'Transformers'

[acomicbookgirl]

I'm itching to watch it again.

[kahunablair]

I'm itching to watch it again.

Same here. I'm getting a few buddies from work together so we can see it sometime this week.

[acomicbookgirl]

I'm trying to get my friend to watch it some time this weekend.. Who knows..

[paper]

Soundwave really wanted to be in the movie. (Funny)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TYzRanykbQ

[Jimski]

I saw it this morning (at a 10:00 a.m. show? Who have I become?) with some friends after an idle mention evolved into a full-scale Plan last night.

I liked it a lot better than I'd have guessed I would a month ago. It was a movie about transforming robots from outer space, and the only part that made me say "Oh, whatever!" was when the Secretary of Defense was using a Mac.

(The movie was filled with Movie Computers, of course, computers running on operating systems that give them magical powers, dummy terminals that can be hotwired to make ham radios work... by messing around with their monitors.... Anyway, my speculation is that the last people left who don't use computers in any serious way in their day to day jobs are screenwriters, and that's why you still see characters mashing the keyboard and going, "Bleep blop bloop, I've hacked into the global communications network." My 62-year-old mom knows better than that. But that's not why I called.)

I have had almost universally bad experiences with Michael Bay movies, but that streak has ended. After years of beer commercial jump cuts giving me a headache, this thing actually seemed to have some flow to it. I wish the robot designs were less busy, but the humans surrounded by the CGI actually connected with me, even Sam's Dad, as played by That Character Actor Who Must Have Clones Of Himself.

I do have one question: when Sam is being chased by Bumblebee and he runs into Michaela (sp?), I thought it was broad daylight... but then when they get confronted by Cop Car and kick his ass, it's dead night. Was it just a long fight? Am I remembering this correctly?

[paper]

Anyway, my speculation is that the last people left who don't use computers in any serious way in their day to day jobs are screenwriters, and that's why you still see characters mashing the keyboard and going, "Bleep blop bloop, I've hacked into the global communications network." My 62-year-old mom knows better than that. But that's not why I called.

It's true. I had to call an IT guy to walk me through the typing of this post.

Sadly we spend far too much of our time with computers. I think giving them magical powers in screenplays is just our way of acting out our fantasies. The computers we write about can actually write the boring projects for us.

We also have them explode a lot.

I imagine the writing of the printer bashing scene in Office Space was incredibly therapeutic.

[fred]

I saw it last night. There were good things about it. There weren't enough of them for me though.

[Jimski]

The way Movie Computers behave is nowhere near as funny as watching movie "hackers" type gibberish on the keyboard. Surely some of these actors must have temped!

I thought it would have been a lot funnier if, when the Global Communications Whooziwhatzit went down, all the NORAD computers had just blue-screened. It wouldn't have been "cool," but the crowd would've eaten it up.

[paper]

All action movies are allowed to contain technology from two years in the future. Even if it's not a science fiction film. I'm blaming technology, most notably scientists for not inventing things quick enough. We should be able to hack alien tech from any Mac product using a simple piece of freeware. Where is it?

[seNoj1]

I loved Transformers. It was what i wanted it to be.

I was watching some TV Crime show and they were watching some security cam footage of a fire at a chemical plant and in the like the corner there was a blurry person and they zoomed it in to a perfect picture that looked like it was filmed three steps in front of him. I was just like WTF?! and turned the channel

[paper]

Right, but don't you want to live in a world where security cameras can do that? Or are you a burglar?

I also like when they use a night vision or grain effect in the context of "fixed" security camera footage and then proceed to shoot from multiple angles or have the camera pan or zoom of its own creative will.

[DarrOn]

I was watching some TV Crime show and they were watching some security cam footage of a fire at a chemical plant and in the like the corner there was a blurry person and they zoomed it in to a perfect picture that looked like it was filmed three steps in front of him. I was just like WTF?! and turned the channel

Who-ba-da-wha...???

[paper]

They do that all the time. Every third episode of Law and Order: Zesty Ranch. They have a computer expert with an editing suite and the detective goes, "Can you zoom in on the guy in the baseball cap?" Just once I want the guy to be like, "No. He'll look like Tetris. Do I have the power to fire you?"

[DarrOn]

OH! Gotcha. My mind went blank there for, well, yea.

[itsbecca]

They do that all the time. Every third episode of Law and Order: Zesty Ranch.

