MetaChat - Terrible Realizations #412753:

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10 January 2006

Terrible Realizations #412753: All those product placements in The Island (including the scene where the shot is framed around one of those aluminum beer "bottles", going so far as to slowly and lovingly revolve around the damn thing) weren't meant to be ironic but were in fact genuine product placements that probably did move product.

post by: PinkStainlessTail at: 13:48 | 17 comments

Also, does anyone remember an article from a few years ago that pointed out how every Jerry Bruckheimer (and therefore Michael Bay) movie has at least one throwaway scene with a "sassy" black woman acting out the most pathetic stereotypes ("talk to the hand/Oh no you di'nt/back off girlfriend" etc., with minstrel show level gestures and mugging)? Because The Island had one of those poisonous little scenes too. I thought it was on Old Man Murray, but I can't seem to find it.

posted by PinkStainlessTail 10 January | 13:55

You're thinking of the ultimate article by Seanbaby and Eric of old man murray. I think.

posted by puke & cry 10 January | 14:33

oops, here's the appropriate page.

posted by puke & cry 10 January | 14:35

Seanbaby totally should have been the next place I checked. Thanks!

posted by PinkStainlessTail 10 January | 15:01

When I first saw the preview for The Island, I read the connected text wrong and hollered, "The Sland? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

The whole theater laughed at me. My roommates and I still call it The Sland. And yes, the product placement was icky. Especially the whole Mack truck of the future thing.

posted by SassHat 10 January | 15:03

When I first saw the preview for The Island, I read the connected text wrong and hollered, "The Sland? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

The whole theater laughed at me. My roommates and I still call it The Sland.

And yes, the product placement was icky. Especially the whole Mack truck of the future thing.

posted by SassHat 10 January | 15:04

Aw crap.

posted by SassHat 10 January | 15:05

sasshat, you seem to be malfunctioning. Perhaps you should order some new parts from The Sland.

posted by jrossi4r 10 January | 15:12

And yes, the product placement was icky. Especially the whole Mack truck of the future thing.

The one that really did it for me was the scene early on where the shot of Ewan's shoes was framed to carefully display the Puma logo. It was just so over the top, I wanted it to be some commentary, "products wearing products." But it wasn't, was it?

posted by PinkStainlessTail 10 January | 15:19

The 40-Year-Old Virgin had some of the most blatant product placement I've seen in a long time. The love interest runs a "Sell Your Stuff on eBay" store, and they have TWO conversations about "Wow, you can sell stuff on eBay? How does that work? Cool, I want to sell stuff online!"

Of course, I haven't seen The Island. It's going to stay that way, too.

posted by agropyron 10 January | 15:22

That ultimate article is pretty funny.

posted by omiewise 10 January | 15:26

Of course, I haven't seen The Island. It's going to stay that way, too.

With about half the length, a tenth of the budget, and a director who actually, you know, has a brain, it could've been really interesting and compelling. As it stands, not so much.

Also it looked like Scarlet Johansen had her lips pumped up, which was kinda icky. I hope I'm wrong.

posted by PinkStainlessTail 10 January | 15:27

But at least the 40 year old virgin was funny, agropyron.

posted by gaspode 10 January | 15:35

The only movie that pulled off the whole "product placement as social critique" thing successfully was Josie and the Pussycats.

Oh, and Demolition Man.

posted by SassHat 10 January | 15:36

I do not need to see the Island. I have seen Parts: The Clonus Horror on MST3K.

posted by jrossi4r 10 January | 15:44

Josie and the Pussycats rocks.

posted by unknowncommand 11 January | 11:56

Charlie's Angels was the first movie I watched where the product placement was so bad it actually detracted from the movie. Unfortunately it has gotten much worse.

posted by Mitheral 11 January | 13:21

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