I own a lot of movies in quite a few different cases. Most are simple, your standard keep cases. Others are different and not used often, but they're clever. And then some are different and not used often, because they suck. Whoever designed them must have been out of their mind to think anyone would enjoy storing movies in them. I have three to present from my own collection. They're sets, which partially explains the nutty cases.



First, Alien Quadrilogy, a DVD set from 2003. I believe the guideline must have been something like, "Make the set take up as much space as possible." I'm guessing it's the first time it was ever released as a set on DVD and as far as the content goes, it's impressive. But just look at how much it can spread out when you open it and that's not even at its full length!

Separate cases for each movie (two discs per movie, plus the bonus disc, so five cases) wouldn't have taken up much more room than when the set is when folded up and would have been less annoying to open. At least it unfolds from the middle, meaning you never need to open it all the way. I don't own this series on Blu-ray yet, but it seems like all future sets were smarter about the cases.

Next up, RoboCop Trilogy, a DVD set from 2006. I must admit, the case isn't as bad as I was remembering, but I'm including it because it's still kind of stupid. I feel like I'm playing with a Transformer when I'm trying to open and close it. It only fits in its sleeve if it's folded up correctly too, so if you're an idiot like me, you'll probably have to open and close the flaps a couple times before you get it right, especially those vertical flaps.

Why are those flaps even there? They serve no purpose beyond supporting the giant image. There's no information about the discs on them besides 'RoboCop Trilogy' at the top. That could have been placed elsewhere. Or not at all. Pretty sure the words 'RoboCop' on each disc are enough of a notification as to what set I'm looking at.

And last, Twin Peaks: The Entire Mystery, a Blu-ray set from 2014. Seems like a decent set in the picture, yeah? I thought so too. Until I started flipping through when I first got it, checking the discs to make sure none were damaged. That was when it dawned on me that when I get to the later discs, I'm going to be doing a lot of flipping. Of course, just being cardboard flaps, I'm afraid to flip them too fast out of fear of bending or tearing them. Then I got to the end and the whole part holding the flaps decided to detach from the glue holding it to the case.

I'm guessing the glue doesn't stick well to the slick cardboard. I saw other reviews complaining about that problem, so it seems pointless to send it back. It probably happens to all of the sets sooner or later. There's a slightly cheaper set in better, less artsy case, but it's missing the bonus disc. Can't win. Unless you don't care about the extras on that disc, then you do win if you go with the cheaper set.


I know I said I have three bad cases to present from my own collection, but I have one more. It's not in my collection anymore however, lasting only one day. It was Clint Eastwood: 35 Films 35 Years, a DVD set released in 2010. I saw it at Costco and there was no question in my mind about buying it, especially since I still hadn't seen a lot of Eastwood's movies at that time. The first sign of trouble was when I opened it at home and there was glue on the discs. I tried to wipe it off and then started watching.

Of course, it wasn't long before the disc started skipping and freezing. I scanned a couple other discs in DVD Shrink and it couldn't even finish the scan, so I knew it had to go back. Fortunately, Costco's cool about taking back already opened movies. I guess the set was doomed to fail, because even if there wasn't the glue, the discs were double-sided in cardboard sleeves. Incredibly foolish on Warner Bros. part and apparently they repeated themselves with the later Clint Eastwood: 40-Film Collection.

Though this whole article was created as a result of recently buying the Twin Peaks set, I reminded myself of this https://youtu.be/VsdzaEVeFEE video from Cinemassacre where bad cases and some other stupid things about DVDs are brought up. Well-worth a watch.

Got any movie cases in your collection that top these disasters?