More than meets the eye

[Guest Emperor]

So what do you guys think of the new Transformers movie coming up? I mean it is being made by Michael Bay and so far the cast includes: Rachel Taylor, John Voight, Bernie Mac as well as some others.

 

I cant imagine how this movie will be good. I just cant see it in my mind.

[Guest Majsju]

No, it can't possibly be good in any way. But of course I'm still going to see it. That the movie will be utter rubbish just adds to the coolness-factor, in some odd way.

[Guest Winespring Brother]

No matter how good the movie is, there is simply no way that it could compare to the original cartoon movie.

 

It was one of the best bits of my cinema childhood when Optimus Prime rolled out for the big fight, with the music "You've got the touch" playing in the background. It still makes the hairs on the back on my neck stand on end.

[Guest Emperor]

Everything I have read about it tends to want me to believe it will be a great movie. I just cant imagine how they will do all the transforming. And it will depends on who plays Optomis Prime. I think it has a chance with Bay helming the project. I am again reserving my opinions for the trailer.

[Guest Emperor]

And will it have the dinobots? I want to see Grimlock! Those were my favorites when I was a kid...

[Noggy]

Bumblebee was the coolest!

[Guest Winespring Brother]

Me think Emperor right. Me say Dinobots the best

[Noggy]

If the movie is as cool as this, I'll be first in line to see it:

 

LINK

[Noggy]

If the movie is as cool as this, I'll be first in line to see it:

 

LINK

[Guest Karana Majin]

Holy crap. That was awesome. And I'm even too old to really like Transformers...

[Guest Emperor]

Ok that was awesome! I am much more excited about movie

[booklover1]

That was really weird.It may just be my hatred of Transformers clouding my judgement,but the cameraman for that movie came directly from "The Blair Witch Project"

[Guest Emperor]

Site up...

 

http://www.transformersmovie.com/

[Guest Winespring Brother]

Do you think that is meant to be the eye of Unicron behind the earth?

[Guest Emperor]

That is the Decepticon eye I do believe.

[Guest Emperor]

Check out the site and they have a short teaser trailer up. It is called an announcement.

[Guest Emperor]

Review 1

 

Tonight, I had the great fortune of attending a 20 minute footage preview from the upcoming Transformers movie.I can safely say, finally, with great relief, that it is awesome.

 

 

 

 

It's awesomeness made solid, then cut into cubes, then re-melted and forged into a giant sword that chops up all the little inferior movies around it.

 

Was 20 minutes enough? Hell, no. But enough to brush aside my fears that director Michael Bay was going to drench this film in cheese.

 

Sure, the final version of the film may lack on many points, but, basically, if you like Transformers, which is to say, if you like giant robots fighting for world domination, then you're gonna love this movie.

 

In fact, the movie is so good that I can only tell you what I didn't like. Optimus Prime and the Autobots all look too shiny and spiced up. But it's okay because they're massive, like they should be.

 

Surprisingly, the dialogue in the preview was fantastic... you'd expect it to be trite and flat, but thanks to great casting, notably Shia LaBoeuf as the lead, Jon Voight in the military and John Turturro in a great supporting role, and a proper script, it was funny. Real funny.

 

Unfortunately, there was no robot-on-robot action, but we did get to see one 'transforming' scene. Personally, I wish it had that 80s sound effect, the computerized glitchy noise.

 

I'm now supercharged and turbocharged to see this film. I suggest that you see it, too.

[Guest Emperor]

Review 2 from AICN:

 

First, let me say, I don't know how to write a review so stick with me, I have a lot of thoughts in my head about this movie so this could be all over the place. But I just HAD to write in, I am currently the most happyest fanboy on earth!

 

Here is the short version:

 

I JUST SAW OPTIMUS PRIME IN AN ORGY OF KICKASSERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

1) Screw you guys. The flames are cool. Nipples on batman = lame, flames on optimus = cool.

 

2) The robots in general are OUTSTANDING. I think ILM is doing them right? Whoever it is needs a raise - they look so real in the scenes its unbelievable (except frenzy or soundbyte or whatever he is. I’ll get into that later). They blend with the "real world" stuff so well, its awesome.

