Transformers Movie

tdu · July 6th, 2007, 07:22 PM

I am 31 which means I played with Transformers when I was a kid, and saw the original animated movie in the theaters (1986!).

I saw the new movie last night and enjoyed it a lot. I was wondering what everyone else though.

I only had a 'few problems':

- While the girl in it is attractive, she is a horrible actress
- A little too action cliche, especially the generic romance sub-plot
- script was a little weak in parts, especially the romance plot, and the overkill on the comic relief.

It's a really fun movie though overall though. I wish it had kept some of the darkness the original animated movie had. but I also remember how upset that movie made me as a kid hah. When Optimus Prime got killed I almost cried. Bottom line is I think they tried to make it suitable for kids today, but also enjoyable for original fans. I think they did a decent job of that.

Stuco · July 6th, 2007, 07:39 PM

I haven't seen it, It looks like 2 hour advertisment to me. I like movies that rely on good writing/plot/actors first. I am surprised by movies like this occasionally though. Glad to hear someone enjoyed it.

RichardWitt · July 6th, 2007, 07:40 PM

Like you, I was a kid when the cartoon series ran on tv.

I haven't seen it yet but I am looking forward to watching it just to see what todays technological advances will do in the animation department for a robot changing into a truck and vice -versa!

I'm impressed that Transformers are still considered a cool concept today, well enough to make a movie out of anyway?

I was a big fan of Masters of the Universe back then too and I here they are going to do a remake of that too somewhere down the line? I hope it's not true when it's said Brad Pitt has been chosen to pay He-Man?

He ruins just about every movie he touches these days!

tdu · July 6th, 2007, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardWitt

Like you, I was a kid when the cartoon series ran on tv.

I haven't seen it yet but I am looking forward to watching it just to see what todays technological advances will do in the animation department for a robot changing into a truck and vice -versa!

I'm impressed that Transformers are still considered a cool concept today, well enough to make a movie out of anyway?

I was a big fan of Masters of the Universe back then too and I here they are going to do a remake of that too somewhere down the line? I hope it's not true when it's said Brad Pitt has been chosen to pay He-Man?

He ruins just about every movie he touches these days!

Well didn't Dolph Lundgren play He-Man is the original? Anything could be an improvement over that.

The movie is an action movie, but a better than average one. At least IMO. The script is not THAT bad, especially compared to other action movies. There are great actors in it, including Stanely Tucci in a sort of comic releif role. And the most surprising part is there's some GOOD humour in it. Some really funny parts.

I, and others I am sure, had REALLY high standards set for this movie since we loved the toys/cartoon/movie as kids. The fact that I enjoyed it as much as I did, and only had minor problems makes it good in my books. I give it a solid 7-8 out of 10.

Blazer · July 6th, 2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardWitt

I was a big fan of Masters of the Universe back then too and I here they are going to do a remake of that too somewhere down the line? I hope it's not true when it's said Brad Pitt has been chosen to pay He-Man?

He ruins just about every movie he touches these days!

God, you should've seen my collection of Transformers and He-man dolls. Anyway, here's something really cool. This is an episode of the 2002 He-man series which explains... Well everything. Including why Prince Adam has to call upon "The Power of Grayskull" when changing into He-man.

I loved this more recent series, it was really dark.

Brian blaut · July 6th, 2007, 08:40 PM

While I was obsessed with them in the early 80's, and the tv show, but that movie looks horrible. The designs are a mess of tiny parts that don't seem to have any real shapes. Each character looks like 1000 toolboxes threw up and how ever the pieces fell is what the character looks like. Prime has LIPS?!? LIPS I tell you. I just can't do it. Not that I'm a fan of gratuitous action anyways, so I guess I'm not really the target audience. But the quality of the FX looks top knotch. They may win an oscar for those. My office mate used to design FX at ILM. He saw the movie and concurred it was a turd. But a very shiny polished turd, but a turd non the less. It looks like its right in line with what Michael Bay usually does: very fluffy summer blockbuster explosion, thin plotted FX extravaganzas. Don't get me wrong. Sometimes theres nothing better than a good fluff film. But I don't think I can muster the will for this one.

