Saw "Transformers" last night...

[somunny]

... and was pretty impressed with the movie overall.  With the exception of a few lame gags, some corny dialogue and Turturro's bizarre Sector 7 agen, the movie was very good at being an entertaining action-centric summer blockbuster.  Shia Labeouf was particularly good as Sam.

The mother of my son's classmate won a private sneak-preview in an online contest, so there were only about forty of us in the entire theater (I took my six-year-old boy, nine-year-old daughter and a co-worker).   Free soda's and popcorn, too!

[RTSDaddy2]

I'm glad to hear that - was thinking about catching an early morning of it on July 4th, or probably the midnight preview here in our area. Thanks!

[MikeQ]

I thought some of the robots look way too large to have come from their car form.

[Joystick Jerk]

I thought some of the robots look way too large to have come from their car form.

That does sort of match the cartoon though. Optimus was a big rig, which is obviously big, but he'd transform and his robot mode would be big enough to cradle a human in his hand like it was the size of a peanut. And Megatron would go from a giant robot to a fairly small gun.

[jbox]

I thought the scene with the three-headed robot judge was cool though. 

[NightGod]

I thought some of the robots look way too large to have come from their car form.

Actually, I read an interview with Michael Bay and one of the things that he did was make sure that the mass of every robot was correct for the vehicle it came from. The specific example of this is it's the reason Megatron was a jet instead of a handgun and Optimus Prime was a bull-nose semi instead of the flat-nose he was in the cartoon.

[Joystick Jerk]

Are you talking about the cartoon movie, or are you saying the Quintessons are actually in the new film?!?

[WaRpEd]

I saw tonite and thought it great as a summer action movie. Wish I could afford that 2008 Camaro/Bumblebee Autobot. Maybe next year
Very entertaining and fun to watch!

[(+_+)]

My younger brother and I used to watch the cartoon series together every day after school. I remember coming down with some munchies for the show one afternoon and I heard my 6 year old brother saying

"Transformers, more than me B.I."

I thought it was cute and explained that it was

"Transformers, more than meets the eye"

I can't wait to go see it with him.

[WunderCade]

I saw it yesterday, thought it was fantastic. Of course I'd like to have seen more Starscream dialog and more Megatron, but I was blown away by how kewl Optimus Prime was, the nuance and inflection precisely as I remember it. I was even pleasantly surpriseb by the voices for Megatron and Starscream. But again, perhaps a sequel will flesh out more Starscream and Megatron interaction. I think Starscream only spoke twice.

But it's a fantastic movie overall, well worth the wait, and hopefully more to come.

[(+_+)]

oops. I quoted instead of modified.

[mr.Curmudgeon]

SPOILER (maybe):



Highlight text----->At the end of the film, did Optimus say "you left me no choice, brother?"  WTF? Did I hear that right? Where they implying that Megatron and Optimus were brothers?
<---highlight text

[SirPeale]

Mr C: according to the novelization, that is correct.

[KenToad]

Hey, that's a really cool way to hide a spoiler. 

I haven't seen Transformers and probably won't.  I just don't like how the robots look, at least judging by the previews I've seen. 

Off topic, but Ratatouille is really a great film.  Good for all ages and so much better than the last Pixar flick, Cars.

[SirPeale]

I haven't seen Transformers and probably won't.  I just don't like how the robots look, at least judging by the previews I've seen. 

I thought the same way when the designs first came out.  But they've really grown on me.

They are NOT G1 style.  This I think threw a lot of people.  But just think...they're ALIEN robots.  They certainly look alien!

Go on a matinée or something if you're feeling like you might get ripped.  The story was...well, it was *okay*.  Not Oscar-worthy.  But FX-wise you'll wish you saw it on the big screen.

[BobA]

Great movie.  Everything transformed so fast it would be worth watching again for some of the detail.  Love that updated Camaro.

[mr.Curmudgeon]

My only complaint is that this movie seemed like the Autobots movie. The Decepticons had very little dialog, and always moved through the scenes WAY too quickly. Back in the day, Starscream could talk the nuts off a wagon. I think he said all of fire words in this updated movie.

I imagine Transformers 2 will be more about the Decepticons.

[AtomSmasher]

Poor SoundWave 
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9TYzRanykbQ&feature=dir

[WunderCade]

My only complaint is that this movie seemed like the Autobots movie. The Decepticons had very little dialog, and always moved through the scenes WAY too quickly. Back in the day, Starscream could talk the nuts off a wagon. I think he said all of fire words in this updated movie.

I imagine Transformers 2 will be more about the Decepticons.

I agree. Hooray, we agree mr.C. Who'd have thought?

