It might be the norm for today's movies, but I noticed a bunch of product plugs when I saw Nim's Island yesterday. I found it more 'in your face' than other movies.
Purell Hand Sanatizer
Progresso Soup
Mastercard
National Geographic
... what others can you name?
IMAC Computers
Actually, not just iMacs but Apple computers in general (her laptop was also a Mac).
And it's true: Apple is often used in films, for what reason I don't know. Could be just an effort on the part of the company for the exposure but it could also be due to the distinctive design (the iMac that Nim and her father use is my favorite design).
EDIT: also an interesting touch that their computer seemed to use OS 9 and not OS X. That makes sense: they probably haven't updated the OS in forever. On the other hand, I'm not sure that that design of the iMac would have come with OS 9 as the default. It was early in OS X's life span, so it definitely would have supported Classic...I just don't know why they would use it. Perhaps to support some older software the dad was using.
4 8 15 16 23 42
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For Nate.
Most movies and soundtracks are made with a Mac.
And for the OS, the film was probably shot around this time last year. Also note that they were using the older keyboard and iMac.
It's on, bitch.
[deleted]
Expedia was also mentioned.
shareAs an Australian, I found the Picnic wrapper on the beach to be VERY 'in your face' (Picnic is like an Australian version of a Snickers bar).
Also have to agree with Purell and Master Card.
Nothing tops I, Robot, "Vintage shoes". Whatever.
shareNo, I'm pretty sure Demolition Man's "taco bell is the only restaurant left on earth" is much worse.
shareha ha! I've never seen Demolition Man but that made me laugh.
shareThanks to billy_walsh. I saw the film tonight and would have bet money that the 'PICNIC' bar was an movie invention...Something about the wrapper artwork and the name. Not that our 'SNICKERS' isn't a stupid name for a pretty good candy bar.
shareIn your face? For me- NOT.
I would say, as did another poster, "I, Robot" was MUCH more so. Am thinking also "Josie and the Pussycats", though perhaps that was more satire ABOUT product placement.... It's been a while since I've seen that one...??
Eddy ~~~
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Yes, the Picnic wrapper really stuck out to me! It could have just been littering but they focussed on it a little too big and a second too long...that was weird.
shareI think it was focused on because up until then this Island had been untouched by littering of any sort. It was a dramatic event in that regards.
And as said it makes more sense that Australian guard threw the paper from a local bar than if it were a Snickers bar. Right?
Then again, who knows.
Still why would they pay the movie for using their wrappings in a litter scene? It's not nice being associated with rude/criminal behavior, is it?
Well, I posted that in 2008, so it's been over 6 years since I have seen this film, however if I recall correctly they could have focussed on the littering without making the brand name so obvious. Like if someone throws a wrapper away it's often scrunched up and you can't see it completely. I think they just hoped it would get in someone's head.
You can get Snickers in Australia. I actually didn't realise Picnic was Australian lol. So even if they were trying to make that point, weird. And yes, why product place to be littered? Yuck.
Yes I agree, although unfortunately it *is* the norm for today's movies, I found the product placement in this film really distracting. They couldn't just say "soup," they had to say "Progresso Soup" almost every single time. I know product placement doesn't seem to bother most people any more, but it takes me right out of the film, especially when it is poorly done and obvious like in this movie, I feel like it's one big commercial.
shareI'd never heard of that brand of soup before. I assumed they mentioned the brand though because she was obsessive-compulsive and that was the only brand she would eat. I've heard of people like that before. I guess at the time I was too into the movie to notice the product placement (other than Picnic) but it stands out more now.
shareI find any product placement in any movie (or any media) intrusive and antithetical to the art of storytelling. There's nothing wrong with advertising. Just don't advertise in the story.
share[deleted]
That's a good example, in most cases product advertising is unneeded and unwanted. If done correct, the viewer generally does not notice or care but when done poorly it detracts from the film permanently.
If it adds to the movie, great. If it's there to sell products, put it in a way that's not blatant and stupid.
Another one:
Panasonic cordless phones. That caught my eye (though it was slightly more discreet than the carefully placed sweetie wrapper).
I guess this product placement works - I noticed it and whaddya know: they're getting another free plug right here.