 

3) Optimus "lips" look bad and just piss me off. I can't imagine it will bother the general public, but anyone who has an attachment to "prime" will have issue with this for sure. There is no reason to give him lips. He speaks a few times with the shield up and it totally works….anyway. That is my only MAJOR gripe with the film. (but I doubt it's worse than "Cloudactus")

 

4) Shia Labuof is great as Sam Witwicky. I really wasn't sure how I would feel about him, but he nails it. He's got a great vibe on screen, I really wanted him "win". He's actually very funny as well. Great casting, he's legit.

 

5) Megan Fox (im sure that's no coincidence), I have no clue if she can act or not because I was fixated on her tits and ass whenever she was onscreen - pure sex (god bless you Michael Bay). I had to IMDB her after the movie because I had no idea who she is or what she had been in. I didn't care then and I don't care now.

 

6) Supporting cast is far better than I expected. Turturro is great as the quirky head of Sector Seven. The ladies in the audience im sure loved the beefcake tyrese and josh "las vegas" duhmel. Bernie mac and Anthony Anderson are very very funny in their small roles.

 

7) Action…seriously…you've never seen anything like this. Hate all you want on Bay, this is THE guy you want creating giant robot mayhem! And he does.

 

Here is the long version:

 

Last week I was at the Harkins Arrowhead Theater here in Peoria, Arizona to see Blades of glory. When I was leaving, some theater person handed me a flyer and asked if I wanted to see a test screening of an "upcoming PG-13 major release summer action movie" (or something like that, I can't remember). Being a movie geek, and a broke one, I was like "fuck yeah, free movie".

 

I've never been to a preview or test screening or whatever before, so I didn't really know what to expect. All week I had been trying to figure out what it could be, my friend said "just pray it's not "Flatulence Four: taking a number two"" THANK GOD it wasn't…that would have sucked. I was thinking maybe Die Hard or maybe Pirates, but I honestly never thought I would be Transformers, I figured with all the CG that it probably wasn't ready yet. I was partly right.

 

Anyway, i showed up last night at the same Harkins and the theater was packed, looked like a lot of families with kids and some scattered people around my age (I'm 28). After we sat for a few minutes I was looking around at the group of "reserved" seats that were taped off….and then I saw him….MICHAEL Fing BAY was in the house! Right then I knew what was up and I thought I was gonna SHIT!

 

I didn't say anything to anyone…mainly because I didn't know anyone else there…but I knew… I couldn't believe my luck. there could have been some other cast or something there, but I didn't recognize anyone else in the audience.

 

A few minutes after The Bay sat down ( I am an open Bay supporter (minus Pearl Harbor) so you can commence with your blind hateration below at anytime) , a very studio looking guy stood up in front of the theater and told us that "a lot of effects weren't done and the music was temp" blah blah. I didn't give a shit- I wanted the fucker to start! He finally says we are the "first audience to see

TRANSFORMERS!"

 

There was a loud cheer in the theater, I looked around and many of the older moms/dads didn't quite get it, but their kids seemed to know the score. I saw two 15ish year old fat kids do a chest bump…alas, I had no one to chest bump- but I totally would have!

 

So then the movie started, I have to be honest, I was smiling ear to ear- I was about to see the MOTHERFing TRANSFORMERS before anyone else!

 

FIRST, BITCHES! (never been able to say that before :)

 

So, the movie…

 

It opens with what looks like the surface of a planet, Cybertron, but it doesn't look anything like the cybertron we know from the cartoons. Its more like a rocky, mountainous wasteland, but alive…if that makes any sense. Then we hear a voice and I know this voice, OPTIMUS Fing

PRIME- albeit he sounds older and more bassy than he did in the show. It was cullen for sure though. He tells a short back story about the AllSpark Cube and how it was lost during an epic battle and all transformers went searching the galaxy for it. We see the cube floating through space and coming up on earth where it starts a comet like decent through the sky. OP stops talking and the screen goes black and then : TRANSFOMERS logo comes up. That's the only credits, no laundry list of names that no one cares about, just a logo. Loved it.

