I, Robot

[LGM]

Oh no, I'm not oblivious, and I'm not in denial. I know there's blatant product placement in the movie.. I just don't care. If Lord of the Rings had Gandalf drinking a Pepsi in one scene, I'd still like the movie.

[DGMacphee]

If Lord of the Rings had Gandalf drinking a Pepsi in one scene, I'd still like the movie.

With that comment alone, you've destoryed any credibility you may have had in your opinion on the film industry.

[Sylpher]

Lgm..

In your quest to stay open minded and balanced in your views you are creating a deeper tunnel vision. Until you understand exactly how and why I would second guess your opinions.

All of them.

(As well I am with DG on the whole Pepsi and Gandalf thing.. You not only are missing the boat about the whole thing. You are in the wrong city and not even near water)

[Moox]

Remember the movie Josie and the Pussycats... THAT WAS BLATENT PRODECT PLACEMENT

I know they used the movie to pimp converses, but thats what the world is like. At least it didnt have commercials every 20 minutes. It wa s a mediocre science fiction movie with a bad name and a pair of converses. Thats all it was.

I also agree with LGM
Lotr with pepsi would still be a great movie

[Sylpher]

Well then both of you shall enjoy our latest award...

"The Absolutely No Education in Artistic History Award"

Display it with pride.

[ Edit, I mean really.. Think about what you are saying. REALLY think about it. If the movie has a Pepsi advert in it why shouldn't Tolkien of put some adverts in the books. The movie doesn't have it. Neither does the books. You know why they don't?  Because it is fucked up that is why.

This very topic, in all sorts of shapes and sizes, has been debated in artforms of all kinds for hundreds of years. Pick up a book or take a class or something because what little muddled opinions you have on the subject are dry and without thought. Your perspective is off too and your use of color is daft at best.]

[DGMacphee]

I also agree with LGM
Lotr with pepsi would still be a great movie

You sound like the kind of guy who buys a pet zebra and names it "Spot".

[Moox]

My county banned exotic animals as we have had 3 tiger attacks in the last month so no zebra for me. Maybe a dalmation named stripes tho. Its a nice name.

[DGMacphee]

Well, while we're on the topic of product placements, why not put them in the bible:

http://www.digiserve.com/eescape/closet/silly/Product-Placement-Bible.html

Yeah, I think God's real message to all Christians was "Enjoy Coke".

[LGM]

Really... Just because I don't care about adverts in movies doesn't make my opinions un-credible. What makes you all so great to go telling everyone else their ignorant?

I understand completey about what you're saying.. Sure, movies bloated with advertising are nothing short of irritating. But if the movie is great on it's own, I can forgive the blatant placements. There's a difference between not caring and not understanding or knowing.

And of course, I was exxagerating heavily on the Pepsi thing. It'd piss me off if they did that, but it wouldn't ruin the whole damn trilogy for me.. I'm really not picky at ALL.

If you go at issues more objectively, and don't finess over one single detail or point, and focus morely on the overall picture, you can spend life happier. Insteading of fussing over the little things, you worry bout the big strides.

I know you all dislike my laid back views on certain issues, but it's rather pointless to bitch about little blips in an otherwise decent film. To be honest, I really don't know why we're still debating over this.

As the saying goes, "Arguing over the internet is like running in the Special Olympics. Even if you win, you're still retarded."

And as far as the original point of this thread goes, I still even understand why everyone's upset. I'd be pissed if they took the title of a good book (or game, for this example) I love and made it into a movie that was a total bastardization.. Oh wait, they already did:  House of the Dead, Hearts in Atlantis, Dreamcatcher, Dune.. The list goes on...

Yes.. I understand the upset over the whole title fiasco.. I just choose not to fuss over it; simply because, there really is no point to. Nothing you can do or say will change the fact that the movie is already made. It's done with. You can't change it anymore, no matter how powerful you are (unless you're George Lucas.)  So what you have to do is learn to accept it, or boycott it, and move on.

If this movie were to be called Hardwired, or Robots!, or How Robots Almost Took Over the World, or what have you.. It would've been bitched and complained about for "stealing" ideas from Asimov. You just can't win. I've thought all of that through, and that is exactly why I choose to simply not care and enjoy the movie.

Thank You Very Much

*bow*

Edit: DG- Oh please, don't even start.  Putting ads in a movie and ads in the Bible are on entirely different levels. That's just sad that you have to even bring that up.

[DGMacphee]

And of course, I was exxagerating heavily on the Pepsi thing. It'd piss me off if they did that, but it wouldn't ruin the whole damn trilogy for me.. I'm really not picky at ALL.

Once again, you've destroyed any credibility whatsoever in film area of film. Only this time, you not only destroyed it. You raped and defiled it too.

I know you all dislike my laid back views on certain issues, but it's rather pointless to bitch about little blips in an otherwise decent film.

Those little blips are what makes it a souless piece of bitch-trash. And it's not your laid back views I dislike, but more so your acceptance of something that's soulless and whorish.

As the saying goes, "Arguing over the internet is like running in the Special Olympics. Even if you win, you're still retarded."

The mantra of people who pussy-out of most internet arguments. Besides, if you truely believe that, how come you've launched into such a long tirade with your last post?

Yes.. I understand the upset over the whole title fiasco.. I just choose not to fuss over it; simply because, there really is no point to. Nothing you can do or say will change the fact that the movie is already made. It's done with. You can't change it anymore, no matter how powerful you are (unless you're George Lucas.)Ã,  So what you have to do is learn to accept it, or boycott it, and move on.

That's just the type of apathetic pandering I'd expect from someone who wouldn't be bothered by Pepsi products in a Lord of the Rings film.

