christmas adverts

feetle thanks for that information I do seem to remember somewhere in the old grey matter seeing a picture of Father Xmas in a green long coat trimmed with white fur a sort of british racing green colour am I right or am I imagining things.?

I've just heard it cost 7 million to make the John Lewis xmas advert!!

I know all tv ads are expensive but I didn't realise quite how much they cost!

On the plus side it obviously provided work for lots of people. Even so, can it be right to spend this sort of money on a tv advert? Especially when some people are having such a struggle?

I'm guessing similar amounts have been spent by the other big companies, I'm not trying to single out John Lewis.

Just shows how closely I wasn't watching!!

Isn't that the Argos one, Flickety?

Must admit I'm underwhelmed by this year's Christmas tv ads. I loved the snowman-themed John Lewis one last year, but this year's seems overly sentimental to me. The rest of them just all blend into each other - unexceptional.

I have seen the ASDA advert a couple of times. It never occurred to me that it was THE ASDA CHRISTMAS ADVERT. I just thought it was one of a series of standard ads they run this time of year. I do not think I even clocked that it was Christmassy. It just seemed to be an advert with little blue aliens advertising electronic gadgets. It wasn't very attention grabbing and alien adverts bore me (as do gadget adverts).

I must confess I didn't really watch it properly,

@Glammana - "Coca Cola... he is in my mind the real Father Xmas as I imagined him when I was a child."

Not surprising, really. The character we visualise today is firmly based on an illustration for Coca Cola - between the wars think. The red and white costume is pure Coca Cola styling - St Nick used to be portrayed dressed in green!

Last night was the first time I have seen the Coca-Cola Advert so now I know Christmas is on the way.

Maggie I have to admit the Tesco ad made me feel emotional. I think it reminds me of Boxing Day when I was little and the whole family would squash into our little house. We had a sofa with little screw in legs that would invariably collapse from all the extra weight but we had a good time.

Mr P always turns the sound off during the ads, so I have no idea what is going on in the Morrisons one, with Ant and Dec.

The first few silent viewings were ok, I thought that it did look Christmassy etc.

However, now the sight of all that food on one table at once makes me feel rather nauseous.

I can never watch the Argos aliens without thinking of Andy Murray's mother. I forget who mentioned the resemblance, but I do agree!
I too love the John Lewis ad.

The only ones I like are the Irn Bru adverts - remember the 'Walking in the air' one? I am not a fan of the drink itself but my DD2 is such an addict that we bought her 40 shares in the company for her 40th Birthday to her great delight.

I've always liked the Argos alien family.

I think the Aldi ads have won for me, I've seen a couple of different ones, both quite amusing.

I hardly dare admit it but I saw the John Lewis ad last night and found it so moving that I shed a tear! So unlike me.

I enjoy them, but they don't change my shopping habits. I've seen the Tesco one 3 times now and it still makes me feel a bit emotional, which isn't like me! I think it's because the vintage new baby scenario brings back some very happy memories. And I love the bit of Rod accompanying it.

Flick am aware of the huge amount of money, time and effort that goes into them..come from a family that takes media and media studies seriously and does not think it is a 'soft' subject!

I am glad you can resist their lure, I like to think I can too...but that is why the companies invest so heavily into them because they do have an impact on the shopping habits of customers..otherwise they would not bother!

Penstemmon Not necessarily, these Christmas adds are big production numbers, comparable with the programmes they are inserted into, a bit like the B film when you go to the cinema. So obviously they draw people's interest but watching the adverts out of interest does not mean that you actually take any (purchasing) notice of them.

I will shop for Christmas as I always do from the shops that are convenient for me and I enjoy, to the extent that shopping is ever enjoyable, shopping in. The presents I buy are unlikely to be the things these ads promote and even less likely to be bought from the retailers running these high profile ads. I will take advice from DS & DDiL about what to buy my DGC and their suggestions may well not include any toys. They have enough already.

Not just us either Penstemmon, every time I've put the tv on today, someone has been discussing these adverts!
Even the so called 'news programmes'

Sad reflection of the commercialism of Christmas that we spend time discussing Christmas advertising!!

The first time of watching is OK but then it gets b-o-r-i-n-g! And it's only the beginning of November!!!!

I'm not impressed with the M&S one, I think it's rubbish, and the JL one is not as catchy as they usually are.
The Debenhams one does actually advertise brands, but the Tesco one looks tacky.

Bah Humbug!!!

I love the John Lewis ad but, as it's my favourite shop, I need no encouragement to go there. I love the Rod Stewart aspect but not the rest of the Tesco one and it took ages for the M & S to register as an advert but I really enjoyed it. There is a dog though Hilda - looking for it is how she goes down the man hole.

My favourite was when M&S used Antonio Banderas. Not particularly Christmassy, but who wouldn't want Antonio Banderas doing the whole Rhett Butler thing?

As the wife of a retired partner it's definitely MY Waitrose JessM

John Lewis wins hands down in our house but the season doesn't begin until the Coca-cola advert is on I just love the one where Father Xmas winks from the back of the lorry he is in my mind the real Father Xmas as I imagined him when I was a child.

Someone should have told M&S not to link Christmas with a dog......they are even running a name the dog competition.