Transformers (the movie)

[LightWaves1636]

I loved Transformers, that movie was more than amazing, it was just, ah, I'm going to go see it again.

[Travis Hoffman]

I'm a G1 fanboy - I'm just PO'd they gave Optimus Prime lips........

........just kidding!

I was thoroughly entertained, along with it seems everyone else in the theater, young and old.

I actually felt "bad" for Bumblebee and was quite impressed by his facial expressions.

While the plot was contrived and just a tad far-fetched even considering the wild premise - especially during the final battle - let's not kid ourselves. This isn't a movie trying to win Best Picture - this movie is about pure entertainment - it is PRECISELY about the robots and their interactions (although I must actually give credit to Shia Lebeouf for a job well done, and Megan Fox for, well, just showing up on screen ). It's about extending the influence of the mythology - drawing in the adults who grew up on Transformers, while impressing a new generation of youth to sell all the new toys coming out - did you note the introductory scenes for both the Autobots and Decepticons where they went through each robot by name? That's done on purpose. The closeups and slow-mo scenes of the CG - it's not just to exhibit the new ILM technology (and supposedly they modeled hundreds of actual automotive parts and incorporated them into the robots to show off during the transformations), it's to get the kiddies to say "WOWEE MOMMY THESE ARE NEAT-O! WHEN CAN I PLAY WITH THEM???" It's just like always, it's about Hasbro toy sales. And you know what? That's ok! Because I grew up with these toys, and their creative and fun designs lend themselves well to developing a child's dexterity and imagination, far more cheaply than any video game or robotics kit ever could.

Not every child is fortunate enough to have parents who can afford a $300 Vex or NXT kit. I think a $10 mechanical marvel of a toy is a viable substitute. If kids are going to get sucked into the uber hyper gee whiz marketing power of Dreamworks - Hasbro - Toys R Us - Target - etc., there are far, far worse toys for them to own.

And parents, don't forget to go out and buy GM vehicles!!! (Seriously, I saw a Solstice driving down the street right after the movie let out and I couldn't help but imagine it transforming right there - lol).

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Travis Hoffman

And parents, don't forget to go out and buy GM vehicles!!! (Seriously, I saw a Solstice driving down the street right after the movie let out and I couldn't help but imagine it transforming right there - lol).

Yeah transforming from the lot to somebody's driveway after purchasing it.
I remember when product placement used to be taboo in movies.
Now movies try to figure out how to get as many in as possbile.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Originally Posted by Travis Hoffman

I'm a G1 fanboy - I'm just PO'd they gave Optimus Prime lips........

........just kidding!
<snip>
(although I must actually give credit to Shia Lebeouf for a job well done, and Megan Fox for, well, just showing up on screen ). It's about extending the influence of the mythology - <snip>

I have to agree with that there in bold, a lot. One of my favorite actresses now... And she isn't that good at acting...

Anyways, Shia Lebeouf is a terrible actor, IMHO. I've hated him since Holes...


But, in the end, I thought the movie was okay. A review I read before hand described it as "the first half was a Spielberg movie and the second half was a Micheal Bay movie." With that said, Spielberg is a much better director than that crappy Michael Bay dude. I loved the first half, but hated the second.

[alphaone]

Originally Posted by Travis Hoffman

And parents, don't forget to go out and buy GM vehicles!!! (Seriously, I saw a Solstice driving down the street right after the movie let out and I couldn't help but imagine it transforming right there - lol).

So true. I hated most everything about american cars before seeing this movie. Now suddenly I'm attracted to them.. what the hell?

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by Pavan

I don't want to see any more Disney or animated robot movies. A lot of the are boring, annoying, and not worth the $10. I saw Robots on the way to Atlanta on the bus this year (or the way back) and wanted my friend to knock me out so I wouldn't have to suffer. I'd rather watch and feel the sun blind me.

This and the iPhone thread are your new trolling grounds, eh? How about doing some research first...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WALL-E

As anyone knows, Pixar movies are much more about the stories and feelings than the actual characters. Ratatouille, Finding Nemo, etc, should have taught you that. This movie is about finding your purpose despite what you are told to do.

Oh, and never reference Pixar movie and a Fox or Dreamworks picture in the same sentence. EVER.

[Hiteak]

When i saw the movie, I just couldn't help laughing when i saw that one of the computer workers for the government was wearing the 42 shirt from thinkgeek.com. There was a little too much advertising in the movie, but i found most of it to be rather enjoyable.

