Anyone else see this National Guard ad at movie theaters?

So I'm at the movies, and I get subjected to what seemed like an hour-long (it was probably only 3 or 4 minutes) video of this song called "Citizen Soldier" by 3-Doors Down. It was sponsored by and served as an ad for the National Guard.

Look, I'm not bashing the Guard, but this notion that you are joining a homeland defense force is a load of bull. As we all know, the current band of cretins has completely misused the institution to avoid taking any additional political heat over Iraq. If you are going to try and sell the Guard to a clueless 18 year old kid, they really need to disclose the fact that they are not likely to be used in the same sentimental way as shown in that video.

Went and saw The Golden Compass on Christmas. It was a good video, but let's be serious. The Guard has been screwed by this administration. It was never meant to be sent to foreign lands to occupy THEIR soil.

I realize that the all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces are having trouble meeting their numbers on recruitment, particularly numbers that will insure a steady supply of trained soldiers for the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I've noticed all military recruitment ads on TV focus on the idea of joining the military as a way to help people, get an education, develop values and behavior your parents will be proud of, or travel to faraway lands.

Perhaps the reason sufficient recruits are not to be had is because of the misleading nature of the ads. Perhaps more honestly stating that joining the military will mean that the government will train you to kill people in other countries, but provide you with insufficient resources to do so, and discard you as a bureaucratic inconvenience in the event you are injured, discharged or choose to retire would be better.

came back when it was over inorder to view the movie I paid for. That's not the first time that's happened. They're always playing "Army Strong" commercials too and it goes on F*O*R*E*V*E*R.

show what technical skills you can learn and the benefits you can get. This ad was dark and gloomy. Made it look like a war was going on (yes, I know, it is). Lurking danger. And showing it before Sweeney Todd (what's the target audience?)? Parents were more likely to be turned off.

movies should be ad free.

My local "art house" theater doesn't show ads, has lower ticket prices, lower concession prices, and better movies.

Somehow they stay in business.

The art house type theatres are showing a different type of film - and those films don't have 90% Box Office royalties in their contracts. Their royalties are anywhere from 25%-60% tops. They can afford not to sell ads, they can sell cheaper concessions and they can stay in business because they also have higher attendance per show since they are the only ones or one of the few showing that title. When you show conventional, mass-appeal films such as The Golden Compass or Beowulf or any of the other of the majority of films titles released, you're paying 90% of your Box Office gross, not net, to the studio. That leaves 10% for your rent, utilities, payroll, supplies and all the other costs of running a theatre - costs which are very high. The only way these theatres can stay in business is to operate multi-house venues, charge a lot for concessions and look for incremental revenue such as private bookings, on-screen advertising and lobby decor rentals. (and just so you know - I'm not just making this up - I happen to work in the film and theatre industry.)

So first run theaters weren't paying 90% box office gross twenty years ago back before they showed commercials?

They could have never survived it! A small concession counter, one or maybe two houses per theatre and no incremental revenue! A ha ha ha ha...they would have been out of business within 6 months.

Most of the ad shows them doing what the National Guard is supposed to do (help out during domestic emergenices) rather than what Bush has them doing (helping with the Iraqi invasion and getting killed and wounded in the process). It looks all warm and fuzzy instead of deadly. I was disgusted!

You might like to know:

In World War I, which the U.S. entered in 1917, the National Guard made up 40% of the U.S. combat divisions in France; in World War II, National Guard units were among the first to deploy overseas and the first to fight.

Following World War II, National Guard aviation units, some of them dating back to World War I, became the Air National Guard, the nation's newest Reserve component. The Guard stood on the frontiers of freedom during the Cold War, sending soldiers and airmen to fight in Korea and to reinforce NATO during the Berlin crisis of 1961-1962. During the Vietnam war, almost 23,000 Army and Air Guardsmen were called up for a year of active duty; some 8,700 were deployed to Vietnam. Over 75,000 Army and Air Guardsmen were called upon to help bring a swift end to Desert Storm in 1991.

http://www.ngb.army.mil/About/default.aspx

Very misleading.

by Megadeth. It would be called 'Kill or Die for George Bush'. I saw it and felt it was an intrusion into the enjoyment of my popcorn. The only people that have died for freedom in the last 8 years are the people that were killed because a CIA agents name was revealed for revenge and the people in the WTC and high jacked planes. The rest died because they were used by George Bush and Dick Cheney for their own selfish goals. :dem:

Odd, I thought.

almost left...