 

After the logo we are dropped into the desert where we come up on some army guys in the back of a helicopter as they arrive at a base in Qatar, josh duhmel, tyrese and that latino guy from prison break. After some army talk and Josh Duhmel doing a cutesy baby talk webcam thing with his wife and child (luckily this doesn't really play much of a factor in the movie) we see that there is an inbound helicopter that isn't supposed to be there…cue ominous music and then BRING ON THE BANG BANG! The helicopter lands and is surrounded by armed men and tanks- but fret not for helicopter guy, cause its Blackout and he came to bring the pain.

 

This is the scene that is in the trailer, where he starts transforming and the army goes Michael Bay on his ass. Only this time it didn't cut away like the trailer- he transforms, stands up and gets to blowing shit up!

 

The transformation is unreal, it looks SO Fing COOL! Gears shifting, metal scrapping, pistons doing pistony things and it had the TRANSFORMATION SOUND FROM THE CARTOON! It had a little geek chubby, I couldn't stop smiling. Blackout proceeds to f shite up and nothing the army does even slows him down. I recognized a few of the shots form the trailer like the tanks flying through the air and the EMP looking thing he does. The scene is like 3-4 minutes of him just wreckin shop on the base- it was fucking awesome. There was a part where tyrese is laying on the ground below him that was kinda lame, Blackout just looks at him for a minute giving his buddy time to shoot. But then he sprouts scorponok from his back and takes out a WHOLE AIRFIELD!

 

I just remember thinking now THAT'S how you start a giant robot movie. We then go to a school where Shia is doing a show and tell kinda thing on his grandpa (this plays a key roll in the film but I wont ruin it with detail spoilers). This whole scene and the next two or three are all simply to set up the main story of Sam (Shia) getting his first car (bumblebee) and setting up the Shia/hot girl plot.

 

As is my problem with most "origin" movies, theres a shit load of origin and not a lot of action for the first 30-40 minutes or so. Which is probably why I like spidey 2 better than spidey 1. Maybe its my fault for knowing too much about the world before hand. Whatever.

 

So there are some really funny moments with Shia and the girl (ill call her Foxy). Foxy is slowly wooed by Shia with the help of Bumblebee via his radio. He doesn't speak at all, he talks through the radio….which sounds really lame, and is really lame for the first couple times but then it stopped bothering me and became kinda funny (intentionally)

 

So back to the sam//foxy story. Sam and dad go to get sams first car, we then meet Bernie Mac as Bobby B or something like that. I took it as a nod to BumbleBee (BB get it?) Bernie is actually very funny in his small part, I wasn't sure id like it (after seeing in the TV spot) but I actually really liked him. Small part, big laughs.

 

Sam gets BumbleBee ( and yes there IS a subtle nod to the origin as there is a yellow VW bug next to the camaro) this is a pretty funny scene as BumbleBee does things to ensure Sam takes him home.

 

The movie overall is actually very funny, in a good way. Some really cheesy laughs that are more than tolerable, its got light hearted flavor throughout, but when its time to fight- they fight- Bay style.

 

Shia's parents in the film are very well cast and they are really funny, much more so than any other Bay characters of the past in my opinion. It feels like this is the first time where he decided to embrace some elements of cheese and run with it. I am glad he did. It works, mainly because Shia is really really great as a semi-woody allen type kid, I was genuinely impressed with him throughout the movie.

 

So it doesn't take long for Shia to find out that BB is not just a shitty old car, it's a big ass robot…he also soon finds out that there are bad big ass robots that need something from him. He gets chased by Barricade (the cop car) and BB comes to his rescue and we see the first Robot vs. Robot action….i was a little disappointed by this in the sense that it was shot in a way where you really never got a good look at either of them. After seeing the rest of the film I can see why, they wanted to save it, but when I was watching it it bothered me that I couldn't get a good clean look at the bots.

 

Also during this time a small "boombox" robot is on Air Force one (unsure how he got there, wouldn't an x-ray see that it wasn't normal? ) anyway, he gets into the belly of the plane and starts hacking for info and then gets in a fight with some secret service agents. Frenzy (I think that's who it is based on internet info, they never really say) is a little bothersome from a viewer perspective. He is very shiny metal and doesn't blend with the background nearly as well as the rest of them---this COULD be one of those "not yet done" things, I hope it is.

