Transformers

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 6/26/07 at 1:11pm

Just got home from work where we just finished a screen check of the new "Transformers" movie.

This would have to be one of the best summer blockbusters of the last ten years!

Smart, funny, thrilling, two and half hours just by, if it was not 3.10am in the morning, i would and could watch it again.

Beg, borrow, steal if you need too and see this movie...Every other summer blockbuster from now on will need to live up to this!

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 6/26/07 at 1:14pm

2 questions.


1. So do the Transformers come here and take over automobiles or are they just from space?

2. Why can't we have 90 minute movies anymore?

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 6/26/07 at 1:16pm

Answering question would be a spoiler!

Question 2, this sucker flys it could have gone on another hour, thats how much fun this film is.

[tazber]

Posted: 6/26/07 at 1:57pm

I'm excited.

I think the idea of making a movie based on a toy is lame, but no one blows **** up better that Michael Bay, and they're giant robots.

Giant Robots!!! How can I resist?

[Taryn]

Posted: 6/26/07 at 3:57pm

Taz, I think it's moreso making a movie based on the TV show. Hell, the original animated Transformers movie is AMAZING. My brother was so obsessed with Transformers when he was little, that he went through a period where he would ONLY respond to Optimus Prime. And he could do the transforming sounds perfectly.

I am SO psyched for this movie. Especially with Peter Cullen reprising his role as Optimus. He's, like...the voice of goodness.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 12:18am

Hugo weaving as the voice of Mega Tron

[Taryn]

Posted: 7/2/07 at 11:25pm

So I saw the film tonight, and I have mixed feelings. I think for someone who didn't grow up with the cartoon, it will be an awesome, jaw-dropping action movie. For someone like me who can remember bawling at Optimus Prime's death in the original animated movie, I really missed the Transformers' personality. The set-up and the plot simply don't allow much time to see each of the Transformers as their own being. It's sad, because that's what really made the cartoon cool.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 12:36am

YOU GOT THE TOUCH!

YOU GOT THE POWER!

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 5:45pm

Man, I wanted to like this movie--but to be honest, I thought it was TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE.


(spoilers ahead)


I don't have any previous experience with Transformers, so I had no sentimental ties, fyi. Everyone is going on and on about the effects and the action...really? Maybe I've become immune to impressive effects, but nothing in this film seemed new or different than any other number of blockbusters--well, except for the Transformers themselves, but Michael Bay completely ruined that effect by revealing it too soon. There was no build up or suspence leading up to how the Transformers would reveal themselves. From the very beginning of the movie, they were flying all over the place, so in a matter of minutes, the "coolness" of the robots themselves had worn off. Shia was actually very funny and became the films biggest redeeming quality. The script itself had some funny lines, but it had even more incredibly cheesy lines (and not purposely cheesy, ala Spiderman...I think they were really being serious).
During the movie, I kept thinking about what makes an action blockbuster great. Jurassic Park, for instance, is a great movie because each scene takes the audience somewhere--before the action sequence takes place, there is suspence and dramatic tension. Each scene leads you on, strikes intrigue, builds...it's not just one loud, explosive shot after another. There is give and take, each scene has narrative arch.
It seems like some people think that if you want to make a blockbuster action movie filled with impressive special effects, than you are excused from making a well-told story. Transformers is just one loud thing after another---sadly, you are never with a single character (maybe Shia) or Transformer long enough to care a bit about them. Frankly, by the end, I didn't care if any of the humans or robots were killed...I just didn't care, because the movie never really gave me a chance to.
And in true Michael Bay style, there were countless slow-motion/overly dramatic shots that a film must earn--contrary to popular belief, these moments don't equate awesomeness the second they are inserted...that probably didn't make much sense, whatever.

And after all this, the movie still made time to stereotype African-Americans, Japanese, and high school students. I have to agree with the creators of "Team America" who questioned in song why Michael Bay is still allowed to make movies.

I'm not good at putting my thoughts into words, but Harry Knowles said basically what I wanted to say (though I think he was way too nice):

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33226

Updated On: 7/3/07 at 05:45 PM

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 6:14pm

"Pearl Harbor Sucked (And I Miss You)" is the name of the song from Team America. And it's genius.

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 9:08pm

I hated the movie, but loved Julie White! She stole every scene she was in.

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 10:20pm

if she was Shia's mother, than I totally agree

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 11:08pm

i LOVED transformers when i was little. i can't wait to see this.

[rgaywrites]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 11:16pm

I loved the movie. If you go on knowing the plot will be weak, you'll be better prepared to enjoy the visual spectacle. What they've done with CGI in this movie is truly award worthy. When the Transformers transform while running or driving, its just awesome. I wasn't attached to the Transformers as a child, and enjoyed the movie nonetheless. Its very true to the cartoon and I think that's why some people didn't enjoy the movie. The cartoon was not high on production value.

[worrell4077]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 3:47pm

I first went into the movie a little skeptical because alot of films especially Michael Bay films tend to just have tons and tons of special effects and explosions, but very little plot, but this actually had a plot and I really liked it. I fell in love with Megan Fox, oh my God she's hot. There is a scene in the movie with Shia and Megan in the camaro or Bumblebee and neither are sitting in the driver's seat so Shia suggests to Megan to sit in his lap so that he can buckle them both up with the seatbelt and she sits in his lap. I would've killed to be Shia right there and have Megan sit on my lap.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 4:20pm

Wait... Julie White is in TRANSFORMERS?!?