[divemaster127]

Really good movie, my son & i agreed less people more about the transformers, more starscream..
dm

[Dartful Dodger]

If the movie was mediocre I'd be happy.  It was excellent, finally something from my childhood wasn’t destroyed in the remake.

With the movie I was hoping there would be a great line of transformer toys.  The new Star Scream sucks.

The Robotech series had better transforming jet models 20 years ago.

[koolmoecraig]

I'm on the fence about seeing it.  I agree that the robots look too "modern" and intricate.  I wish they did it in a more "cartoony" way.

[Sir Auros]

Peale could probably vouch for how firmly against this movie I was based on the original robot designs, but I really, really enjoyed it. So much that this will be the first movie I've seen more than once in theaters since Return of the King.

The Decepticons could've used more screentime, and the ending was really anticlimactic, but there was so much good that it really outnumbers the bad.

[WunderCade]

I'm on the fence about seeing it.  I agree that the robots look too "modern" and intricate.  I wish they did it in a more "cartoony" way.

I actually didn't like the way Megatron's face looked in the pics before seeing the movie, but the way Micheal Bey decided to go with a very realistic rendering of the characters - to me, paid off when you watch the movie.

Unlike the Power Ranger Megazord style of live action, which I believe is what you mean by "cartoony", Micheal Bey's Transformers look very real, very intricate and complex, and very convincing as they would if they actually existed. I believe that is what helps set this movie apart as fantastic, because Optimus Prime looks so real and NOT like a Megazord knock-off with the right colors.

Again, I was a skeptic about the *new* styles for the bodies, like everyone, I'd have preferred Starscream to be his memorable red and grey, and blue. But, when you see the movie, it makes sense that they are based more on a highly realistic, modernized interpretation. And that fact that all their original personalities are there makes it even more convincing.

Bottomline, how many here saw the movie and don't want more more more? And I think that says it all.

[AtomSmasher]

I just saw the movie and I thought it was great.  Other then it getting a little too corny in the middle, I thought it was an amazing movie.  This is the first movie in a very long time where I'm tempted to go see it again.

[Chris G]

For some reason this movie felt like Armageddon meets X-Men.  That's not necessarily a bad thing.  I was a big Transformers fan as a kid and had high hopes, but I thought it was just good, not great.  Probably partly because everyone has built it up so much.  Definitely worth seeing on the big screen if you have any interest, though.

[Glaine]

I haven't seen Transformers and probably won't.  I just don't like how the robots look, at least judging by the previews I've seen. 

I thought the same way when the designs first came out.  But they've really grown on me.
They are NOT G1 style.

Thats the very same reason I wasn't going to go at all, but both of my brothers wanted to go opening night and I'll agree that it was pretty good.

Did any one else notice that Optimus was voiced by the original cartoon Optimus? Thought that was cool. That and that they had the cube as the central plot element, because wasn't G1 all about the decepticons just building that same cube? Some were upset that the bug was taken out for the camaro, but I kinda liked the camaro better anyways.

I didn't like that Megatron didn't turn into a gun (because I always thought that was awesome irony that the most evil decepticon has to have someone else fire him), though it was cool when he put his hands together and fired like his gun form.

The original Transformers show is going to see a huge boost in revival sales in Boxsets and such I trust as well. So, even with the occassional straying from the original and short-comming from what we would have liked, there was still an aweful lot to like.

[SithMaster]

if you remember when the kid was in the car lot buying the car bernie mac was going to sell him a bug but bumblebee bashed it.

it would have been better if i had made it.  though i did enjoy the line "One shall stand one shall fall" it was missing youve got the touch when megatron and prime fought.  and for some reason people in the theater i saw it at laughed at the lamest things.

i want to agree about the increased sales but i dont think it will happen.  kids are going to see this and want the newer figures not the classic ones (aka better ones) though the prime helmet looks awesome.

boxsets probably will do well.

michael bay is stupid.  there were several plot holes and he even breaks his rule of making the robots physically capable of transforming.  i agree it was a good movie but not great and when they make the next one i cant wait to see how they dig themselves out of the pit they buried the story in.

[shardian]

michael bay is stupid.  there were several plot holes and he even breaks his rule of making the robots physically capable of transforming. 

Heh, if he wanted to truly be accurate on their transformation, he would have made them like the T-1000 from terminator 2. I mean, they are frikkin aliens, why would they go thru the trouble of all that over-engineering and transforming?

[SithMaster]

Lol yeah then they could have more weapons.  But seriously he left out soundwave because he couldnt work out but frenzy could become a cellphone while being the size of a boombox in the last scene thats wrong.  but ill give him half credit for giving prime a sword i mean a sword is almost an ax right?

