in spine view. You would see the Scanavo case and think, "that is not what I own". I don't have the slipcover digiapak so I can't upload that spine. So I just cropped off the case so it more closely represents that version. If you happen to own both. Your collection can reflect that.


Doesn't matter if Criterion realized they made a mistake. A DigiPak exists and the database should reflect that.

[Cephalopod]

Originally Posted by Scottie

The original DigiPack + slipcover releases were:

The 400 Blows
Bottle Rocket
Chungking Express
The Last Emperor
The Last Metro
Last Year at Marienbad
The Man Who Fell to Earth
El Norte
The Third Man

I think that's all of them. I believe some retail outlets still sell the Digipack of The Last Metro if you order online because that release just never sold that many copies to begin with. I'm unsure as to whether you'd get a scanovo case if you ordered directly off of Criterion's site now.

Originally Posted by Scottie

If I remember correctly, Criterion received criticism for the packaging and they reissued them (with the same UPCs). They even sold replacement cases for each movie through their site for $5 so folks didn't have to repurchase them.

Yeah, this is right. I don't recall the replacement cases though, because I didn't start collecting Criterions at that point, I started somewhat later.

Originally Posted by TheDean

If you only own the original version and looked at you collection in spine view. You would see the Scanavo case and think, "that is not what I own". I don't have the slipcover digiapak so I can't upload that spine. So I just cropped off the case so it more closely represents that version. If you happen to own both. Your collection can reflect that.


Doesn't matter if Criterion realized they made a mistake. A DigiPak exists and the database should reflect that.

Thanks!

Here's a photo of the spine with other Criterion blu-ray keepcases, just crop out the others to update the spine list.



Kinda cool that it's slimmer than the keepcase, but slightly lengthier and taller.

I unfortunately don't own the other early BR digipacks with slips, and like I said, the barcode with the ISBN number was only printed on the slip, and not on the inner digipack, but you can check criterionforum to see whether you can find other packaging photos of the other early releases.

[TheDean]

Originally Posted by Cephalopod

I think that's all of them. I believe some retail outlets still sell the Digipack of The Last Metro if you order online because that release just never sold that many copies to begin with. I'm unsure as to whether you'd get a scanovo case if you ordered directly off of Criterion's site now.



Yeah, this is right. I don't recall the replacement cases though, because I didn't start collecting Criterions at that point, I started somewhat later.



Thanks!

Here's a photo of the spine with other Criterion blu-ray keepcases, just crop out the others to update the spine list.



Kinda cool that it's slimmer than the keepcase, but slightly lengthier and taller.

I unfortunately don't own the other early BR digipacks with slips, and like I said, the barcode with the ISBN number was only printed on the slip, and not on the inner digipack, but you can check criterionforum to see whether you can find other packaging photos of the other early releases.

Thanks!


The site makes all images the same height. But it is slimmer.

Also able to use your photo for other spines.

Originally Posted by jkoffman

If you're doing it here with Criterion, what's the reason we can no longer do this for the Vinegar Syndrome releases? We have years of including both the exclusive and the standard as separate releases, and now they've just stopped allowing it. Exclusives often include more than just a slipcover, such as a box or other unique packaging, a large book, etc.

I am not very familiar with Vinegar Syndrome. But looking at these from a quick search. It seems like the only difference with Amityville is the release date. And Battle for the Lost Planet is that if you purchased from Vinegar Syndrome you got a slipcover. If that is the case a not should be good enough. But if you get a box or other unique packaging, a book, etc. That should have a separate entry. Do you have any examples of such things?

Originally Posted by Cephalopod

Idk about that, if the release is a slipcase with a booklet, poster or artcards I could see it being a separate release.

Also, as an aside, Oscilloscope always has their limited edition digipacks and their standard release blu-rays. They do spine numbers, and the digipacks are noticeably thicker, wider and taller than the regular blu-rays, although the stuff inside rarely differs (it occasionally comes with a filmmaker's message or collectible stickers). It'd be cool to separate those too.

That is good to know. I remember one time when looking at image submissions. This Oscilloscope release was very confusing.

[jkoffman]

Originally Posted by TheDean

I am not very familiar with Vinegar Syndrome. But looking at these from a quick search. It seems like the only difference with Amityville is the release date. And Battle for the Lost Planet is that if you purchased from Vinegar Syndrome you got a slipcover. If that is the case a not should be good enough. But if you get a box or other unique packaging, a book, etc. That should have a separate entry. Do you have any examples of such things?

