McCain Ad - Man in the Arena

[12th Doctor]

One of the best political Ads I have ever seen (period).

http://youtube.com/watch?v=J_A53PAxeR8

[12th Doctor]

It's horrible actually. It makes him look even older. Also he's flying through space for some reason.

Ha... its a great effect and I am sure that if Obama used it your would cream your pants.

[12th Doctor]

I like how he added speeches by Teddy Roosevelt and Winston Churchill in his ad....as if he is as remarkable as those two men were. Sorry...it wasnt that great.

It's meant to draw what I think is a fitting comparison... first of all, it talks about "change" but not in the flighty Obama abstract kind of way... the ads major weakness is that, if you don't know anything about Churchill or TR then you won't get it, but frankly, I don't care about what ignorant people think.  Both Churchill and TR were people who struggled long and hard against grim odds and made it to to top as a result of the struggle, and when they made it, they changed everything.  And neither of them were out to "make friends" either... which you could equate with McCain's independent spirit and "temper".

[12th Doctor]

It's horrible actually. It makes him look even older. Also he's flying through space for some reason.

BTW... I love the little video game thing in your sig... oh yes... Obama will level McCain with "Hope".  Oh, HOPE.  My God, just saying it will solve all problems.

[12th Doctor]

We had a thread on this.  I still have the same essential comments:

- Makes him seem older

Why, because of the old references?  Well, maybe people should get themselves an education.  since about a quarter of British people now think Churchill was a myth....

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Somehow, I don't think Rock Me Like a Hurricane would have done it for this ad.  The punch is in the visuals.  If you add too much to the background music then you cause sensory overload.

[12th Doctor]

Why, because of the old references?  Well, maybe people should get themselves an education.

If people were educated, there would be no need for political ads.

I concede your point there.  I guess what I meant was that I really don't care if the unwashed masses think its a "good ad" or if it makes him "look old".

Somehow, I don't think Rock Me Like a Hurricane would have done it for this ad.  The punch is in the visuals.  If you add too much to the background music then you cause sensory overload.

My complaint isn't that it's too soft, but that it's not a fitting selection.  It doesn't communicate the right emotion to me.

Might I suggest Round and Round?  Rock the Ratt, brah.
[/quote]

I don't know, I think the mood that they are going for is steady, understated hopefulness (as opposed to Obama's "HOPE OMG), and I think it delivers that well.  Different strokes though.

[12th Doctor]

I concede your point there.  I guess what I meant was that I really don't care if the unwashed masses think its a "good ad" or if it makes him "look old".

I don't get the point, then.  We're evaluating a meaningless attempt at plucking America's emotions on a higher level than you admit it deserves? 

I don't know, I think the mood that they are going for is steady, understated hopefulness (as opposed to Obama's "HOPE OMG), and I think it delivers that well.  Different strokes though.

Actually, I was going to say that!  It is good "hope" music.  But the tone of the ad is referencing the strength of the past.  It's bad "strength of the past" music.  It's too airy.  And the cloud imagery communicates the same thing - change, in a mysterious way.  The ad's substance is anti-mystery.  They clash too much for me.

But, yeah, different strokes.

See, in terms of the clouds and space, I see kinda a "advance to the future" thing going on.  It bridges the past and the future.

[12th Doctor]

Excellent ad, certainly doesn't pull in any Democrats minus a fraction of white males, but it seems to me that might be all he needs.

Hooray for growing the appeal of the party.

[12th Doctor]

Artistically, it's a nice ad.  As far as message goes, why are there foreigners being associated with McCain, and what's up with all the cars driving back and forth?  More Oil?

Churchill was half American.

[12th Doctor]

I honestly didn't like that McCain commercial. It reminded me of something I saw on that stupid thing known as the Secret. Why show alot of space and when he was a POW?

Maybe McCain is secretly communicating that he is a "secret teacher".