I think I would watch that. It sounds delicious.

[MarshallG]

This movie RULED. It let me be a kid again for a couple of hours. I'm actually thinking about buying that Optimus Prime that I never got when I was a kid. My parents got me Megatron.:( Can't wait til it comes out on DVD.

[kahunablair]

This movie RULED. It let me be a kid again for a couple of hours. I'm actually thinking about buying that Optimus Prime that I never got when I was a kid. My parents got me Megatron.:( Can't wait til it comes out on DVD.

I got Optimus but I always wanted Megatron. Guess the grass is always greener huh?

[Jimski]

You know one thing I like about this? It addresses something that has bugged me since I was nine, namely: alien robots, 30 feet tall, wage war on our planet and pillage all the way across the country, and nobody from the government even goes looking for them? (Actually, when I was a kid it was more like "will no one send GI Joe to take care of this?") This time, the army was definitely interested. In the eighties, the killer robots just got to live in the mountain with Spike and occasionally blow up oil rigs. Reagan had other priorities, with Cobra and what-have-you.

[MarshallG]

You're probably right, I guess we can't have everything.

[Six Gun]

I just saw it and I had a great time. Despite having no prior experience with the license (come on, I was born in 1990) I got what was going on immediately (I mean it wasn't all that complicated but) the fact that the writers were able to give me enough background to have a favorite Transformer before the flick reached it's halfway point at least deserves some credit.

Nitpicks:

The military lingo was dead wrong, after spending 10 days at and around various military instillations recently I couldn't help but laugh at some of the phrases that were thrown around by otherwise competent actors.

Plot holes. They were so big you could drive Optimus Prime through them. "Let's take the highly contested piece of alien technology into a densely packed metropolis so our movie's climax can involve giant robots tearing up a city!"

[Six Gun]

You know one thing I like about this? It addresses something that has bugged me since I was nine, namely: alien robots, 30 feet tall, wage war on our planet and pillage all the way across the country, and nobody from the government even goes looking for them? (Actually, when I was a kid it was more like "will no one send GI Joe to take care of this?") This time, the army was definitely interested. In the eighties, the killer robots just got to live in the mountain with Spike and occasionally blow up oil rigs. Reagan had other priorities, with Cobra and what-have-you.

From what I've read and heard from servicemen/women the military loooves Micheal Bay and I don't blame them. He portrays them is an extremely positive light. For that, I applaud him!!

[david_nakayama]

Just saw the movie today, and I'd give it a B+ overall. It actually preserves the 'feeling' of the original cartoon to a much greater extent than I thought it would, thanks in no small part to Peter Cullen's voicework and the individual personalities of the Autobots.

All the transformations looked extremely cool, and I particularly enjoyed little design touches like the extra layer of armor that occasionally slides out to protect the Autobots' faces (Prime's is extra sweet, since it makes him look more like his cartoon counterpart).

One thing that threw me was Ironhide repeatedly asking why he couldn't just shoot the humans. I think it happens at least 3 times, with Prime stopping him each time. It probably only bothers me because I'm used to selfless, noble Autobots who'll protect humanity at all costs, but I wondered why it was repeated so many times.

[david_nakayama]

Couple other things I wondered about: was the little boombox Decepticon officially the movie's version of Soundwave, or was it just an unnamed character?

Was that Frank Welker voicing Megatron? It didn't sound like him to me, but I heard from several sources that he'd been involved in the movie.

Did I miss something at the end? I saw the part where Starscream blasts off into space, but was there more after that? Our theater turned off the projector a little early, so I couldn't be sure.

[kahunablair]

Couple other things I wondered about: was the little boombox Decepticon officially the movie's version of Soundwave, or was it just an unnamed character?

Originally that was supposed to be Soundwave. When they were making the movie they realized that the character didn't really live up to the name. So they changed the character to Frenzy. Frenzy is one of the cassettes that came out of Soundwave, so in a weird way it's appropriate.

Was that Frank Welker voicing Megatron? It didn't sound like him to me, but I heard from several sources that he'd been involved in the movie.

Welker auditioned for the character, just like Cullen had to for Prime. They decided that Welker's voice wasn't right for the Megatron they wanted to make. So he was replaced with Hugo Weaving.
Welker did do the voice for Megatron in the game though.

