Bilingual Covers Question (1 Viewer)

[Michael Pakula]

I just wanted to know which studios are the good ones
when it comes to Biliginual Packaging in canada and which are the bad ones. The reason im asking is because there are several dvds like the running man coming out in the next few months. So I just want to confirm the good from bad studios so I can make a list for future reference.


-Mike

 

[Paul_Stachniak]

Good:

- Warner Brothers/HBO
- Fox (tho some box sets and 2 disc editions have removable French English sheets - tho the packaging itself remains English)
- Columbia/Tri-Star
- MGM
- Anchor Bay

In between:

- Disney/Touchstone/Buena Vista (there is no french, tho a yellow 'French Version Included' circle is printed on the cover.
- Criterion (Alliance released the CC version of Traffic, tho this may be because they own the rights to the film from USA - I have not seen them take over other CC titles yet)

Bad:

- Alliance Atlantis (this includes Miramax, Dimension, USA Films, and New Line Pictures/Fine Line Films)
- Paramount
- Universal Studios
- DreamWorks

 

[Michael Pakula]

What about Artisan?. Are they ok?.


-Mike

 

[Tom Tsai]

I would change that to:

Subpar:
- Alliance Atlantis (this includes Miramax, Dimension, USA Films, and New Line Pictures/Fine Line Films)
- Paramount

Terrible:
- Universal Studios
- DreamWorks

simply because while Alliance and Paramount include French, they're relatively small...on the other hand, the ones for Universal and Dreamworks are mostly HUGE (eg. Catch me if you can, Back to the Future)

not that it matters to me since I don't care...but just thought you would like to know.

EDIT: I think Artisan is ok, haven't had a bilingual cover from them yet.

 

[CraigF]

Michael: Not addressing your question directly, but why don't you just eliminate the problem and get the U.S. editions? They are almost always cheaper than the "Canadian" editions at amazon.ca. However, you *must* pre-order the U.S. editions from them, they're generally not available very shortly after being released.

 

[Paul_Stachniak]

Both are just as bad.

 

[Stephen_J_H]

Have had no problems with Artisan and bilingual packaging.

 

[Tom Tsai]

"Both are just as bad."

Sure. Whatever you say.

 

[Michael Pakula]

I usuaully do the get the u.s editions if it has bilingual packaging but I do try to pick up
locally what I can that isnt bilingual packaging.


-Mike

 

[Edwin-S]

I have to disagree. If they have to have French on the cover I would rather have the French title printed with a small font. What Disney/Touchstone does is even uglier. It is like a yellow stain marring the cover art. The best thing would be to make the "French included" sticker removable: barring that the French titles should be in a small font outside of Quebec, while the reverse should be true within Quebec.

I'm not totally against having French titles on the cover. After all, this country does have two official languages. There is a federal law requiring packaging to have French and English.

 

[Tom Tsai]

^ I agree...I mean I don't see Asians complaining that there are often English titles on their Asian movies/dvds.

 

[Michael Pakula]

I guess its safe to say I shouldn't bother with picking up The Running Man when it comes out but rather pre-order it along with The School Of Rock,The Rundown,and The Skulls 3 (I know it wont be any good but I have the first two). I will however pick up Panic Room since it's Columbia Tri Star so that's good news.


-Mike

 

[Paul_Stachniak]

^ Yeah I ordered School of Rock from Amazon.com

 

[Jim Spencer]

Another place you can get the US discs in Canada is from Columbia House Canada. I just received Narc (Paramount), Midnight Run & Scarface(Universal) from them and there is no Bilingual packaging on them at all.

 

[ChrisRose]

Hey Jim...Do you know if Columbia House Canada sells Disney DVDs? The animated classics?

I hate those big yellow blobs. I agree with Edwin-S, about removable "French included" stickers on the packaging. I don't see why it has to be on the actual cover art, marring the design.

 

[Greg Madsen]

I have only received canadian versions from Columbia House Canada.

 

[Rob T]

The reason for bilingual packaging comes from Canada being a bilingual country. Maybe if Quebec seperates and becomes it's own country then the reason for bilingual packaging will go away.

 

[Edwin-S]

^So what you are saying is the disintegration of Canada as country is worth it, as long as you don't have to look at French on your DVD covers? Okaaaaayy!

 

[rhett]

I refuse to buy bilingual covers. I don't care if we are a bilingual country, they are still butt ugly. And what I don't understand is why companies do it on DVD but do not do in on VHS, what is the deal? DVD is a collector's format, where people are way more anal about things like botched artwork, so you'd think companies would just leave the DVDs in english and destroy the VHS artwork instead.

 

[Tom Tsai]

"The reason for bilingual packaging comes from Canada being a bilingual country."

exactly my point. If others can tolerate English titles even though they're not American, who are we to complain about French titles especially when our country is bilingual. While I understand how some people may not like it, I don't blame the government for imposing the law.

As others said though, studios should find a better solution around it. WB and Fox are doing a great job at this.