[Freddy Schurr]

_______ AWESOME!

I think I might have to spend another $7.50 to see it again.

[Elgin Clock]

Best movie release on Independence Day (extended) weekend... well.. since Independence Day.

And.... if GM was all "good guys" was that a Mustang I spotted as a "bad guy" cop car?

If it was; talk about Ford getting the shaft on that one in a sense eh? The only "brand name" Deceptacon, and it's a Ford? Harsh.

This could just very well start a whole GM vs Ford debate as well.

IN any case, now I'll def. have to go see the filming of Shia's new movie down the street from where I work at Yale in New Haven next time to get some autographs on some transformers stuff as well. Ya know, that new Indiana Jones movie.. I drove through the set while they were filming Tuesday. Good times.

Side Note: Anyone else see the trailer before Transformers came on for the movie that was shot ala' Blair Witch Style? Bad Robot was the production company. The title wasn't that clear... First time I heard about that one. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1060277/synopsis Looks... intriguing.

Also, the trailer for the movie tying in the Columbia space shuttle disaster with an alien invasion? Hope N.A.S.A. got some money for that tie in.. just as they should have with the rover footage from Transformers. (IMHO A circa year 1997+ rover design more so than a 60's one.)

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Joe Matt

This and the iPhone thread are your new trolling grounds, eh? How about doing some research first...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WALL-E

As anyone knows, Pixar movies are much more about the stories and feelings than the actual characters. Ratatouille, Finding Nemo, etc, should have taught you that. This movie is about finding your purpose despite what you are told to do.

Oh, and never reference Pixar movie and a Fox or Dreamworks picture in the same sentence. EVER.

The reason why Pixar movies are FAR FAR superior to most movies out there is they are great storytellers first and foremost and great artist afterwards.
Robots was prettier than any Pixar movie technically but it was absolutely inferior at the soul level.
Micheal Bay could learn a lesson from these guys.

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

And.... if GM was all "good guys" was that a Mustang I spotted as a "bad guy" cop car?

If it was; talk about Ford getting the shaft on that one in a sense eh? The only "brand name" Deceptacon, and it's a Ford? Harsh.

GM obviously ponied up more cash for the promotion. Maybe Ford wanted to target the "bad boy" audience anyway in selling its Saleen Mustang?

Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin also got the "bad guy" treatment but they pretty much had to, as Decepticons are typically the military hardware types.

The US Military, never a group to turn down some self-promotion, also provided the movie crews with the most access to secure locations and vehicles for a movie shoot since 9/11. You see 2 of the 3 Ospreys in existence in the opening of the movie. And the last part was practically a recruiting video for the Air Force.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Best movie release on Independence Day (extended) weekend... well.. since Independence Day.

And.... if GM was all "good guys" was that a Mustang I spotted as a "bad guy" cop car?

If it was; talk about Ford getting the shaft on that one in a sense eh? The only "brand name" Deceptacon, and it's a Ford? Harsh.

This could just very well start a whole GM vs Ford debate as well.

IN any case, now I'll def. have to go see the filming of Shia's new movie down the street from where I work at Yale in New Haven next time to get some autographs on some transformers stuff as well. Ya know, that new Indiana Jones movie.. I drove through the set while they were filming Tuesday. Good times.

Side Note: Anyone else see the trailer before Transformers came on for the movie that was shot ala' Blair Witch Style? Bad Robot was the production company. The title wasn't that clear... First time I heard about that one. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1060277/synopsis Looks... intriguing.

Also, the trailer for the movie tying in the Columbia space shuttle disaster with an alien invasion? Hope N.A.S.A. got some money for that tie in.. just as they should have with the rover footage from Transformers. (IMHO A circa year 1997+ rover design more so than a 60's one.)

It's the work of the Others!

[Skippy]

It was even better a second time.

[Branden Ghena]

Originally Posted by Joe Matt

Great GCI, horrible storytelling. Only thing worse than this movie this summer was Spiderman 3.

WHAT??? You didn't love emo spidey???

[alphaone]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

If it was; talk about Ford getting the shaft on that one in a sense eh? The only "brand name" Deceptacon, and it's a Ford? Harsh.

I actually read an article about that somewhere. Ford didn't want their name on a badguy so technically it's a Saleen.