Collectors Set Special Edition (USA)
This R1 special edition was long overdue. Except for a barebones release that'd come out back in 1998, this classic western didn't have any exciting R1 versions. Lo and behold, 6 years later in 2004 this special edition was release, complete with special packaging, a booklet and cards. Worth the wait? An edition that is as good as the movie it houses? Let's find out.
The
set comes packeged in a sturdy cardboard box, which is almost exactly
the same size as a standard DVD case, only a bit deeper and slightly
larger. The box has subtle debossing on the cover, raising the title
off of Clint Eastwoods chest. His character, "blondie",
stands, solemnly staring at we, the owners of this set. Excellent
design, the deboss and gold lettering on the spine really add to
the quality of what could have been a standard box. Stamped like
a cowboys brand on his longhorn is "Special Edition" on
the upper right of the box. The
back has a sheet of paper which is glued at the top, showing the
other two main characters of the movie, and giving us information
about the movie and the contents included. You can fold this back
to reveal a clean shot of "the bad" and "the ugly".
This sheet of paper can be removed with delicacy if necessary, without
damaging the box. The
box is stiff cardboard, solid, printed on a bright white gloss paper.
The cover is larger than the base, so it slides down over and fits
snugly.
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Pulling the cover off, the first thing we see is the cover of the booklet that comes with this set. Below the booklet rests a clear package containing the 5 cards included in the set. Flip over the cover, and you'll find the first DVD of this two DVD set. A different way of housing two DVDs that normal, but it works well. Each DVD snaps securing to a clear plastic base, which are glued into the box. |
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The cards come safely stowed in a clear plastic bag. The bag itself isn't high quality, but it does its job and protects the cards from scuffing and marking. The cards, 5 of them, showcase different posters that were released around the world when the movie first came out. They're printed on thick, card stock paper. The designers of the set decided to perform a deep emboss on the paper, and then print using heavy glossy coverage to make the posters really pop out. They did a great job, even those these cards are small, they look very nice. The back of each card states that it's a theatrical poster, the original date of creation, and the country the poster represented. A nice touch that really let's you understand the impact this movie had on audiences globally. |
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Saddlestich! In other words, staples for a book that go through the printed cover. The booklet is printed on a gloss paper, laid out horizontally, and is stuff full of excellent information about the film, the locations, the director, actors, etc. Excellent reading complements the stylish design and layout. |
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Juice's Verdict
Build
Quality: 7.5
A good case, with a extra .5 because of the nice deboss and gold stamp
work. Not only is the set rigid due to the materials of the box itself,
but the addition of the plastic insert which the DVD snaps to makes it
even stronger.
Content
and Extras: 6
The book, although it isn't long, is full of some interesting factoids.
It's a good read, and it's in english, which is a bonus when compared
to some LE/CE/SE's. The cards, even though there is only 5, are nice enough
to be showcased on their own. .
Overall
Rating: 6.5
If
you're a fan of this movie, buy this set. It's a solid purchase for a
good price. Not an incredible edition, but a solid one that does a good
job of adding some extra value.
Copyright © 2005 Skullface (skullface.com)
All rights reserved.