But have you seen the pic on the net of Indy 4? Harrison is looking good in the Fedora. I'll be in line for that one. It taps my childhood programming in a way I can't deny.

ibobunot · July 6th, 2007, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdu

I only had a 'few problems':

- While the girl in it is attractive, she is a horrible actress
- the generic romance sub-plot.
- a little weak in parts, especially the romance plot.

I was impressed...

You probably didn't like Liv Tyler in Lord of the Rings either?

bowlfreshener · July 6th, 2007, 10:00 PM

I just think its a bit crappy that Bumblebee, who was originally a Volkswagen BUG, is now a Camaro due to corporate advertising/sponsoring in a movie for our "entertainment". I mean I like Chevy's, but the whole point behind the name Bumblebee is the fact that it was a VW BUG....

tdu · July 6th, 2007, 10:04 PM

Man you guys can by cynical. None of you have even seen it, and all you can say is negative stuff. Most of it implies that people who would like this movie are somehow 'simple' or something as well. Sometimes entertainment can be just entertainment guys. You don't always have to read so much into it.

durango jon-boy · July 6th, 2007, 10:07 PM

I saw it. IT SUCKED!

john s · July 7th, 2007, 04:28 AM

I took my Grandson to see it. It was ok (clever special effects) but too long winded for a 7 year old..imho.

Skully · July 7th, 2007, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Man you guys can by cynical. None of you have even seen it, and all you can say is negative stuff. Most of it implies that people who would like this movie are somehow 'simple' or something as well.

Well, the director is Michael Bay.

GhostofJohnToad · July 7th, 2007, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skully

Well, the director is Michael Bay.

'Nuff said.

I grew up playing with Transformers but I can tell it's not going to live up to my expectations. But if I know that going in I won't be let down.

stephent2 · July 7th, 2007, 08:43 AM

I did see the movie.

I had NO expectations and I was entertained.

It is a movie about TOYS, boys. Considering that, it was exceptional, a solid "B+". Decent family flick.

One poster didn't like Shia LaBeouf...all I can say is: Are you crazy?

andy__woods · July 7th, 2007, 11:19 AM

i just saw it last night and was really impressed. I don't care much who the actors are, as long as they play their part well, and for the most part, I think they did. The movie may have been 2hrs15minutes? For me, thats not very long. After sitting through a bunch of movies nowadays that just seem to go on forever, 2 hours seems like a blessing.

For the record, there is a bit of an homage to the original VW Bug Bumblebee right at the beginning. But look at the other "vehicles" they've all been upgraded, corporate marketing or not, when I was buying my first car (as Shia was in the movie) I'd definitely take a Camaro over a Bug....or is it Beetle...

Brian blaut · July 9th, 2007, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdu

Man you guys can by cynical. None of you have even seen it, and all you can say is negative stuff.

-I guess I read it wrong when you said "I was wondering what everyone else thought." I didn't realize you really didn't want to know what we thought.

Even without seeing it, I know I find the designs to be ugly, and that I don't like Michael Bay movies. Thats what I think. I don't mean to sound like a movie snob here because I love some embarrassingly bad movies (like Time Bandits for instance). And I'm usually bored to tears with overly self-important movies with deep messages. I never said it was a simple movie for simple people. I'm usually all entertainment all the way. I just don't find Michael Bay movies entertaining. Its me, not you.

I'm glad you liked it. Life's more fun when we like stuff. As for me, if I may borrow a favorite quote from JohhnyCrash (who said this in disagreement to something I love), I'd rather punch myself in the face .

-Brian

lobotomyactivist · July 10th, 2007, 12:27 AM

I didn't grow up watching the show, I'm too young. That said, I've seen the movie. Twice. It's everything a dude could want in a movie, it's got ridiculously cool cars, a ton of action, a lot of humor, and an absolute babe in Megan Fox. Just a good, entertaining movie.

