Nearly three months after 72andSunny introduced us to “The Replacer”–aka Fargo baddie Peter Stormare–in its campaign for Activision’s Call of Duty: Black Ops II – Revolution trailer, the agency has brought back the character, now with sidekick JB Smoove in tow, for its Black Ops II – Uprising promo. Jesus, how many entries are in this franchise? Anyhow, the newly formed dynamic duo embarks on several replacing adventures from serving as weatherman to fixing cable, with Stormare being his usual, somewhat menacing self and Smoove giving us the fast-talking delivery that we first came to know and love in Curb Your Enthusiasm. 

We’re not sure what the budget is here, but as the Black Ops franchise expands, so do seem the timeframe and scope of the clips promoting it. But, if you have the patience for it (it is lunchtime on the East Coast, after all), don’t let us stop you from taking in this slightly entertaining, slightly grating clip. Credits after the jump.

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Like a less-slick, self-assured version of Harvey Keitel‘s “The Wolf” from Pulp Fiction, actor Peter Stormare, who you might remember from playing Steve Buscemi‘s even sleazier partner-in-crime in Fargo or to a lesser extent, “Slippery Pete” on Seinfeld, stars as “The Replacer” in 72andSunny’s latest lengthy effort for Activision. This time, agency and client team up to promote the latter’s Call of Duty: Black Ops II – Revolution, which will come equipped with new multiplayer apps, a new weapon and even a zombie mode to play undead.

In the two-and-a-half minute clip above, we find that “The Replacer” is actually a way more charitable character than Wolf, lending his services to a variety of gamers, whether a frustrated, domesticated type, an expecting parent, a guy on a blind date, a landscaper or even a zoo cleaner. The intensity of previous Call of Duty clips has supplanted by comedy, and we kinda welcome the change of pace. And plus, we have a soft spot for Stormare, a man who’s played bit/supporting roles in more movies than we can count.  Credits after the jump.

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It’s coming up on two years since VW and Deutsch LA’s beloved “The Force” aka “Little Darth” spot captured the hearts of America during Super Bowl XLV. While most agree that “Little Darth” was worthy of the acclaim and awards bestowed upon it, the VW/Duetsch duo has had a difficult time following it up. Last year’s “The Dog Strikes Back” fell well short of its predecessor, and perhaps this is due to an erroneous insight into what the public loved about “Little Darth.”

Yes, the Star Wars tie-in to “Little Darth” was great, but it wasn’t the reason the spot became one of the web’s biggest hits. “The Dog Strikes Back” also had a pretty blatant nod to Star Wars as well, but the spirit of “Little Darth” was lost, and the spot became more of a sequel than a standalone ad. The real reason the public loved “Little Darth” so much was because it was just so damn adorable, and judging by the above new spot for the VW Passat, this insight is now crystal clear.

What we have here is a great (and simple) slice-o-life spot, with an absolutely perfectly timed punchline that will make you giggle and then give a long “awwww.” It’s a bit surprising that VW didn’t hold the spot until this year’s Super Bowl, but I’m quite excited for what Deutsch has planned next. Credits after the jump.

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Four months since the debut “How to Change Cars Forever,” WK’s Portland’s first spot for the Dodge Dart, it’s clear the campaign is now kicking it into high-gear with phase two.

When we first posted the debut spot back in July, there was quite a discussion going on in our comments section. It’s become par for the course here: We post new work from W+K, and the comments explode with people saying it’s not as good as Wieden’s past work or, if someone likes it, it’s because her or she must some sort of W+K fanboy. It’s a testament to W+K’s amazing portfolio they’ve built throughout the years. We expect this agency to blow our mind with every campaign, and we’re quick to complain when it doesn’t.

While this Dodge Dart maybe didn’t completely turn my world upside down with the first spot, it’s definitely grown on me. Despite the fact that it seems to run during every commercial break of an NFL telecast, when I hear the familiar bassline of Kanye West/Jay-Z‘s “No Church in the Wild,” I find myself always completely absorbed in the spot, guessing what aspect of the Dodge Dart will be presented next.

These two new spots, “Interior” and “Unsafe,” take the same formula and condense it into 30-second slices of sensory overload. Perhaps its reflective of the over-caffeniated environment of the W+K Portland office? In any case, the rapid-fire narrative of the Dart’s features really does make the car look like it is far more technologically advanced than any of its competitors. If you’re wondering how to make TV spots dazzle and sell simultaneously, well, it’s just this easy. Credits after the jump.

