By Guest Blogger, Mary Schmidt, Marketing Troubleshooter

Oh Boy! It's summer movie season! I've been seeing bits around the Web that some previewers are less than wowed by Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull.  I don't care about lackluster reviews. I'll be there the first day - happy to pay my money and take my chances.   

Here's four reasons why:

1. I remember Raiders of the Lost Ark.   Wow!  What fun.  Totally different (for the time.) It made me feel good.  I had a great time.  And, (let's face it) I've lusted after Harrison Ford since the first time he appeared on the screen in Star Wars (All our boyfriends wondered why we girls kept insisting on seeing the movie AGAIN!)  I also liked the following two Indie movies...not quite as muchas the first, but still...good memories!

So. the brand is a memory of fun and WOW!

2. Harrison Ford, besides being a - um - hottie is also just downright likeable. Sure, no real person could survive what Indie does - but he does so with a wince and looks human, getting so beat up. And that crooked little smile...Men want to be him, women want to take care of those cuts and scrapes.

So, the brand is a likeable, real guy.

And, a really BIG reason: 

3.  Marion Ravenwood is back! A strong, funny, - and yes - likeable woman. 

So, the brand is a woman role model.

Okay,  maybe it's not stellar that I'd like to be able to drink a bar full of rough, tough guys literally under the table, but yowsa!  I'm also thrilled to see the actress, Karen Allen, again.  She doesn't work enough.  (Another movie favorite, Starman, with Allen and Jeff Bridges.  An oldie but goodie.)

3.5 Another strong woman.  I'd watch Cate Blanchett read a phone book - and her villain role in this movie looks interesting.  She may be mad, bad and dangerous to know, but it's great to see women who can hold their own.

4. I know I'm going to see a quality effort by top-notch movie makers who love their craft.  I can even forgive George Lucas for Jar Jar Binks, <shudder>

So, the brand is effort and passion. The movie may not be their best effort, but I'm confident that they're trying.   

What about your brand?   Sure, you're not a movie maker - but you can still wow people, give them reasons to keep coming back.