Transformers: Age of Extinction’s been out only a weekend, and it’s already making bank in China. There’s no getting around the fact that a movie based on a line of toys is anything more than a major vehicle for product placement — including Chinese product placement, especially with the movie partly set in China.
Now, I’m going to reserve judgement on the movie. Michael Bay’s Transformers polarises people. We’re here to talk about the Chinese product placement in the movie, something the Chinese themselves are talking about. Even China’s communist party mouthpiece, the People’s Daily, is getting in on the action, calling the movie more of a commercial than a film.
In their review, People’s Daily complains that the movie’s Chinese elements are just for show; something China’s complained about multiple times before. But yes, I need to stop complaining about the movie. Let’s get back on topic.
Through a cursory viewing of the movie I saw at least 10 instances of Chinese product placement in the movie.
So to avoid spoilers, I’m just going to list the Chinese products found in Transformers 4 and the explain what the products are.
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Lenovo
Computers
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C’est bon Water
Bottled water (It’s not even the most popular bottled water brand in China)
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Zhou Hei Ya
Duck necks and duck products
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China Construction Bank
Banking (What’s a Chinese bank doing in Texas?)
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Pangu Holdings
Real Estate
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Jian Nanchun
Chinese liquor (Do not drink this)
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Shuhua
Milk and milk products
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Lukfook Jewellery
Jewellery
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LeTV
Online video streaming
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Nutrilite
Health products such as vitamins and protein (Where does one get this in the States with Chinese labelling? Wouldn’t it be in English with FDA approval seals?)
While these products are most likely geared towards the Chinese consumer in China, it will be interesting to see what kind of effect it will have for these companies in the West. Maybe someone will be looking for some Shuhua milk?
Comments
4 responses to “Look At All Those Chinese Products In Transformers 4”
I lost count of the western product placement in TF4, let alone the Chinese ones.
all the assplosions are american though…
While the movie on a whole was garbage this was the most appauling aspect. I honestly dont mind a little product placement in either films or games but when they stick logos in your face every other scene its just wrong. Or simply add unnecessary scenes for extra placement. One that really stuck out for me was the scene inside the car in hong kong as the tractor beam started and it closed up on his gucci glasses. Wtf!!? So unnecessary………
What do you expect from a 2 hour explosive advert?