Transformers

[Cpt Kirks 2pay]

Kirk, if you think I was talking about you personally, that's something I can't help. I didn't mention names. I wasn't even talking about people in here at all. That's something you're choosing to apply.

No I wasn't. If anything, I was being hypathetical, mayybe I needed to make that more clearer. Your general stance that you took when you made your comment does in theory automatically say that you think your tastes are better than EVERYONE though, but that includes me. Again, in theory. So I wasn't saying that you were talking about me directly.

The fact is, and I've seen it mentioned in many countless threads, the people that post in here and other film boards have a distinct sense that their tastes are better than the masses. Otherwise, what's the point in talking about many classic films we've seen? Most people on the street or at a party aren't going to discuss them in general. This is a place meant precisely to talk about your taste in film. I never meant it to mean anyone in here. That's self-application.

Well again, your comment was about your tastes compared to EVERYONE so what are we supposed to think that that comment doesn't apply to us? 'Everyone' the word, does include us, does it not? I don't get what you were trying to originally say now. With the explanation above it looks contradictory.

I dunno from my own personal self. I meet people outside of this place all the time. You'd be so suprised how similar their tastes are to ours. We're not the only people who think we appreciate film history or world cinema or any other factor that we'd think would make us movie buffs or movie geeks. There's loads more of people like us out there.

Also, there's loads of people who do like stuff that I'd consider crap. BUT, here's the thing, I APPRECIATE why they think that, even if I disagree with it. But it doesn't go really anymore beyond that.

[Nordling]

Sigh... done talking about this.

[Cpt Kirks 2pay]

The truth is that what you said was not just arrogant but ridiculous and stupid and made pretty much the number one mistake in dealing with debating opinions with people.

Holy crappa, the irony inna that sentence, she was almost as a delicious as a my popcorn, eh?

Why is that? Nordling, I appreciate that you're beginning to seem more reasonable in how you believe in what you've been saying, even if I don't agree with it, so I apologise if I've said anything that is OTT or anything too harsh about you or your comments.

Dino I'm glad to entertain you. Bit like the time I came to your place and you put got out that rubber glove on me - and then put it around that giant King Kong hand and did things to me to make me go APESHIT!! Anyway, at least SOMEONE is talking back and forth to someone else at last in this place.

[Ribbons]

at least SOMEONE is talking back and forth to someone else at last in this place.

Heh. Methinks Kirks spoke too soon...

[Chairman Kaga]

Remember back when this thread was about Transformers.....those were simpler times....
remembers.....

[Cpt Kirks 2pay]

Well it is a thread about 'transforming'.

Eh?


No?



NO!?







Well I thought it was funny. As I'm sure other people outside of this thread might think so too.

[burlivesleftnut]

Kirks, don't be a FOO! You're just upset because everyone here has more understandable opinions than you.

[thebabypanda]

can't we all just get along?

http://www.bestweekever.tv/2007/07/03/icymi-soundwaves-got-the-touch/

[godzillasushi]

can't we all just get along?

http://www.bestweekever.tv/2007/07/03/icymi-soundwaves-got-the-touch/

Damn that was the funniest thing i've seen in a long time.

"Operation: STFU"

[Lord Voldemoo]

Ok, I'm conflicted.

I had fun with this, I really did. I'd give it a 6.5 or 7/10. And yet, if I'm honest with myself I know that this movie really, really sucked. And not in a "oh it's popcorn fun" kinda suck, I mean it was really stupid in a lot of ways.

A friend asked me how much of the suckage was due to the writing, here's my response which pretty much sums up my negative thoughts on the film:

Lots.

Lots and lots and lots. I actually liked how it was shot, other than the pain in my optic nerves during some of the fight scenes. The acting was ok enough...I liked Shia, I thought he did everything he could with the role...

The dialogue was clunky (not...y'know...LUCAS clunky but close) and contrived and cliche and several other "c" words.

I also didn't like how the characters were handled, the Transformers themselves were REALLY glossed over. Prime spoke, Megatron spoke a couple of times, everybody else had MAYBE one line. I know it was supposed to be a "human story with robots in it" but I wanted to know a lot more about the robots. For that I point the blame directly at Mr. Spielberg (or the shadow of him), I think.

It could have been post-production editing too, maybe there were some interesting character bits with the Transformers that were cut out...but I wish they would have cut out 3/4 of the crap at Sam's house when he's looking for the glasses instead.

