"'ave you been dere?"

[Enzo]

Commercials at the movies are a right pain; honestly, how many loud adverts for cars do I need to see prior to the film and as for the plugs for the theatre itself... I'm already sitting in the seat! But this latest series highlighting the beauty of Canada as brought to us by (wait for it) car companies really bugs me.

You've managed to get some time off, saved a few bucks, bought your ticket and found your way to (insert destination here) Paris, Cairo, Rome, etc. and are standing in awe before one of the great wonders of the world when a local decides to intrude upon your chosen moment (no doubt drawn by the Rogers cell phone in your hand, the Roots tee-shirt you're wearing and the Timmies mug hanging from your pack with the Canadian flag sewn to it) to regale you with "their" story of "their" experience in Canada. Once they've run out of breath (bear in mind that this whole time they have positioned themselves between you and your view of said wonder) they look you in the eye and say, "'ave you been dere?"

This is where the commercial switches to the map and the journey throught the beauty of Canada. Ok, I get it, we need to get off our asses and get into our cars to drive through the trees and prairies and coastlines of our nation. Thanks for that Toyota. Riiiiight.

I'd like the commercial to continue past the point where the question is posed and you have lost your patience and said politely (as we are internationally renowned) "exscusé, piss off" and then give that slimy dude in the suit a purple nurple for leering at your girlfriend. As for driving across Canada; been there, fell asleep at the wheel, hallucinated that a clown was giving me the finger from behind an 18 wheeler and wondered to God at the drive of the settlers who "WALKED" across the prairies. Honestly, did you spend 2 weeks driving from TO to "get to the west coast" stopping at small mom and pop's along the way and finding the small backroads that will lead you to Canada's hidden secrets, or do you get on the TransCan, wind your way west from TO to Thunder Bay, then as you crest the last hill between you and Winnipeg, floor it until you hit Banff, stopping for fuel, bladder relief, and MickeyD's. If eastbound, then reverse.

I know I'm an ass and I revel in it, but if I travel to Rome to see the history, beauty, and architecture to be found there, I don't want to be accosted by some sleezebag asking if I've dusted for dinosaur bones in Alberta.

This is my rant against BS commercialism and the use of such imagery designed to guilt me into purchasing a car.

P.S.

I'm against commercials on DVDs (I already bought the bloody thing) but I'll go after that another time.  >

 

[Sheerin]

I'm against commericals plain and simple.  Though you have to admit there are some good ones (like the "Moment if you please" for Lexus or whatever).

But yes, I agree with you, I've paid the 30 or so dolars for a DVD and the last thing I want to do is see crap-tacular commericials for things I don't want or in many cases can't afford.  I think the only way I could tolerate commericials was if they brought the price of DVDs down to like 3 or 4 bucks a movie, but we all know that won't happen.

I remember when commericials in theatres first started, I was maybe 8 or 9 and the first one i remember was for coke, it was only one commericial and then it went to the previews, but now its 4 or 5 commericials (most of which are just TV spots enlarged for the big screen, whcih makes them look like crap) followed by 3 to 5 previews (for movies that mostly suck)...

And to make matters worse, we are now bombarded iwth product placements in movies and TV.  Most of which look retarded to begin with!

Okay thats my rant for the day

 

[AFireinside13]

I don't know, those commercials really make me want to go out, buy a Toyota and Travel all across Canada, eventually making my way onto every square foot of this country; OR I really want to take my neighbours Toyota, and drive it off the highest cliff I can find in Canada. I'm Torn.
Personally, I think the latter would be much more entertaining.

Its also hard to tell what I prefer, having Zoom Zoom stuck in my head or our fine marketeers at Toyota yanking my patriotism chain.

Arty spotting practice anyone? :warstory:

 

[Pieman]

regale you with "their" story of "their" experience in Canada. Once they've run out of breath (bear in mind that this whole time they have positioned themselves between you and your view of said wonder) they look you in the eye and say, "'ave you been dere?"

Every time I see that commercial with the girl in front of the pyramids I have to laugh. If I was really standing there I would be thinking "Please don't take my wallet, crazy lady."

 

[winchable]

When I was in Paris (with stereotypical flag patch on backpack) not one single pretty French girl asked me anything about Canada.
Then there's the creepy Italian guy who comes out of nowhere and corners them, kind of reminds me of that part in Eurotrip where the guy on the train takes off his pants for some reason.

The absolute worst part about them though is how you're supposd to make this fantastic leap to buy a car, I was expecting a Government of Canada or a Tim Hortons decal but instead I got "BUY A YARIS AND DRIVE"

+1 from me...obviously.

 

[Rice0031]

You know what is almost as intrusive as being accosted while vacationing? Those commercials at the beginning of the movie! It is sort of funny that the commercial about being interrupted is itself interrupting you.

I hate commercials, especially on the radio. I want to hear music, not ads for an auto-body shop or what have you.

*phew* (I'm not really a mad person, commercials just suck.)