[SirPeale]

Lol yeah then they could have more weapons.  But seriously he left out soundwave because he couldnt work out but frenzy could become a cellphone while being the size of a boombox in the last scene thats wrong.  but ill give him half credit for giving prime a sword i mean a sword is almost an ax right?

Frenzy was able to become a cell phone because he lost his entire body.  He lost like 95% of his mass.

[SithMaster]

Still he transformed into something other than a boombox.  i guess he wanted them to be these amazing robots that could do incredible things but id rather had rules that they had to follow like only being one thing.  Im surprised he even let frenzy be able to move after losing his body.

[Dartful Dodger]

Out Of Work Transformer

f'n iPods

[AtomSmasher]

Out Of Work Transformer

f'n iPods

Poor SoundWave 
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9TYzRanykbQ&feature=dir

 

[Dartful Dodger]

oops...

I remember avoiding that link because I was worried it might contain a spoiler.

[Dartful Dodger]

How about this movie:

TRANSMORPHERS

I saw it at BlockBusters.  I know it's going to be rubbish, but I'm still tempted to rent it.

[btp2k2]

I saw the Transformers on the fourth. I hated it. Michael Bay has destroyed two kick ass franchises....Godzilla and Transformers.

His whole thing about making Prime a long nose semi to account for the mass it takes to make a robot that large? OK, I could buy that. Until I saw a 2 foot tall robot change into a frakkin cell phone!

The camera work during the action was WAY too shaky....it was too hard to follow what was going on. My wife hit the nail right on the head when she said the robots look like a "bunch of junk held together".

Thank God we still have the comics....

[Sir Auros]

Thank God we still have the comics....

I disagree with you on the movie, but the current comics are among the best Transformers stories ever told.

[btp2k2]

How could you possibly think it was good?

Bumblebee pissing on someone? Wait...not just Bumblebee...a robot in general...pissing on someone.

Optimus Prime saying "whoops...my bad"?

Come on. Terrible.

[Sir Auros]

How could you possibly think it was bad?

[btp2k2]

Um....I pretty much just listed how I could think it was bad.

[SirPeale]

As stated before: he wasn't 2 feet tall when he folded into the cell phone.  He was just the head.

As for the lubricant thing...yeah, I didn't care for that scene.  But it's just a small piece of a bigger picture.

Giant freaking transforming robots.  Transformers!  What's not to like?

[btp2k2]

If that thing was a cell phone, he should be as small as that little Nokia-bot thing that they made with the allspark in that room.

In the final fight scene in the computer room, it is clearly much bigger than that Nokia-bot.

Even before his head got knocked off, Frenzy stood more than half the height of Sam...as seen when they were fighting. That is at very least 3 feet. So a three foot robot could change into a boombox?

And as far as the transforming, I thought the effect was kind of weak...as was their robotic form. In the original cartoon/comic books, they looked very much like the cars/planes/etc that the changed into. You could see hoods and roofs or cars, airplane wings, etc. These variations just looked like a bunch of junk. And the when they transformed, it looked like they just kind of fell apart and re-assembled in the form of a robot. Like in the cartoon, it made sense....you could actually tell how Prowl or Jazz turned into cars. It wasn't all this extra crap.

[SirPeale]

In the final fight scene in the computer room, it is clearly much bigger than that Nokia-bot.

You did see the part where Frenzy touched the AllSpark and it regenerated his body, yes?

[somunny]

I saw the Transformers on the fourth. I hated it. Michael Bay has destroyed two kick ass franchises....Godzilla and Transformers.

What did Michael Bay have to do with Godzilla? 

[Sir Auros]

Um....I pretty much just listed how I could think it was bad.

The question was actually rhetorical as I was pointing out how pointless it is to argue over peoples' tastes in movies.

[pointdablame]

I saw the Transformers on the fourth. I hated it. Michael Bay has destroyed two kick ass franchises....Godzilla and Transformers.

What did Michael Bay have to do with Godzilla? 

Nothing at all.

[WunderCade]

How could you possibly think it was good?

Bumblebee pissing on someone? Wait...not just Bumblebee...a robot in general...pissing on someone.

Optimus Prime saying "whoops...my bad"?

Come on. Terrible.

I agree with your sentiment about the pissing Bumble Bee and the use of so-called modern hip slang. I also didn't like Jazz saying "---smurfette---" either since I had my 4 year old daughter with me.

She has become a Transformers nut, she has watched the entire 80's series that I bought. She has watched all episodes of TF Cybertron, she has become quite the little expert. I love it! It's great to keep it alive for another generation to enjoy.



 

[somunny]

I saw the Transformers on the fourth. I hated it. Michael Bay has destroyed two kick ass franchises....Godzilla and Transformers.

