The 2007 Transformers Movie (Spoilers)

Leatherneck · Post by **Leatherneck** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 6:59 am

I don't know if this goes here or not...

Movie was great. I wish there was a little more Megatron/Starscream animosity, but they hit on it at least. Also, some of the Decepticons didn't appear until the big fight at the end, and Soundwave was annoying, but I guess that's his job.

And god damn, the graphics are great.

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:14 pm

I've only just now realised that there is a TF movie out, since the trailers have been all over all the tv channels... I thought this was one of the movies that would be announced forever and then never make it into the theatre.

The trailer showed lots of metal and explosions, that's all I remember.

Is it any good for non-TF fans (me plus boyfriend)? One review that I read gave it one out of five, so I'm not sure if it's worth spending an evening on.

Post by **Kaylee** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:22 pm

I'm in the process of... acquiring it. I'll let you know for sure, but the general vibe from those who've seen it would seem to imply its a big loud action movie with big robots, so if none of that would appeal it's probably worth giving a miss

rusty_herring · Post by **rusty_herring** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:55 pm

I went to the movie with as open a mind as possible, expecting to see a half decent movie, at least entertaining with giant robots fighting each other. I already had pretty low expectations, unfortunately I still found myself disappointing.
What made it bad for me was all those stupid human side plots no one cared about that took up 3/4 of the freeken movie and Starscream had about 5 minutes of screen time (and 0 chemistry with "Megatron") as well as a bunch of other stuff, but I don't want to start spouting spoilers just yet.
My best friend said "Frenzy" was the new Jar-Jar Binks.

rusty_herring · Post by **rusty_herring** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:58 pm

lol why did I quote myself I must be asleep.
Sorry for the double post

Obfleur · Post by **Obfleur** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 4:58 pm

I thought it was an cool and entertaining action movie
My only complaint is that some of the TF:s didn't feel like real characters. I mean... Jazz? All he did was bounce around and die.
And Ratchet was a field medic. That's all we knew about them.
Oh well

However, f you start nitpicking and analyzing the movie you'll soon see that it's somewhat crappy.
Like... "Optimus, Jazz didn't make it" - "Oh, Jazz..."
Is that all? "Oh, Jazz"? It's like OP didn't care that he died.

And "Frenzy" (?) was ****.

etc.

And how many of you felt like buying a Panasonic Memory Card when the credits rolled?

rusty_herring · Post by **rusty_herring** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 5:04 pm

And Ratchet was a field medic. That's all we knew about them.

Yeah Ratchet didn't do sh*t...

At Jazz's death I was like, "wtf!?" It was just so stupid and pointless he didn't even do anything.

I didn't like the fact the TFs had no personalities. (Bee had the most and he didn't even talk)

I actually wanted a Mountain Dew after the machine came alive and started shooting at people.
How come everything created became a Decepticon anyway?

Leatherneck · Post by **Leatherneck** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 5:25 pm

That's something I was wondering; why did everything the Allspark contacted become evil? Why are the Autobots good in turn?

Ikijigoku · Post by **Ikijigoku** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 5:29 pm

rusty_herring wrote:
And Ratchet was a field medic. That's all we knew about them.
I actually wanted a Mountain Dew after the machine came alive and started shooting at people.
How come everything created became a Decepticon anyway?

My girlfriend asked me the same thing. Maybe another device actually created the Autobots.

I was a little pissed that Jazz died too. The movie did seem to evolve more around Bumblebee, Prime, Frenzy and Megatron. For a 2 1/2 hour movie, the actual Transformers (besides Barricade and Scroponok in the opening scene) didn't appear until the last hour. I felt that in that little time, they did their best with developing the Autobot's personality I felt they even closely matched up the Autobot's characteristics and titles with their original G1 tech info.

Remember, this is the first movie. they are merely introducing the characters. ALthough the Decepticons get shafted, why spend time on characters that all get killed off. Starscream is the lone survivor. So they invested as much time on him as they could afford. Starscream just stood by Megatron. Megatron tears down Starscream. I don't care to remember what happened to Frenzy. I thought Sam, and the Witwicky family were great. Sam made the non Transformer parts of the movie entertaining. The whole movie had the theater bursting out in laughter, especially Bumblebee peeing on that FBI agent.

saysadie · Post by **saysadie** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 6:48 pm

[Basic copy/paste from TFA thread]

I didn't think it was all that fabulous really. Sure, it was a fun film, I enjoyed it, but tbh one of the main reasons I want to go again is because there were some parts I missed due to "big action shake 'em up" movement on the camera. That was kind of annoying.

