12 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
Mostly advertisements, promotions, and product placements.
Date of Review: Jul 3, 2007
The Bottom Line: Why pay for a subscription when you get the same ads on TV for free.
This magazine is far removed from the tradition of active exploration suggested by its National Geographic roots. Every issue is packed full of advertisements, promotions, and product placement pieces. The May 2007 issue relentlessly pushes junk food and such lethargic activities as playing video games, and watching TV and movies. Here are the food products advertised: Poptarts, Frootloops, Yogos, Skippy, Honey Maid Bees, Kraft Mac & Cheese. NG Kids can take a break from these quality eats to play the following advertised video games: Winning Eleven, HNL, Madden NFL, Pokemon, and Purr Pals.
Then there is article on how to spend you summer vacation where
Disney-MGM studios, Seaworld, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Universal resorts were pushed. Some books were advertised, but the ad for Guinness World Records was slipped in as a product placement. The publicist for Johnny Damon, Jeff gordon, and the Olsens were active in getting their names inserted in to articles or ads. Yoda, Captain Jack Sparrow (in a list of London tourist attractions) were also included in the text of articles of stories or ads.
But by far the most hawked activity movie watching. In this month alone the following movies were promoted or at least mentioned: Shrek1, 2, &3, Spiderman 1,2 & 3, Pirates of the Caribbean1, 2, &3, Hot Rod, Surf's Up, Nancy Drew, Fantastic Four, Ratatouille, Transformers, Harry Potter 4, The Simpson Movie, No Reservations, Underdog, Star Wars 1, 3, & 4, E.T., Jurassic Park, Finding Nemo, and, oddly enough given the other films, An Inconvenient Truth.
Go with Ranger Rick, Highlights, or Discovery Kids.
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