What did Michael Bay have to do with Godzilla? 

Nothing at all.

Unless he *secretly* destroyed the Godzilla '98 movie. 

[pointdablame]

I saw the Transformers on the fourth. I hated it. Michael Bay has destroyed two kick ass franchises....Godzilla and Transformers.

What did Michael Bay have to do with Godzilla? 

Nothing at all.

Unless he *secretly* destroyed the Godzilla '98 movie. 

[Ed_McCarron]

How could you possibly think it was good?

Bumblebee pissing on someone? Wait...not just Bumblebee...a robot in general...pissing on someone.

Optimus Prime saying "whoops...my bad"?

Come on. Terrible.

You gotta remember, this movie isn't really for those of us that remember Transformers from when they were cool.

Its to introduce a new generation to the idea.  A new market.  One that expects modern language and the occasional potty humor.

[FrizzleFried]

Watched it.  I was less than thrilled.  Not terrible but certainly a far cry from "good".  I'd give it a 5.5 out of 10.  Bay tried too hard.

[markrvp]

I thought the movie rocked.  Really awesome.  I can't wait to see it again.

I'm not worried about the size of the items that the robots transform into as I already suspended disbelief when I bought into the whole "talking transforming living robots from outerspace" thing. 

Oh, and based on some of the arguments in this thread, I'm guessing there are a lot of 40-year-old virgins in our midst. 

[Sir Auros]

I also didn't like Jazz saying "---smurfette---" either since I had my 4 year old daughter with me.

...at a movie that was rated PG-13? Were you surprised that there was material inappropriate for a four year old?

[WunderCade]

I also didn't like Jazz saying "---smurfette---" either since I had my 4 year old daughter with me.

...at a movie that was rated PG-13? Were you surprised that there was material inappropriate for a four year old?

Didn't even know it's rating or inquire. I guess I was just relying on my perception of the Transformers franchise as I remember it. That aside, it just didn't fit in with the Transformers persona. After that I was half-expecting Bay to have Optimus refer to his Autobots as his "peeps." 

[Sir Auros]

Jazz had the urban slang thing going on in G1 too. I was kind of disappointed that none of the Autobots used "lol" or something like that since they said they learned English from the internet.

[NightGod]

I'm on old school Transformers fan-grew up when the cartoons were originally on TV, had a bunch of the toys, and the ones I didn't have, one of my friends did-we kinda worked out our toy begging so that we ended up with a nearly complete set between us.

And, seriously, the people saying they hated this movie need to get over it-it's NOT the Transformers we grew up with, was never meant to be, it's a re-telling of the story in a new era. And it just kicked insane amounts of ass-easily the best special effects I've seen in a movie to date, simply disgustingly awesome fight scenes and all around better than I even dared hope for something taken from my childhood and re-imagined.

The "real mass conversion" transformations were excellent, I thought. No 100 foot robots turning into 10 foot long handguns or disappearing 55 foot tractor trailers here. The whole Soundwave to cell phone back to full size thing has already been explained.

Honestly, I haven't seen a movie twice in the theater since, uh, Silence of the Lambs, IIRC. I'll be seeing this one at least once more with a friend who hasn't seen it, maybe another time or two past that, as well, because it's just that good.
(very minor spoiler, barely worth calling it that)
And I was ecstatic that they actually DIDN'T do the cheesy "kiss in the middle of a fight for the survival of the species" near the end of the movie-I was sitting there groaning when it looked like it was going to happen and very pleased when it didn't-always seemed like a ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow--- piece of camp whenever it happens in another movie, so it was nice to see it was resisted in the one.
(bigger spoiler)
I didn't like the fact that the All Spark caused everything it created to automatically be evil-I really thought it should have been a mix of the two.

[RTSDaddy2]

Having gone into it expecting to hate it, I personally loved it.  Thought the first hour and a half (which seemed to fly by) was the most entertaining action movie I'd seen in a while.  There was only about a 5 - 10 minute gap in the finale where I began to think "ok, let's get on with it here"...Bay just drug out the "will they make it" thing too far. 

[WunderCade]

I thought the same thing NightGod, about the AllSpark. "How did the Autobots come about if it only creates evil machines?" - I kept thinking.

Anyways, I didn't care for the Sector 7 guy, thought he was a week actor especially for a character that was trying to be a heavy-handed intimidating figure, he seemed a little too scrawny and geeky for that part. It didn't work fo me.

Also, Optimus Prime never said his trademark "Autobots, transform and roll out!" another disappointment.

But those are all minor gripes, t was a very good movie. A definate DVD purchase for the collection.

