Is there a new Transformers movie or what?

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 12:28 pm

Honestly - [composite word including 'f*ck'] Bumblebee. [composite word including 'f*ck'] him right in the exhaust pipe. It'll be like Herbie but without Lindsay Lohan's norks.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 1:33 pm

Scraplet wrote:
"but he said that that it's the story of a boy and his car and that he wants to bring back the old Amblin movies. It's Back To The Future …great! We're in!"
WTF!!! Now I'm confused.

Yeah, that was the bit that struck real fear into my heart too.

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 1:36 pm

Metal Vendetta wrote:Honestly - **** Bumblebee. **** him right in the exhaust pipe. It'll be like Herbie but without Lindsay Lohan's norks.

But I liked non-cartoon Bumblebee.

Eh, oh well. Not so much Herbie though, I don't think. Isn't VW still on about how they don't want to be a part of warring robots and fear that his (BB's) precence with a VW bug alt. mode might in some way damage the 'image of Herbie'?

Regardless, did I read right that I saw the name Shockwave?

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 2:09 pm

Metal Vendetta wrote:Honestly - **** Bumblebee. **** him right in the exhaust pipe.

Oi! Some of us likes the little fella. I think your being a bit harsh there. Bumblebee is a great character, like most TF's, when done right. I'm sure he could be a positive presence in this movie.

Regardless, did I read right that I saw the name Shockwave?

You sure did. But I'm not sure how they're gonna work him into the story. Having him as one of the original 'Nemesis' crew just feels damn weird.

Cybertron intro+flashback?

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 2:14 pm

Predabot wrote:
Metal Vendetta wrote:Honestly - **** Bumblebee. **** him right in the exhaust pipe.
Oi! Some of us likes the little fella. I think your being a bit harsh there. Bumblebee is a great character, like most TF's, when done right. I'm sure he could be a positive presence in this movie.

I share your optimism not a jot. Bumblebee sucked in every continuity and in every guise, except for his brief run as Goldbug with Blaster in the US comics. Otherwise he is the most pointless, irritating and worthless Autobot aside from Wheelie. Even if they make some major changes to his character for the movie he'll still blow goats.

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 2:28 pm

Look, just let ME write the bloody thing:
http://forums.idwpublishing.com/cgi-bin ... f=21;t=712

Okay, it needs some work - but... opinions?

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 2:29 pm

Metal Vendetta wrote:
Predabot wrote:
Metal Vendetta wrote:Honestly - **** Bumblebee. **** him right in the exhaust pipe.
Oi! Some of us likes the little fella. I think your being a bit harsh there. Bumblebee is a great character, like most TF's, when done right. I'm sure he could be a positive presence in this movie.
I share your optimism not a jot. Bumblebee sucked in every continuity and in every guise, except for his brief run as Goldbug with Blaster in the US comics. Otherwise he is the most pointless, irritating and worthless Autobot aside from Wheelie. Even if they make some major changes to his character for the movie he'll still blow goats.

I rather enjoyed him during his Pretender run.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 2:32 pm

Señior's Covenant wrote:I rather enjoyed him during his Pretender run.

Granted, he was better, but still annoying.

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 2:33 pm

Bumblebee certainly isn't the WORST TF characte in my opinion.
I tend to go 'meh' when Ultra Magnus appears.
Or Unicron.

Scraplet · Post by **Scraplet** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 4:53 pm

I'm not so much bothered about the presence of the Small Yellow One (tho I generally agree with EmVee), it's the fact that the movie may revolve around him, and he will only be sidekick (Sidekick!

) to a human.

one boy and his car

This is even worse than I imagined at my lowest ebb while reading the most dumb-ass posts from the 'stooges'

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 5:05 pm

Autobloke wrote:Bumblebee certainly isn't the WORST TF characte in my opinion.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 8:42 pm

Autobloke wrote:Look, just let ME write the bloody thing:
http://forums.idwpublishing.com/cgi-bin ... f=21;t=712

Okay, it needs some work - but... opinions?

All right. I read it, I suppose there's some fairly good things in there. You borrowed from mainly the right places.

Except why not use Buster? Oh, cartoon-fans won't understand squat? HAH! The main reason for changing to Buster is cause he's got a hoter girlfriend, red-head Jessie.

