Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

News on Criterion and Janus Films
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ryannichols7
Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 6:26 pm

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4026 Post by ryannichols7 »

I'll try and say something more in depth later but Criterion's sheer dedication to nailing their John Waters covers, almost getting me to buy the films (even though I don't think I could stomach them), is top notch. both all timer covers for sure, up there with Polyester and Pink Flamingos. thrilled for fans they got both at the same time!
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domino harvey
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Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:42 pm

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4027 Post by domino harvey »

Beloved Aunt wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 5:59 pm Love the Waters covers, they're great. High Art cover is the most instantly forgettable thing I've ever seen. Radha Mitchell doesn't look very happy about Ally Sheedy being on top of her, and the cover makes it look likes she's the star. Is this actually the case?
It’s a variation on the film’s key art. Sheedy is “the star” in sense of name recognition but Mitchell is the protagonist— all the posters had Sheedy hidden behind her hair
Zot!
Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:09 am

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4028 Post by Zot! »

The Panahi is incredibly unremarkable, especially informed by current events. I also hate the layered title...a lot.
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Walter Kurtz
Joined: Sat Jul 25, 2020 7:03 pm

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4029 Post by Walter Kurtz »

Your fourth and five words are now my favorite conjunction of two words. It deserves to become a meme.
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denti alligator
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 1:36 am
Location: "born in heaven, raised in hell"

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4030 Post by denti alligator »

Zot! wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 6:14 pm The Panahi is incredibly unremarkable, especially informed by current events. I also hate the layered title...a lot.
I love it. Also happy, because it's probably the only film I'll be buying from this batch.
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Beloved Aunt
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2021 7:28 pm

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4031 Post by Beloved Aunt »

Zot! wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 6:14 pm I also hate the layered title...a lot.
You're right, it is a very pitiful stab at making the cover more interesting. Like a person who's been shot in the brain with a shotgun feebly trying to attack their assailant for the few seconds before they die.
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Finch
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:09 pm
Location: United States

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4032 Post by Finch »

ryannichols7 wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 6:08 pm I'll try and say something more in depth later but Criterion's sheer dedication to nailing their John Waters covers, almost getting me to buy the films (even though I don't think I could stomach them), is top notch.
Not even Hairspray works for you?
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Mr.DarjeelingLimited
Joined: Wed Dec 13, 2023 6:58 pm

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4033 Post by Mr.DarjeelingLimited »

IWJAA is a yikes from me. There’s a lot more visually interesting images from the film they could’ve used. The Med Hondo cover is great. The rest are thumbs ups from me.
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therewillbeblus
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 7:40 pm

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4034 Post by therewillbeblus »

It Was Just An Accident's image fits well with the tone of the film, but I agree with Zot! that the text layering is off-putting
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Walter Kurtz
Joined: Sat Jul 25, 2020 7:03 pm

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4035 Post by Walter Kurtz »

Do the words on the Panahi cover represent the title of the film... or Criterion's cover art apology?
Zot!
Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:09 am

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4036 Post by Zot! »

domino harvey wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 6:12 pm
Beloved Aunt wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 5:59 pm Love the Waters covers, they're great. High Art cover is the most instantly forgettable thing I've ever seen. Radha Mitchell doesn't look very happy about Ally Sheedy being on top of her, and the cover makes it look likes she's the star. Is this actually the case?
It’s a variation on the film’s key art. Sheedy is “the star” in sense of name recognition but Mitchell is the protagonist— all the posters had Sheedy hidden behind her hair
It's really hard to tell (I don't know if it will be visible in the Criterion), but the original image actually shows that Sheedy is also looking at the camera from behind her hair. I don't love the film, but the look of discontent from the two leads fits it's themes just fine. As some others have mentioned, I much preferred Laurel Canyon, but I think I just fell in love with Frances McDormand's character's house.
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zedz
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 11:24 pm

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4037 Post by zedz »

Beloved Aunt wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 5:59 pm Love the Waters covers, they're great. High Art cover is the most instantly forgettable thing I've ever seen. Radha Mitchell doesn't look very happy about Ally Sheedy being on top of her, and the cover makes it look likes she's the star. Is this actually the case?
As I recall, yes. So I guess that makes it a good cover?
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Beloved Aunt
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2021 7:28 pm

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4038 Post by Beloved Aunt »

No. Haha why would that make it a good cover?
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zedz
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 11:24 pm

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4039 Post by zedz »

Because it got across the main ideas of a film you hadn't seen? Which I'm assuming was part of the designer's brief.

For the record, I find the cover pretty dull, but then that's how I found the film as well.
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swo17
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Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:25 pm
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Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4041 Post by swo17 »

Image Image Image Image Image Image
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FrauBlucher
Joined: Tue Jul 16, 2013 12:28 am
Location: Greenwich Village

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4042 Post by FrauBlucher »

I like the top 3
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Mr.DarjeelingLimited
Joined: Wed Dec 13, 2023 6:58 pm

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4043 Post by Mr.DarjeelingLimited »

Hud and Cruel Story of Youth are the standouts to me here, I like the rest.
DimitriL
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 10:07 pm

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4044 Post by DimitriL »

Big month for Skillman with his Hud and Alice covers.

Also interesting that Mike Mills gets cover art credit on his own box set.
honoriofh
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2015 7:48 am

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4045 Post by honoriofh »

Mike Mills?! Why that’s not a Eclipse Set? Tanaka, Lubitsch and Kiarostami are better suited for Eclipse and Mills got a special box set? Makes absolutely no sense.
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therewillbeblus
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 7:40 pm

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4046 Post by therewillbeblus »

I believe Mills began his career making cover art/inside artwork for albums, so it makes sense
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Finch
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:09 pm
Location: United States

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4047 Post by Finch »

Is Hud a WB or Paramount title?

The only cover I am not keen on is The Crying Game.
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Kracker
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 6:06 pm

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4048 Post by Kracker »

honoriofh wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 4:26 pm Mike Mills?! Why that’s not a Eclipse Set? Tanaka, Lubitsch and Kiarostami are better suited for Eclipse and Mills got a special box set? Makes absolutely no sense.
Can't have all those special features, commentaries on an Eclipse set. It's a pretty generously stacked set.
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yoloswegmaster
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 7:57 pm

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4049 Post by yoloswegmaster »

honoriofh wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 4:26 pm Mike Mills?! Why that’s not a Eclipse Set? Tanaka, Lubitsch and Kiarostami are better suited for Eclipse and Mills got a special box set? Makes absolutely no sense.
How does it not make sense? The Eclipse series is for titles that won't sell well on the mainline, which would explain why Tanaka, Lubitsch and Kiarostami releases, while the Mills box will make money (at least judging by all the exuberant comments that I've been seeing.
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dwk
Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2010 10:10 pm

Re: Criterion & Eclipse Cover Art & Packaging Babble-on Vol. 7

#4050 Post by dwk »

Finch wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 4:33 pm Is Hud a WB or Paramount title?

The only cover I am not keen on is The Crying Game.
Paramount.
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