 

It was sometimes hard to tell what exactly wasn't complete CG wise. Sometimes it was super obvious and sometimes there were small hints that it wasn't complete. I'm not sure where this bots stands in that sense.

 

I'll refrain from describing too much detail with the rest of the film because im not a fan of spoilers. Ill simply make some general observations.

 

I consider myself a mid-core TF fan. I LOVE transformers and ive seen every episode numerous times (G1), the movie numerous times and have been waiting for this movie for the last 20 years, but I accept that certain things need to happen in order for the movie to be made. Some lure/history/canon needs to be re-written/ignored in order to make a film like this- I accept that.

 

The robot design change, in my opinion, was the right choice. When you see it you will understand. The boxy designs from the cartoons simply would not have worked, they would have looked stupid and old. OP mouth…..thats a different issue- it sux. Period.

 

I really wish the decepticons, namely Starscream, would have gotten far more screen time. He doesn't show up till near the end. He TOTTALLY f's stuff up and is THE bad ass of the decepticons, but I needed more-

 

"I've got a fever, and the only prescriptions is MORE STARSCREAM!!!!!!"

 

The rest of the decepticons (except megatron) are pretty much just fodder for the autobots to stomp on, which im fine with, that's all they were in the cartoon anyway.

 

Megatron, even in his "cyberform" is pretty f-ing cool. When he eventually gets in on the fight he makes it clear who is boss. He never "scans" anything on earth so he stays in "cyberform" the whole movie….and yes I know it's called "protoform" but that term seems stupid to me.

 

We do, however, get to see at least a glimpse of the SS/Megs dynamic. "you failed me yet again Starscream" was awesome!" Some of the voices I think were temp still as they were hard to understand. Megatron didn't sound at all like Hugo Weaving to me, but as I said, the audio may have been temp.

 

Optimus Prime- sword arm- f-ing sick! That's all im gonna say about that.

 

OP says more than a few of the "iconic" lines from the toon- there are many many nods and references to the history of TF, it's clear that there was a lot of thought into adding some "fan only" moments into the film that the general audience wont get, which was great.

 

I'd say about 25% of the robot stuff was still temp and there was very little music/score in place so some scenes felt a bit slow and hard to keep up with, but I think once the FINAL movie is out in theatres those moments will be fixed.

 

So to sum this all up: This is a Michael Bay movie. Make no mistake about it. You can see influences from Spielberg and a conscious effort to make this not just a blow em up bang bang movie (although I would have been fine with that). The last 30 minutes is non-stop robot destruction- I honestly couldn't tell you everything that happened because it was just so damn awesome I had a hard time even keeping up- i almost wish I hadn't seen it….because now I have to wait TWO MORE FUCKING MONTHS TO SEE IT AGAIN…explosions, destruction, robots flying through the air, shooting missiles and rockets from their arms- absolute insanity on city streets. This is what I wanted to see out of this movie. There are some things that you may shake your head at or roll your eyes during, but when you see the goods, the stuff WE ALL want to see, you let the other stuff slide. Or at least I did.

[Guest Emperor]

The transformers in the movie:

 

Autobots

 

All of the Autobots are based, character wise, on their Generation One incarnations, despite modern interpretations of their alternate modes: in particular, all of the following except Optimus Prime are now GM-owned vehicle lines, as part of a tie-in deal.[58]

 

* Optimus Prime (Peterbilt truck[59]): Orci described Optimus as a noble king, similar to King Arthur,[60] on whom the Optimus was modelled.[17] His robot mode contains an arm cannon, and a retractable faceplate, similar to Optimus Primal from the Beast Wars series and the Transformers: Cybertron incarnation of Prime.[61] His alternate mode is a custom long-nosed Semi truck with red flame artwork over blue paint, similar to his G2 and Armada forms. Lorenzo DiBonaventura said that Optimus is scaled to be 9.7m (32 feet) in robot form, and a semi in vehicle form.[62] However, Michael Bay has said Optimus is 8.5m (28 feet) tall.[63] A blue version of Optimus' head with motion capture points was used.[64] Optimus Prime was revealed to have "lips" on a leaked video.[65] Orci became aware of many fan's dislike of this, and said, "Complain on every board you can think of if it's important to you."[66] The mouth was retained though, with the film only 3-4 weeks away from a lock.[67]