Altough the thing with the Ark-fight as a flashing sorta credits-intro is cool, I think that perhaps a flashing origin of Cybertron and the Transformers is cooler. Naturally it's set up that the viewer only gets the basics,

"zoom from stars to grey metal-lump in space, big yello' light hits/bathes it, cut, surface changing transforming from small structures to larger, cut, entire mountains, cut, some primitive free-moving machinery, cut, the surface changing into a more sleek look in an area, cut, PROTOFORMS RISING, cut, the transformers take form, cut, some advancements, cut, civil war, cut"

And then the movie starts.

Wouldn't it be lovely if we'd get to see something that was in both the comic and cartoon?

Aka Optimus leads his Autobots on to the Ark and such. Too bad it might not be fitting or probable for this movie.

Oh, and Transforming credits/text of course.

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 9:37 pm

Predabot wrote:"zoom from stars to grey metal-lump in space, big yello' light hits/bathes it, cut, surface changing transforming from small structures to larger, cut, entire mountains, cut, some primitive free-moving machinery, cut, the surface changing into a more sleek look in an area, cut, PROTOFORMS RISING, cut, the transformers take form, cut, some advancements, cut, civil war, cut"

I was going for confusion and tantalising snippets of TFs to get the audience excited. Can't give too much away too soon. Also, when Prime tells Spike about the crash later, the audience will then go 'Ah, that's what that was'.

And yeah - Buster, Spike - Spike, Buster. I thought I'd give the 'Toonies' something. And there was a Spike in the comic too - I thought I'd leave it so that Fort Max could turn up in a (much) later movie for him to bond with, and we wouldn't have to introduce another human character.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:03 pm

The Fort Max thing acctually makes it logical.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:32 pm

Hmm, interesting.

Concurrently with the time when I was a TransFans newb, I started forming a story arc for a possible TF movie (and its sequels) too.

Although, Mine was completely different: from its Predator/Deep Red-style opening, to its "mysterious things are afoot in the fair land of Oregon - and beyond!"

I don't think I've still got it, more's the pity, as I've changed PCs several times since then, and I don't think everything survived the transfers.

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 6:47 am

Aw, that would have been nice to read.
Enjoyed the idea, Autobloke.

Have to say tho, whilst I don't dislike Bumblebee that much, I do think that some of his characterisation leaves a lot to be desired. I don't think revolving the Transformers side of the movie around his perception of humanity would be that interesting. At all.

If there has to be an element of 'boy and robot buddy' in the movie - which I'm not actually that averse to, it's about what I was expecting really - I'd rather the robot buddy in question was someone like Jazz.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:48 am

I think the openeing scene could be more Indpendence day, with satalite in space floating along minding its own buiss, and it crashs into an invisible object, sending a ripple across its cloaking shield device, revealing the object, just for a moment... that being the Decepticon Space ship they traveld to earth in, perhaps a glimpse of the Con logo. this thing is noneless impossibly big, and thus breathtaking.
It also holds mystery and suspense to the new viewers and for us old boys we have indication of whats about to take place.
-cut-
Down to the mountains organ, a family is out camping in the woods, its very important, for the general public to see a human face to begin with.
credits play over these scenes. tastefully done.
A young boy catchs a glimpse of somthig huge and large, we know this by a shadow that looms across his face, the cam zoomz to the boys eye, you can just about make out the reflection of a humanoid form within his eye...
His dad finds the boy, scoops him up, tells him off for running away and getting lost like any good parent would do, the boy cant close his mouth yet, hes still in awe, he has also grabbed a tool from the floor, its small yet obviously alien...
Later that day the family leaves the camp site, the boy looks to the windows, there is rustling in the trees of somthing large, yet the rest of the boys family doesnt notice.
the viewr is made to become aware that the family is being followed by a series cars, familar to fans, and perhaps familar to a few non fans.
insert hound or bumblebee here...
the cars follow them them through the night untill the reach the city - a road side advertising hoarding tells of an air show nearby - the boy plays with the device...

ok in short, they reach the air show, the boy clicks the device on, planes that shouldnt be at the air show arrive, and suddenly one transforms, its starscream or somthing, hes alerted to the device, perhaps its a transmitter part or somthing, he makes a b-line for the car beliveing it to be an Autobot, right at the last moment as SS is about to crush the car, the two following cars transform and attack SS.

more sweeps flood in, so does the US army attack jets, and even more Autobots turn up. Im hoping this struggle takes place on a bridge.

this way you can get the Autobots trying to save a broken bridge full of humans, showing compasion and strength, the cons can kill humans showing power and evil.
the humans try and kill all TF through lack of understanding only found in comic books...