Jelly · July 10th, 2007, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdu

...Bottom line is I think they tried to make it suitable for kids today...

How young of a kid would it be suitable for?

captain gorgeous · July 10th, 2007, 06:21 AM

two bits of transformers triv for you:

- the original animated film was orson welles' last film appearance.

- a cover version of the theme tune of the original film (the hysterically terrible "you got the touch") is attempted in the film boogie nights by the hapless coked-up dirk diggler and reed rothchild (played brilliantly by mark wahlberg and john c reilly).

haven't seen the film yet. not that fussed. wasn't allowed transformers as a kid. they were too expensive, faddy, not educational and probably "looked like they would break". thanks mum.

daddyopapa · July 10th, 2007, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdu

I am 31 which means I played with Transformers when I was a kid, and saw the original animated movie in the theaters (1986!).

I saw the new movie last night and enjoyed it a lot. I was wondering what everyone else though.

I only had a 'few problems':

- While the girl in it is attractive, she is a horrible actress
- A little too action cliche, especially the generic romance sub-plot
- script was a little weak in parts, especially the romance plot, and the overkill on the comic relief.

It's a really fun movie though overall though. I wish it had kept some of the darkness the original animated movie had. but I also remember how upset that movie made me as a kid hah. When Optimus Prime got killed I almost cried. Bottom line is I think they tried to make it suitable for kids today, but also enjoyable for original fans. I think they did a decent job of that.

It seems to me that they always stick a romance in to mess up the pacing of the action and explosions. Don't you hate that?

IronJoe · July 10th, 2007, 11:06 AM

It was awesome. I don't think I blinked for the entire 1st hour.

I hate product placement as much as the next guy. But I can't say it made me NOT want that Camaro. Sweet car. Big upgrade over the VW, in my opinion.

Would have liked more Megatron and I would have prefered if they'd made him a cannon or something instead of a jet. He'll always transform into a gun in my mind.

xStonr · July 10th, 2007, 09:44 PM

I liked it for the big screen extravaganza that it was. But I gotta say this, (I know this is my father speaking through me), it was loud and very noisy!

studio1087 · July 10th, 2007, 10:28 PM

I was in college when the TV show came out. The cartoon was on after classes and before the 5:00PM local news therefore I watched it while doing homework. I remember that friends wrote marketing term papers about the cartoon because it was one of the first cartoons that was directly linked selling a line of retail toys. After Transformers, every cartoon pushed a retail line of toys.

I liked the movie as did my 6 and 9 year old sons. We just returned from a family trip and today was my last day off. I took the boys to an early show. My 6 year old had eyes wide open for trhe whole movie....I didn't see him blink once.

I agree with the poster above who complained about the "transforming" not being specific like the cartoon transforming was. In the cartoons, you could watch the robot morph and sort of see how everything fit into place. The movie looks like computer generated parts swirling around and then bango....it's a robot.

The movie was still great.
- Great shots of military vehicles and jets in action
- Great shots of fire fights
- Great shots of Robots and Sci-Fi stuff
- Beautiful Girls
- Great chase scenes
- Cool cars
- Great computer geek/techno stuff

What's not to like? Saying that this movie is bad is sort of like meeting a guy who hates to grill food......it's just not right.

Take yourself and your kids,,,have fun.

July 6th, 2007, 07:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
tdu Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 32 Posts: 2,532 11 Photos	Transformers Movie I am 31 which means I played with Transformers when I was a kid, and saw the original animated movie in the theaters (1986!). I saw the new movie last night and enjoyed it a lot. I was wondering what everyone else though. I only had a 'few problems': - While the girl in it is attractive, she is a horrible actress - A little too action cliche, especially the generic romance sub-plot - script was a little weak in parts, especially the romance plot, and the overkill on the comic relief. It's a really fun movie though overall though. I wish it had kept some of the darkness the original animated movie had. but I also remember how upset that movie made me as a kid hah. When Optimus Prime got killed I almost cried. Bottom line is I think they tried to make it suitable for kids today, but also enjoyable for original fans. I think they did a decent job of that. __________________ Torn Down Units brand Rock n' Roll My Solo Stuff:

