On
June 15th, I saw Man of Steel on its opening weekend.
This is an uncommon occurrence for me. I rarely see a movie the first or second
day it hits the theaters. Honestly, I usually wait until a movie is out in Redbox because I don’t think most movies are worth $10 to $14. The only
other movies I have seen opening weekend are the two rebooted Star Trek flicks,
Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness.
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| Courtesy Google Images |
I
enjoyed the Superman reboot. I think director Zack Snyder did a credible
job recreating the mythos that is the Man of Steel I remember from my
childhood. This is probably because he has been a Superman fan for a number of
years. According to Kryptonsite.com, Snyder is a fan of the series, Smallville
which ran on the WB from 2001 through 2011. “Smallville, by itself, quietly
has kept Superman in the consciousness …” states Snyder.
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| Courtesy Google Images |
The
movie is good; the villain is General Zod … and judging from the
fight scenes, which are … epic, it’s obvious we live in a video game era. They
are hectic, building razing, no way you are going to pick up everything in single
viewing, affairs. It’s funny, though; I couldn’t help but wonder what was
happening to all the people who lived and worked in the buildings that were
being trashed. I know, suspend belief.
What
I can’t believe is the number of products that are woven into this flick. According
to Businessweek.com, over 100 companies paid a total of almost $160 million for
embedded products.
I
know product placement is not a new concept. Mirriad.com reports that in
1896, directors Auguste and Louis Lumière inserted the logo of Sunlight Soap into their movie, Parade of the 8th Battalion,
in exchange for publicity and distribution help.
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| Courtesy Google Images |
But, there are scenes in Superman when I felt the selling of
products interfered with the viewing. In the first two mega-fight scenes, I saw
obvious pimping of IHOP and Sears. The second fight ended with Superman
standing amidst huge piles of rubble, and the background exhibits the perfectly
preserved marque of Sears. Hell, I was in Sears this past Sunday and noted their
Sears’
special edition Superman comic book.
As
I mentioned earlier, I did like the movie and I understand the importance of
product placement, but when does it take precedence over the film?
Does
anyone else share my distaste for the blatant insertion of commercials into
movies?
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