Now you have the start to a film.
a. humans
b. human dislike
c. human friends
d. autbots
e. decepticons
f. good
g. evil

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 2:09 pm

Autobloke@IDW wrote:Separate Landings?:
The possibility of both factions not crashing at the same time has potential. I'm guessing the way it would go is that the Autobots crash sometime long ago with the Matrix, and then the Decepticons turn up to find it as some lead to an energy source (or even THE energy source). By this time the Autobots are now happily disguised as cars etc and just trying to fix the Ark or waiting in hope of a rescue. That way, maybe some 'Cons take on Earth modes right away and some stay with Cybertronian alts.

I like how you worked in the possibility of Cybertronian alt. modes, which would make for some sellable toys no doubt. I like the idea of the mix of Earth alt. mode TFs and Cybertronian alt. mode TFs being sold together in the same venue. IF IDW ever get the rights to War Within they should consider the toy line. But I'm not fond of the idea of separate landing times as unless the Decepticons were reformatted post-crash (perhaps in the same way as before or something similar) they wouldn't really feel the need to blend into Earth's everday life, merely rain destruction down on spots like they tended to do once in a while in the comics.

Also, I for one wouldn't care for the event that brought them to Earth being a flashback. I'm sure it will be done that way, and hopefully they'll do it well (

). *Ahem* Sorry. For me though I'd care to see the opening credits of the film run over the event. From menacing and dim lit scenes starting on Cybertron to the run of the two vessels battling, to the crash-landing on Earth. Give it a grand feel, y'know? Let us know from the start as though we know nothing. Credits finish on the dust rising from the crash-landed Ark settling into the volcano. The moment credits are done, an awesome pull away shot from the Ark to orbit of the Earth, all the while time progressing over the years. The quickly rotating Earth begins to slow as the shot zooms back in to the volcano exploding, begin flick.

Of course that would mean you'd have to cover the entire waking & whatnot prior to the real battle and Earth-bound story getting underway. Perhaps it's not the best idea after all. Though for a little tidbit, during that rapid orbit rotation I mentioned you could have barely-noticable Axalon & Darkside entering into our space via warp conduit and heading to the surface, with a couple of seconds later the Ark's shuttle taking off.

All in the background as an easter egg (EGG!) of course.

Eh, what do I know.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 2:10 pm

Thing is, everyone wants something different. Personally I'd go for a script with a similar arc to the first four Marvel issues, the More Than Meets The Eye episodes, or even Man of Iron. But I want the mythology to be present and I don't want TFs to be extras in their own movie.

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 2:13 pm

spiderfrommars wrote:But I want the mythology to be present and I don't want TFs to be extras in their own movie.

Agreed on both accounts.

Still really bugs me they keep saying five on each side though. The ships are huuuuge! There needs to be other Transformers, even if it means they're extras (in the sense they're extras regarding the TF cast, still agreeing with the spidey statement mind you).

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 2:24 pm

I think at least one flashback sequence depicting millions of TFs (preferably at war!) is essential. Thats the money shot right there.

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 2:47 pm

Now a flashback to the actual war would be great. I could handle that.

FlowBizkit · Post by **FlowBizkit** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 6:45 pm

useful to some of u?

http://www.transformerland.com/transfor ... movie.html

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:03 pm

Predabot wrote:The Fort Max thing acctually makes it logical.

Pity I quickly made that excuse up when you mentioned the Spike/Buster thing. Just lucky it fitted.

And, although I have pointed this out before, the version I wrote was trying to stick to the subjects and ideas that had been floating about on the 'net about the new movie. This meant I had to play up the human angle, Bumblebee, Arcee, Spike and his girlfriend, possible separate landings (which I think would work quite well) and the Matrix. It also answered that whole 'Soundwave changes alt' thing that was talked about.
And taking into account the style and structure of these types of movie these days (which are pretty formulaic), I was just hitting the beats and conforming to the 'save the reveals until later' standard which we'll definately get if the movie ever appears.
The movie I'd rather see would be MUCH different without having to stick to those rules.
And perhaps a few Decepticons take on Earth alts to avoid the Autobots spotting them (military jets flying over a desert) while they search for the buried Ark.

