LB's Rambles

Assaulting the Consumer

As a writer, I can sympathize to a degree with the position taken by the entertainment industry against piracy, although I think that that position can quickly become overstated and untenable (see also the overall antics of the recording industry). But I think that marketers, in general, will agree that going out of your way to offend and insult your customers is probably not a good idea.

Which is why this is so appalling: look at the latest truly awful effort on the part of one record company to really offend its consumers. Steve Smith has details at MediaPost's VidBlog. In fairness, I should warn you to TURN THE SOUND DOWN if you click through to the offensive ad - the speaker has all the charming vocal quality of fingernails scratching across a blackboard. The language is NSFW, too. Ugh.

Glad Somebody's Still Laughing...

Just came home from Costco with a newly-discovered, 5-CD package containing seven of the Marx Brothers' late movies. It includes "A Night at the Opera" and "A Day at the Races," not to mention "At the Circus," infamous for Groucho's heart-warming rendition of "Lydia the Tattoed Lady." The link goes to Amazon.com, by the way, but the set was a couple of bucks cheaper at Costco.

Checking Amazon, I find they have another box set of the earlier Marx Brothers movies, and I've just ordered it - contains the movies made with Zeppo Marx in the "romantic" leads, including "Duck Soup," which may be the funniest of all their comedies. I didn't see this set in Costco, at least not in my Costco. I'm linking both sets on Amazon - if you know the Marx Brothers, you need no introduction; if not, be prepared to laugh. A lot. By the way, if you order through my links, I get a REALLY small commission from Amazon - just sayin' by way of disclosure...

Twice Hallowed

A lot of Harry Potter fans had wondered how in the world they were ever going to be able to film the final book in the series. It's a giant book, and it is packed with essential information that simply can't be cut out.

The answer: make an extra movie.

Smart move. And is it really necessary to point out that an eighth movie adds significantly to the total profit for the franchise?

Downside: three more years to go before it's over...

Hat tip: Instapundit

Nanny Goes to the Movies

Let me see if I have this right.

The Motion Picture Association of America, that wonderful industry trade group that provides those useful ratings of movies, has decided that smoking - on screen - is bad for your health. So they're going to start viewing new movies, looking for smoking scenes, which can now earn an "R" rating, meaning that admission should be restricted.

Oh please.

So glad we discovered that danger. Slasher flicks? OK. Strewing body parts all over the screen? No problem. Language that used to be restricted to occasions like dropping a heavy weight on your foot? Shout it out.

But don't show people smoking, for goodness sakes. Why, that might make a bad impression on our ever-so-impressionable youth.

And the censors wonder why we don't give them the love and respect they so clearly deserve. After all, they're just doing it for our own good.