[NightGod]

I thought the same thing NightGod, about the AllSpark. "How did the Autobots come about if it only creates evil machines?" - I kept thinking.

Anyways, I didn't care for the Level 42 guy, thought he was a week actor especially for a character that was trying to be a heavy-handed intimidating figure, he seemed a little too scrawny and geeky for that part. It didn't work fo me.

Also, Optimus Prime never said his trademark "Autobots, transform and roll out!" another disappointment.

But those are all minor gripes, t was a very good movie. A definate DVD purchase for the collection.

Sector Seven, not Level 42 =p Though I'll agree he wasn't nearly "special agenty" enough for the role. Ironic that they used Agent Smith to voice Megatron when he would have worked so well as the Sector Seven guy (though I can fully understand why they wouldn't want the cross-over issues).

I was almost sure Prime said that during the movie, or something very similar, IIRC it was when they were at the dam getting ready to head to the city for the showdown at the end.

[pointdablame]

I was almost sure Prime said that during the movie, or something very similar, IIRC it was when they were at the dam getting ready to head to the city for the showdown at the end.

Prime says "Autobots, roll out" at least once in the movie... if not twice or more.  I believe he says it after leaving Sam's house.  He doesn't add the "transform" part, but it does get said.

[WunderCade]

I thought the same thing NightGod, about the AllSpark. "How did the Autobots come about if it only creates evil machines?" - I kept thinking.

Anyways, I didn't care for the Sector 7 guy, thought he was a week actor especially for a character that was trying to be a heavy-handed intimidating figure, he seemed a little too scrawny and geeky for that part. It didn't work fo me.

fixed.

Anyways, yep, I caught the "Autobots let's roll" part, but I was hoping for the complete "Autobots, transform and roll out" soundbite. Why is it that Directors are soo afraid of using original material in remakes? It's like they feel they will be a failure unless they totally come up with their own flavor of the characters re-imagined.

[(+_+)]

How could you possibly think it was good?

Bumblebee pissing on someone? Wait...not just Bumblebee...a robot in general...pissing on someone.

Optimus Prime saying "whoops...my bad"?

Come on. Terrible.

I found that sappy too. What irked me even more was Jazz's (I believe) rasta voice. Why do movies always have to throw a friggen rasta into the mix. When Star Wars introduced Jar Jar, I could've puked. Those few things a side, I really did enjoy the movie.

[danny_galaga]

finally the school holidays are over and i went and saw it. freakin awesome! i never really got into transformers when i was a kid although strangely enough as soon as i saw that big prime mover i knew it was optimus prime! please tell me they made an actually optimus prime-mover for the movie...

since i didnt know much about transformers, most of the things that have bothered some of you didnt worry me. the only thing i was annoyed about was the thing that annoys me about every action flick where there are bullets fired in aircraft...

oh, and it was nice to see an australian actress not have to change her australian accent. doesnt happen often. pommy actors have got it good...

[Howard_Casto]

I just got back and I rather liked it.  The decepticons really got mangled character-wise though... only starscream and megatron retained their personalities from the original show.  This is expected though as Michael Bay is one of those dorks that preferred Luke Skywalker to Darth Vader when he was a kid.  It is evident in his films too, as the bad guy's are always given less attention and their original characters/character design are often ignored (see xmen). 

The designs aren't that bad once you see the film, the only exceptions being frenzy and a few of the decepticons.  It actually worked, because, unlike in the cartoon the film's camera angles are at human level (instead of robot level) and all the extra detail gives you something to look at besides a big, painted, metal foot.

The characterizations on the autobot side were pretty good (yes Jazz IS that conrie, and yes he DID have a voice that dumb back on the G1 cartoons) the only exception being wheel-jack, who was a lot more happy-going on the old series. 

As I said before, the deceptions were pretty ruined, but you've got to remember that many of them didn't even speak... perhaps they will be flesh out more in the sequel. 

One thing I need to point out though that Michael Bay must have confused the Transformers with Transformers Beast Wars!  Don't believe me?  Well people complained about the facial designs of all the robots, but they looked familair to me.  After seeing the film I can confirm.. they all have frikkin beastwars heads on!

You'll excuse me if I don't want to waste two hours of my life tracking down comparison pics, so you'll have to google yourself but here's the rundown of the tranformer in the film and who's head/face they used:

Megatron = DinoBot (Beast Wars gen 1)
Starscream = Waspinator
Devistator = Inferno
Frenzy = Taranchalous (Look closely for the 3 pairs of mandibles, even his jittery personality matches.)