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From Deutsch LA comes the above spot for PlayStation Vita, Sony’s latest portable gaming console that, at the lofty price tag of $250, is selling slower than Dreamcast, Sega’s final console before it dropped out of the console-making business completely.

Yes, PlayStation’s pricing model has gotten itself in some financial trouble over the last few years. While PlayStation built up its reputation for having the best video game titles and competitive technology since the release of its first console in 1995, the company got a little greedy with the release of PS3 and PlayStation Vita. Both of these systems are what most gaming experts would agree are the most technologically capable in their respective console categories, but six years after its release, Sony is still refusing to drop the price on the PS3 under $250. Meanwhile, in spite of the Vita’s sluggish sales since it debuted on the international market earlier this year, Sony is still not dropping its price tag. For you to truly understand the above spot for the Assassin’s Creed 3 bundle pack for Vita, you need to understand the position that Deutsch is in.

Unlike the campaign for the PSP, PlayStation’s earlier handheld platform that was marketed to casual gamers, Deutsch is aiming to hit the video game fanatics that are willing to shell out $250 in exchange for constant stimulation at all times. Look at it this way, thieves are probably more likely to rob iPhones on the subway these days instead of foreign-looking, clunky devices. Add to that the promise of a violent murder during your morning commute, and perhaps Sony can move some Vitas during the holiday season without lowering the price. Credits after the jump.

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Debuting tonight during the Giants vs. Cowboys NFL season kickoff, the above 60-second spot from Venables Bell & Partners titled “Suspect” marks the first time Audi is introducing its full line of S models to the U.S.

Despite the YouTube commentariat noting that the S8 is too overweight to be race-engineered, an accusation that sounds plausible though I am too unfamiliar with racing to confirm or deny the validity of it, Audi has selected the campaign tagline “Heighten Every Moment” to describe the intensity that waiting in your car for your girlfriend to pickup coffee will undoubtedly provide. Yes, most passerby will assume you stole the S8, and may have your sights set on that armored car as well. Just don’t be a minority driving the S8 (especially in Arizona), or you’ll most likely be shot by a rent-a-cop with a transistor radio.

Audi is also pleased to announce today that it will be returning to Super Bowl advertising for the sixth consecutive year in early 2013. Watch this year’s spot, “Vampire Party,” here and view credits for “Suspect” after the jump.

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Well, we have to say once again that the cast from the original Beverly Hills 90210 has aged well as now it’s Luke Perry and Jennie Garth‘s turn to take center stage in CP+B’s “Funnovations” campaign for Old Navy continues. Jason Priestley makes an appearance once again in this spot, which perhaps carries more of a Grease vibe than its predecessor. It’s only inevitable, folks, that Brian Austin Green, Tori Spelling and/or Ian Ziering complete the series. We’re not holding out hope for Shannen Doherty, though. Credits after the jump.

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Anyone who’s gone running after a hard day knows the power of an active imagination. With every arm pump, you might be punching your boss in the face. With every stride, you’re building yourself into the powerhouse that will soon confront your boyfriend about his lack of follow-through.  Some picture themselves as superheroes, sprinting through the streets to make the ultimate rescue. When we push our bodies, our minds make the physical effort possible–and even fun.

W+K’s latest spots for Nike+ helps bring those mental adventures to life. The star runners of their TV ads are in a real-life video game, leaping up palettes and climbing through windows as they complete their workouts. Nike+ helps runners measure, map, track and share their runs, gamifying the work out process and inspiring everyday runners to reach farther.

My only complaint with both ‘Game on World’ and ‘Run Your City’ is their weak music selection. I get that they’re going for a tinkery game soundtrack, but I would rather they forfeit the game theme in favor of some motivational (and still techno-flavored) Diplo or bouncy pop Walk the Moon.

Credits and ‘Game on World’ video after the jump.

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When he’s not filming Sly Stallone’s sequel to the bloody, guilty pleasure opus that is The Expendables or cracking us up as the penny-pinching pops on syndication in Everybody Hates Chris, Terry Crews is once again screaming at the screen in a series of new spots for Old Spice. W+K continues its onslaught for the P&G brand in a series of spots promoting the Red Zone body spray line.

We kind of like how Crews serves as the boisterous, aggressive counterpart to Isaiah Mustafa‘s smooth baritone casanova, though we’re not sure how this will disrupt our sleep patterns when it airs as yours truly dozes off to the telly at night. By the way, you might know the directors from the campaign, Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, aka the minds behind Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job. In phase two of the “Smell the Power” campaign, look for co-branded television advertisements with fellow P&G brands Bounce and Charmin. Check out three more clips and credits after the jump.

