MovieChat Forums > My Favorite Martian (1999) Discussion > Most Blatant Product Placement EVER!

Most Blatant Product Placement EVER!

posted 16 years ago by Perkins_the_Uncanny
16 replies | jump to latest

Did anyone notice this ? The next door neighbour walks in to see what all the commotion is about and she's holding a bottle of well known brand of water in her hand with the label facing the camera PERFECTLY.
Not just that, but there's just no need for the scene, she walks in...then out, dosen't even drink the water !

I also thought the amount of smoking was a worry in a PG movie...I'd like to know why the producers thought this was necessary.

Perkins...the Uncanny

"Zombies, man. Creep me out..."

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Perkins_the_Uncanny 16 years ago

A lot of people have said that to me. I might've dreamt it, so I checked it on YouTube...and there it was, plain as day.
If you don't notice something that blatant, I don't know if it's bad product placement or subliminal advertising.

Perkins...the Uncanny

NoSuchThingAsBadFilmsOnlyBoringOnes

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Perkins_the_Uncanny 15 years ago

It's a big deal because it's a PG children's film. Neither would I expect any other form of drug use, explicit sex or people being chainsawed to be featured in it.

Smoking wasn't essential to the plot...so why not leave it out of a children's film, it's not the fifties anymore.

Perkins...the Uncanny

"Zombies, man. Creep me out..."

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Perkins_the_Uncanny 15 years ago

'My Favourite Martian' IS a Disney film (Buena Vista).

If ANY form of drug use is intrinsic to the plot, then there's justification to feature it (i.e. smoking in 'Thank You for Smoking', Cocaine in 'Scarface', Heroin in 'Trainspotting', Alcohol in 'Barfly' etc.).

I wouldn't expect any of this in a children's film. Usually I don't really notice smoking in PG films (or any films)as it is not an 'out-of-the-ordinary' practice, I only noticed the smoking in 'MFM' as it is VERY prominent it is as is actually quite blatantly highlighted (lead characters smoking, cigarettes held up during close-ups).

Perkins...the Uncanny

"Zombies, man. Creep me out..."

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] HouseLovinGleek 15 years ago

Actually I think smoking was nesscesscary for the plot in this movie, if Brace hadn't been smoking, what would they have gotten her DNA mixed with an aleins to get her in the middle of it. I think that whole line of the story was very importatnt :)

[–] trollomatic 12 years ago

<<<<It's a big deal because it's a PG children's film. Neither would I expect any other form of drug use, explicit sex or people being chainsawed to be featured in it.

then you would have a total conniption fit if you ever saw the G rated and PG rated movies made when I was a kid or the kids tv shows and cartoons made for kids when I was young.

You would probably even have a conniption fit over the kids tv cartoons made for kids after I was already an adult such as this one at this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JtGRftla-0

[–] Perkins_the_Uncanny 12 years ago

Quite ironic. A 'just say no' message from a man addicted to (prescription) drugs!

I'm quite elderly, so I remember sweet cigarettes, 'smoking sets' made from liquerish and chocolate syringes.

Perkins...the Uncanny
"Zombies, man. Creep me out..."

[–] Howlin Wolf 13 years ago

They reference the product placement with a line of dialogue, so I'm OK with it.

Born when she kissed me, died when she left me, lived whilst she loved me

[–] dwacon-2 11 years ago

You missed the box of tide under where the suit was bathing in the Maytag washing machine... not to mention the suit guzzling Downy... and gawking over a Victoria’s Secret catalog...

Yes, product placement was all over the film. But that is the economics of filmmaking... the more money you get from advertisers, the more you can spend on production and marketing.

Get used to it...

Dwacon
http://dwacon.com/
http://www.twitter.com/dwacon/

[–] paulr03 9 years ago

And of course, the ACE hardware logo.

[–] MystMoonstruck 11 years ago

Check out "Mac and Me"! I think that holds the record.

Besides: WHO CARES?! Go in any home, and you won't see the covered-up names so irritatingly obvious in many TV series and movies. You will see Cheer, Tide, Evian, Jif, Kellogg's and plenty of other names all over the place.

As a later poster notes: It helps with budgets. And, it makes a believable background. We're not going to go out and buy most of these things just because something appeared for a few seconds or even a minute.

What bugs me are the people who can't keep their mind on the movie and puzzle over a product. "Where can I buy sunglasses like (person) was wearing in (film)?" "Where can I buy the purse (Sex in the City person) carried?" Maybe they are the ones who look for product placement. I doubt that the average viewer does notice.

*** The trouble with reality is there is no background music. ***

[–] duffasaurus 8 years ago

Was Mac and Me the one where the aliens are revived from death with coca cola?

[–] MystMoonstruck 8 years ago

I think that might be part of it; it's been a very long time since I've seen it. It does prominently feature McDonald's.

(W)hat are we without our dreams?
Making sure our fantasies
Do not overpower our realities. ~ RC