Fan backlash at yet another Star Wars cash-in

‘Star Wars’ fans are outraged once again this week after iconic character Yoda was spotted selling mobile phones in the latest Vodafone advert.

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Promoting their company’s new ‘Red Box’ concept, the Jedi Master is seen sat in a swanky sushi restaurant attempting to help a mobile phone user transfer his contacts from his old phone to his new device.

Yoda begins to use the Jedi force in an attempt to merge the data between the phones only for the ungrateful punter to refuse his help, as Vodafone has already done it for him.

Fans immediately flooded forums to condemn the use of the character with Shortbreadtin claiming: “How could they sell Yoda out like that? It's just wrong.” Similarly, Zaust vented his frustration saying:“Somebody really needs to wrest Star Wars away from lucas and stop him milking a generation's childhood memories” (sic), while a user called Sephiroth0000 commented that “the force is not strong in this one.”
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A Vodafone spokesperson defended the advert, suggesting that: “The campaign with Yoda shows that you don’t need to be a Jedi Master to unlock the power of mobile internet."

Loyal fans of the films have been subjected to disappointment countless times in recent years as George Lucas cashes in on his sci-fi franchise. Remember these…?

C3POh no

Back in 2010, electronics store Currys shamelessly used the quirky androids R2D2 and C3PO to flog fridges, hairdryers and vacuum cleaners. A far cry for their celebrated role in the films.

[See also:Obvious product placement in films]

The abysmal promo appalled most avid ‘Star Wars’ fans immediately who flocked online to slam the video. Comments such as “lucas has sold his soul. money money money (sic)” and “in a few years they will show this advert again with better graphics and extra scenes. And this time the TV will shoot first” are arguably funnier than the VT.

Check out the offending advert.

Sith cinema

Despite Darth Vader (SPOILER ALERT) dying in ‘Return of The Jedi’, his plugging days have lived on with appearances in a number of ads.

Back in 2002 good ol’ Darth popped up in one of those brilliantly annoying Orange movie ads where he was seen pitching a new film about the Sith Lord to the Orange board. He subsequently gets shunned by the Kevin Spacey lookalike before asking Darth to join the “orange side”…  Cue tumbleweed.

A more recent Darth rip-off came in the form of greasy fast food. A French fast food restaurant dreamt up a promotional snack inspired by the re-release of ‘Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace’ in 3D. The burger comes complete with black buns to give it a distinctive dark side look.

The link between the foodstuff and the film is pretty questionable as Darth Vader only appears in the movie as a 10-year-old Anakin Skywalker. But we suppose that’s not the major travesty in the PR stunt.

Incidentally, there was also a Yoda burger, but the idea of munching on a sandwich that looks like green troll didn’t go down so well.

Snoop Wars

To get us in to the mood for good old fashioned football, Adidas decided to use the iconic film series to promote their brand. Obviously. It featured a host of celebrities hanging out in the Cantina whilst simultaneously butchering the infamous Greedo scene. That sound you can hear is millions of dead ‘Star Wars’ fans turning in their graves.

The description of the video is as follows:

”adidas Originals invites you to join David Beckham, Daft Punk, Snoop Dogg, Franz Beckenbauer, Noel Gallagher, Ian Brown, Ciara, Jay Baruchel, DJ Neil Armstrong and some of your dear, old friends for an intergalactic 2010 FIFA World Cup™ viewing party that you'll never forget.”

Yes. This happened. And we all let it happen. Watch it in all its gory here.

VW Vader

In probably the most successful use of ‘Star Wars’ in an advert, car manufacturer Volkswagen plumped to use a miniature Darth Vader to shift their shiny new Passat. Fans didn’t get so up-in-arms about this one as it was actually a fantastic advert. Check it out here.

Still, it doesn’t detract from the clear sell out from everyone’s least favourite movie meddler. With George Lucas taking a rain check on making blockbusters, we might just see even more naff ‘Star Wars’ cash-ins. And perhaps even worse… more changes to the films that fans know and love.

What do you think of the ‘Star Wars’ adverts? Let us know below.