Some ads are pure genius. In 30 or 60 seconds they can tell stories that capture the human experience more beautifully than many 2 hour movies (certainly better than Avatar does in 3 hours).
Check out the ad above for Coke and Wal-Mart. Yes, it’s sappy. But so are many movies. What’s great is the way this ad captures certain relationships with little more than a gesture and a look in a few seconds. I particularly like meeting his best friend and the on-line date. Notice how the best-friend puts his arm around the date and she reacts uncomfortably and then relaxes, just like someone would on a first date.
I also think the protagonist’s declaration of love for the first girl he ever kissed is just brilliant. Notice how she is clearly there with her boyfriend and they are both shocked by his declaration. She is then flattered and the boyfriend is diminished.
These are essential parts of the human experience and they are captured in just seconds. Think about how many takes they probably had to do to get it just right. Think about the acting skill involved. This is art.