Optimus Prime = Optimus Primal (Beast Machines.. look at the face, when his mouth guard is down)
BumbleBee = Cheetor (Beast Machines... admittedly this one looks more original)

What I don't get is why he used Beast Machines heads (which admittedly look like a technofied version of old G1 heads) for the autobots, which really fit the look of the film and the robot bodies, and yet he used very animalistic beastwars heads for the decepticons.  Was he trying to make them look scarier?  Is there anything scarier than a well-armed 35 foot tall robot? I mean poor starscream has a bug head!  Why? Dear god why does bay have to ruin every good villian (including godzilla) that he gets his hands on?

Sorry to rant a little, I just wanted to point that out so that Bay doesn't get credit in anyone's eyes for making an innovative robot design when he just mixed and matched old designs from the old series. 

I did like the flim though

[Howard_Casto]

Spoilers Below: (Highlight)


The ending was quite good as well.  In case you didn't catch on, the trench where they were dumped was the location of the decepticon underwater base in the old series.  Also if you walked out when the credits started you missed Starscream flying away from earth (Like a little ---smurfette---, which is in character).  Btw, I think the "Brother" line is figurative.... on many episodes of the transformers, Optimus expresses the feeling that all sentient beings, especially fellow transformers are brothers.

Also the critters that the all-spark generates aren't evil, they are just primative.  The transformers took eons to evolve.  Just think of the spark generated robots as animals... scared and cornered animals. 

Oh and frenzy is indeed size accurate when he transforms.  Remember, he's "hollow".... no real substance to him, just a bunch of flat pieces of steel arranged in 3d shapes. 

The transform into anything bit is left over from beastmachines, where transformers have evolved to have a protable scanner installed.  They still can't transform into anything.... they have to scan it first and it has to be a compatable size.  Note that frenzy couldn't transform into the cell phone until after he lost his body, and thus a lot of area to hide. 

Finally Mountain-Dew-Bot rules!!!

[clanggedin]

Howard transformed the correct.....

I wasn't a huge Transformers fan when I was little. I had Shockwave for a few weeks then someone stole him. I also had some hovercraft guy.

I REALLY enjoyed the movie and will hopefully see if a few more times before it leaves the theaters. I loved what was written on Barricade's side "To punish and enslave". 

[shardian]

We just got back from seeing it and loved it. About the  first half was superb. During the bumblebee/barricade chase, I was being blown away - very exciting.
I also would like to have seen more decepticon development/interaction. The kid playing Sam was very good.
The way all of the Government agents were potrayed got kind of annoying. We get it Mr. Bay, you hate our current Gov't.

I woiuld just like to thank all who have made positive reports on the movie. I wasn't going to see it, but you guys convinced me and were right.

Spoilers Below: (Highlight)


 The major plot line was screwy. Supposedly, Megatron came here to create an army out of our technology. Several problems with that: He came here BEFORE we had technology, and 2: ALL of our technology was developed by analyzing him! I guess he "planned " on getting stuck/discovered so we could invent him an army huh?
[/quote]

[digitui]

the mixed reviews have me worried, but im still dying to see this

[NightGod]

Shardian:

IIRC, he was just following the All-Spark here. He didn't pick the planet at all.

[shardian]

Darn, I got into the blue background. Comments deleted

[NightGod]

Well, keep in mind that he was saying that he knew what Megatron would do once he woke up-he'd see a planet full of technology and use the All-Spark to enslave it. As for not knowing the planet, he said they had learned a lot about it from studying the Internet. As for fighting for the humans, he also stated many times that the Autobots felt that every intelligent species deserved to choose their own destiny.

[mrbigggshot]

It would make sense that the heads bear some similarity to the Beast Wars Transformers, seeing as they were all far more humanoid.  I read that Bay changed the eyes and gave them mouths to make them more sympathetic...or something.

By the way, that bit about Beast Machines was incorrect.  None of them had any internal scanning device (though Nightscream gained a bat form without any explanation).  And yes, I still retain all Beast Wars/Beast Machines knowledge for whatever reason.

I thought the movie was good but two little things bugged me:
1. They hacked a monitor to send a signal?!

2. The Transformers arrive from space, through our atmosphere, yet the hotter burning rounds are effective against them? Eh?

[shardian]

By the way, that bit about Beast Machines was incorrect.  None of them had any internal scanning device (though Nightscream gained a bat form without any explanation).  And yes, I still retain all Beast Wars/Beast Machines knowledge for whatever reason.

IIRC, on Beast Wars, their space travel cocoon thingy had a one time use scanner that determined what shape the robot took on. Also, their affiliation was determined by which group (good or bad) found them first.

I loved Beast Wars and Beast Machines BTW. I was too young when the original Transformers was on to know what was going on.