 

* Bumblebee (1974 Chevrolet Camaro, later reformatted as the 2008-2009 version of the same vehicle[68]): Bumblebee is the underdog character and a scout for the Autobots, looking for the Allspark,[69] as well as the Transformer most connected to humans.[60] He ends up being purchased by Spike Witwicky, who is looking to buy his first car.[6] His robot mode has been constructed as a physical prop in addition to a CG model.[12] Bumblebee is 5.1m (17 feet) tall.[63] Bumblebee's arsenal includes an arm cannon and shoulder missiles.[68] In his original G1 incarnation, Bumblebee is a Volkswagen Beetle, but to producer Don Murphy's disappointment,[70] he was changed to a Camaro, as Bay wanted to avoid a comparison with Herbie the Love Bug.[30] Bumblebee's voice box is damaged from battle,[69] and he communicates with songs played through his stereo, which Kurtzman did to stress Sam's experience that wasn't dialogue based, similar to when Eliott meets E.T. in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.[28]

 

* Jazz (Pontiac Solstice[71]): Jazz is a "rock-and-roll" type character who lives by his credo of "If you can't do something with style, it's not worth doing at all."[60] He will be 13 feet tall.[63] He has pronounced antennae on his head and eye visor,[72] similar to his G1 incarnation.[73] His visor is part of his battle mode.[74] Jazz wields a sword and shield.[75]

 

* Ironhide (GMC Topkick pickup truck[76]): Ironhide is one of Optimus' oldest friends, and has some cowboy characteristics, being the first in battle.[60] Ironhide is 7.9m (26 feet) tall,[63] and wields weapons on his arms.[77] Ironhide's battle mode has a face plate.[78] Script wise, Ironhide was Arcee's replacement.[34]

 

* Ratchet (Search & Rescue Hummer H2): Ratchet's role in the movie is the familiar one of Autobot medic,[60] and is 7.3m (24 feet) tall.[63] His robot mode lacks the head fins seen in the traditional animated version of the character.[79] Ratchet wields a cannon and an axe.[75]

 

Decepticons

 

The Decepticons are a mix of characters from the various incarnations of Transformers. Megatron and Starscream have appeared in most storylines including G1. Frenzy is from G1, whilst the rest are new characters with names from previous series. Their alternate modes primarily consist of military vehicles and aircraft, loaned by the U.S. military to director Michael Bay.[9]

 

* Megatron (Cybertron Jet[75]) Megatron will be presented with some backstory regarding the cause of the war,[60] in that he co-ruled Cybertron with Optimus Prime before desiring full power over the Allspark.[69] Megatron is deactivated and held hostage by Sector 7,[80][75] who use him as the ancestor of modern technology.[81] He dwarfs the Autobots at 10.3m (34 feet) tall,[63] and has an arm cannon.[82] Leaked images of Megatron's Cybertronian mode prompted Don Murphy to have the head sculpt changed,[83] with the original battle mode becoming the standard mode and a new "crowned" mode created as the new battle mode.[84] A model of Megatron's legs were built for the film.[85] Whilst Megatron's alternate mode had been a jet in Transformers: Energon and Transformers: Cybertron, he is best-known for his original G1 incarnation, in which he turned into a Walther P38. This was changed as the writers felt "it’s like Darth Vader turning into his own lightsaber and having someone else swing him around."[4] Although Tom DeSanto said Megatron would assume an Earth form in the film, [86] reviews of the finished feature say this is not accurate.[87]

 

* Starscream (F-22 Raptor): Starscream is described as always looking to best Megatron; Megatron's traditional disdain for Starscream, and vice-versa, will remain intact.[60] Starscream leads the Decepticons in Megatron's absence,[88] and stands at roughly 9.7m (32 feet) tall, though his body is a simian shape.[89] His hands can become guns.[75]

 

