I've been collecting LaserDiscs since 1982, and just bought my first LD in a Digi-Pak. The title is "Silence of the Lambs" ID7434OR. This particular release was made at two different facilities. 3M and DADC USA. It also came in two possible packages. The standard jacket and a Digi-Pak. Mine was made by 3M and is in a Digi-Pak.

I'm curious as to how many titles were released in Digi-Paks. I did an advance search and found over 70 releases worldwide, HOWEVER, the "Silence of the Lambs" release mentioned above wasn't amoung the others in the list. I assume that the explanation is that this was a "Multiple Site" release with two possible packaging options.

Does anyone else here have any releases that aren't listed when such a search is performed? Which of you has the most Digi-Pak releases? Just wonderin'.

STAY AWESOME!

I had a copy of that once, & it came with a reply card, asking purchasers whether they would prefer that type of packaging for future LD releases. I kind of think the Bram Stoker's Dracula "collector's edition" was a gatefold digi-pak. Of course it was the standard packaging for Hi-Vision movies.

I noticed when I performed the search that many of the Digi-Pak releases were Muse Hi-Vision, but I didn't know that that was the way they were usually released.

STAY AWESOME!

I'm pretty sure a few Universal Letterbox titles from the early to mid '90's were in digi-packs.

Now I quess I'm going to have to become a Digi-Pak complitist.


STAY AWESOME!

Thing from Another World, The (1951) [ID6996TU]

this was a digi-pac and regular.

i don't remember seeing many when this came out.
my father and i would go to tower video about once a week to see what was new, but there were only 2 that i remember this and silence of the lambs.

I used to have the gatefold version of this release, but never saw the Digi-pak version.

STAY AWESOME!

I would have sworn my copy was a gatefold too but I just checked it and sure enough it is a digipak in a tri-fold-out.

My copy, in the gatefold, had the footage missing from the digi-pak version. The digi-pak version is missing about :36 seconds. I saw this complete version on TCM as well (introduced by John Carptenter no less).


STAY AWESOME!

I thought only the MUSE discs were released as Digi-Paks, I'm going to have to get myself one of these now.



Out of interest what footage is missing from the digi-pak version? Is the gatefold version complete or still not the full length version?

The gatefold version has the restored bondage footage. I've never seen the digi-pak version, but the database indicates that it's :36 seconds shorter. It may be missing the bondage footage or some of the preceding scene, which was trimmed prior to release. All of this footage was in the TCM showing, and as I recall it the gatefold release as well. One segment not in the gatefold version that was in the TCM showing had the military radio operator informing the press that they had found a UFO and occupant. And Scotty the press guy at the outpost ranting about the whole world knowing about everything but he STILL hadn't been able to file his story, as the weather stopped radio broadcasts in the interim. The scene preceding the bondage scene was longer on TCM, and it seemed to me that the bondage scene itself was longer.

This is a film John Carpenter really didn't want to remake, but was forced to as it was his first studio assigned film. He loves the original, as do I. I've seen it more times than I can count in several different cuts. It's all a jumble really. lol.

STAY AWESOME!

Cheers for the info cessnaace. I've only seen the film once years ago but I remember it being pretty good. I think John Carpenter did very well at making his own film using this as an inspiration (and of course the original source material) so that it stands on its own rather than simply rehashing the previous film.

Yes, Carpenter went back to the original source story ("Who Goes There?") for his film, instead doing a remake of the original. Of course we recently had a remake of Carpenter's film. I haven't seen it yet. I HAVE noticed that more and more of Carpenter's original films are being remade, which is a shame, because he can't get any new films made. His Invisible Man film with Chevy Chase was another film forced on him by a studio. The studio paid big money for Chase, so we strangley SEE the Invisible Man when he's supposed to be INVISIBLE!

STAY AWESOME!

There were no Universal titles in the Digi-Pak packaging. Image was the only one mucking with Digi-Pak. I know "Deceived" and "Silence of the Lambs" were both issued in Digi-Pak and then later in standard sleeves. I am not aware of any double-disc titles being issued in Digi-Pak. I do have a "Test" CAV copy of "The Rocketeer" in a Digi-Pak.

http://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/03979/ID8394OR/FX2:-The-Deadly-Art-of-Illusion-(1991)

I have the Digi-Pak verison of this one. I just updated the database with that info. I also have Silence of the Lambs in Digi-Pak. They work well on CD's, but I'm glad it didn't catch on in the LD-world.

I remember that! I had both of those, briefly, in a lot of discs that came with a player I bought. Sold them all to Big Emma's, I think, for credit I used to buy a few anime discs & some inner sleeves.

I'm not a big fan of digi-pak laserdisc releases - I've only one such example so far - Basic Instinct MUSE LD which was included with an HLD-X9 I bought however one would do me!

Due to their smaller physical size a CD can quite easily be inserted and removed from a digi-pak release. The same is simply not true of a laserdisc.
The centre hub which you press to release the disc is far too big to be practical. It feels a very clumsy form of packaging for a 12" disc when compared with a conventional LP type sleeve which works really efficiently. I'm really glad digi-paks didn't become a standard for laserdisc packaging as they are also much more prone to damage and impossible to replace inner trays etc if the hubs get broken. You also need to use extra thick non standard outer wraps to protect the sleeves.

Manufacturers have tried numerous times to replace the original CD jewel box which in my opinion was one of the best designs ever conceived.
Notice how easily it could be revamped to modernise it over the years without actually altering its physical size or compatibility.
For example you could change the colour of the trays, make them frosty etc to draw attention to the release or make the trays totally clear to increase surface area for artwork etc. You could also easily adapt the same thickness of box to hold 2 CDs and still manage to retain comprehensive sleeve notes. It really is a marvel of engineering.

The new Super Jewel case in comparison is like something designed by the devil himself! Sleeve notes are virtually impossible to remove without incurring creasing, fingerprints or damage. The CDs are also more difficult to remove and the only 'improvement' on the original CD case is the tiny little area along the top/bottom edge of the case which is see through and lets you see spine print etc. None of your former CD sleeve notes or inserts can be used with the Super Jewel cases so again I am very glad this format has not been commonly adopted as a new standard as the design was vastly inferior to the original CD case. It just feels like some company in an attempt to make money out of some new design re-invented the wheel but used a rectangle instead!

Are these Super Jewel cases the same thing used for awhile by Platinum Disc Corporation for their DVD releases? They eventually switched to standard cases, but I like the large jewel style cases they used as the artwork is much more clear and stand out more than typical DVD releases. I have about 20 of these releases, but there are even more that I don't have.

STAY AWESOME!

The Super Jewel Cases I was referring to are detailed in the link below:

http://www.superjewelbox.co.uk/standard.htm

It is clear from even this link the only benefits are to the retailer not the consumer as it:

is compatible with existing retail shelving, displays etc


offers space underneath the tray to apply an EAS security tag