Double Alpha cases seem to have disappeared. Does anyone know why? Some of the Double Disc DVD's in the past have looked excellent displayed in the Double Alpha cases (Forrest Gump, Jay and Silent Bob, Speed, Die Hards etc etc). I've often wondered why they seem to have been ditched.

Anyone else?

Paramount seems to be the only company anymore who uses this style case. I think it's mostly a size issue, they just take up more space on shelves.

Maybe the space problem

why need a double alpha when double single's do the same job in half the space and fit in with 98% of all DVD's made.

Cause size matters?

Too right!

I dunno really. Just thought they looked more 'Special' Special Editions than the standard cases.

I agree Chris. Felt like you were getting a bit more for your money.

Criterion still uses double cases exclusively for most of its 2-disc sets (unless they use some custom digipak casing). The Leopard was even a triple case, like the Back to the Future Trilogy.

Yep, the Star Trek - CEs are being issued in that style of case and like the OP said, the old FOX 5-Star Editions. What's wierd is that the new Princess Blade - SE from ADV is issued in one of those, and then to top it off, the damn thing isn't anamorphic.

I just received the 2-Disc Nosferatu (Anchor Bay) from Columbia House and it's in the big alpha case.

Even they may be moving away from it. Tanner '88 was in a two-disc single. The dissapearance of the double alphas doesn't bother me, though. At first when I noticed it, it kinda did because I liked being able to tell right that it was a two disc set from the size. But now two-disc is more of the norm than the exception, and all those double-alphas would take up a lot morse space than the singles. After Paramount release Insurrection (and Nemesis: Director's Cut!!!) then they can retire the double-alpha as far as I care.

I think they should release dvd's for single disc a slim amaray and for 2 disc special editions an alpha case.

I recenlty got Red Dragon Director's Edition and it looks nice in an alpha case.

I hate those cases cuz they take up the space of 2 DVDs.

Tanner '88 may have not been in an Alpha, but more recent releases - M 2-disc and Kagemusha come to mind - are in alphas.

I changed all mine to single-width cases.

I do think certain companies still use them for the size factor, esp if they are pulling a regular/SE release.

True, but some Criterions were also released in slim doubles (Armageddon, for example). I'm pretty sure it depended on which store it was bought from. I've always hated the double width cases, and I'm really surprised it's taken Criterion so long to move away from them. With the special attentian they pay to the discs themselves, you'd think the cases would be a little less generic. I've always loved digipak cases for multi-disc sets, but only if it's made of a durable material (like LOTR Extended sets).

If the double alpha cases are hated so much, shouldn't the specialty type cases such as Saving Private Ryan or The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly be hated as well? Those cases take up as much room and they look out of place on a shelf. I prefer all 2-disc movies be in a slim double amaray case.

I like individuality. I'd prefer if special movies came in special cases.

Absolutely. I hate them all.

i love individuality too...mix them up...but stay consistent---(the harry potters)

True. I'm cool with a nice looking digipack...Master and Commander, Raging Bull, etc... It's not so much a size issue for me, but since there isn't much that's special about a double-amaray (except for distortion, and wrinkles) I'd rather it be a regular case.

I love these cases! Wish they'd bring them back...

don't like these cases at all. have more issues with them than any other (ex. won't close properly, broken disc holders etc) glad to see them go! they are also major spacewasters.

To me they just look fatter and thus more special!

The GBU case is the case that I hate the most of any other case due to its length which makes it harder to put next to other DVDs.