This is why most of the films released today are shitty. Because people with this view are okay with corperate whoring. Whatever happened to quality? Whatever happened to "Not a single frame was wasted"?

Christ, you want to be a filmmaker? LGM, if you become a filmmaker with this kind of attitude, let me give you some advice: you'll be nothing but a sell-out hack. No one will remember you. You'll live life without any balls.

If this movie were to be called Hardwired, or Robots!, or How Robots Almost Took Over the World, or what have you.. It would've been bitched and complained about for "stealing" ideas from Asimov. You just can't win. I've thought all of that through, and that is exactly why I choose to simply not care and enjoy the movie.

Ironically, I would have prefered such titles. Mainly cause they're cheesy titles for a cheesy film. But I guess you won't take my point of view on this seriously since I'm saying it after the film's been released.

Edit: DG- Oh please, don't even start.Ã,  Putting ads in a movie and ads in the Bible are on entirely different levels. That's just sad that you have to even bring that up.

Why not? The Bible is basically a moral code. I, Robot's three laws is a moral code for robots to live by.

And a lot of people live their lives to codes set by characters in films. When you look at the bible, it's basically a collection of stories (a view offered by my grade 12 Study of Religion teacher -- a very wise woman indeed). It's the same level -- It's corperatising something that should be above that sort of thing. Putting obvious product placements in films is bringing them down to a sleazy level, just the same as putting product placements in the Bible would do the same thing.

Films should transcend such sleaze, much the same way the bible is supposed to.


Let me put it this way: Would Roman Polanski (and to a lesser degree Spielberg) do something as souless as obvious product placements in films like The Pianist or Schindler's List? (Correct me if I'm wrong, anyone, if there was a blatantly obvious product placement in either).

(Ironically, both films were adapted from books. )

[shbaz]

DG, it goes without saying that you take your films a LOT more seriously than most people. I think it's obvious why he cares so little and you care so much.

[DGMacphee]

shbaz, LGM wants to be a director. If such is the case, then he should take films seriously. All the best directors do.

[LGM]

Okay, I lose then. You won. Whee. You prevail as genius once again.

I still understand where you're coming from.

Believe me when I say this, I absolutely LOVE quality movies, and I really hate that Hollywood IS going to shit. But I have to accept it.. And every time I find a quality indie, or even theatrical release.. You know I'm the first one around it.

I love films. And that's all I have to say. I'm very serious about them.. But I don't clench my fists everytime someone opens up a can of pepsi on 10 slides of 35MM film.

[DGMacphee]

Look, LGM, it's got nothing to do with me winning an argument. I'm no genius. I'm practically a professional dickhead.

But if there's one thing I can't stand, it's people who are so apathetic that they accept that Hollywood is going to shit without any major concern whatsoever. If that's the case, Hollywood is just going to make more stupid movies with stupider product placements. It won't get better unless people (i.e. emerging artists and the movie-going public) do something about.

And I can't abide with someone being so apathetic that they accept a soft drink ad in Middle-Earth. If they believe that, then the Bible might as well have ads in it too.

But like I said many times before in this thread, I'm very naive.

blah blah Evian blah

[BerserkerTails]

Remember the movie Josie and the Pussycats... THAT WAS BLATENT PRODECT PLACEMENT

That movie was brilliant. It probably is one of the sole examples on how capitalism can make a good movie. I can see the producers in their board room now.

INT: Board Room
-Intern rushes in
Intern: "I've got it! We make an anti-capitalist movie, about rock music brainwashing people with prduct placement... That way, we can still make big bucks from corporations, but pretend that we don't like capitalism!"
CEO: "Brilliant... But how will we make people see the movie?"
Lackey 1: "Ummm... We could base it on something old. A remake perhaps, something the viewer knows already..."
Lackey 2: "Josey and the Pussycats! You know, that Archie comic thingie? We can get hot girls to draw in teenage boys to see the movie too!"
CEO: "I smell the money already!"

[DGMacphee]

Fight Club did something similar, except its critique on consumerism was a little harsher than Josie and the Pussycats.

[Gilbert]

"Arguing over the internet is like running in the Special Olympics. Even if you win, you're still retarded."

* Gilbot V7000a is proud that HK won many gold medals in the Special Olympics recently, whereas it won only one from the "Normal" Olympics in history.

But then, "Arguing over the internet about a crappy movie called I, Robot leads to nowhere. No matter who wins, that movie is crap."

[Pesty]

But then, "Arguing over the internet about a crappy movie called I, Robot leads to nowhere. No matter who wins, that movie is crap."

Truer words have never been spoken!

[LGM]

Speaking of Fight Club.. A whole 3D Rendered scene (the trash bin) had a Krispy Kreme box in it.. OMG, SO SHAMELESS!

Anyways.. I may have gotten carried away.

I hate the direction Hollywood is taking as far as how LAZY they're getting. 3D this, 3D that! What happened to conventional filmmaking? What happened to real sets and real props!? I want the Indy days back where they had to actually do WORK.

And as far as corrporate whoring goes, that's always been around.. But it IS getting bad, and it makes me angry. I definitely don't want to go that route when/if I become a filmmaker. I just want to make movies. Good movies. If it gets garbled at the end of the chain, then I'll blame it on Hollywood. Those bastards.

Long live movies.

[BerserkerTails]

I hate the direction Hollywood is taking as far as how LAZY they're getting. 3D this, 3D that!

There was only so much "Behind the scenes" footage on the Star Wars 1 and 2 DVDs that I could watch before I got sick of seeing the same Green Screen over and over.