Criterion Rules of the Game packaging
 

Got an early copy of this one and was surprised to discover Criterion has gone the Digipak route. Set comes in a clear plastic blue slipcover. Inside, it's a foldout cardboard package, much like the Warner Special Edition 2-disc sets, with a pocket for a booklet.

It's a nice-looking package, but I wonder if they are going to use these on all their 2-disc sets from now on. Kinda liked the uniform looking of my Criterions in keepcases (with the exception of the occasional release, like the Antoine Doinel set, which is great).

I'm glad they atleast attempted something different with Rules. This is, by far, their most important release. But its a shame that they had to do digipaks. I may have to look for a custom case after all.

Praytell, how good is the print/transfer, compared to other films from the 30s?

This is my most-anticipated release EVER, so I'm really looking forward to its arrival next week. I'm also surprised Criterion used a Digipak for this release--I don't have anything against this type of packaging, but it doesn't seem the best choice to house a 24-page booklet.

I doubt this represents a trend. Criterion's designers are encouraged to be as creative with the packaging as the producers are with the disc contents, so I suspect this was mostly a design decision. I would hate for them to adopt any sort of uniformity in the collection--I'd rather they make a packaging decision on a disc-by-disc basis, and continue to let their imaginations run wild.

This is my most-anticipated release EVER, so I'm really looking forward to its arrival next week. I'm also surprised Criterion used a Digipak for this release--I don't have anything against this type of packaging, but it doesn't seem the best choice to house a 24-page booklet.

Could you please post a picture of the set?

I took the pics with my web-cam, so the quality isn't that great. Thanks to Tristan for hosting the pics.

http://www.neotokyonews.com/images/rules1.jpg

http://www.neotokyonews.com/images/rules2.jpg

http://www.neotokyonews.com/images/rules3.jpg

http://www.neotokyonews.com/images/rules4.jpg

That's actually better than I had imagined it looking! I am quite impressed. On first look though, I think I like FALILV case and design a bit more. Very nice!

Matt

indeed...with the protective plastic cover It looks very stylish! Much like the Euro editions :thumbsup:

Have to say i like it......just hope the plastic is a bit sturdier than what BU decided to use for their Mondo Cane set.

No sheets????

Wow, that is beautiful. I must have it!

My copy just shipped from Amazon. Whee!

I'm glad Criterion is taking the extra step for packaging...hopefully, this trend will continue. :up:

I don't mind the digipak with the plastic slip cover to protect it. Wish Warner would do that.

No Sheets = No Sale ;)

The first review of Criterion's The Rules of the Game has been posted by DVD Talk's own Glenn Erickson (DVD Savant). Looks like Criterion did its usual bang-up job ... [big sigh of relief]

I just received my copy and it has this slight bend to it, if you lay it flat on the table the top of the case is more left than the bottom and so its more of a rhombus than a rectangle.

Has anyone had a similar issue with theirs? Or is this a result of the poor packing job by amazon.

I am wondering if I open it and take slipcover off, if I could apply some pressure to it and straighten it out or if I should just exchange it with amazon.

My slipcover is straight, but when I opened it I noticed the booklet wasn't pushed into the side flap all the way, and the bottom third got folded along with the case. :( It's nothing major, but I was a little bummed.

Is this pretty much like the "Fear and Loathing" packaging?

Criterion's packaging has gotten quite inconsistent lately (I'm not knocking it!). The first "digipack" sorta thing I got was the Monterey Pop set, and then I believe it was "Fear and Loathing" with the plastic shell. Then, there was another digipak sorta packaging for the Fassbinder BRD Trilogy, before they reverted back to the "old-school" boxset style of the Bergman Trilogy...

The only consistency is how much I like all of 'em!

It doesn't look bad to me. I'd really prefer they use the slim keep cases like they used for Down by Law and Armageddon (I think; haven't watched that crap in a long time). But digipak is better than those thick keep cases which require way too much flexing of the disc to get it out.

My question is: since Criterion's always have security stickers, where is the sticker on this one? I hope it isn't on the cardboard back or, worse, behind the plastic housing blocking art work. On the housing or blue slip cover would be ok.

'F & L' had a transparent cover over a regular case essentially. 'Rules' has a similar cover over a fold-out card-board case.

Mine has it on the inside center and is unobtrusive.

Looks great. Feels substantial. No complaints here.

Thanks MrN! But bad news for those of us that like to remove those tags.

Just picked up mine today. Another great packaging job by Criterion.... so the best surprise is that there's no surprise :up:

No bends in mine. I'm really not crazy about digipak cases (those brittle inner hubs are pretty easily broken and you can't just change out the case) and it's wider than the other criterions so it sticks out on the shelf, but it's really nice. I think it's one of their best designs yet. Very beautiful and elegant.

I didn't know this one was such a big release for Criterion, as it's an old and obscure (to most DVD buyers) film. But evidently sales are very very good on this title. I'm happy that it's doing so well.

Another terrific set from Criterion.

P.S. The Adventures of Antoine Doinel box set was also a set of slim digipak cases.

Its not so obscure for aficionados - Rules of the Game was no. 3 on the last Sight & Sound poll.

Yes, and number 2 for a number of years before that.

And it's one of the few films that has been on every S&S poll since 1952.

Anyway, this package is just wonderful. I finally got to watch it last night and the transfer is really quite remarkable for having only faded prints to work with.

Another DVD to add to my wishlist :drool:

Back to the packaging thread - It looks awful purty, but I have a heck of a time getting the box back into the case. At least it takes up less space than their regular double case.

I picked it up. Though it looks nice as a whole I've got to give it a :down:. Like bdots48 said, the slipcover is too tight! I've already got a few white dings on the edges where the cover snagged. :mad:

Mine arrived without the booklet/insert :( So, I just wrote to their web site and hopefully they'll send me one. I'd rather not mail it back to Amazon for a replacement. Other than that, the packing is OK except for the security tag placement, which is impossible to remove since it's on paper.