That new Virgin Atlantic advert

[ms.peachy]

this one (http://www.virginatlanticstillredhot.com/popup/tv-ad.html)

How f'ing great is that?

[Pres Zount]

Reasonably not that great?

[kaiser soze]

They're Grrrrrrrrrrreat!

[ms.peachy]

Reasonably not that great?

Really? You don't think it's an exceptionally good advert? I mean I know it's not life-changing or anything, but it seems to me that it's right up there with the some of the most compelling commercials I've ever seen. Like that Honda advert with the contraption, or that dancing car one.

I mean obviously you are entitled to disagree, but I just think it's fab. Ticks all the boxes for 80's iconography, is visually striking, reminds people that air travel was once a bit sexy, makes VA seem far more stylish and fun than their competitors... just a really good product; I thik whatever Richard Branson paid for that, he sure as heck got his money's worth.

edited to add: it just occurred to me that maybe you have to be old enough to remember things that happened in 1984 for the full effect.

[kaiser soze]

I love the hair!

[Adam]

That is pretty sweet!

Fuck, can't believe I'm older than Virgin Airways.

I do dislike Richard Branson but I suppose its no reason to dislike a brand but I kinda do. Anyway, yeah I'd used them now for that advert - w00t, commercialism!

[b i o n i c]

i wish the stewardesses' shoulder pads were a teensy bit paddier, but yeah, good advert(y)

[jabumbo]

you mean to tell me you watched that ad and you thought about shoulder pads???

[ms.peachy]

I do dislike Richard Branson but I suppose its no reason to dislike a brand but I kinda do.

I've got a lot of time for old RB; I wouldn't necessarily want to be his best mate, but he's a great forward thinker and he knows how to attract top people to his projects, and not just by throwing money at them but by giving them autonomy and control within their areas of expertise. And I am a big fan of Virgin Airways - they are definitely my preferred carrier. Excellent customer service.

[Adam]

I don't get many planes.

I just think the last 5 years or so he has stuck his noses into things that he knows nothing about but gets credited as Mr Know-It-All cus of his rep.

Like that NHS stuff the other month - what qualifies him to judge british hospitals (which I will defend beyond reason)? Shit like that is what annoys me.

Stick to balloons and planes mate is what I would say to him.

[roosta]

ha..that's pretty darn good.

[mikizee]

The ad wasnt THAT great. You want to see a good ad?

This ad for australian beer. (http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=eH3GH7Pn_eA)

[ms.peachy]

The ad wasnt THAT great. You want to see a good ad?

This ad for australian beer. (http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=eH3GH7Pn_eA)

Yeah, that's pretty good too. Although it made me think straight away of the ads for all the different salad greens (Florette, I think?), so in that sense, it doesn't strike me as quite as 'unique' as the Virgin one. But definitely, it's up there.

[Guy Incognito]

I like the fact they used "Relax" which is exactly the same age, released jan 84.

As far as great adverts go, i couldnt find a link but the blackcurrant tango advert where it started off with bloke in an office rabbitting on about tango and ended up with loads of people at the white cliffs of dover was brilliant

[Pres Zount]

Really? You don't think it's an exceptionally good advert?
Yeah, sorry. I hope you didn't make it ; ) I just see it as a bit lazy, the 80s theme is a sure fire way of making something interesting, and then if you take that away you haven't got anything other than "sexy", which is the other sure fire way of making something interesting. Nothing against the 80s or sex, I don't find it that innovative or exciting, that's all.

[ms.peachy]

Yeah, sorry. I hope you didn't make it ; ) I just see it as a bit lazy, the 80s theme is a sure fire way of making something interesting, and then if you take that away you haven't got anything other than "sexy", which is the other sure fire way of making something interesting. Nothing against the 80s or sex, I don't find it that innovative or exciting, that's all.

I dunno, I don't see why you'd say an 80's theme is a 'surefire way of making something seem interesting'. Why would it? And the whole point of the ad is that it's VA's 25th anniversary, which was 1984, which was... erm... in the 80's. They're capitalising on the fact that when they came on the scene, air travel had gotten a bit grim (like now, which makes it quite timely really) and Branson had promised he was offering a new product that would reintroduce a bit of the glamour and excitement into flying. A lot of people said (some even actively hoped) the whole venture would fail and that it would be a big embarassment. But VA has been a massive success and is now one of the best carriers in existence.

I guess it's maybe because I am old enough to remember the press around their debut and have a background knowledge of most of the specific references in the ad. But it was a very big deal, and those red uniforms really were a sensation.