Some decent geek moments: Prime's monologues, "I AM MEGATRON", and Megatron ripping Jazz in half. But at the end of the day I didn't care about the Transformer characters very much. I'm not sure if it's because they were poorly written, or simply NOT written.

My positive thoughts are summed up by "kickass! big robots!!"

And yet I'd still give it a 6.5 or 7/10. yup I'm that dumb.

fuck.

[King Psyz]

Well that's why I'm hoping for the next movie with the obvious set up in the end that the next film will be much more centered on the robots themselves and how they learn to adapt to their new home.

Plus the whole Starscream going for backups to take over Earth and the Decepticons. We could get a nice peak at their personalities on his return to Cybertron.

But that's for the sequel thread.

[burlivesleftnut]

I actually thought large portions of the script were okay. I really loved the parents, even though the bit where Shia was looking for the glasses went on too long. I just don't think anyone could get proper attention when so much was jammed into this.

[Lord Voldemoo]

I just don't think anyone could get proper attention when so much was jammed into this.

That's a really good point, and I guess why the 45 minute glasses scene irked me so much.

Brock made a good point waaay up in the thread (and it has been mentioned by many others) about the product placement. Jesus christ, I know it's Transformers...product placement is why it's THERE, but there were long streteches where I thought I was watching a GM commercial...I kept waiting for a Prime v.o. saying something like "Elegant styling complete with a Hemi diesel engine, 14 cupholders and 32 Speakers....by GM" in a warm and inviting voice.

I disagree about the Ding Dong being product placement, though, did you hear the chick's reaction when she bit into it? "UGH!"

[tapehead]

Brock made a good point waaay up in the thread (and it has been mentioned by many others) about the product placement. Jesus christ, I know it's Transformers...product placement is why it's THERE, but there were long streteches where I thought I was watching a GM commercial...I kept waiting for a Prime v.o. saying something like "Elegant styling complete with a Hemi diesel engine, 14 cupholders and 32 Speakers....by GM" in a warm and inviting voice.

Comedy gold, paisan.

[RockyDennis]

This was the first movie that I walked out on since Lawnmower Man II. I was so bored throughout the entire thing. I don't know why I didn't enjoy it. Crappy movies like Con Air, The Postman, and Independence Day hold a dear place in my heart. I was a bit to old for the toys in the 80's so I didn't know anything about any of the origional characters and I still don't. It seemed like they didn't really try to make it great, they just settled for acceptable.

[Ribbons]

The dialogue was clunky (not...y'know...LUCAS clunky but close) and contrived and cliche and several other "c" words

Yarly... I've heard several complaints about John Turturro's performance in the movie, but I think he had the right idea. The stuff coming out of his mouth was going to be funny no matter which way he said it -- intentionally or not -- and a little boring besides. Might as well go over the top and spice it up a little.

Shia was pretty good too; I loved his cell phone speech where he fessed up to collecting porn because he thought he was about to die. Besides for that none of the characters really stood out -- at least not for their acting -- though I noticed one of those hackers was that dude from Buffy.

[darkjedijaina]

While Transformers wasn't everything some hoped that it would be, I think that it worked very hard to be a pleaser to a wider audience than just fanboys, and I'd say that it succeeded in doing that.

The film had action, science fiction, humor, and a little bit of romance thrown in on the side. I actually think that Bay's camera work enhanced those story lines just a little bit. He was a bit schizo with the lens, but maybe that's what kept me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails in anticipation of what was going to happen next.

I really enjoyed the story, again, probably because I felt I connected with it on some level. That's what really sells me on a movie, the connection I have with the story.

What I liked about Transformers is that it's essentially a story of good versus evil, but it's also about choices. I think the film presents that there are three types of creatures in the world: those that are good, those that are bad, and those that don't get in the car. One's position can always change from being good to being bad - but it's the getting in the car that is the first part. That's where we learn to live.

For the autobots and decepticons, the spark itself gave them life. We, also, have within us a spark that we may use for good or bad or not at all. I think that's ultimately what the film is about. At least, that's what I got out of it.

[Lord Voldemoo]

This was the first movie that I walked out on since Lawnmower Man II. I was so bored throughout the entire thing. I don't know why I didn't enjoy it. Crappy movies like Con Air, The Postman, and Independence Day hold a dear place in my heart. I was a bit to old for the toys in the 80's so I didn't know anything about any of the origional characters and I still don't. It seemed like they didn't really try to make it great, they just settled for acceptable.

