Saw "Transformers" last night...

[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.