It was recently Election Day here in the U.S., which meant our TV screens (and all other screens, really) were victims of the worst ads known to man, whether they depicted text-heavy mudslinging or farm-based faux patriotism. It’s obviously time we start looking to Russia for our political promos, as Vladamir Putin just got a summer blockbuster to advertise his upcoming press conference. Put on your coolest sunglasses and check it out.
As you can imagine, this brand of tentpole advertising comes from Russia’s central state-run TV station. Their interests are fully invested with making Putin synonymous with a Michael Bay leading man. But even knowing that they’re tethered to making him look good, this is still pretty ridiculous.
Let’s go over some of the things that happen in this video. We’ve got a huge mass of people in the streets which segues into fire, which then goes into the Olympics, and then riots. And we’re just hitting the five-second mark. There are also explosions, huge guns, a burning flag, space, natural disasters, crosses, fireworks, the beginning of an execution, and a decrepit old swing just barely moving and creaking. Plus, a bunch of birds, because “Cool, birds.”
There’s a good chance you’ve already forgotten that this commercial was for a press conference, and are mistakenly thinking part of the Sony hack unveiled a super-secret $150 million Putin biopic. But no, it’s just for an event where the biggest thing that happens is “talking into a microphone.” Unless he has sword swallowers or something.
And if you thought this was a standalone effort from Russian media, get ready for this next one, which scales back a little on the action and special effects and really goes for that Oscar gold.
Here’s where Putin himself gets put in the spotlight, as we hear speeches and interview clips while powerful imagery is flashed across the screen. (If you, like me, don’t speak Russian, the Telegraph translates some of it.) I gotta say, I don’t catch any Russian TV stations, but I’m kind of in the mood to watch this press conference now.
Putin, who was once again named Russia’s Man of the Year for the 15th time, will presumably not explode anything when he appears at his annual press event on Thursday.