I refuse to read this until you resize your av.

[RockyDennis]

This was the first movie that I walked out on since Lawnmower Man II. I was so bored throughout the entire thing. I don't know why I didn't enjoy it. Crappy movies like Con Air, The Postman, and Independence Day hold a dear place in my heart. I was a bit to old for the toys in the 80's so I didn't know anything about any of the origional characters and I still don't. It seemed like they didn't really try to make it great, they just settled for acceptable.

I refuse to read this until you resize your av.

Sorry about that. I made it as small as I can.

[Adam Balm]

This was the first movie that I walked out on since Lawnmower Man II. I was so bored throughout the entire thing. I don't know why I didn't enjoy it. Crappy movies like Con Air, The Postman, and Independence Day hold a dear place in my heart. I was a bit to old for the toys in the 80's so I didn't know anything about any of the origional characters and I still don't. It seemed like they didn't really try to make it great, they just settled for acceptable.

I refuse to read this until you resize your av.

Sorry about that. I made it as small as I can.

Try a bit harder. You're stretching out the page, and you're violating the forum's rules on avatar size.

[Leckomaniac]

This was the first movie that I walked out on since Lawnmower Man II. I was so bored throughout the entire thing. I don't know why I didn't enjoy it. Crappy movies like Con Air, The Postman, and Independence Day hold a dear place in my heart. I was a bit to old for the toys in the 80's so I didn't know anything about any of the origional characters and I still don't. It seemed like they didn't really try to make it great, they just settled for acceptable.

I refuse to read this until you resize your av.

Sorry about that. I made it as small as I can.

Try a bit harder. You're stretching out the page, and you're violating the forum's rules on avatar size.

That's 10,000+ posts coming down on your ass. Booyah!

[Zarles]

Saw it a second time tonight with a friend who doesn't really have much of a history with the series/franchise, and he gave it a solid B+. He had the same issues with some of the corniness and overall weight of all the Bay-isms, but he still dug it. For what it's worth.

Caught a few cool little references to the '86 movie and the cartoon series this time around, too. Just stuff that caught my eye -

1. When Bernie Mac is selling Sam his car, the first one he points at before Bumblebee rolls up is a beat-up old yellow Volkswagen bug, the same type that the original Bumblebee in the series was.

2. Sam's last name is Witwicky, the same last name that the lead character of 'Transformers: The Movie' had. His name was Daniel Witwicky.

3. During the fight between Optimus Prime and Bonecrusher on the freeway overpass, Optimus grabs Bonecrusher by the throat, and his eyes pop out, much like in a Looney Tunes cartoon. The same thing happened in the '86 movie during the fight between Sludge and Devastator.

:: takes off geek hat ::

[Chairman Kaga]

2. Sam's last name is Witwicky, the same last name that the lead character of 'Transformers: The Movie' had. His name was Daniel Witwicky.

Witwicky is the family name of the main characters from the show as well as the animated movie. Sparkplug the father and Spike the son....Later in the film Spike is the father and Daniel is his son since it was set in 2006 20 years after the show premiered. Sam is essentially Spike but they didn't use the nickname in the film.

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

The Dino, he likes a the fact that a the freezing temperatures onna the Earth, they somehow magically affected a the Transformers anna make them alla stiff anna such, after they made it alla the way flying through a the space atta the goddamn -273 degrees Celsius or whatever, eh?

[darkjedijaina]

The Dino, he likes a the fact that a the freezing temperatures onna the Earth, they somehow magically affected a the Transformers anna make them alla stiff anna such, after they made it alla the way flying through a the space atta the goddamn -273 degrees Celsius or whatever, eh?

maybe it was the humidity...

[Chairman Kaga]

The Dino, he likes a the fact that a the freezing temperatures onna the Earth, they somehow magically affected a the Transformers anna make them alla stiff anna such, after they made it alla the way flying through a the space atta the goddamn -273 degrees Celsius or whatever, eh?

maybe it was the humidity...

Who says they aren't in stasis in space when they are flying? Did the Dino think of that?

[burlivesleftnut]

The Dino, he likes a the fact that a the freezing temperatures onna the Earth, they somehow magically affected a the Transformers anna make them alla stiff anna such, after they made it alla the way flying through a the space atta the goddamn -273 degrees Celsius or whatever, eh?

There is only one rational explanation for this. These... Transformers... they are more than meets the eye.

