Summer movie season is upon us. What are you most excited to see? “Man of Steel”? “Monsters University”? “The Lone Ranger”? It’s ok if you said “The Smurfs 2”.

More and more, going to the movies means “going to see some really obvious product placements.” A good product placement is often subtle, somehow advances the plot and/or lends a hand to the overall look and feel of the film. I’m thinking of James Bond speeding off in an Aston Martin, or E. T. being lured into the house with Reese’s Pieces.

Here are a few of my favorite product placements that were way off the mark:

1. Heineken in “Skyfall.” Everyone knows that James Bond’s drink of choice is a martini, shaken, not stirred. So it caused quite a stir when Heineken shilled out $45 million to have its beer splashed all over “Skyfall.” https://twitter.com/ebertchicago/status/187234405784358912

2. Moet & Chandon in “The Great Gatsby.” The 2013 iteration of the literature classic was big and bold and colorful. And in case you didn’t know that the wealthy elite like to drink champagne, the movie was happy to point it out to you in its partnership with luxe brand Moet & Chandon, complete with dancers carrying giant bottles with the labels carefully aimed at the camera. http://www.dailysmalltalk.com/keep-your-eyes-peeled-for-these-product-placements-in-the-great-gatsby/

3. Gap in “Minority Report.” If you didn’t walk away from this movie feeling a compelling need for stylish t-shirts and jeans, then you must’ve slept through the movie. Tom Cruise navigates a mall full of product placement, and spends a lot of time at Gap, where the futuristic wall posters talk to him and invite him to try Gap products he’ll like.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlX_F1VKIdo

Which product placements have annoyed you? Pizza Hut in “Wayne’s World”? American Airlines in “Home Alone 2”? Apple products in the Twilight Saga? Let us know what you see in this summer’s movies!