If you remember “The Italian Job,” you will surely remember that its biggest star had no lines – no acting ability whatsoever – but made the movie more money than its actors and its storyline combined. I’m talking, of course, about the Mini Cooper. And if you were one of the bloodthirsty few who went to see “Blade: Trinity” over the holidays, you will understand exactly what I mean when I say, “tasteless plug.”

The movie’s biggest moneymaking star isn’t Jessica Biel, and it sure as heck isn’t Wesley Snipes, whose face seems to have been soused with Novocaine in this follow-up to the first two films. In fact, the film’s sexiest moment involves cords trailing from Biel’s ears, down past her leather-clad bosom.

The biggest star of “Blade: Trinity” is an iPod. And as if paying upwards of nine dollars for the film weren’t enough already, viewers’ attentions are diverted as they are blatantly wooed by this extravagantly priced, palm-sized sensation. It’s a marketing ploy – and an obvious one at that – meant to draw people in and make them spend more of their money. This, in turn, benefits the filmmakers, who have become dependent on such products to compensate for the money they know the movie itself won’t be making.

With all the technology filmmakers have at their disposal, it seems lazy to put it all aside in favor of cheap product placement. That’s not to say the movie doesn’t have its moments, but this particular iPod placement brings whatever attempt at seriousness the movie was trying to make to a grinding halt. It arguably is the most pathetic attempt at promoting a product that I’ve ever seen.

At least the movie is aware of what it’s doing – in other words, it’s no secret the filmmakers are in cahoots with Apple. Smack dab on the movie’s official homepage, a contest invites people to create their own “Slaylists,” or soundtracks for hunting vampires, like the ones Biel makes in the movie. The contestant whose Slaylist gets the highest rating wins a free iPod.

Most of us go to the movies hoping to be entertained, not bribed into buying something we don’t need. But that’s exactly what happens in this day and age of commercially-driven media. Screen time that used to be solely reserved for previews is now taken up almost entirely by commercials we can just as easily see on our television at home.

Moviegoing is meant to be a social experience. We watch movies because they offer us an escape from daily life. They’re no place for commercials.

I know there are many people who plan on watching the upcoming Super Bowl for the sole purpose of seeing what new commercials advertisers were able to come up with this year. They have no interest in the game whatsoever, and that’s fine. But remember, you have a choice in what you buy. Don’t allow yourself to be tricked by advertisers, or you may be throwing away some $300 on something you might not have really wanted in the first place.

Columns reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Northern Star staff.