Well.. it's an interesting selection this year. Not sure what to think about the list actually. I'm not overly impressed by the 2014 nominations. Some true gems in here, but it seems like the steelbook market produced a better crop of steelbooks than what this list would initially suggest.
My "no hesitation" votes:
I Saw the Devil Plain Archive
Frozen Blufans
Drive NM/Plain Archive
Leon Kimchi
ISTD PA: Fantastic glossy steelbook with unique and quite appropriate look to it. Extremely cool PET slip option. Just an all around great package. Blind buy for me, and was VERY hesitant to watch this film, but once I did, I took a real good look at this package afterwards, and liked it more and more after having seen the movie.
Frozen BF: Honestly the final design of the actual steelbook was not my first choice at all.. In fact, may have been my very last choice. It's no secret that I am very big on character recognition. I cried foul with the Blufans Pacific Rim for the same reason, and even Rush Kimchi (until I saw that oh so glorious full slip). But Blufans won me over for the sheer effort and attention they put into this Frozen release. That goes a long way in my book. The finished product is a work of art and the slips are excellent.
Drive NM/PA: This one caught me by surprise. Blind buy for me. But I really liek this steelbook. Great style. And to me, the lenticular slip had great depth in the background. The extras are nice too. Basically, this package does not leave me wanting, and I suppose that's a great thing to say about it.
Leon Kimchi: When first announced, I was over the moon excited about this. Leon is a very special movie. Everything was looking supremely excellent, but then Kimchi decided to use that oddball spot gloss of the names. Almost lost me altogther on this release. But I stuck with it, and once in hand, with that total win of a full slip (front and back), the perfection of artwork choices, the perfect extras, and the extremely unique clear slip overtop the full slip overtop the steelbook, I just fell in love with this release. I used to desire the Japan Digipack. Ha. No more. This Leon package ranks in my top 5 of my entire collection now.
My other 3 choices that I wasn't so sure about but decided to give them a vote:
Tangled Zavvi: I have a very difficult time voting for a plain vanilla (non-package) steelbook these days. This is nicely done steelbook. No slip. No extras. But a dam near model of perfection as far as the steelbook itself goes. I have always been over the moon for the Kimchi Tangled. So I expected absolutely nothing for Zavvi's effort, but I was very pleasantly surprised. This is a total win of a steelbook.
Transcendence Germany: I do not own this, but based on the pictures, I voted for this for 2 main reasons.#1... Extremely unique embossing. Never seen anything else like it. #2. Extremely unique back. I respect that effort. So it earns a vote.
Her Kimchi: After waiting patiently for 3 and a half years after ship date, I finally received this. I got the full slip. From what I've seen, both the full and lenticular are supremely praised to no end. I have heard the back and forth about the choice to use lil miss Scarlett on the front. And I have seen the back and forth about the uncrossed "t" in Samantha. Having seen the movie last week, I must say that I now have a pretty good opinion about both. Scarlett on the front - totally appropriate. She was a huge part of this movie, and if you think about it, her image is made up of ones and zeros, keeping with her true reality. And about that, what an incredibly ambitious idea for a full slip with that texture. About the uncrossed "t", I think it's slightly odd, but not really a big deal at all, and for a brief moment, it does show it as uncrossed in the movie. The steelbook... gorgeous and basically fantastic. The movie.... odd, alarmingly so. And I think that's why this release divides, but still a worthy steelbook release for top voting.
Some additional thoughts:
Iron Man Blufans: should definitely not be on here. That is a 2015 release. The vast majority of people have not yet received their copy and therefore cannot correctly vote on it.
Under the Skin Zavvi: Seriously? No for real.. Are you guys serious?
Captain American NM: Uh.. this should definitely 100% NOT have made this list. This is not "Top Slipcover of 2014 list".
Rush Kimchi/PA: I REALLY wanted to vote for this, but couldn't for one single reason... the inside artwork. I have over 200 steelbooks, and the full slip for this is absolutely 100% in my top 5 slipcovers of anything in my entire collection, and might be my top favorite. (competing with Leon or Tangled Kimchi). Nice steelbook covers, and nice extras, but I still can't help but think WTF about that interior. HDN chose wrong, ok? There. I said it.
Ender's Game Mondo/HMV: Fantastic steelbook exterior. One of the best I've ever seen, but sorta kinda weak interior. Should have been more appropriate to the movie. Was very close to earning a vote from me. If it had a full Asian style package I would have voted for it.
Should it not just be Captain America The Winter soldier (Europe & Asia) ? As the steelbook is the same throughout Europe and Asia only the US & Canada are different. This is not the "Top slipcover, goodies" award but Steelbook of the year that's what I voted for...