The majority of VS exclusives are only a slipcover, but not all. Plus they're adding about a dozen more partner label releases each month, so I'll circle back when I find something I can verify.

[TheHighRoller]

Originally Posted by TheDean

I am not very familiar with Vinegar Syndrome. But looking at these from a quick search. It seems like the only difference with Amityville is the release date. And Battle for the Lost Planet is that if you purchased from Vinegar Syndrome you got a slipcover. If that is the case a not should be good enough. But if you get a box or other unique packaging, a book, etc. That should have a separate entry. Do you have any examples of such things?

I can only speak for Vinegar Syndrome when they were partnered with Altered Innocence. I can confirm on two fronts that the slipcovered editions were considered exclusive to VS and were immediately destroyed after they parted ways if any stock remained. I have been making separate entries for the AI films with slipcovers (or standard entries if the main entry detailed a slipcover). Some small changes have already taken effect but then others have yet to materialize (mostly the separate listings). I have to edit a small detail that is incorrect (the standard editions being exclusive, as they now aren't- but most are OOP, so not sure what to do).


I know that Vinegar Syndrome still does slipcovered editions for their other partner labels, but I'll leave that to someone who has access to the slipcovers for scanning.


EDIT: Apparently the decision has something to do with Amazon linking and having double entries messes with that. Not sure if its tied to the referral system this site uses for revenue or what, but ok.

[jkoffman]

Originally Posted by TheDean

I have changed the original back to a DigiPack and made a new entry for the standard case.

If you're doing it here with Criterion, what's the reason we can no longer do this for the Vinegar Syndrome releases? We have years of including both the exclusive and the standard as separate releases, and now they've just stopped allowing it. Exclusives often include more than just a slipcover, such as a box or other unique packaging, a large book, etc.

[Cephalopod]

Originally Posted by jkoffman

If you're doing it here with Criterion, what's the reason we can no longer do this for the Vinegar Syndrome releases? We have years of including both the exclusive and the standard as separate releases, and now they've just stopped allowing it. Exclusives often include more than just a slipcover, such as a box or other unique packaging, a large book, etc.

Idk about that, if the release is a slipcase with a booklet, poster or artcards I could see it being a separate release.

Also, as an aside, Oscilloscope always has their limited edition digipacks and their standard release blu-rays. They do spine numbers, and the digipacks are noticeably thicker, wider and taller than the regular blu-rays, although the stuff inside rarely differs (it occasionally comes with a filmmaker's message or collectible stickers). It'd be cool to separate those too.

[TheHighRoller]

Originally Posted by jkoffman

If you're doing it here with Criterion, what's the reason we can no longer do this for the Vinegar Syndrome releases? We have years of including both the exclusive and the standard as separate releases, and now they've just stopped allowing it. Exclusives often include more than just a slipcover, such as a box or other unique packaging, a large book, etc.

I went ahead and made listings for the slipcover versions (or standard editions if missing).

Vinegar Syndrome considered both editions separate on their website when you were adding to cart/checking out. Meaning you didn't get a slipcover just because you bought the first pressings of a movie. You had to choose the standard or the limited edition slipcover. In a way, this makes it a retailer exclusive the same way Best Buy and Target used to release exclusive slipcovers over the standard edition of the movie.

That distinction, along with the fact that the slipcover editions are literally called "limited edition" is enough for me in my opinion to distinguish them between the standard and slipcovered editions.

Also, I spoke with the people behind Vinegar Syndrome and Anus Films/Altered Innocence and they confirmed that the slipcovered copies are exclusive to Vinegar Syndrome. Any unsold copies before they pulled AI films from VS were "destroyed". MVD has since taken over AI's releases, and while some (not all) of the Altered Innocence films are still sold through various retailers, none- not even MVD's store copies- come with the slipcovers even if a few remained.

This again, to me, is further reason why the slipcovered editions should be considered separate.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

This again, to me, is further reason why the slipcovered editions should be considered separate.

I have explained via PM why. Please do not create multiple entries.

The correct way to list Vinegar and partner label releases is this: one entry/profile, with "Slipcover in Original Pressing". There are multiple reasons for this, but the decision was made by the owners of the site.

There are a few split listings, from before the decision was made a few years ago, but they will be taken care of.