Best Asian DVD Covers ever...

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 26 Jan 2009, 21:04

OK, companies should have a look at these covers and hire some of those people who are average Joes and created Criterion covers for their favourite Asian films.

http://varietyasiaonline.com/kaijushake ... ommentsDiv

More are to be found here:
http://cache.tianya.cn/publicforum/cont ... 3364.shtml

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 26 Jan 2009, 21:42

I don't actually think they're very good to be honest, and I think the HK DVD cover of Infernal Affairs is the best:

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 26 Jan 2009, 21:59

Some are good (a few are VERY good), but some take the 'keep it simple' approach a little bit too serious.

The HK cover of IA is OK, but not great or anything.

chenlung · Post by **chenlung** » 26 Jan 2009, 22:12

I agree with these two gentlemen.

Criterion are a company who put a lot of style into their covers. Some are very good indeed (Seven Samurai, Election) when using only one object to describe what's going, whilst others a little 'simple' and too stylish/illustrated and not quite keeping with the colour of the film. Not my style of covers, although they are very creative. If you know the film, then colour is important too (TCM is set outside a lot and has that blue-colour feel about it - DD used that, but other elements like photoshopping Jet's body looked hideous).

'Infernal Affairs' is alright if you know the film and the characters (which ones lead each part), but there's still something about it I'm not very keen on - maybe it's the emphasis on the one character (being Francis Ng).

They're calling OUATIC 'Huang Fei Hong' - not only the Mandarin title, but not the English title. They should do a bit more research with the names too

- 'Woo Ping Yuan'.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 Jan 2009, 22:56

Man I'd love Shiri on BD! Still one of the best action films, certainly best Asian action films.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 27 Jan 2009, 01:12

Those covers are extremely boring. Must've taken all of five mins to mock up.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 27 Jan 2009, 09:17

Is Wong Fei Hung the Cantonese title or just a different pronounciation? My friend didnt know Once Upon A Time In China, but when I mentioned Wong Fei Hung she really knew what I meant

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 27 Jan 2009, 09:21

They're a bit boring but the Infernal Affairs one is good, so much better than the dire US cover. The R1 Shiri cover is rubbish. OK the girl on the cover is in it, just not in those clothes but its misleading.
The Road Home one reminds me of The Last Emperor.

Love the minimalist ones for Hero, House of Flying Daggers and the arty one for Farewell My Concubine. Iron Monkey has naff text but otherwise looks good.
What is "Ding Jun Shuan"?
I really like The Swordsman covers, and the OUATIC ones have a Seven Samurai feel. Like them too.

izo · Post by **izo** » 27 Jan 2009, 10:04

grim_tales wrote:Is Wong Fei Hung the Cantonese title or just a different pronounciation? My friend didnt know Once Upon A Time In China, but when I mentioned Wong Fei Hung she really knew what I mwant

The chinese title is 黄飞鸿 which means Wong Fei Hung!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 27 Jan 2009, 18:37

The Chinese title works perfectly for the Chinese and Western title for Westerners. In short, OUATIC makes it seem more epic.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 27 Jan 2009, 18:47

A few rork, many are Pretty shit , some are a joke. Criterion are far from the best, so trying to copy that style is an instant fail.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 27 Jan 2009, 20:07

All dvd releases,not just asian should be based on original theatrical poster art imo. (obviously excepting straight to dvd efforts

)

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 27 Jan 2009, 20:51

I definitely, completely agree. The odd poster art is poor but most are very good. Unlike DVD covers, posters are there to make the film sell.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 28 Jan 2009, 17:44

Or have reversable covers with old art on one side and new CGI crapness on the other

few covers are reversable even now in this day and age! what a waste they are soo rare. They even used to do it with videos years ago.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 28 Jan 2009, 18:50

It's an unnecessary cost.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 28 Jan 2009, 19:10

Not really, many have double sided covers now, but they have useless crap posted on the otherside most the time, not an alternate cover.

Killer Meteor · Post by **Killer Meteor** » 01 Feb 2009, 18:15

bradavon wrote:It's an unnecessary cost.

Oh for crying out loud...