Thu 25 Jan 2007
I woke up to the sound of my Nokia mobile phone alarm and made my way to the bathroom. I showered with Radox shower gel, and shaved with a Gillette razor and King of Shaves shaving gel. Once back in my bedroom I took out a bespoke suit and Charles Tyrwhitt shirt and tie combination. The Paul Smith cuff links complete the outfit and with a splash of Vera Wang for Men I am ready to face the day.
After enjoying a breakfast of Kellog’s Crunchy Nut Cornflakes and a glass of Innocents Strawberry and Banana smoothy, I made my way to my BMW 3 series Coupe and drove to work listening to the latest release from the Kooks.
Are any of you still reading this drivel*?
I am fucking boring myself writing this shite, and it’s my life, so god knows if any of you lot have got this far. I know you don’t come here to see which products I use, and which mobile phone is endorsed by Mr Angry. You could care less. So could I frankly. You come here for entertainment (rare though it is), and I was the same when I went to watch Casino Royale recently.
I have never seen so much product placement in one film. I almost expected to see James Bond turn to the camera when paying for a hotel and say, “American Express, I never leave Blighty without it”.
Apparently product placement in films is big business nowadays. Daniel Craig was quoted in one interview saying the film couldn’t have been what it was without the product placement, as it paid for so many of the effects. Surely film makers should be more open about this advertising? We all know how much Tom Cruise is paid per movie, well I want to know how much Siemens paid for their phones to used in Casino Royale. I didn’t pay eight quid to watch an advert. I paid my money to watch Bond shag birds and fight with terrorists and use cool one-liners and drive fast cars and escape explosions.
I did not pay to see Bond in an airport hire car. James Bond does not drive a Ford Focus, I do not care if the script writers carefully bundled in a hire-car scenario to please the sponsors. It adds nothing to the story. Where does it end? In the next instalment perhaps he will stop off for a Subway Sub of the Day on his way to prevent the detonation of a nuclear weapon? Maybe he will pop into Tesco for his weekly shop before his all important debrief with M? “Every little helps, Moneypenny”, or perhaps he will get on the phone to Direct Line after blowing up his next car? “Hi, yes, you know how you quoted me happy?…”
When this film eventually makes it to terrestrial television (Christmas Day 2009 is my guess), will Aunty Beeb cut all of the product placement scenes? I know it is frowned upon within the confines of Television Centre, so I would expect them to uphold those standards which they harp on about so often. They will, won’t they?
* Of course, anyone from Nokia, Radox, Gillette, Charles Tyrwhitt, Paul Smith, Kellogs, Innocent, Vera Wang or BMW who wants to send me free samples or cash, go right ahead.
15 Responses to “The name is Angry, Mr. Angry”










January 25th, 2007 at 8:13 am
Film makers are out of touch with the products they place in Films.
Why would anyone allow BMW near somebody cool like Bond.
When did anyone ever smile at a BMW driver?
Is it a coincidinece the the words Bad mannered Wanker acurately describe those who drive them?
To be fair, Girl with a one track mind is an exception, as she was in the the film inustry and was in touch with lots of people.
January 25th, 2007 at 9:01 am
Hehehehe ‘Wang’
January 25th, 2007 at 9:48 am
I was with you right up until you said ‘BMW 3 series Coupe’
Now you’ve totally spoilt the steamy-hot image I had of you….. I could cry
January 25th, 2007 at 10:18 am
You’d be surprised just how much money comes from product placement in films and TV. It’s a sad fact, but our industry - that being anything British - is quite dependent on it. And if we’re not taking corporate dosh with which to make films, we’re on our knees begging the Americans for handouts and thus compromising the content of the movies to satisfy their market/financiers. So which is the worst of the two evils, I ask you?
The UK film industry is fucked. We need serious investment and tax rebates here, or else we’ll be sucking the corporate U.S. cock for a long time.
January 25th, 2007 at 10:32 am
I am mortified to say that advertisements are wasted on my, especially product placements, as I simply don’t notice them. My son, with whom I saw the film, observed that it was a *funny thing* that all the phones were the same, but even then I didn’t notice the brand.
It made me want to revisit Venice, though. I wonder if the Venetian Tourist Board paid too.
January 25th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Bond driving a Ford Focus was quite funny.
Thought the rest were ok, didn’t think they overplayed it.
The film was fantastic anyway, and Daniel Craig what a man.
January 25th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
I loved the movie but agree, bond in a mondeo WTF!!
Also, there was almost the entire range of Sony Ericsson Mobile Phones, Sunseeker Boats, Sony Vaio Laptops, Sony CyberShot Cameras, a range rover that got crashed into, the watch and even the might google got in on the act!
I looked at the sponsors list and it was huge!
I’m understand the odd bit of product placement, but as mentioned before when it has fuck all to do with the story line (i.e. mondeo), it really becomes embarrassing.
I’ll finish on a positive tho, it was a great film!
January 25th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
I wonder if Bond uses Durex?
January 25th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Next thing you know, just before ’shagging a bird’, Bond’ll reach for a Trojan Condom and proudly say “Because I’m feeling like a Trojan man!!” Then, in a whisper, “Pleasure I want, protection I trust.” [Cue bird swooning.]
January 25th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
as I sit here typing on my LOGITECH keypad drinking my BUDWEISER PREMIUM BEER and smoking a MAYFAIR KINGSIZE CIGARETTE whilst listening to the vinyl LP “CROSSING THE RED SEA WITH THE ADVERTS” I can honestly say I never notice product placement. Wasted on me. Me nan sent me to the offy once as a kid and I asked for some LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE. Set up by me nan. Disgraceful behaviour.
January 26th, 2007 at 9:30 am
who cares about product placement when you have daniel craig to look at?
am i very shallow?
ps hope you are having a fun time
January 26th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Sorry, did you use that appallingly bastardised American phrase “could care less”? Please think about it, it doesn’t make sense. You really mean “couldn’t care less”. That makes sense.
Thank you.
January 28th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
V pleased you started the day with King of Shaves though - I hope you enjoyed a great shave?!
January 29th, 2007 at 10:12 am
It has to be said though, that there is almost as much product placement in the original Bond books…
DK
January 29th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Oli - thought you’d like that.
MooMoo - I am still hot and steamy, honest. I need it for my job!
The Girl - how much does it raise? Say compared to a cinema takings?
z - I’m sure someone took the decision on Venice based on some financial business case.
heather - I never said I didn’t enjoy the film, I just think the placements are getting ridiculous now.
JD - Where is this list?
Betty - You mean you don’t know??
La Cubana Gringa - Don’t all of us men do that anyway?
Drunk punk - Nice use of subliminal messaging.
ella - The Bond girls were particularly good this time too I thought.
Dan - You are right!! I need to hire an editor. I am sorry.
Will King - Any danger of a few freebies then Will?
DK - You know, I’ve never once read any of the books. Which one does he drive the Mondeo in?