Criterion Packaging: Clear case vs Digipak

[Feiereisel]

I suppose Criterion could also do a clear case/slip box type thing for Picnic at Hanging Rock, but there's little precedent for that--the only two I can think of are Videodrome, which uses it as a clever gimmick and Che, which maybe (??) was one of Criterion's first two-disc blu-ray releases.

And for folks holding off on Ace in the Hole because of packaging...to each his or her own--it's your cash, etc--but you are missing out on one hell of a good time.

[Monterey Jack]

I want clear cases, because anything bigger usually won't fit on my shelves with my regular Blus and have to be put in another section.

[James Luckard]

Well, I never expected this:

http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/3195-re-format

No more dual-format releases, based on numerous complaints.

I hope they make replacement plastic cases available for the 9 months' worth of releases in huge dual-format cardboard cases. They've always been responsive to their customers, so I'm sure they will.

[MifuneFan]

If the data suggests it wasn't working out, then I guess they had to do it. . One of the bigger complaints about the dual format was the bigger Digipak packaging for 3-disc releases. Something they just just solved with the 3-disc case (with our help ). I don't think many complained about having a DVD copy, it's not like it really hurt anything to have it (everything else being equal). BD/DVD combos are very common. I think it's more likely that they were losing DVD customers who either weren't willing to pay extra to get their DVD and/or didn't want their movie in BD packaging.

I did wonder about this a few months ago, as I started seeing less and less dual formats being announced..

Back in April I wrote:

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

It seems like they're putting out more and more DVD only editions again. Makes me wonder if the Dual Format thing is hurting DVD sales enough for them to still cater to that demographic with standalone releases.

Since the advent of the Dual Format edition, here are the releases that have also received a separate DVD release:


Insomnia
Pickpocket
Scanners
Picnic at Hanging Rock
A Hard Day's Night
Red River
Judex
Like Someone In Love
Riot in Cell Block 11
Il Sorpasso
Master of the House
A Brief History of Time
The Great Beauty

There are possibly more, but you get the idea. It's quite a lot, especially in the last 2 or so months.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

Well, I never expected this:

http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/3195-re-format

No more dual-format releases, based on numerous complaints.

I hope they make replacement plastic cases available for the 9 months' worth of releases in huge dual-format cardboard cases. They've always been responsive to their customers, so I'm sure they will.

Good!!! The whole concept of combo packs and dual format is incredibly dumb. I understand there might have been some financial benefit to only having 1 SKU to maintain inventory of, however I have to think that any savings there was at least partially offset by some of the different packaging options they were choosing for those editions (and those costs are "up-front" costs). Nevermind how worn out those types of packaging get when sitting on a store shelf for 12-24+ months.

It's baffling to me that so many people still haven't upgraded to blu-ray. With blu-ray players being so incredibly cheap, we are almost at the point where it's pointless to even manufacture or sell standalone DVD players.

That being said, once they corrected the packaging, I was more neutral about it. My main issue was the combo pack packaging took up too much space.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by AgentOrange

Nevermind how worn out those types of packaging get when sitting on a store shelf for 12-24+ months.

That is SUCH a big part of it for me. Unless you get a Criterion in a cardboard case the MOMENT it comes out, you'll probably get something banged to hell. I got the Criterion Antoine Doinel DVD set as a gift last year. As it's a very old set, it had clearly been in a warehouse for a while, and was all smashed. I returned it to Amazon and the replacement was just as bad. This would NEVER have happened with a plastic case. (I know Doinel was a boxset, not a Digipak, but it's one of the few very old Criterions in a cardboard case that can be used to gauge how well they'll age.) So glad to see the digipaks laid to rest. Good riddance to them.

Originally Posted by AgentOrange

It's baffling to me that so many people still haven't upgraded to blu-ray. With blu-ray players being so incredibly cheap, we are almost at the point where it's pointless to even manufacture or sell standalone DVD players.

This too!! I get that mass market shoppers at Walmart or Best Buy buying the latest blockbuster might not have made the transition to BD, but presumably Criterion customers are serious film buffs. I can't imagine knowing a great classic film is available in a superior version and not having it, and the players are dirt cheap now. I get that libraries sometimes still want DVD, but then Criterion is still supporting them, so all seems resolved for the best.

[slainery]

I don't why people always complain about dvd & digital copies, it's not like the prices were any lower without them.

Five years from now, are people gonna complain about those not upgrading to 4K?

