"It’s too laaaaaaaaate to change the title," OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder (top) and soldier boy/library lover James McAvoy (bottom) appear to be wailing. I can’t be the only one who finds the pairing of Oscar-nominated Atonement and Timbaland’s remix of the OneRepublic song "Apologize" in the most recent batch of the movie’s commercials rather jarring. Don’t get me wrong, the song’s lovely on its own. I’m not even pissed off that it’s been stuck in my head for two days, because I rather enjoy feeling like Timbaland is sitting in a booth behind my cube, laying down some background beats to my work day. But replacing the film’s own perfectly good score kind of makes the studio seem desperate. Do kids want to see Atonement after watching these spots? I’d be shocked. So would they, once they paid for tickets.
This particular song/movie pairing seems more well-suited to a fan vid than a legitimate commercial. Hey, look — there are already two well-executed full-length ones, here and here. Nicely done! Mandi will be thrilled.
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I could be wrong, but I think the version of ‘Apologize’ used was the real version, non remixed. I remember hearing the opening bars.
You know what, it could be! I haven’t seen the commercial in two days — but the mashups on YouTube with the movie/song were both the Timbaland version. Same principle would apply though. Come on!
It would be nice if ANY studio were to let their films speak for themselves rather than tie in to hit songs as ways to market their films. While I agree with you, Annie, I wouldn’t limit it to just this film.
maybe that would explain why at least five people walked out of the show on Sunday. My friend and I couldn’t figure out why there was such a mass exodus. Granted I haven’t seen any of the new commercials, but it makes sense.
I saw this commercial last week and had a serious WTF? moment. I mean, the song is kinda applicable to the movie, but it reeks of desperation of getting the “kids” to go see the movie.
I kind of like it, but as its own entity. It’s lame to try to get the younger crowd to see the film by putting it with a hit song. I think the average 15-year-old kid would be sorely disappointed by seeing the movie after that kind of trailer.
I saw that trailer on TV and was horrified. Talk about false advertising. It makes it look like a teenybopper movie.
Is it just me or does Ryan Tedder look like Judd Nelson with a haircut?
Stephanie T. — yes! John Bender w/ frosted tips!
glad to know i wasn’t the only one who was seriously confused by that commercial. I was like “whaaa?” Atonement is like one the most depressing movies ever, i don’t see teenagers going to see it.
Bender/Tedder: “I won’t apologize, so eat-my-shorts!”
That does seem like an odd pairing. I love the song – but everything about it lends itself to “Smallville” or “Gossip Girl”
If your going to pair a relatively modern song to Atonement i would have gone with “Gravity of Love” by Enigma or “Song to the Siren” by This Mortal Coil
Stephanie T.: It’s just you, lol.
IMO, Ryan Tedder looks nothing like Judd Nelson, although the picture featured above might seem to indicate a bit of a resemblance. Just look him up on the internet (myspace or lots of other places) for additional pictures, and you’ll find that he is quite the cutie. Lots of fangirls for that one.
I first saw this during the SAG Awards and I was kinda pissed. Pissed cuz I hate the film and it was so obvious who they were trying to sell tickets to.
I like the song well enough, but what I find most egregious is that the lyrics don’t even fit with the movie -the chorus does, but not the verses. It reminds me of when people pick ‘I’ll Be Watching You’ for their wedding.
AMEN.
LOL, Oscars 2008 Spoof:
http://digitalfuntown.squarespace.com/dft-blog/2008/2/19/offbeat-oscars-mash-up.html
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