Did I miss something at the end? I saw the part where Starscream blasts off into space, but was there more after that? Our theater turned off the projector a little early, so I couldn't be sure.

I didn't see anything, I may be wrong though.

[ConorKilpatrick]

'Transformers' generates $67.6 million

By DAVID GERMAIN, AP Movie Writer 1 hour, 21 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES - The shape-shifting robots of "Transformers" have taken on a new form: Huge piles of cash.

The sci-fi saga "Transformers," DreamWorks and Paramount's big-screen take on the Hasbro toys, debuted with $67.6 million in ticket sales in its first weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. That gave it $152.5 million since opening with preview screenings Monday night.

If the weekend figures hold when final numbers are released Monday, that would give "Transformers" the biggest first week revenues ever for a non-sequel, surpassing the $151.6 million of 2002's "Spider-Man." But factoring in today's higher ticket prices, "Spider-Man" drew more people in its first week, about 26.1 million, compared to 22.5 million for "Transformers."

[paper]

Good news for people who like bad news.

[Jo-RelRollins]

Starscream did survive. I don't know if more was shown though. One of the writers stated that "if" a sequel was made then an appropriate Soundwave would appear. I'm also hoping for a Thundercracker,Soundwave,and Astrotrain. I always liked the planes growing up.

[MrUgly]

Oh how I wish I had a gun. I hate being odd man out. I can't believe the response I've seen to this travesty known as Transformers. My simplest request would have been for them to focus on the robots the movie is named after, and not the dozens of human characters that added nothing to the film. Aside from the Sam character, I could give a flying **** about any flesh wearing entity in this film.

And what was with the unbelievably bad humor? How does Michael Bay get these projects? Did he sign his entire family's soul over to Lucifer?

[Jo-RelRollins]

Oh how I wish I had a gun. I hate being odd man out. I can't believe the response I've seen to this travesty known as Transformers. My simplest request would have been for them to focus on the robots the movie is named after, and not the dozens of human characters that added nothing to the film. Aside from the Sam character, I could give a flying **** about any flesh wearing entity in this film.

And what was with the unbelievably bad humor? How does Michael Bay get these projects? Did he sign his entire family's soul over to Lucifer?

Oh i'm right along with u,somewhat. I wish the movie was all robots and Shia(who was awesome by the way). I thought thats how it would've been with Spielberg being a producer,but i guess not. I could have did without Duhamel and Tyrese,also i didn't like the spanish guy from prison break or the deaf guy who couldn't hear Scorponok. I shrugged it off as Michael Bay making the movie commercial like they do for all moves( ie Xmen,SpiderMan,Batman, Superman). Most movies that have a long history and tweaked so the general public will watch. Thats why Darkseid will never be a villian and why Apocalypse will never be on screen. Also thats why Megatron was not a gun.

[david_nakayama]

Though I would've enjoyed an all robot/no human 'Transformers' too, I thought Shia did a fine job as a point-of-entry character for the casual audience. And you'll get no complaints from me about Megan Fox being in the movie either. :)

Btw--thanks for the info, Kahunablair!

[Spock-tM]

okay, so you can see my initial thoughts on it here:
http://revision3.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7326

BUT!


Just saw the movie a second time, and GAH! in retrospect, yeh, I can't STAND the blurry/shaky-cam and the singular-point circular blurry panning, can't focus on anything.

Why do all the shots have to be so in your face? too many of the shots are trying to be in a kind of, 'if you were in this street, this is what you would see'... and in many of the shots I was apparently standing behind buildings/rubble as an explosion/action shot happens on the other side, which I can hear and see the fireball of, but have to use my imagination as to what created it, haha. Oh gotta love the Megatron vs. Optimus FINAL Fight, which we didn't get to watch? WHY? was this not supposed to be one of the ultimate fights of the film? instead we get Starscream blurring between human fighters in some don't get me wrong awesome scenes...

*sigh* ah well, was still a fun film, still enjoyed all the Sam and Mikaela scenes, they were great; too much behind the scenes government bs; WHY is it that only ONE hacker is able to crack it?! action still awesome but hard to follow..... know what.... I played the Transformers game today, and seriously, BEST intro movie EVER! I loved having a bit more background story for understanding the movie, I loved running around and transforming and fighting, I will play and finish this game JUST for the cut scenes, as they are what I really wanted in shot direction (from what I've seen so far that is)

[esophagus]

From what I've read and heard from servicemen/women the military loooves Micheal Bay and I don't blame them. He portrays them is an extremely positive light. For that, I applaud him!!This gives him cheap access to military personnel and equipment. A big budget cut. Allllll there is to it.