[BobbyMcGee]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

Well, I never expected this:

http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/3195-re-format

No more dual-format releases, based on numerous complaints.

I hope they make replacement plastic cases available for the 9 months' worth of releases in huge dual-format cardboard cases. They've always been responsive to their customers, so I'm sure they will.

So are we to infer from this announcement that Criterion will cease using cardboard packaging? Personally, I sure hope so.

Also, I did not mind the extra DVDs with my Blu-ray purchase as long as the price stayed the same, it was their cardboard packaging that was bothering me. It's just too flimsy.

If it's the case that Criterion will cease using cardboard packaging, hopefully some form of replacement program will be put into effect to replace all of the previously released titles in cardboard packaging.

[WeepingWall]

Does anyone know where you can buy the 3-disc scanova criterion cases? I've seen the single, and double disc cases, but not three (like used with All That Heaven Allows, L'eclisse)

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by WeepingWall

Does anyone know where you can buy the 3-disc scanova criterion cases? I've seen the single, and double disc cases, but not three (like used with All That Heaven Allows, L'eclisse)

I don't think they're for sale anywhere. It might be best to contact Casetopia to request them to sell them, or perhaps reach out to Scanavo directly. Maybe even Criterion themselves. We know they have them, and now due to the end of the dual format, they'll rarely get used (which is unfortunate).

[WeepingWall]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I don't think they're for sale anywhere. It might be best to contact Casetopia to request them to sell them, or perhaps reach out to Scanavo directly. Maybe even Criterion themselves. We know they have them, and now due to the end of the dual format, they'll rarely get used (which is unfortunate).

Thanks. I had written to Casetopia, and they said "Right now Criterion only offers a single and double disc case. There is supposed to be a triple Criterion sometime in the near future. We will have those once they are made
available." So they are a little outdated. Maybe they will get them eventually? I'll reach out to Scanavo/Criterion. Criterion might not have any need for them.

[salad]

I probably have most of these that I'm interested in but is anyone maintaining a list of all Criterion titles that were dual format digipaks?

[Ooze33]

Does anyone know the size difference exactly between the Criterion 3-disc case and the 1/2-disc cases? I know the 1 and 2 ones are 14mm.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by Ooze33

Does anyone know the size difference exactly between the Criterion 3-disc case and the 1/2-disc cases? I know the 1 and 2 ones are 14mm.

I assume you are asking about the 3-disc plastic Scanavo cases. If so, I measured my copy of The Big Chill and it appears to be 16mm. Just as a comparison, I measured my copy of Fear & Loathing and, like you said, it is 14mm.

[maely]

What bothers me the most about the cardboard digipacks is when I purchase one and at least one of the corners arrived bent/deformed. So I think I'd lean slightly toward the clear plastic cases, but I'm not too picky about it either way and I have criterions in both formats.

[murphywmm]

Some of the cardboard cases are very nice (like "Nashville" and "Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion") but the clear plastic cases are more durable, easier to store, and less suspectible to damage.

[mande2013]

For anyone who's said on this thread digipaks are irreplaceable, I can't say that's true. I'm fairly certain you can wire Criterion the five bucks for replacement digipak packaging if need be, although each individual component may set you back five, so that both the slip case and that actual inner 'book' holding the disc(s) will cost $10 altogether.

[Canuck21]

Has there been any news of Criterion offering replacements for the digipaks?

[Luke B.]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Update #2:

They're finally here guys! Pro-B has posted pictures of the upcoming releases for L'Eclisse, and All that Heaven Allows, and both will feature the new 3-disc case. The cases are slightly thicker than the standard case, as you can see in a pic below. I'm so happy to see this become a reality. Our votes no doubt helped this happen (at least quicker than it would have), so I want to thank everyone once again for voicing your input here.

Till the present day, I never saw or heard anything about L'Eclipse (maybe 'cause i'm not an enthusiast of films in foreign languages, like Italian, French, etc), but, when I entered the topic and saw that picture of a pretty couple, immediately I searched for a synopsis and it seems that the film is good. I guess i'm going to watch it someday.
Maybe some of you could recommend me some films in other languages, like the ones I mentioned above.
About the packaging: I don't think I have a preference. Digipaks are very pretty, but, they show some wear signs as times goes by, the cases hardly shows.

[spatafore]

Dr Strangelove new packing:
http://criterionforum.org/DVD-packag...ollection/1591
looks great but!!!! I still prefer clearplastic,
criterion release some on digipack and some in plastic on this days?