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DVD Packaging

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I've mentioned this in another thread, but it bothers me so much that I think it deserves it's own - Is anybody else shocked and annoyed by the crappy DVD cases for the DVD box set? I was expecting some kind of folding cardboard thingy like the Lord Of The Rings Extended Edition DVDs, but instead I found some bog standard plastic DVD cases with really badly photoshopped covers. There's so much great Star Wars art work out there, from the 70s and 80s, and not to mention the fantastic work of Drew Struzan - WHAT THE HELL IS THIS PACKAGING ALL ABOUT? It looks cheap and I could have made it using Microsoft Paint!

War does not make one great.

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Less expense on packaging = increased per unit profit
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Originally posted by: starkiller
Less expense on packaging = increased per unit profit


That pretty much nails it on the head.

Besides, GL has said how much he liked the Indiana Jones DVD set, so I expected it to be similar in physical appearance.

There was no way it would be a digipak and I'm kinda glad he didn't. Those things get a bit unwieldy. I like to just slip one case out of the box and open it so I don't have to lay the whole thing down and unfold from here to infinity trying to get a movie out to watch. Weird as it sounds, the huge mother of a digipak that is Aliens Quadrilogy is one of the reasons that I've balked about buying it. I think I might just buy the couple I want individually.

Now what I would have liked to see for SW would have been slim line individual snap cases. Different artwork, hell yes. Check out the thread in the Restoration section all about Definitive Collection Artwork. Almost any of those would be ideal.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
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Kevin A
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Yeah, I would have loved slim-line cases so that you could probably have 8 total in the same size box with maybe 1 disc of specialized special material for each film.

Probably a good idea for people that have gotten torrents of or bought the From Star Wars to Jedi and all of the other docs that have been in circulation at myspleen.
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Must be some sort of tradition. My DC laserdisc boxset suffered from cheap glue on the dust jackets, which came apart before I'd finished watching the first film. I could never even stuff the discs back into the box!
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God I hopw they come out with a Six DVD pack after Episode 3 comes out to DVD seperatly, with some CHANGES *cough* Shaw *cough*
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They really need to go all out with the packaging. It's fuckin Star Wars for crying out loud.
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It seems a bit hypocrytical to go on and on about how awful the changes are and how the SSE has ruined the movie further than the 97 versions and how there are now screw-ups that weren't there before...

And then turn around and say it "deserves" a better box. Geez, the box doesn't make the DVDs. And at least the art on the DVDs is good...

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I agree with DAYV, except for the silver vs gold thing. They really should have made the OT gold like the PT.

Then again, they should have made a bonus disc for each movie too.
I am fluent in over six million forms of procrastination.
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This might of been mentioned before but a set a la LOTR would have been perfect IMHO, maybe even a collectors edition with scaled model sabres or other props.

Although i'm no fan of the PT at least the artworks better, I worked in the design industry for some years and I would be embarassed to admit thats my artwork on those covers, must of been an early deadline.

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As for the art on the front of the dvd boxes - I've seen a lot better here and other cover sites.

Some of these sites are no longer around due to Lucasfilm and other large companies seemingly being too embarrassed by what fans with some relatively cheap home software can accomplish...

I havn't got the 2004 DVD set, but have obviously seen them on the shop shelves, have to say quite disappointing compared to The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy boxsets out there.

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

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Originally posted by: oojason
Some of these sites are no longer around due to Lucasfilm and other large companies seemingly being too embarrassed by what fans with some relatively cheap home software can accomplish...


LOL
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Originally posted by: ADigitalMan
I agree with DAYV, except for the silver vs gold thing. They really should have made the OT gold like the PT.


Think of the PT as gold and the OT as Platinum.

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Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
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Originally posted by: ADigitalMan
I agree with DAYV, except for the silver vs gold thing. They really should have made the OT gold like the PT.


Think of the PT as gold and the OT as Platinum.


Yeah, I thought it was appropriate after thinking about it. They are two seperate trilogies, after all.

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Originally posted by: Bossk

Now what I would have liked to see for SW would have been slim line individual snap cases.


I must disagree. The Friday the 13th box set was released as a series of slim line snap cases, but one of the reviews I read about the set discussed the poor quality of those cases. The slim design is too thin, and the discs have trouble staying secured inside. Gave me the impression that the slim cases are a cheap, low-quality alternative to the standard Amaray cases, so I'm grateful they went with the latter.

