That was the first thing that came to mind for me, too. Hilariously blatant and absurd.
Trekker's 10 Worst Product Placements in TV/Movies
- Thread starter Trekker4747
- Start date
Interestingly, this particular part of product placement didn't bother me as much as the Audi stuff. Not only, as another person mentioned, is Spooner driving around in what's basically a TT with stuff glued on but if you take a closer look at the film, there's basically nothing BUT Audis on the streets. And this, people, is the truly disturbing part of this vision of the future, not the robots taking over.
The JCV stereo set probably also deserves an honorable mention.
I agree with The Borgified Corpse who said this was a joke well integrated in the film. I certainly found it quite amusing (and Spartan's reaction is priceless).
And I can confirm that it's Pizza Hut in the European version.
Actually, I found all the Sony Ericsson stuff to be far worse and more distracting, to be honest.
I'm sure it's Taco Bell in the UK version... been a while since I watched it though.
I certainly found the Sony ones to be worse. Everything from Sony Viao, to the phone, to a Blu-Ray security system in the hotel.
And weren't the Converse in iRobot supposed to be new shoes that just happened to be vintage 2004 style?
^
Actually, you're right! I have the UK version and just checked.
However, the first time I saw the movie it was the German version. And I'm almost certain it was Pizza Hut.
I just did a brief internet search:
German Wikipedia has a reference in its Pizza Hut article which mentions that it's Taco Bell in the original.
There's also a mention on Wikia which I don't know.
Actually, you're right! I have the UK version and just checked.
However, the first time I saw the movie it was the German version. And I'm almost certain it was Pizza Hut.
I just did a brief internet search:
German Wikipedia has a reference in its Pizza Hut article which mentions that it's Taco Bell in the original.
There's also a mention on Wikia which I don't know.
I dunno, the memory card was kind-of shameless, the iPod I think was bad but things like the USA Today and eBay are subtle and not as bad as the memory card or some of the others in that clip.
what about BTTF 2 and it's Nike trainers, Texaco garage and Black and Decker dustbuster and rehydrater? okay, the last one's a futuristic gimmick, but it's got a B&D logo on it.
and wasn't the pizza from Pizza Hut?
not to mention 'Pepsi' getting mentioned in the Cafe 80s...
and of course, Flight of the Navigator with it's 'can i get a Coke' scene...
and wasn't the pizza from Pizza Hut?
not to mention 'Pepsi' getting mentioned in the Cafe 80s...
and of course, Flight of the Navigator with it's 'can i get a Coke' scene...
With Back to the Future and its sequels, the product placement is a convenient way to show how much things have changed in whatever time period the characters are in. The jokes are funnier because they are specific. It's a different type of product placement than the Cheerios box in Superman.
Indeed, if I want a Pepsi, I still need to pay for it.
The thing that bothered me the most about the Converse stuff in this movie, is that they actually worked it into dialogue, for crissakes. He actually discusses his Converse shoes with other characters! Yeesh.
But in defence of your last point, I've purchased Vision Street Wear shoes circa 1985 from an online company that has stock overflows. Those were over 20 years old and in perfect condition.
UK TV as just been given the go a head for product placement can't wait to see what shows come up with.
Can't be any worse than ITVs idea of superimposing logos in to blank spaces.
"OOh look, that nice blue sky is sponsored by HP, and that wall by McDonalds."
Home Alone turned into a Godsend for the company that made those voice-recorders. They weren't really even for sale until after that movie made them so popular.
Best (and most cruel) product placement: The Batman Vs. Superman teaser poster from I Am Legend. Given the teaser campaign lead times, it's possible this movie didn't even make it out of post-production or at best is eternally stored away, never to be seen...
Is that product placement though or an injoke?
(If you don't know: the producer included that because he had been working on a Batman Vs. Superman for over a year before Warner Brothers pulled out in favor of Batman Begins)
I'm embarassed to admit that I've seen it, but Seventh Heaven, late in its run, had an episode that was practically an infomercial for Oreo Cookies. It was the most shameless use of product placement I've ever seen.
On the other hand, Fight Club is filled with product placement, but it's used in way that's pretty clever and not totally complementary of Starbucks, Ikea, and the other brands that show up.
On the other hand, Fight Club is filled with product placement, but it's used in way that's pretty clever and not totally complementary of Starbucks, Ikea, and the other brands that show up.
True, but that doesn't really count as product placement. Talk Boy was made up for the movie, and it was only after a letter writing campaign that it became an actual product.
Pretty much my POV. The product placements in BTTF2 wasn't as blatant or shameless as the others I mentioned. I mean, Smallville did an entire episode centered around Stride Gum! That hard compared to the "product placements" in Back to the Future which, as mentioned, was put in there as commentary to changing times. It's not nearly as shameless to have Lorraine mistake Marty's name as being Clavin from his designer underwear, the USA Today was commentary on corporations over taking news organizations, and Marty's shoes are only mentioned by name in BTTF-3 bu a confused cowboy and to Marty's (and the writers' credit) when he sees the truck he says, "Hey check out that 4x4!" Not, "Hey! Check out that late-model Toyota Tundra 4x4 with dual exhaust and chrome tips!" or something similar.
Nah, the product placement in the BTTF movies -for me- isn't as shameless as having your main character covet, buy, and wear 30-year-old shoes!
Yeah, product placement like that works for me. It's natural or funny, but the kind we've been getting lately is annoying.