[Mark Loves His Scarf]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 7:06pm

Yes, Julie White is in it and she is hilarious.

I just got back from seeing the movie and I was blown away. Like many of you, I wasn't a big Transformers fan-- never really played with the toys, never watched the series. When I first heard there was going to be a movie about it, I refused to pay eight dollars to see the corniest movie about every 6-year-old boy's favorite toy. It wasn't even worth movie-hopping for. I mean... they were about alien robots taking over the planet... oh and they can transform into cars. Sounds exciting.

Then I saw the preview. Now, I am a movie whore and I love (love, love, love) action films. When I saw the preview, although my head screamed, "Stupid, plotless, cheesy movie at 12 O'clock!" my love for explosions/car chases/destruction cried, "Hafta see, hafta see!". I went in with the expectations of great visual entertainment with nothing much to be said on the plot (YES, I caved and peeked at imdb and rottentomatoes). After seeing it, I was thoroughly surprised. I loved it.

Yes it was cheesy, yes the script was good and bad, yes the special effects may have been too much, but it was a lot of fun! The plot didn't drag, the lines were hilarious and immature (what do you expect from an action-packed film made about a friggin' toy?!), the acting was beyond great (Shia Lebouf, WOW, you impressed me), the action was long, loud, crazy, slow, fast, old, new, exciting, breathtaking, painful. Someone on here said that there wasn't enough character development in the Tranformers themselves, but I think that's okay. We didn't need to get any deeper than we had to so maybe them being slightly two-dimensional isn't necessarily a bad thing. I don't think they were distant enough for the audience not to care. There were certainly other things to make up for it like the humans connection with the robots especially Sam's with Bumblebee's. I mean he was his first car. You all remember how that felt right? ^_^

I was also expecting a less than decent plot and was actually satisfied with what they gave us. It's a bit predictable but I applaud them for not trying to develop this complex storyline no one understands and just makes everything confusing. It's simple and you don't have to figure anything out while trying to unscramble the images of gigantic robots crashing into buildings. And although corny and predictable, the theme ("No sacrifice, no victory) was executed well (maybe not great, but well enough).

All-in-all, good, good summer movie. A LOT of fun. This is the type of movie you WANT to see in the theaters with the special effects and surround sound. The room actually shook because it was that mind-blowing. Just expect a really fun time because although it may not be the greatest, cleverest movie of all time, it's certainly worth the money and the time. It is about a kid's toy after all! Just enjoy it!

[gumbo2]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 7:51pm

I sorta skimmed past the longer reviews because I haven't seen it yet and I don't wanna know too much going in...but I'm so excited for this. I've been a huge Shia Lebouf fan since Even Stevens, and from the trailers I've seen...Jesus Christ Megan Fox is so hot. Throw in Julie White and enormous robots that turn into automobiles and I don't think I could be any more excited!

[rgaywrites]

Posted: 7/4/07 at 9:23pm

Megan Fox is smoking hot. The way they sprayed her and made her all shiny was very visually pleasing. I want to have abs like hers in the worst way. I figure in about 100,000 or so crunches and a few months of starvation, I should have that worked out.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 9:51am

Saw it... um the biggest laugh was in the titles. All that CGI transforming thing was difficult to watch and pay attention to. I left right at the end did anyone cover the theme song?

[worrell4077]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 3:40pm

In the theater I was in, right at the end there was applause. I have never been at the movies and heard applause at the end of a movie. I know it's because they enjoyed it, but come on, no one in the movie is going to hear the applause. It's a movie, not a live show.

[Mark Loves His Scarf]

Posted: 7/6/07 at 4:29pm

Worrell, really? It is never uncommon for me to hear applause (or even applaud myself) after a really enjoyable movie ends. I think it's just out of habit or respect or just to relieve some satisfaction. It's just something some people do. To many, it isn't any different than laughing at the masturbation dialogue or getting a little teary-eyed when they take Bumblebee away (I swear, I didn't but I could bet some were). It's not a live show so they won't hear us laugh or cry either. I don't think that's the purpose of applauding after a good movie. It just shows how much they enjoyed it. Like musical theatre, you can lose yourself in the movie and you can't help but applaud. It's just fun. When something amazing happens in a show, you clap for the moment, not necessarily for people to hear and take in.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 7/15/07 at 3:23am

People will never be happy.

All I have to say is, "get your hands off my bush!"

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 7/15/07 at 3:30am

This is a bad movie classic. Almost none of the intentional comedy works, but I laughed anyway simply because Bay had the audacity to go for it. The fact that this film did not take itself seriously whatsoever is a true virtue.

[gumbo2]

Posted: 7/15/07 at 3:53am

It was pretty awful. As my friend said to me, it's like Michael Bay forgot to edit it until the night before, and just had no idea what he was doing. There were some entertaining parts, and I do love Shia LeBouf, but it was not in any way a good movie.