[Mikegraham6]

I saw it for the second time yesterday, and i have to note that Jon Voight is the WORST secretary of defence EVER!

Army guy: "We need to get the cube as far away from here (desolate desert ground) as possible. Let's bring to the city where it will be easier to hide (from giant robots that want to kill everything in sight)
Secretary: *pointing and getting all excited* YES! that's a great idea!

didn't notice it the first time, but that was retarded:rolleyes:

[Jimski]

I saw it for the second time yesterday, and i have to note that Jon Voight is the WORST secretary of defence EVER!

I blame the Mac book he's using to run the country.

I'm not going to take out a stopwatch and count how many minutes of robot fighting you get per minute of old men talking, but it seemed like plenty. How many minutes is the shark in Jaws?

[JAFlanagan]

I blame the Mac book he's using to run the country.

I'm not going to take out a stopwatch and count how many minutes of robot fighting you get per minute of old men talking, but it seemed like plenty. How many minutes is the shark in Jaws?

You invoke the holy film? In a thread about Transformers?

The shark doesn't show up for 53 minutes. But, of course, the difference is that the characters, actors and script are such that my favorite parts of that movie are the character interactions.

[horatio616]

I thought Anthony Anderson's cousin running through his glass door to evade the FBI was a good scene, but please, please can we retire the use of the "I-Know-a-Hacker-Who-Can-Deciper-This-Code" cliche for good?

[Mikegraham6]

I thought Anthony Anderson's cousin running through his glass door to evade the FBI was a good scene, but please, please can we retire the use of the "I-Know-a-Hacker-Who-Can-Deciper-This-Code" cliche for good?

that was the second movie in a row that used that cliche... in TWO WEEKS!! (Die Hard!)
i with you on this one, let's start a petition

[Labor_Days]

The Onion has an amusing article on the next toy line Michael Bay should make a movie of next. Good for a laugh.

Link (http://www.avclub.com/content/feature/more_hasbro_products_begging).

[MrUgly]

I thought Anthony Anderson's cousin running through his glass door to evade the FBI was a good scene, but please, please can we retire the use of the "I-Know-a-Hacker-Who-Can-Deciper-This-Code" cliche for good?

I also thought it was funny that the hacker lived so conveniently close to the secret government intelligence building the analysts were brought to. It was within walking distance for Pete's sake!

[fred]

I also thought it was funny that the hacker lived so conveniently close to the secret government intelligence building the analysts were brought to. It was within walking distance for Pete's sake!

it was like Oliver Stone's Dealey Plaza

[esophagus]

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

I just saw the movie, and am currently listening to the podcast. And now I have a few things to say.

First off, Shia is 21? Jesus christ. I think he was about 15 (highballing it) when I started watching him on TV. He did absolutely amazing in this, and anything he does. I really want to see Disturbia now.

Second, I agree with all of the negative points. This was a TERRIBLE movie, a Micheal Bay movie to a tee. "I know a hacker that can do this, but he makes no money and plays DDR". Character development was terrible. All of the humans were these complete people, with backstory to it, and we knew what was happening with them at all times. When Jazz died on the other hand, I said "Oh yeah, Jazz was in this movie.".

The effects were amazing, the realism was amazing, the acting was amazing, and I had a great time, and would have paid $10 just to hear Optimus say "ROLL OUT!" but, with the budget they had, and the anticipation they had, they really could have done a better job with the plot. Way to many times where I said "What? That would NOT happen!".

Overall grade: B-.

Remember at the start of the movie when Sam got the same grade, and his teacher said "You sat in front of my class, and hawked these objects.". Well this is kind of the same. I went in for a robot battle, but they spent the whole time trying to convince me of how the military would solve this crisis. This movie could have done so much better if it had stuck to the cartoon where everyone said "Why did the military never have anything to say?". If there is going to be so many plot holes, don't make it look like you are trying to cover it up. But it still had the great everything else to back it, to give it that ultimately good grade.


edit: rereading this i sound overly negative. there were good jokes, great cgi, good actors, and a lot of good things. i overall enjoyed it, i just thought the plot was lacking.