Anyone have any details on this deal? I saw the movie last night and was amazed by the extent and quality of the MINI's exposure. One big ad! My guess is that BMW had to cough up more than just a bunch of disposable stunt cars.

As for the movie itself... pretty underwhelming, but I've long since given up on Hollywood. Poor Edward Norton! A couple more like that and his career will be completely unrecoverable.

 

It was a no brain deal....

Mini gave them MANY mini's.

That was about it.

One of the biggest reasons this film was made was the release of the new Mini.

 

What other cars would they have used if BMW didnt give them the cars? civics? scions?

 

They would have not made the film.

 

>>They would have not made the film.


ur saying markie mark made the movie, BECAUSE of the minis?

 

>>As for the movie itself... pretty underwhelming, but I've long since given up on Hollywood. Poor Edward Norton! A couple more like that and his career will be completely unrecoverable. <<

 

edward norton = american history x

nuff said

 

Charlize Theron was pretty nice. Very nice indeed. Looked like she had some fun. Luck of the draw that she got the Cooper'S' maybe?
Cheers,

 

P.S.- Anyone else get a Toyota Matrix commercial before the movie started? Thought that was a little outta place. Bunch of people around us and my friends I was with thought and said it would have been more suiting to have a MINI commercial instead. Like maybe the same MINIs from the movie ripping around advertising MINI. Oh well. Thought that a sporty station wagon was a little outta place before watching MINIs steal the show.
Cheers,

 

I'd say they decided to use Minis because it was a remake.....

 

>>>>As for the movie itself... pretty underwhelming, but I've long since given up on Hollywood.
>>
>>I gotta agree with you, XAlfa! But....
>>

C'Mon, People ... ! ... I've read like a dozen 'reviews' around here about how this is a junk movie - they're remaking THE ITALIAN JOB, for-cryin-out-loud ... no one said anything about remaking Citizen Kane ...

... and as for 'product placement', did BMC 'place' Mini's in the '69 film ?? ... or do ya think they might have used 'em cause them could make it down stairways, through culverts, and into busses ? ... if you were planning that job, would you have used Hummers? I don't Think so - even though they too are trendy right now ...

 

... although now that i think about it ... " ... as a child he had a Mini named Rosebud ... "

 

>>C'Mon, People ... ! ... I've read like a dozen 'reviews' around here about how this is a junk movie - they're remaking THE ITALIAN JOB, for-cryin-out-loud ... no one said anything about remaking Citizen Kane ...
>>
>> ... and as for 'product placement', did BMC 'place' Mini's in the '69 film ?? ... or do ya think they might have used 'em cause them could make it down stairways, through culverts, and into busses ? ... if you were planning that job, would you have used Hummers? I don't Think so - even though they too are trendy right now ...

Most of the reviews I have read have been very positive. Everyone seems to agree that the film does what it sets out to do very well. The original Italian Job has status as a cult classic probably a notch below the In-Laws which has minor classic status.

The use of Minis in the original made perfect sense for a film that was partially a product of British nationalism. The idea of using Mini's is rather shoe-horned into this film. For instance, why does Charlize Theron drive an original Mini (and drive it well) in the beginning of the film, other than why not? The Italian Job starred the Minis and then Michael Caine in that order. It would be inane to redo the movie without the Minis - especially with the window BMW provided by rejuvenating the make. I imagine BMW happily played their role in the only connection to the original film apart from a few carried over names.

I was shocked that the modern Mini could still pull the stunts off considering that the Mini has gained weight at the same rate as Michael Caine since the original. You could have done the same film with a host of cars but at that point you're not remaking the Italian Job as much as you are making a fast and furious rip-off.

 

There were also other BMW's throughout the movie. Hansome Rob pulls up in a BMW, the neighbors drove a Z, the motorcycles I think were also BMW bikes. So the MINI's were not the only thing free.

 

Bad guy bikes were Beemers, Seth Green's was a Ducati...

Handsome Rob's 8 series was awesome BTW...

 

>>edward norton = american history x
>>
>>nuff said :smile: :smile: He rocked!

The italian Job was good. It was entertaining. It took me away from my world for a while. :smile: All the actors were great in their respective parts. :smile: :smile: And the homage to the original movie using updated minis in red white and blue was great!!! :smile: :smile: :smile: I enjoyed the escape!

 

Seeing how MINI has their own Italian Job website, it's rather apparent that BMW put up some cash for this movie... and do you think it's a concidence that MINIs are show up everywhere in the corner of your TV screen? It's a brilliant way of marketing the heck out of it, without looking like you are, in order to avoid a backlash...

Rocketboy_X

 

Actually I read they were planning on using the new VW Beetles long before the new MINI was in production.

Article

 

>>Actually I read they were planning on using the new VW Beetles long before the new MINI was in production.
>>
>>Article


I heard that too. I think we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief that it didn't happen!!!

~Joe

 

Acording to the people involved with the original IJ movie (from their commentary on the UK DVD of it), BMC offered no help or compensation in the film. Fiat, however, begged to have their cars used, but the producers/writer/director all wanted Minis because they were so British. Fiat did loan them a number of cars and let them use their plant for stunts and exterior shots.

BMW reportedly issued the production company of the remake 33 MINIs. Knowing a fair amount about product placement, I doubt there was any monetary compensation other than that from them. The cost of 33 MINIs was substantial.

 

>>I gotta agree with you, XAlfa! But....Norton does play a creep AWFULLY convincingly, don't you think? LMAO!!!

 

Well, I did get a kick out of Seth Green! What a hoot!
>>


Otherwise known as James Hymen.

 

I thought he was Napster!

 

In reagards to the whole Ed Norton thing, he did the movie solely to get out of his contract with Paramount. If you notice, he's done no promo work for the film. He was going to get sued by P-mount if he didn't fulfill his contract which was 3 movies at 1 mil. apiece. He was wanting more money. I beleive he has even said this movie sucks. So, I must say that I can understand why this movie is by no means a showcase for the talent the has.

 

i think Norton's ego got the best of him because he wasn't "starring" in it and gave up screen time to hot little cars and Marky Mark for crap's sake. the movie didn't suck, but then again i don't think anybody expected it to win Oscars either, including the cast and crew. by the way anyone see 25th Hour great flick i personally like Norton.