[Shan]

Hugo Weaving, whose voice was used for facial animation tests,[13] signed on to voice Megatron in March 2007.[14] TV series voice actor Frank Welker auditioned, but was rejected as his voice was too light for the beastly depiction of Megatron. Bay also felt it would be wrong to ask Welker to change his classic voice.[15] Welker was hired to voice Megatron in the video game adaptation.

OK then ... how about Frank Welker for Soundwave then? With the modulation effect, it shouldn't matter so much what his real voice sounds like now, right?

How about Frank Welker for anything in the sequel at least?

[burlivesleftnut]

I don't get why they didn't use Starscream's original voice. Would it have really killed them to use the same voice actor (or someone similar) for the 2 or 3 lines of dialog Starscream had?!?2

[Cakefighter]

I have to say that was the funniest damn movie I have seen in a while. I could hardly catch my breath during Prime's monologues.

One scene alone was worth the price of admission though. Prime holds up the two halves of Jazz and goes "Awwww... Jazz...."

It gets a 10 for the lulz from me.

[burlivesleftnut]

hahahahaha

[Chairman Kaga]

I assume burl is joking about Starscream.

[TonyWilson]

Wait wait wait, the black robot dies? And doesn't the black soldier die too?

[Chairman Kaga]

Wait wait wait, the black robot dies? And doesn't the black soldier die too?

No and No.

[TonyWilson]

Wait wait wait, the black robot dies? And doesn't the black soldier die too?

No and No.

Phew.

[Cakefighter]

No and No.

The black robot does too die. Prime goes all "He made his sacrifice for us. We can't revive him."

[buster00]

I don't get why they didn't use Starscream's original voice. Would it have really killed them to use the same voice actor (or someone similar) for the 2 or 3 lines of dialog Starscream had?!?2

He's dead.

[Chairman Kaga]

No and No.

The black robot does too die. Prime goes all "He made his sacrifice for us. We can't revive him."

That robot is silver.

[Cakefighter]

No and No.

The black robot does too die. Prime goes all "He made his sacrifice for us. We can't revive him."

That robot is silver.

I should say "The only robot voiced to be extremely stereotypically black" got killed.

He wasn't the only one voiced by a black guy though.

[Chairman Kaga]

No and No.

The black robot does too die. Prime goes all "He made his sacrifice for us. We can't revive him."

That robot is silver.

I should say "The only robot voiced to be extremely stereotypically black" got killed.

He wasn't the only one voiced by a black guy though.

You'll have to explain "extremely stereotypically black" since I do not know what you mean.

[buster00]

No and No.

The black robot does too die. Prime goes all "He made his sacrifice for us. We can't revive him."

That robot is silver.

I should say "The only robot voiced to be extremely stereotypically black" got killed.

He wasn't the only one voiced by a black guy though.

If you don't mind, Jazz prefers to be called "Sterling-American."

[Cakefighter]

If you don't mind, Jazz prefers to be called "Sterling-American."

You sir have succeeded in making me laugh. Kudos.

Anybody think they'll go Unicron for the sequel? That would be amazing.

[Ribbons]

If you don't mind, Jazz prefers to be called "Sterling-American."

Sterling-Cybertronian

[Cakefighter]

You'll have to explain "extremely stereotypically black" since I do not know what you mean.

Like Augustus Cole in Gears of War. Blaxploitation but for the digital age.

[buster00]

(*breakdancing*)

"What's crackin', little bitches?"

[burlivesleftnut]

I don't get why they didn't use Starscream's original voice. Would it have really killed them to use the same voice actor (or someone similar) for the 2 or 3 lines of dialog Starscream had?!?2

He's dead.

*ahem*

I don't get why they didn't use Starscream's original voice. Would it have really killed them to use the same voice actor (or someone similar) for the 2 or 3 lines of dialog Starscream had?!?2

[burlivesleftnut]

My favorite racial stereotype in Transformers wasn't Jazz, but the hispanic soldier who didn't get that people around him don't understand Spanish.

[Cakefighter]

My favorite racial stereotype in Transformers wasn't Jazz, but the hispanic soldier who didn't get that people around him don't understand Spanish.

That and his random mystic background.

"My mother had the gift."

[burlivesleftnut]

Hahahaa, I forgot about that! It was so integral to the plot!

[Zarles]

Yeah, I can just hear the TBers if Starscream's voice had been as high-pitched and screechy as it was in the cartoon series.

'TOO STARSCREAM-Y! WAAAAHHH!!!'