Best Gratituous Product Placement?

[JohnL]

>Speaking of Dr. Pepper.

How about Godzilla 1985? Pretty much every scene showing Raymond Bur in the military HQ had a Dr. Pepper machine in the background. I actually expected Godzilla to pick up a giant bottle and take a swig!

[Susan]

Baby Ruth's stunning appearance in Caddyshack

not really shameless tho..



Post Edited (11-11-03 20:41)

[Dunners]

Return of the killer tomato's...the big advertisement scene, ha ha.

[Eirik]

I always thought that little walking turd and his Reeces Pieces was the most gratuitous of all.

Susan - Given the context, I somehow doubt that Baby Ruth sanctioned or paid for the appearance of their candy bar in Caddyshack :)

Actually, I don't mind product placement so much.  People in the real world are surrounded by corporate logos.  Looking around my kitchen, I see six.  I'd rather see someone in a movie crack a Coors or a Budweiser than a generic-looking blue can with "BEER" in big white letters.  However, I do respect Tarantino for taking the time to make up some brand names (such as Red Apple cigarettes) and use other brand names that don't exist any more (like the cereal Eric Stoltz was eating in Pulp Fiction).

[dean]

there's product placement in every film, its just a matter of how it is used, such as subway in happy gilmore.  

i remember that in final fantasy in the first scene in new york there is a big pespi sign that gets lit up by the flare that aki shoots in the sky, the camera lingers on it for a second too long.  that and one character is drinking a can that i think was meant to be pepsi

we had a tv show here downunder called "the block" it was a renovating reality show, yet all the contestants ate a certain brand of food, used a certain specific brand of power tool and bought most of their furniture from a certain store.  it was the most shameless product placement, that was forced down your throat at every opportune moment.  very frustrating [thank god i didn't watch it often, i would have had to add a few names to my 'to kill' list]

[Susan]

>>Susan - Given the context, I somehow doubt that Baby Ruth sanctioned or paid for the appearance of their candy bar in Caddyshack :)<<

Wouldn't they have to for that kind of scene? lol

[Neville]

Has anyone mentioned "Mission to Mars"? As Liz pointed out, not only they put M&Ms on it, they also made them one of the most important plot points in the movie.

[AndyC]

Ah yes, Mission to Mars, where a DNA molecule made of M&Ms provides a vital clue. We also can't forget the way they located the hull breach with Dr. Pepper.

Mac and Me was probably one of the more shameless product pushing movies. Had Ronald McDonald right in it.

Ever notice that almost everybody in movies seems to be using a Macintosh computer?

The product placement scene in Return of the Killer Tomatoes, mentioned by Dunners, was probably the funiest thing in that movie. Interesting that by making fun of product placement, you can actually make it more effective. You can shove the product right in people's faces and talk about it, and people will actually enjoy it and remember it. Another example would be Little Nicky and Popeye's Chicken.

I do agree that modest product placement does make a movie more realistic. Generic products and unfamiliar brands can be distracting, depending on how they are used. Still, this can also be used to great effect if it suits the movie. All of the generic products in Repo Man really add a nice surreal touch.

[raj]

Not a product placement, but the scene in Dr. Strangelove where they have to shoot a soda machine in order to get coins for the payphone gave one of the best lines I've ever heard "You're going to have to answer to the Coca-Cola company."

Who'd a thunk coke was that powerful.

[Lee]

Here's a few: Police Story-During the fight in the mall Jackie Chan comandeers a motorcycle and rams it into a thug and then crashes into a glass display case. In the background is a big sign for Mitsubishi.

Wheels On Meals-During a car chase a car comes FLYING over two cars infront of it. It landes does a 180 and stops. An old lady gets out and gripes at the other drivers for being maniacs and how lucky she is to have a great car. Then there's a close up of the car's grill and the Mitsubishi logo is well displayed!

The Fifth Element-The cop car crashing into the GIGANTIC McDonalds truck!


I happen to think product place meant is hilarous I'm all for it being in movies.

[Neon Noodle]

> Ever notice that almost everybody in movies seems to be using a
> Macintosh computer?
>

Yes, apparently Apple Computers can interface with alien systems!!!! Thank you Jeff Goldblum.....


> All of the
> generic products in Repo Man really add a nice surreal touch.

As I recall, they couldn't get any companies to sponsor REPO MAN - hence why you saw beer as BEER and chips as CHIPS and so forth.

[JohnL]

In Total Recall, Arnold and Sharon Stone fight in front of a Pepsi display.

[AndyC]

Neon Noodle wrote:

> As I recall, they couldn't get any companies to sponsor REPO
> MAN - hence why you saw beer as BEER and chips as CHIPS and so
> forth.

The movie is actually better because of it. Nice that instead of trying to hide the lack of real brand names, they chose to play it up. In Repo Man, it really works.

[Deej]

Cast Away...the entire film is a huge f**k-all FedEx commercial!