[SithMaster]

Yes basically who found them first could mess with their programming as is the case with the shespider.  In a later ep the maxis had to remove a program manspider left inside her.

I did stick around during the credits till the screen went black since many movies have a credit clip.  Did anyone see a preview before transformers that didnt say what it was called?  These guys were having a party then the statue of liberty's head rolls down the street so im thinking godzilla.  anyway back to TF.

I really want the prime helmet.

Wait what do you mean by space travel cocoon?  It was a stasis pod.

Optimus did have some lines from the first movie and if you recall spike cursed in the other movie as well.  Starscream did own the fighters arriving to help and i thought blackout looked cool with his transforming sequence my favorite.  Id by it when its out on dvd.

[mrbigggshot]

Right, Beast Wars era had stasis pods or they used their ships to determine their form.  Only Maximals had stasis pods, Predacons just hijacked 'em and changed the affiliations.  The difference being with the Bay movie is they literally fly to Earth without ships and start walking around without any disguises.

My friends know I have all this geek knowledge and were quizzing me before the movie started.  Some guy sitting in front of me actually turned around and asked me questions and I was able to answer all of them.   

[shardian]

I did stick around during the credits till the screen went black since many movies have a credit clip.  Did anyone see a preview before transformers that didnt say what it was called?  These guys were having a party then the statue of liberty's head rolls down the street so im thinking godzilla.  anyway back to TF.
Optimus did have some lines from the first movie and if you recall spike cursed in the other movie as well.

i thought blackout looked cool with his transforming sequence my favorite.  Id by it when its out on dvd.

I was wondering when someone would finally mention that preview. I was excited to see it after all of the internet buzz, but was disappointed by the actual preview.

And I agree that Blackout was the most Bad Ass design in the movie.

[Howard_Casto]

In beast machines the other transformers also wonder why NightScream changed form by himself... he explained that all cybertronians have portable scanners installed now and that the others have been away a long time.

-edit-

Just in case you were wondering, he got his bat form by scanning a bat-like fossil deep inside cybertron.  Me thinks you missed a few episodes?

[mrbigggshot]

Whaaaaa?

I remember the bat fossil stuff, but I remember the explanation being more or less he fell in a pit and woke up a bat.  Don't remember him mentioning that Cybertronians have built in scanners, seeing as how everyone else in the show had to use some external method.

This gives me an excuse to watch it again, it's been a while anyways.

EDIT: Yup, looked it up, you're right.  I am rightfully shamed.

[Dartful Dodger]

Did anyone see a preview before transformers that didnt say what it was called?  These guys were having a party then the statue of liberty's head rolls down the street so im thinking godzilla.

Cloverfield, a Godzilla rip-off hoping a Blair Witch Project twist can make it millions.

[Howard_Casto]

Whaaaaa?

I remember the bat fossil stuff, but I remember the explanation being more or less he fell in a pit and woke up a bat.  Don't remember him mentioning that Cybertronians have built in scanners, seeing as how everyone else in the show had to use some external method.

This gives me an excuse to watch it again, it's been a while anyways.

EDIT: Yup, looked it up, you're right.  I am rightfully shamed.

No need to be ashamed..... my pop cuture trivia is above average at best, unless we are talking about transformers, ninja turtles or thundercats. 

Getting back on topic... I just want to put my stamp of approval on this film yet again.  It's been a week and the "buzz" (for lack of a better term) still hasn't left me.  Bay got a lot of things wrong, but the scope, action and heart of the transformers remains in tact with this one.  And remember, I don't like anything!

[RayB]

Seems the people who LOVED this movie are around 33 and younger? I hit my teens when Transformers the cartoon was popular, so I didn't watch it, and therefore I don't feel so fond of the movie. It was OK. The effects were pretty cool and looked "real" (as opposed to looking like composited CGI, so kudos to the CGI team there). But overall it felt a little like a kid's movie, without being too dumb (like kids movies traditionally are). Luckily there was some eye candy in there, but even that felt gratuitous and juvenile ...

[Howard_Casto]

Well personally, I thought after you turned around 35 your life was over and therefore you were forbidden to have fun at a genetic level. 

[NightGod]

1. They hacked a monitor to send a signal?!

2. The Transformers arrive from space, through our atmosphere, yet the hotter burning rounds are effective against them? Eh?

1) I assume you mean inside the dam when they did the morse code? Old mainframe terminals used to be just a monitor and keyboard. Usually either the keyboard or the monitor contained all the electronics that did that actual computing. And sending morse code isn't exactly processor intensive-a modern cell phone has about 1000 times the power you'd need.
2) They arrived in stasis pods/some sort of ship thingy. The one that landed outside the bar ("This is even better than Armageddon!!") definitely opened up and let the robot out. Yeah, that leaves a plot hole on the one that hit the pool, I'll definitely agree. Maybe we can call it ablative blast panels like the space shuttle uses and write it off?

