And the winner is ...

highhopes

I got a kick of this ...

http://www.salon.com/ent/video_dog/oscars/2007/02/25/casino/

I never really noticed this stuff until it was pointed out to me (I preferred following the plot rather than the products), but it's funny anyway.

Solaris

it gave me a little chuckle

Barbel

I think we can excuse the Gordon's (it's straight from the book) and the Aston Martins (traditional), but the Sony plugs and the watch-that-isn't-Rolex were way OTT and far too blatant for my liking. What next, a baddie plunging through a large ad for an airline? Oh, wait a minute, they've done that.
Generally I'm with hh on not noticing such things until they're pointed out, but not this time.

Nightshooter

The only truly ridiculous thing is that everyone has a Sony phone. But then again, it would make sense that if Sony is the preferred company by MI6, all their agents carry Sony phones and all their computers are Sony.

The only truly product placement moment to me was the Ford Mondeo drive. That looked like a car ad. )

Lady Rose

The Rolex/Omega line was a step too far.Having something used in the film is one thing, to have it as part of the dialogue is too much. IMO it spoilt a great scene.

As for the rest, doesn't really bother me but the Sony connection was a tad OTT.

Sir Hillary Bray

Lady Rose wrote:

The Rolex/Omega line was a step too far.Having something used in the film is one thing, to have it as part of the dialogue is too much. IMO it spoilt a great scene.

Agree 100% with this. I know many others feel differently, but I honestly didn't notice the Sony and Ford placements because I was too focused on, say, what the mobile phone display read or on where/why Bond was driving. The Omega line was just silly, IMO -- a real clunker.

Catarinita

Lady Rose wrote:

The Rolex/Omega line was a step too far.Having something used in the film is one thing, to have it as part of the dialogue is too much. IMO it spoilt a great scene.

As for the rest, doesn't really bother me but the Sony connection was a tad OTT.

I liked the Rolex-Omega line...I mean to me it didn't seem too obtrusive. The Ford-thing just made me laugh - exactly a car-ad, no less. And the Sony thing - phones, ok, let them be, but the VAio logo on the laptop, which on the usual models is just engraved, on the Bond's one is also outlined with white.So that noone could think that Bond has an LG-laptop or, God Forbid, an Acer or BEnQ!!! ):)):))

highhopes

Sir Hillary Bray wrote:

Lady Rose wrote:

The Rolex/Omega line was a step too far.Having something used in the film is one thing, to have it as part of the dialogue is too much. IMO it spoilt a great scene.

Agree 100% with this. I know many others feel differently, but I honestly didn't notice the Sony and Ford placements because I was too focused on, say, what the mobile phone display read or on where/why Bond was driving. The Omega line was just silly, IMO -- a real clunker.

The Omega line never dawned on me as a product placement until someone pointed it out. I thought Omegas were maybe cheap Rolexes. I'm still not sure if they are or not, but I remember thinking at the time that it would have been funnier if he'd said "Timex." Which I proudly have strapped to my wrist, I might add.

And what the poster said about everyone at MI6 having the same equipment is absolutely true. In my office, it's Blackberry.

jamesbondagent007

Actually, I didn't mind that line. She's examining him, looking him up and down, critiquing him, so when she comes to his watch she naturally and sarcastically assumes what every average person assumes: Rolex. When he replies with 'Omega', which she probably hasn't even heard of, she kind of rolls her eyes and says 'beautiful.' As if she actually couldn't really care less what type of watch he has.

Dan Same

Lady Rose wrote:

The Rolex/Omega line was a step too far.Having something used in the film is one thing, to have it as part of the dialogue is too much. IMO it spoilt a great scene.

As for the rest, doesn't really bother me but the Sony connection was a tad OTT.

I agree. Although I found the Sony references to be a little OTT, I wasn't too fussed with it, but I was really annoyed with the Rolex/Omega line. When it was uttered, I groaned and I couldn't help thinking how much money the producers were paid for that line. I don't have a problem with product placement (sometimes it's to the benefit of the film) however I don't want to be reminded that the reason a product is in the film is because a company paid for it to be there. In the train scene with Vesper, I was reminded of that.

Nightshooter

I loved the watch line. I though it fit perfectly.

Catarinita

Dan Same wrote:

I don't have a problem with product placement (sometimes it's to the benefit of the film) however I don't want to be reminded that the reason a product is in the film is because a company paid for it to be there. In the train scene with Vesper, I was reminded of that.

How? 8-) I was reminded of that right when I read some articles after I wantched the film, which didn't soil the impression, though.

highhopes, the 'Timex" thing is hillarious {[]

Dan Same

Catarinita wrote:

Dan Same wrote:

I don't have a problem with product placement (sometimes it's to the benefit of the film) however I don't want to be reminded that the reason a product is in the film is because a company paid for it to be there. In the train scene with Vesper, I was reminded of that.

How?

I was reminded if it because IMO it was a really clunky and obvious line. There may as well have been a sign advertising which watch Bond was wearing. I was actually really enjoying the scene however that line came out of nowhere. If it had been more casual, I wouldn't have minded, however I don't think it was casual in the slightest. I really hated that line as it immediately made me think of how much money the producers were being paid for it.

Loeffelholz

Two people talking about what sort of watch one of them is wearing is no big deal, IMO. Ian Fleming, the original master of brand-name dropping in his novels, would probably have approved.

This is nothing new under the sun---in fact, Eon have been doing it since 1962. Might as well complain about the armourer naming the Walther PPK in DN :007)

ToshTogo

If a movie must have product placement, i prefer it to be subtle, like LALD, (the rolex submariner), you never "heard" rolex being mentioned, you could see it was a rolex , but it was referred to as "your watch"

But i think because there is so much product placement in movies thesedays, and the fact that it is advertised as such, we just notice it more and have become over critical.

Lady Rose

Dan Same wrote:

I was reminded if it because IMO it was a really clunky and obvious line. There may as well have been a sign advertising which watch Bond was wearing. I was actually really enjoying the scene however that line came out of nowhere. If it had been more casual, I wouldn't have minded, however I don't think it was casual in the slightest. I really hated that line as it immediately made me think of how much money the producers were being paid for it.

Totally agree with you Dan. It wasn't at all subtle and made 20 times worse because I knew of the relationship between Eon and Omega.It just screamed 'ADVERT!' She could have actually said something along the lines of 'Nice watch. Swiss? ' The watch was presented many times throughout the movie so it was fairly obvious he was wearing Omegas.

As I said, I dont mind product placement but not that particular line.

It could also be that I much prefer Rolex to Omega anyway

Dan Same

Lady Rose wrote:

Totally agree with you Dan. It wasn't at all subtle and made 20 times worse because I knew of the relationship between Eon and Omega.It just screamed 'ADVERT!' She could have actually said something along the lines of 'Nice watch. Swiss? ' The watch was presented many times throughout the movie so it was fairly obvious he was wearing Omegas.

I think that's a good idea. That would have been much better.

Lady Rose wrote:

It could also be that I much prefer Rolex to Omega anyway

) I have to say that I don't know much about watches, but I do know that certain people are faithful to particular watches. Are you one of them?

Lady Rose

Dan Same wrote:

I have to say that I don't know much about watches, but I do know that certain people are faithful to particular watches. Are you one of them?

Fraid so Dan. I like some of the Omegas, especially the Planet Ocean but I still prefer the Rolex models. I've been pretty brainwashed over the years as my husband is a watch nut.

Pendragon

hehe that gave me a much needed chuckle for the day!

~Pen -{