July 6th, 2007, 07:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
RichardWitt Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Australia Age: 34 Posts: 1,150 1 Photos	Like you, I was a kid when the cartoon series ran on tv. I haven't seen it yet but I am looking forward to watching it just to see what todays technological advances will do in the animation department for a robot changing into a truck and vice -versa! I'm impressed that Transformers are still considered a cool concept today, well enough to make a movie out of anyway? I was a big fan of Masters of the Universe back then too and I here they are going to do a remake of that too somewhere down the line? I hope it's not true when it's said Brad Pitt has been chosen to pay He-Man? He ruins just about every movie he touches these days! __________________ "What a perfect solution to a problem that should have never existed in the first place!"

July 6th, 2007, 10:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
bowlfreshener Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2007 Location: Virginia, USA Age: 33 Posts: 1,616 6 Photos	I just think its a bit crappy that Bumblebee, who was originally a Volkswagen BUG, is now a Camaro due to corporate advertising/sponsoring in a movie for our "entertainment". I mean I like Chevy's, but the whole point behind the name Bumblebee is the fact that it was a VW BUG.... __________________ RAMA LAMA FA FA FA

July 6th, 2007, 10:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
tdu Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 32 Posts: 2,532 11 Photos	Man you guys can by cynical. None of you have even seen it, and all you can say is negative stuff. Most of it implies that people who would like this movie are somehow 'simple' or something as well. Sometimes entertainment can be just entertainment guys. You don't always have to read so much into it. __________________ Torn Down Units brand Rock n' Roll My Solo Stuff:

July 7th, 2007, 04:28 AM	#11 (permalink)
john s Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Perth Western Australia Age: 59 Posts: 353	I took my Grandson to see it. It was ok (clever special effects) but too long winded for a 7 year old..imho. __________________

July 6th, 2007, 07:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
Stuco Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: GA Posts: 3,247	I haven't seen it, It looks like 2 hour advertisment to me. I like movies that rely on good writing/plot/actors first. I am surprised by movies like this occasionally though. Glad to hear someone enjoyed it.

July 6th, 2007, 08:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
Brian blaut Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bay Area, California, USA Age: 34 Posts: 1,444	While I was obsessed with them in the early 80's, and the tv show, but that movie looks horrible. The designs are a mess of tiny parts that don't seem to have any real shapes. Each character looks like 1000 toolboxes threw up and how ever the pieces fell is what the character looks like. Prime has LIPS?!? LIPS I tell you. I just can't do it. Not that I'm a fan of gratuitous action anyways, so I guess I'm not really the target audience. But the quality of the FX looks top knotch. They may win an oscar for those. My office mate used to design FX at ILM. He saw the movie and concurred it was a turd. But a very shiny polished turd, but a turd non the less. It looks like its right in line with what Michael Bay usually does: very fluffy summer blockbuster explosion, thin plotted FX extravaganzas. Don't get me wrong. Sometimes theres nothing better than a good fluff film. But I don't think I can muster the will for this one. But have you seen the pic on the net of Indy 4? Harrison is looking good in the Fedora. I'll be in line for that one. It taps my childhood programming in a way I can't deny.

July 6th, 2007, 10:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
durango jon-boy Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Greatest state of Arizona Posts: 624	I saw it. IT SUCKED!

July 7th, 2007, 08:43 AM	#14 (permalink)
stephent2 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA. Age: 57 Posts: 2,637 20 Photos	I did see the movie. I had NO expectations and I was entertained. It is a movie about TOYS, boys. Considering that, it was exceptional, a solid "B+". Decent family flick. One poster didn't like Shia LaBeouf...all I can say is: Are you crazy? __________________ ".. Pine cones go in here (points to still), party liquors comes out here and proceed to here (mouth). Fights begin, finger prints are took, days is lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated". -- Earlie Cuyler, Squidbillies