* Blackout (MH-53 Pave Low): At one point he was called Vortex[90] as well as Incinerator.[91] His name is used by a helicopter Decepticon in the recent Transformers: Energon toyline, though the name also had G1 roots. Blackout is the largest Decepticon,[60] can disable enemies with EMP-like blasts,[60] and can wield his helicopter blades as a shield.[75] Blackout's feet were built as props.[92]

 

* Brawl (Modified M1 Abrams): Although original reports suggested that this character could be named "Demolisher"[93] or "Devastator", it was specifically cited that this was an example of a character whose name was not finalized.[44] Confirmed as "Brawl", his triple-barreled turret and a "pissed off" personality evokes the Combaticon of the same name.[60] Brawl is heavily armed, with a gatling gun, claws and twin missile launchers.[93]

 

* Barricade (Saleen-modified Ford Mustang Police car) - Barricade is the Decepticon scout/hunter, hiding among the humans disguised as a symbol of authority.[60] His hands, which are attached to wheels, can also become spikes and guns come out his hood in vehicle mode.[75]

 

* Frenzy (2-speaker CD player): Originally scripted to be Soundwave, he was supposed to be a boombox that transformed into a human-sized robot.[60] Don Murphy had said he would have the character a major part of the sequel instead of sidelining him.[5] The character was first renamed Soundbyte,[94] before being renamed Frenzy in homage to the G1 character who was a minion of Soundwave. His role in the film is that of a spy among humans for the Decepticons, using his alternate mode as a disguise. Frenzy pops out of Barricade's chest,[95] similar to how the G1 version does with Soundwave. Frenzy has four arms, is thin and shoots blades disguised as CDs from his chest.[94]

 

* Bonecrusher (Buffalo H Mine-Protected Vehicle): Subservient to Megatron, he is described as being the closest to a Constructicon as could be in the movie.[60] Bonecrusher has his head in his chest and long arms, and wields blades on his shoulders.[96] He has a grappling hook on his back[75] and skates with wheels acting as feet.[96] Bonecrusher has his name stamped on.[97]

 

* Scorponok (Mechanical Scorpion): Scorponok will be the closest to his Beast Wars incarnation character wise, as well as an example of animal Transformers such as the Dinobots.[60] Scorponok is deployed from Blackout and can fire rockets.[24]

[Paityr]

It's awesomeness made solid, then cut into cubes, then re-melted and forged into a giant sword that chops up all the little inferior movies around it.

 

You can't imagine how happy I am to hear this. As a proud owner of thirteen of my original G1 Transformers, purchased back in 1984, as well as "Transformers: The Movie", I practically wet myself when I first heard rumors of this movie being done.

 

I'm still trying to convince my wife to let me put my Autobot sticker on the hood of our Subaru. For some lame reason she thinks it's a stupid idea.

 

:roll:

 

1) Screw you guys. The flames are cool. Nipples on batman = lame, flames on optimus = cool.

 

I laughed so hard when I read this I nearly fell off my chair. Needless to say, I will be first in line when this puppy rolls into theaters.

 

Optimus Prime: You destroy everything you touch Megatron!

Megatron: That's because everything I touch is food for my hunger. My hunger for power.

Optimus Prime: No! I am going to end your hunger once and for all.

[Guest Segurant]

I am eager to see this movie.

 

I am disappointed that Soundwave isn't in the movie though.

[Paityr]

Anyone else still have any of their G1 toys laying around? Here's my list, most of which are rather worse for the wear:

 

Ultra Magnus

Shockwave

Ironhide

Astrotrain

Grimlock

Swoop

Prowl

Thundercracker (always wished it was Starscream, instead)

Hound

Perceptor (yup, I was both a nerd AND a geek)

Jazz

Cliffjumper

 

My brother had the whole Constructicon set, of which I was insanely jealous. So I whined enough to get my mom to buy me all of the Aerialbots.

[Guest Emperor]

I don't think I have any of my old toys anymore. And I am jealous of your collection.

[SinisterDeath]

My cousin had a optimus prime toy at one time... I think he blew it up with m80s.

[Guest Emperor]

He must be kicking himself now... I am sure that toy is worth something these days.