Good ideas all though, people. If only we had a big Hollywood movie at our beck and call.
And, just as a sudden realisation, if we who are all fairly hardened comic fans can't seem to decide on how the movie should unfold, imagine how hard it is for the poor buggers who are actually writing/making the thing for real and trying to please everyone in the TF fandom.

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:15 pm

Autobloke wrote:And, although I have pointed this out before, the version I wrote was trying to stick to the subjects and ideas that had been floating about on the 'net about the new movie. This meant I had to play up the human angle, Bumblebee, Arcee, Spike and his girlfriend, possible separate landings (which I think would work quite well) and the Matrix. It also answered that whole 'Soundwave changes alt' thing that was talked about.

Ah, must have missed that bit. What you wrote makes more sense to me now.

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:08 am

I just noticed that the movie is now due July 4th, 2007. Apols if this has been known for a while and I've been blind as the proverbial.
Meh.
Normally a family-friendly summer braindead blockbuster date, isn't it? Or have some good films previously come out then that I've forgotten about? Like one of the Spidey films or something.
ooh, which reminds me I have spidey 2 to watch on DVD later...

Yeah, so the pics of the truck. Can't see jack apart from the plate, really.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/ ... CF1333.jpg

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 10:16 am

I love love love love love love love love Spidey 2.

July 4th is traditionally the date for the summer blockbuster of the year innit? I heard Fantastic 4 was gonna be this year's but they got cold feet and moved it back for War of the Worlds. Meant their whole original 'Fantastic 4th' taglines went to **** of course.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 10:55 pm

Señior's Covenant wrote:Now a flashback to the actual war would be great. I could handle that.

Or even, not a flashback, but a prologue - LOTR style. Massive battle, Megatron's forces crippled, a young Prime's rashness resulting in an interstellar chase and eventual crashland. Then silence, stillness. Concurrent objective narration (by a character, not Prime nor Megs, tho) informing the audience of how all this occurs, and a lingering/haunting question of whether it is the end, or merely the beginning... Run Credits. Bang! In with the human factor.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:15 am

This is the first time I've seen the 7/4/7 release date as well. Not particularly looking forward to waiting two years for this.

It's like, "Boy, two whole years of fandom civil war and Murphy/Bay bashing? Woohoo!"

I mean, if the complaining is bad now, just wait until it's CONFIRMED Arcee is in the movie, and that Bumblebee and *insert young human character here* have a drawn out chase scene where they escape thanks to the surprisingly quick thinking of the kid.

On the other hand, this will be one media blitz I won't get tired of. Let the massive over advertising begin.

So what other big movies are already scheduled for that summer.

*sigh* Too bad all movies can't be as good as Batman Begins...

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 9:08 am

Rebis wrote:In with the human factor.

*spits out pie in disgust*

You will notice though that I didn't put the humans in too major a role - they're mostly a conduit for making TFs do stuff. Spike gets captured so that Arcee

and Carly (and Bumblebee) have to go find him. This gives the humans their 'adventure', but is really just a chance for Soundwave and his 'cassettes' to have a rumble in the desert (if you'll excuse the pun), and let us see inside the Decepticon ship and marvel at the sparkly goodness of the Matrix.
Mostly the humans get either injured or captured - roles that humans should always have in TF. Yeah, Spike escapes from the 'Cons on his own - but those bad guys always make those kinds of dumb errors. And yes, Spike is the one to repair Prime with the Matrix - but at least he isn't grabbing a wrench and turning the nuts himself (like Sparkplug seemed capable of doing in most TF cartoon episodes

).
And the end with the big fight between Prime and Megs? Well, Carly is dying, so she isn't going to get in the way. I suppose that Spike would have to do 'something' to help because it's got to have that 'human element' - but not anything major (like become Autobot Spike

). Megs could always grab Spike and use him as a hostage (because he recognises that Prime will have more concern for him than a random human), but Spike isn't going to be throwing any punches. Perhaps he still has some kind of link to the Matrix (from when he was carrying the fragment) which will help him find the full Matrix in time for Prime to retrieve it and save Carly.

Bloody humans.

Either way, I'm just trying to follow the rules, but not give the humans too much of the movie.