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Will 2011 be remembered as the “Year of the Great Video Game Spot?” When it debuted last month, it really didn’t look like Deutsch LA’s “Michael” ad for PlayStation 3 would have any challengers for the most memorable spot of the year. That is, of course, until XBOX and agency twofifteenmccann released the above jaw-dropping commercial, “The Kinect Effect.”

As the VO says, XBOX thought turning voice and movement into “magic” via Kinect technology “would be fun. And it was.” Hey, if you’ve ever had the opportunity to play one of XBOX’s sports titles for Kinect, there’s little argument you can make against this statement. But, then we see the same technology used for spiking a virtual volleyball in your opponents’ face used for education, surgery, and disposing of hazardous waste. Add to that a great orchestral cover of the Pixies’ “Where is My Mind?” (probably best known to many as the song that plays during the end of Fight Club), and at the end of the spots’ 77-second run time, all a viewer can muster in response is an awestruck is, to quote lauded thespian Joey Lawrence, “Whoa.”

XBOX portrays Kinect as an idea that can affect a target demo who isn’t clamoring for the next Halo installment. It’s quite a bold statement, and one that we don’t see competitors Sony and Nintendo making with their own gaming platforms. Calling it “visionary” is an understatement, as in “The Kinect Effect,” we see video games change the world. Credits after the jump.

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You know, these ads just aren’t the same without Isaiah Mustafa, but then again, maybe it was time for W+K Portland to make a fresh start with its valuable client, Old Spice. But we don’t know if this spot, which may have been copywriter/art director Eric Kallman‘s last writing effort for the brand (didn’t he jump to BFG9000 already?), is it. Here, a sea captain with the worst fake facial hair since Theo and Cockroach on The Cosby Show charms a lass while punching an octopus. The swagger and nod to Mustafa is still in effect, but our swooning has long since ceased. TV credits and a print element after the jump.

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We can’t help but be reminded of the cinematic masterpiece Kindergarten Cop when watching this new Domino’s ad from CP+B, which picks a different kind of focus group altogether for its new campaign.  The new spot promotes the pizza chain’s specialty deal and thankfully there are no dairy farm-related hijinks involved. However, um, cheesy you think the campaign is, it seems like Crispin’s efforts are paying off as Domino’s hit a new 52-week high on the stock market today. Hooray? Credits after the jump.

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Hey, if hip-hop stars and NFL athletes can dig the Chrysler 300, why can’t fashion designers? Well, at least John Varvatos seems to. Just like the car itself, the current New York resident is also “imported from Detroit” and his rock-influenced style is reflected in this latest spot from W+K Portland (hey, the man is buying an Iggy & the Stooges record and his boutique took over CBGBs if you’re looking for credentials).

Guess that now that the love letter to the blue-collar world of Detroit has been sent with the Slim Shady Super Bowl (and BrandBowl-winning) ad, W+K is just content to let celebs take the wheel and set this campaign in cruise control. But, at least we give props to the agency for enlisting one of our fave directors, Mark Romanek, to helm this spot. Credits after the jump.

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The 007 winks continue in this latest Dwyane Wade-starring spot from W+K’s “Dominate Another Day” campaign for Jordan Brand. This time, Flash learns from his sidekick H (guess Q was already taken) about the techy upgrades that have been made to his game shoes and testing them in H’s state-of-the-art obstacle course.

What is the objective behind this whole mission/campaign, besides obviously selling the sneaker? It’s about D-Wade bringing the championship rings back to Miami–though that’s as far-fetched an idea as a hoverboard if the Heat keep losing to Boston like they have been. Noam Murro once again gets behind the camera for this clip–which marks one of  W+K New York’s last creative efforts during the Austria/Proudfoot era–and Trent Reznor‘s cohort, Atticus Ross, returns to compose the score.

Full credits after the jump.

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W+K New York tries to top its already over-the-top “Dominate Another Day” campaign starring one of the Miami Heat’s “Big Three,” Dwyane Wade, with this latest spot called “The Escape.” Here, D-Wade is trapped in the diabolical clutches of the Zen Master (perhaps a jab at Phil Jackson?) and is being chastised by his buddy Specialist H for being late to his holiday party. Wade of course escapes and battles through snakes and ninjas before eventually blowing up the joint on his way out. Someone page Michael Bay or the Wachowskis.

LeBron can keep asking his rhetorical questions while his buddy plays superhero in this latest Jordan Brand advert, which was directed by the always less-than-modest Noam Murro and features music from Nine Inch Nails cohort Atticus Ross (who’s nominated along with Trent Reznor for a Golden Globe for The Social Network soundtrack).

Full credits after the jump.

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