However, as mentioned above, when it's blatant, Product Plugs wreck the film. As soon as a viewer starts 'placement spotting' the story ceases to exist; the whole film becomes one big, worthless, TV commercial. It is very, very difficult to re-engage with the story after just one such incident. Use with care - with extreme care!
I felt there was, as usual in Hollywood films, a massive placement of product 'Amerika' in this film. The implicit cultural imperialism and extraordinary assumptions that tried to normalise the idea that the characters could take over an island as their own domain.
Americans wonder why the rest of the world thinks they are arrogant. Watch your own propaganda with your eyes open 'guys'.
Continue to fight the good fight with your tired "observations"about American culture.
Really, these are all fresh and insightful points
Um, maybe because it's an American film? And aren't Picnic bars Australian or British anyway? Also, America is one of the world leaders in things such as computers etc.
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I thought Picnic bars were from the UK but I guess they have them in Oz too. Yes, Progresso Soup - very overdone and I'm still not buying it because it's full of additives!
But product plugs in films - I suppose it's more realistic than everything being ACME and I guess it helps with the budget.
;-)
Wow, davesp, take a Valium. There's a product placement for you.
"Americans wonder why the rest of the world thinks they are arrogant."
Yeah, a lot of us Americans feel really BAD about that!" Pffftt....
"If I don't suit chu, you kin cut mah thoat!"
Huh... Americans know they're thought of as arrogant by the rest of the world AND DON'T CARE! Way to conform to the prejudice there, guy.
"It's too late... Always has been, always will be...
Too late."
If it adds to the movie, great. If it's there to sell products, put it in a way that's not blatant and stupid.
As soon as a viewer starts 'placement spotting' the story ceases to exist; the whole film becomes one big, worthless, TV commercial. It is very, very difficult to re-engage with the story after just one such incident.
The produce placement really turned me off during this movie.
Did you guys see the pattern on Nim's pillow on the couch. It was so close to being the the big C's you see on Coach purses. They showed the pillow several times.
Yes, the Progresso Soup was way overdone!
They always use iMacs because PC is not a closed market like Apple. You can choose from whatever hardware you want, instead of being dictated by Steve Jobs.
share
"Did you guys see the pattern on Nim's pillow on the couch. It was so close to being the the big C's you see on Coach purses. They showed the pillow several times. "
Coach? Now that`s a bit much.
I saw that too!! I had to watch the movie several times to make sure if it was "real" or just a pattern that looked like Coach. I'm still uncertain, since you only see the pillows for a macro second.
shareI did not realise the hand sanitizer and the soup were real life brands. I assumed the brand names were fictional and the names were used a lot to emphasise Alexandra's condition. I am not sure how my enjoyment of the film would have been affected had those brands been familiar to me.
Mastercard, I did not notice the placement.
National Geographic, never thought of that as a product placement; I thought that was mostly there to establish the father's scientific credentials.
As to the Picnic bar many have mentioned; My impression was that the emphasis was meant to be on the litter not the product.
Interesting. I thought Picnic was fictional, too. But totally tought the Progresso soup and Purell were in-yor-face product placements.
Seems like the Aussie audience really picked up on the Picnic bar, and the American audience really noticed the soup and hand sanitizer. That tells us so much about how product name recognition works!
I am not a Frankenstein. I'm a Fronkensteen.
The worst product placement picture of all time is "Mac and Me", a lengthy ad for McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Skittles and Sears! They even have a song and dance number at MacDonald's.
But, "Nim's Island" is rather bad, too. How many times did they repeat "Progresso" and/or "Progresso soup" and "Purell"?! Couldn't they have stuck with "hand sanitizer" and "canned soup"? I found it quite irritating after about the third mention. Or, maybe it's just the whole film, which is astonishingly awful! I had a bad feeling about this when I saw the trailers. The little girl is unbearable! What were they trying for: "Home Alone"? I can't imagine children, let alone adults, finding this worth the price of admission. At least I'm seeing it free on On Demand.
I do agree that, after the first mention of "National Geographic", we didn't need to see issues unpacked and around their home. I remember the days when you had to be invited to subscribe to "NG". No doubt they've fallen on hard times.
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