July 7th, 2007, 11:19 AM	#15 (permalink)
andy__woods Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Michigan Age: 23 Posts: 1,180 60 Photos	i just saw it last night and was really impressed. I don't care much who the actors are, as long as they play their part well, and for the most part, I think they did. The movie may have been 2hrs15minutes? For me, thats not very long. After sitting through a bunch of movies nowadays that just seem to go on forever, 2 hours seems like a blessing. For the record, there is a bit of an homage to the original VW Bug Bumblebee right at the beginning. But look at the other "vehicles" they've all been upgraded, corporate marketing or not, when I was buying my first car (as Shia was in the movie) I'd definitely take a Camaro over a Bug....or is it Beetle... __________________ -- Andy "Woods" Crowder --

July 10th, 2007, 12:27 AM	#17 (permalink)
lobotomyactivist Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Doylestown, PA Posts: 1,330 1 Photos	I didn't grow up watching the show, I'm too young. That said, I've seen the movie. Twice. It's everything a dude could want in a movie, it's got ridiculously cool cars, a ton of action, a lot of humor, and an absolute babe in Megan Fox. Just a good, entertaining movie. __________________ Back again!

July 10th, 2007, 06:21 AM	#19 (permalink)
captain gorgeous Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Angel, North London Posts: 1,888 38 Photos	two bits of transformers triv for you: - the original animated film was orson welles' last film appearance. - a cover version of the theme tune of the original film (the hysterically terrible "you got the touch") is attempted in the film boogie nights by the hapless coked-up dirk diggler and reed rothchild (played brilliantly by mark wahlberg and john c reilly). haven't seen the film yet. not that fussed. wasn't allowed transformers as a kid. they were too expensive, faddy, not educational and probably "looked like they would break". thanks mum. __________________ "What is it with chimpanzees and that middle parting? It's so 1920s." www.myspace.com/daddylonglegsuk http://www.myspace.com/thetacticians

July 10th, 2007, 11:06 AM	#21 (permalink)
IronJoe Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Raleigh, NC Age: 33 Posts: 414	It was awesome. I don't think I blinked for the entire 1st hour. I hate product placement as much as the next guy. But I can't say it made me NOT want that Camaro. Sweet car. Big upgrade over the VW, in my opinion. Would have liked more Megatron and I would have prefered if they'd made him a cannon or something instead of a jet. He'll always transform into a gun in my mind.

July 10th, 2007, 09:44 PM	#22 (permalink)
xStonr Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Down in the Boondocks Posts: 1,368 4 Photos	I liked it for the big screen extravaganza that it was. But I gotta say this, (I know this is my father speaking through me), it was loud and very noisy!

July 10th, 2007, 10:28 PM	#23 (permalink)
studio1087 Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Near Milwaukee Age: 44 Posts: 4,232 36 Photos	I was in college when the TV show came out. The cartoon was on after classes and before the 5:00PM local news therefore I watched it while doing homework. I remember that friends wrote marketing term papers about the cartoon because it was one of the first cartoons that was directly linked selling a line of retail toys. After Transformers, every cartoon pushed a retail line of toys. I liked the movie as did my 6 and 9 year old sons. We just returned from a family trip and today was my last day off. I took the boys to an early show. My 6 year old had eyes wide open for trhe whole movie....I didn't see him blink once. I agree with the poster above who complained about the "transforming" not being specific like the cartoon transforming was. In the cartoons, you could watch the robot morph and sort of see how everything fit into place. The movie looks like computer generated parts swirling around and then bango....it's a robot. The movie was still great. - Great shots of military vehicles and jets in action - Great shots of fire fights - Great shots of Robots and Sci-Fi stuff - Beautiful Girls - Great chase scenes - Cool cars - Great computer geek/techno stuff What's not to like? Saying that this movie is bad is sort of like meeting a guy who hates to grill food......it's just not right. Take yourself and your kids,,,have fun. __________________ JLG Carry On

July 10th, 2007, 10:32 PM	#24 (permalink)
GoldieLocks Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abbotsford B.C. Posts: 837