[RayB]

When they first landed, why didn't they take the form of trees and dirt?

[shardian]

When they first landed, why didn't they take the form of trees and dirt?

Because it did not have a tactical advantage.

[lokki]

I saw the movie on Sunday and I really liked it. it was fun (the mindless kind) will buy the DVD to watch it closer.


I did not get how the autobots knew to go to Witwicky (unless it was an incredible coincidence). How did bumblebee know about him, before anyone else. (I would assume that the decepticons had access to same public information as the autobots)

[RayB]

because apparently they all like to surf Ebay in their spare time.

[lokki]

But wouldn't the decepticons also surf e-bay?

Also I had read a review (on CNN maybe) that called the movie the most expensive Toy commercial ever, and when I saw the movie I could not help but notice the ammount of blatant product placement in the movie. How many times did they mention E-bay? Nokia, Mountain Dew (not to mention the cars)

[Dartful Dodger]

But wouldn't the decepticons also surf e-bay?

Are you LadiesMan217?

[shardian]

Sorry to drag up this thread, but I just had to say something:

I watched the original transformers animated movie for the first time this weekend, and WHAT A PIECE OF ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---!!! After seeing that, I like the new movie even more. How can anyone who has seen the original think that the new one was cheesy?

I can't be positive without a bit of recollection, but I just might think the old movie has taken the esteemed seat as worst movie ever in my book. Either way, it is definitely in the bottom 3. When Weird Al's "Dare to be stupid" kicked in, I couldn't even laugh. I was completely dumbstruck by what I was seeing. I had a bad feeling when I saw Eric Idle's name in the opening credits, but...just...DAMN!

[somunny]

Sorry to drag up this thread, but I just had to say something:

I watched the original transformers animated movie for the first time this weekend, and WHAT A PIECE OF ---Cleveland steamer---!!! After seeing that, I like the new movie even more. How can anyone who has seen the original think that the new one was cheesy?

I was verbally smacked down for stating a similar opinion not too long ago.  Thank god there's another sane human out there that agrees with me.   

[shardian]

Bringing up this thread again for a plot hole that is REALLY bothering me.

In the end battle, WTF happened to Barricade!!! Did he take the wrong ---smurfing--- interstate exit or something?? I understand that he already had his screen time and they had to make room for megatrons development, but damn he just disappears with no mention. At least Star Scream got the end credits teaser.

[ahofle]

I wish someone would edit together a version of the movie that has all the crappy human dialogue removed and leaves only the transformer scenes.  They could even call it a 'special edition'.   

[SirPeale]

Bringing up this thread again for a plot hole that is REALLY bothering me.

In the end battle, WTF happened to Barricade!!! Did he take the wrong ---smurfing--- interstate exit or something?? I understand that he already had his screen time and they had to make room for megatrons development, but damn he just disappears with no mention. At least Star Scream got the end credits teaser.

He was originally killed off by Optimus Prime.  But Michael Bay liked him so the scene was cut to bring him back for TF2.

[shardian]

Bringing up this thread again for a plot hole that is REALLY bothering me.

In the end battle, WTF happened to Barricade!!! Did he take the wrong ---smurfing--- interstate exit or something?? I understand that he already had his screen time and they had to make room for megatrons development, but damn he just disappears with no mention. At least Star Scream got the end credits teaser.

He was originally killed off by Optimus Prime.  But Michael Bay liked him so the scene was cut to bring him back for TF2.

So originally his battle with Bonecrusher was a 2 on 1?

[weasel-like_animal]

because apparently they all like to surf Ebay in their spare time.

 

[langdoguk]

Just saw this movie and thought it was great 
I can kind of remember Transformers from being a kid but I felt you didn't have to know it as it was just a great flick , my 11 year old son also liked it (with not even a pokemon to be seen to  ).

 

[shardian]

Just saw this movie and thought it was great 
I can kind of remember Transformers from being a kid but I felt you didn't have to know it as it was just a great flick , my 11 year old son also liked it (with not even a pokemon to be seen to  ).

 

Yeah, even with the plot holes and such, I absolutely LOVE this movie. I've already watched it twice at home, and could watch it again already. My list is very short of movies I can watch over and over.

[SithMaster]

Great movie but i just cannot get into the toys.  Some are great but others make me sad.  for example they have a handheld gaming system but the screen is just a sticker.  how awesome would it be if the transformer was also a tiger handheld or something.

my 11 year old son also liked it (with not even a pokemon to be seen to

I know why