Ian Morris
Ian Morris loves televisions so much he's been banned from wedding chapels in Las Vegas for trying to marry them. When he's not romancing technology, he can be found watching American TV. Ian likes roast potatoes, but he doesn't like digital rights management.
Friday 31 October 2008, 10:06am
Quantum of Solace should be free
You don't have to pay to watch Coronation Street because the advertisers are footing the bill. So when a movie has more ads than an episode of Corrie, you'd expect you would be able to see that for free too -- the new Bond film, Quantum of Solace, is stuffed so full of product placement, everyone should be allowed into the cinema for free.
Even before the movie opens, Barclaycard is suggesting it's Bond's credit card of choice and Virgin is apparently 'Bond's favourite airline' -- come on, everyone knows Bond flies BA. Even Heineken has got in on the act, offering Bond-themed competitions, despite the great man never drinking anything so déclassé. And that's all before the massive glut of product placement that is in the film.
It could well turn out that Quantum has beaten the £36m paid to Sony Pictures by firms to appear in Casino Royale. Omega, Aston Martin, Sony Ericsson, Sony Vaio, Volvo, Range Rover and the new Ford Ka all feature. There are also glimpses of Coca-Cola Zero and even a company that leases private jets, Ocean Sky.
So when you get to the cinema, I'd suggest you ask the ticket desk if you can just go in for free. I'm sure they'll agree.
Comments on this post
Watch out for the cool features on Bond's phone - including the next generation of face recognition, apparently
Posted by Richard Trenholm on Fri 31 October, 2008 10:26 AM
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Oh come on. Let them have their product placement. Personally, I think it just adds to realism. Who wants to see a film set in a place of generic automobiles and nameless phones? Not me. Granted though, I wish Coke Zero hadn't got involved - Bond is man enough to drink real Coke, not some sugar free Diet Coke rebrand.
Posted by Mohammed Jiwa on Fri 31 October, 2008 3:48 PM
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I couldn't agree more. Although it is a nice touch to have some real products used in a film as Mohammed Jiwa says, it is a bit annoying when you have a advert shoved in your face as seen when Bond drives his new hydrogen (yes they plug that to) Ford with the worlds largest shield on the front. But what does emerge is the tight restrictions the new film wants to promote. An advert prior to the film has Daniel Craig asking us not to record the film. So perhaps there is some "solace" to find as companies try to keep their products theirs.
Posted by Dan Reed on Sun 9 November, 2008 6:25 PM
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