Worst packaging: The Alien Quadrilogy R1 (It's like unfolding a map. Sucks.)
Best packaging: Japan's The Alien Quadrilogy in the plastic Alien head. Geeky cool.
I also like my copy of "The Others" that comes in a dead book.

Maybe I'm repeating myself, but:

Akira tin. I hate that #$%!! thing. Looks cool, oh sure, but the tray on the inside sucks donkey balls. And check this out: it was in storage for 3 years while I was overseas, and the glue detached. Have you tried getting the tray back into the just right position? The damn trays won't let you close the tin. And, the tray clasp--I have really bend the damn discs to get them out.

Sigh. Anyway, I don't even keep the discs in the #$%!! thing.

Talking of tight @#$!! tray clasps: Looney Tunes volume goddamn 2.

I've have had with this crap: no more tins, digipacks, whatever. I want functional case with nice cover art.

Put "Star Trek: The Next Generation" on that list. I purchased the first season's worth, and that's exactly how it's packaged (not to mention, I don't like the series as much as I thought I would).

Best - The Nightmare Before Christmas (Jack Skellington head bust)

Worst - There Will Be Blood (2 disc Collector's Edition)

I hope you're not judging the entire series based on the first season; it gets much better. As for the packaging, yes, the TNG season sets suck it big time, from the blah-looking silver exterior (that someone felt would look better with an all-new font instead of the one used for the series) to the massive fold-out design of the interior, Paramount just completely screwed the packaging pooch with this series.

And while I haven't bought them, I'm not in love with the Blu-ray movie collection boxes they brought out this year for Star Trek, either. I know, they were hoping the 2009 film would attract new viewers to the older films, but plastering "6 movies with Kirk & Spock" over the boxed set was just a pathetic bout of pandering. Had it been a sticker or something, I could dismiss it--but actually printing it all over the front of the box? Embarrassing.

Paramount has always known where their valuable assets lie. Star Trek has been one of the series that has consistently been exorbitantly priced. This fascination with "kirk and Spock" is just another way they can cash in on Trek. I havent really looked at the new boxset, but is there a set for the next gen movies that has the rest of the films too? IE you buy both and have them all.

Back to the topic at hand, I have never liked the gatefold packaging. Next Gen had it, as did Buffy and Angle int heir original incarnations. To get that last disc out you have to unfold about 7 feet of case. And you better do it on a flat surface, because if you drop that case the discs are gonna fly everywhere. If any of the hubs break at all, you're screwed too.

Like I said, if this had been a sticker blurb on the package, that would have been fine with me. It's the fact that they felt the need to actually print onto the front of the box something so ridiculous that bothered me. And, yes, there is a box of the Next Generation movies..."4 Motion Pictures Featuring Captain Picard" is likewise stamped all across the front of that one.

Thanks for your response, and for agreeing with me that "The Next Generation"'s packaging blows big-time. Maybe I should say that I'm not liking the first season's worth as much as I thought I would; the reason why is because there were several outings in the first season that blew big-time and really missed the mark-- "Justice," "Angel One," "Code of Honor," and "When the Bough Breaks." I know that the series does get better later, but to be honest, I've never been the biggest fan of Picard; Janeway is where it's at, to me anyway. I purchased one of "TNG" and one of "Voyager" (each for $40 at the Wal-Mart in Simpsonville). I thought that by getting one of each, I'd test the waters. "Voyager" held up better for me, and besides, I strongly believe that it is better-packaged (with the colored book of discs in a two-piece plastic cover); it saves space too.

But then, as I say, to each his/her own, and again, thanks for your response.

Last year, my wife and I bought this and re-watched these episodes for the first time in a long while. We were kind of surprised at how incongruous with the rest of the series that season felt. The first half or so of the second season wasn't much better. Since there's not really a lot of continuity that hinges on the first two seasons, I think you'd be fine to just skip on to the third season and come back to the second later, once you've gotten a better feel for the series.

I'm reminded of that commercial that's been running lately for the mousetraps, where the mouse says to the homeowner wishing he was dead, "I understand your opinion...but it doesn't mean I respect it." Seriously, though, I do think that Voyager's first season probably was better than Next Generation's, but mostly by virtue of coming after eight years of the modern Trek TV machine had been rolling.

The packaging is definitely nicer looking, although for my money the original series packaging was the best that Paramount produced of the various TV releases. And I've got to ask...Simpsonville in which state? You're not by chance another Kentuckian, are you?

To me the worst packaging is anything where the disks are held in foldout carboard sleeves. This seems mostly used with multi-disk TV sets. One's I own are MASH, Wagon Train season 1, and the Lone Ranger 75 Anniversary. They always end up too tight and cause scratches on the disks. I try to avoid them whenever possible but sometimes it is the only way to get them, or in some cases it is hard to justify the cost of individual seasons. It is unfortunately because otherwise these are attractive sets.

The best packaging is anything that protects the disks, is easy to remove and re-insert the disks, saves space, fits within standard DVD storage shelving, and has attractive artwork.

It's Simpsonville, SC that I'm talking about (though I live in Fountain Inn). I have, though, passed by the exit ramp for Simpsonville, KY on visits to Indiana to see my aunts in that state. Back on topic, however, I appreciate your suggestion concerning "TNG," but after testing the waters with both that and "Voyager," as I said, my preference is for Janeway and "Voyager." Your point is still well-taken, however, and I thank you again for the response.

I hate dvd cases that have those little clasps on the side. I can't tell you how many cases I've almost ruined before I noticed the clips. I also hate the packaging for The Nanny season 3. It's a spindle and all 3 discs sit right on top of each other.

I cut those little clips right off when I encounter them.
And I dont tolerate and spindle stack cases in my collection.

I appreciated these when my niece was younger. It decreased the likelihood that she would randomly help herself to grabbing cases off the shelves she could reach and opening them up, as she was free to do at home. Which reminds me, worse than any packaging issue are parents who allow their children to be destructive in their formative years.

While I would agree that twisting those security tabs off is no big deal a much more effective way of dealing with a niece that hasn't learned not to touch things that aren't hers is electric shock. It leaves no tell-tale bruises and (done well) gets the point across so that you won't have any more problems ... nor will anyone else. And I have eight nieces. Funny thing is though, none of them appear to be college material ...

I tried that, but she insisted that I keep shocking her because it tickled. After half an hour, I started to think maybe it wasn't good for a three year old's brain to be jolted like that so I stopped. Joke's on her, though: she might have called my bluff, but she'll never have use of, like, 15% of her brain! Ha!

Saving Private Ryan (D-Day 60th Anniversary edition) comes in a cool box, and Pearl Harbor (the R-rated director's cut) has a nice package too. Still, I wish they just came in standard cases so that I could keep them with my other DVDs.

Best: Fight Club, Se7en, Taxi Driver (Blu-Ray), Scarface and Texas Chain Saw Massacre Steel Books.

Worst: The Shining and Heat 2-Disc Special Editions, the slipcases were so flimsy.