That said, I'm not altogether pleased with the packaging for the Star Wars Trilogy, either. I love Digipak, but that really wouldn't have been appropriate in keeping with the design of the prequel releases. But there are Amaray cases that feel good and solid, and then there are those that somehow feel cheaper, like the plastic is thinner or something. The prequels have the solid kind, but unfortunately, they gave the OT the cheaper. Oh well.

As for the cover art, I have no problem with it. As noted by DAVY, it's consistent with the prequel movies, and I'm fine with those, too. I've certainly seen worse.

Given that the OT has been released in silver (widescreen) and gold (full screen) editions, and the prequels have thus far been released in gold (widescreen) and blue (full screen) editions, I wonder about the edition colors for ROTS. If they follow established trends, it will be in the prequel colors, and then the box set of all six will probably be silver and gold.
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Originally posted by: CertifiedTHX
I must disagree. The Friday the 13th box set was released as a series of slim line snap cases, but one of the reviews I read about the set discussed the poor quality of those cases. The slim design is too thin, and the discs have trouble staying secured inside. Gave me the impression that the slim cases are a cheap, low-quality alternative to the standard Amaray cases, so I'm grateful they went with the latter.


I have several box sets that use the slim line snap cases and I've never had a problem. Seinfeld seasons 1 and 2, Family Guy volumes 1 and 2, and a couple others. No problems with breakage whatsoever. And the discs have no problems that I've seen snapping on the spindle. If anything, the spindle is sturdier than most larger cases as those spindles have the thin plastic flays (dunno what else to call them) that tend to break off much like CD packaging. The slim line cases have a solid hub that have small knobs that the disc snaps over. Never breaks. Although after some time the knobs may wear down, I suppose. But by that same logic, the hubs in larger cases would likely break before the knobs of a slim line wear down.

Just my two Lincolns.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
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Kevin A
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The quality of the standard dvd cases varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Some have the shitty center piece that breaks off over time as you use it (or before you even open the shrink wrap) and others have much better center spindles. I think im familiar with about 4 to 6 different center spindle designs, 2 of which i actually like and think work well and you dont feel like your gonna snap the disc when you try and remove it, but dont have to worry about it not staying in place.

point being, slim or regular or digipack the case has the potential to suck (talking just the plastic case and mainly its center hub, not the images) I think its basically related to comments made earlier...use a shitty case, pay less for it, charge the same, profits increased. I mean, that does seem to be the theme going with this release of the Star Wars dvds, so why not skimp wherever possible.

what it comes down to is if the company really makes it look like they care about the product they put out and the consumers that buy it.

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Yeah, but I'm talking about the images....They were lame. Drew Struzan done posters for the prequels and the OT. they all looked great, and there would be continuity. I just don't know why anyone would see the covers that were released and say 'yeah, that's nice, go with it'.

War does not make one great.

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It's possible that they are going to re-release the PT with covers that are similar to the OT DVD releases. Considering that TPM has been pulled off the shelves and ROTS is being released this May, this is a definite possibility.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
kapgar.typepad.com
kapgar.com
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My biggest issue with the packaging had more to do with the flimsy outer box it came in, I was expecting something a little sturdier and nicer looking, similar to the Indiana Jones set, considering how anticipated this set was and how it was always guaranteed to be a hot seller, they could have put a lot more effort into it, although perhaps it isn't designed to last long.
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Unfortunately, the flimsy outer sleeve is typical Fox packaging, vs Paramount's sturdier Indiana Jones box.

24, Alien, Die Hard, Simspons etc are all fox titles and feature poor boxes, whereas the likes of the Godfather, American Pie & Lion King released by other studios are much thicker.

A shame, but then WE all know we were short-changed with this set...

DVD-BOY

Save London’s Curzon Soho Cinema

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Out of all the DVDs I have and have seen, I'd say that I agree with you. All of the packaging for my Fox releases suck whereas, surprisingly, smaller publishers(like A&E) have the sturdiest packaging.

At least the SW DVDs don't have those ridiculous clips that I assume are to keep the case closed after it has been snapped shut.
"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them during the long winter evenings."
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I switched my Star Wars cases for some I bought at Wal-Mart for 3.88, they were a hell of a lot better quality and easier to open than the ones the studio released and I paid forty bucks for.

And thats pretty bad.
"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them during the long winter evenings."