YouTube Users Are The New Film Critics
So there’s one other movie opening in theatres this weekend that I didn’t mention in my New To Theatres post, mainly because it’s a Canada-only release, and even here no one seems to care about it. It’s a movie called One Week, and it stars Joshua Jackson as a guy who rides his bike across the country from Toronto to British Columbia.
As if opening your movie the same weekend as Watchmen wasn’t bad enough, Torontoist found a nice full page ad in Eye Magazine that proves just how desperate they really are. At first glance it seems like they are showing off a ton of glowing reviews for the film… reviews like “It’s going to look amazing on the big screen!” and “Joshua Jackson’s best role to date, but how about that Gord Downey, he’s so awesome and Canadian!”. Now if you’re thinking to yourself that these don’t sound like things a critic would say, you’re absolutely right. Believe it or not, these are all quotes taken from YouTube.
To be fair, they do make a note of this in the fine print, but come on now… we’re relying on YouTube comments to promote a movie?! I must admit, I do find it a bit surprising that someone managed to find positive comments anywhere on YouTube at all. But hey, next time you leave a comment on a movie trailer on YouTube, keep in mind that if you come up with just the right phrase, you might be lucky enough to end up on the DVD cover!
Comments (8)
OMG THAT’S AN AMAZING AD. That said, my friend and I were talking about what movie to see tonight and we both shamefully admitted that our secret love for Joshua Jackson compelled us to see “One Week”. So… we might be the only people in Canada who care.
Posted by Liz on March 6th, 2009Oh, when did you guys change your footer?
Posted by Liz on March 6th, 2009A great moment in Canadian Cinema!
Posted by Kasper F. Nielsen on March 6th, 2009Those were the best quotes they could get? Then again, for YouTube comments, those are like Shakespeare.
Posted by Neil M on March 6th, 2009I don’t think that’s a bad idea at all, as long as they say in the fine print where the quotes are coming from. The movie looks okay too. I wasn’t sure at first with the whole terminal illness plot, but the trailer is growing on me, I think I’ve seen it five times in theatres, and Joshua Jackson really is a good actor who deserves more starring roles. I just found out today that Gord Downie is in it, and as a big Hip fan, I think I’ve been convinced to check it out.
Posted by Ashley on March 6th, 2009In the St. Catharines Standard, there was a full review of One Week along with a review of Watchmen. Both got 3 stars!
I’m afraid to admit that one reason I want to see this movie is to see my hometown of Sudbury. The Big Nickel is featured!
I’m also afraid to admit that I haven’t gotten over my hatred of Joshua Jackson for taking Joey away from Dawson.
(Neil M., loved your comment! I’m going to go on YouTube right now and comment on the Star Trek trailer: “If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.” Oh, maybe that’s too obscure a quote from Julius Caesar. How about, “Why, i’faith, methinks she’s too low for a high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too little for a great praise: only this commendation I can afford her,-that were she other than she is, she were unhandsome; and being no other but as she is, I do not like her.” Ha ha. That’s from Much Ado About Nothing.)
Posted by Reed Farrington on March 7th, 2009Joshua Jackson for the win. Reed, Dawson was a weenie, that is why he lost Joey
I like the idea of non self proclaimed experts sharing their opinions instead of some bought “movie critic” from hollywood to influence the public on what they should like. Here it is real people, giving their own opinions….regardless how inane some it may be (ie: blinded fandom).
Posted by Tomas on March 7th, 2009I find myself on the fence on this one. In one way, having all the comments shows that people saw a Canadian film (yay!) and liked it (double yay!).
On the otherhand, they have another add that has some great quotes from critcs. But, buzz is buzz and people talking about – so that’s something!
It is a great movie and people are interested, and getting out to see it which is a good thing.
Posted by Shannon the Movie Moxie on March 9th, 2009Leave a Reply