Behind the Screens: Hollywood goes Hypercommercial 2 of 5

[LeboviciAB84]

Odd to think 'You've Got Mail' was ever popular. It took four years — not forty — for AOL to nosedive; even then, the film was archaic. That's less about branding than the march of technology: had the film focussed on Starbucks — or even Apple, with their longevity — it might have lasted. Then again, Miller's right: 'You've Got Mail' was at the fag-end of old-fashioned romantic-comedy, with AOL purposely the only modern plot device. It could only last as long as (AOL + Meg Ryan)'s popularity.

[WhateverHappenedToFu]

I just want to thank you for this wonderful documentary.

I always wanted to hear the opinions of the professionals about this things.

I have to say that here in Italy we can't understand all these commercial wars in the movies because we don't have all the brands.

For example, everybody is interested about the (poor) story of "You Got Mail" because we don't have AOL or Starbucks...

[kthekid]

Worst comes to worst today's Yahoo features Kayne West in my post-direct link to my last comment- in my surprise of course!

[kthekid]

Why for Mac Dre?

[Quex01]

Movies not only promote certain products, they promote ATTITUDES and IDEAS, that makers and shakers want masses to emulate. For example: women are always right, children are smarter then adults. Senseless violence solves all problems, then being educated. Looks and fashion are everything. Chasing women rather then getting married and having children is cool... etc etc.

Lenin said, that cinematography is all of the mediums most important. Because of oprpagandistic value.

[Cokecakepopcorn]

But good guys do use coke and bad guys do pepsi,

[franky2toes]

I think these people are looking into it to much. When I see product placement in a movie or tv show it doesn't really do anything to me. I don't think "oh I want that right now" or "god i hate product placement". I just notice it then move on and watch the fucking program.

[Ikoris]

Cigarettes advertised in License To Kill, how fitting.

[Hudsucker94]

I don't think it's all so bad. I mean, not everyone is dumb enough to go out and buy something just cause they saw it in the movie. Why don't they focus on that instead? and also, no one is making you buy anything. I am not for product placement, but stop making it seem worse than it is.

[Duvmasta]

I saw Mac and Me in Kindergarten one time.

[Imten1]

yes, sensual animal crackers....

and if the movie is ABOUT a product then the product didn't change the movie, there wouldn't BE a movie without that product!

I seriously want to hit some of these people

[Hudsucker94]

Here's my take on all this, sure, I def see where they are coming from on all of this, and can see the b.s for what it is, b.s, but alot of the examples they use, Fifth Elelement, Blade Runner, Total Recall, are spoofing the exact the same thing they are talking about. Know what I mean?

[SlyMaelstrom]

These people will bitch about anything if you get them on camera. Product placement... who cares? Seeing a McDonalds a few times logo isn't going to ruin a quality movie for me. If the movie is good, it's good... if it's bad, it's bad. I've never seen product placement push a movie across that line.

[Hudsucker94]

I kinda agree,but movies have pushed products before.

[NickAden13]

Tampax paid 50mil. to get their name in red dawn. You'll get the joke at the end of the month.

[ff7redxiii]

The McDonalds in 5th Element was in there on purpose for a joke, but also a product placement as well.

[Leewise1]

I always thought Spielberg was mad building an artificial terminal from scratch for his film The Terminal. Now I realise it probably cost him next to nothing... Boarders brings Hanks and Zeta-Jones together, Burger King saves him from starving to death, Hugo Boss makes him look sharp, Friends teaches him how to read english... Then there's the other shops and items just on the screen for pretty much the entire film. Cheaky...

[BritishBleu]

Hm, I've never noticed all these placements all that much unless it's blatent. THis has probably ruined films for me now because I'll be noticing them every where.

[sumthingfornuthing]

i new it on ghost busters.its miller time.

[welshuser]

That Happy Gilmore one is particularly grone inducing. Adam Sandler's films are always full of product placement, for some reason.

[cody733]

spam, peanut butter cups, chevy corvettes, mcdonalds, the beach boys, to name a very select few.

[welshuser]

Didn't Popeyes and Hooters also get a look in?

[cody733]

yeah, in little nicky and big daddy. then there was gatorade, bed bath and beyond, foot locker, 7-11

wow, i can't believe i'm just realizing this now

[JackNikopol]

yep and stargate saves the galaxy again on a xps dell, "that battery runs out in 56 mins" thank god the show only lasts 54

[dazada]

I like his comment at the end. Very well said.

[randomdude56]

Wow! I never noticed all these advertisements!

[ledzeprox666666]

i liked the wayne's world one. it's as real as it is obnoxious.

[blackberryjuice1]

ha! talk about cult leaders with all this propaganda placement. There is no real entertainment anymore, and soon you know the corporations and government are going to shut down on the autonomy of the internet. Let's count this as a truly unique time in history when we have the freedom to relate to each other this way because soon we will no longer!

[sharkboy85]

lol he got paid to mock their sensibility