There were a few parts that made me giggle with glee- I liked the faraway convoy-type shots, they reminded me of the original cartoon. Jazzs' initial transformation sequence was great fun. Pretty much every transformation sequence was cool- minus Prime's "OOBER SLOW MO DRAMATIC" ones, they were somewhat annoying after awhile.

For the most part it was pretty obvious that this was a stand- alone type of deal. Most of the robot modes left me cold, but taking into consideration the fact that any geewun styles would have looked absolutely rediculous, I was okay with 'em. Some of the voices annoyed me- Jazz for example. Bumblebee. I liked Bumblebee better when he couldn't talk, or spoke much like a Junkion. And [in the end] I grew to hate those little cyber-robots that were created whenever someone channeled the energy of the All Spark [how come they were all 'eeeevil', anyway?]. I generally dislike JarJar-type comic relief in movies anyway- in my opinion however if they were dead-set on having something in the role of bumbling moron they should have stuck with Bernie. Or a Rumble/Frenzy [geewun] type prescence or something- these things had potential, but they turned them into Jawa. Or Ewoks. I guess they really couldn't have too many talking robots in the movie- they could have thrown at least one in, however. Something. Or had Laserbeak/Buzzsaw/Ravage [again geewun] types instead... almost anything but these things.

Good film- lots of typical movie-type moments, but good fun. I didn't get a sense of "essence" [of the original cartoon series] out of the film... I thought it was a key thing missing. I went away happy with the fact that it was a decent action film and had big giant transforming robots shooting things though, which is basically what I had expected to see in the first place.

And I got free movie swag seeing as how I went to a pre-release screening on the 28th- little movie posters. My BF took a Prime poster, I took a Megs one and set up with the original full-length "eye" poster I got from a friend for my birthday they're gonna look great framed and hung in the living room we have whenever we both manage to move in together. [/geek]

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 6:29 am

Saw it tonight, during a sold-out digital screening.

That was an experience.

A damn good experience, if I say so myself. It exceeded my expectations, which were actually quite high from all the build up from the previews and from wishful thinking.

Fanboys will cry about things like "Ratchet didn't do this" or "Jazz didn't do that", and that may be true, but at least they appealed as much as they could have to the fanboys without alienating the non-TF fans, which though much less vocal, are far greater in number.

In fact, I give them a great deal of credit for actually including a lot that only the fanboys would get. They threw us a bone or two for sure, and I have to thank Bay for doing that as it wasn't really expected. Lines like "one will stand, one will fall" are certainly homages that didn't need to be in the movie, but were included for us, as were things like the Transformers 'transforming noise', Cullen as Prime, and a cartoon voiced Jazz. It was Transformers enough for me by the end to say, "That was the Transformers, not "Bayformers". For that, I am so freakin grateful to Bay.

Some of the action scenes were unlike anything I have ever seen. My particular favorites were Megatron flying through that building with Prime hanging on and the Prime vs. Bonecrusher scene.

The audience clapped at like nine different scenes, something I've never seen done in a movie before. They clapped when Barricade was chasing Bumblebee, when Prime first Transformed, when Prime transformed and got ready to dig down against Megatron, when Starscream was hopping from jet to jet destroying them, when Prime used his energoblade to kill Bonecrusher. It was an awesome experience seeing it with such an enthusiastic crowd, an experience I'll cherish.

It was the same feeling I got when I saw "Terminator 2", that I was seeing something unique unlike anything else, something that will open the door for greater things to come. The bar for special effects has been raised by this movie.

Sure, it had moments of cheese, but that was a positive actually. Such scenes were shot to target a wider viewing audience that would include the younger generation. I was fine with that. In fact, I'm glad they did. Bay sets a very mature tone with the early Blackout scene that was simply hair-raising, and later gives the younger crowd something to laugh at with the Autobots hiding in Sam Witwicky's backyard. Cheesy? To us maybe, but the younger crowd are going to eat that up. And that's a plus in my book.

Surprisingly, even the acting was very good. I expected weak performances, but was pleasantly surprised to see that really, there was no bad actor in the movie.

Sure, there were some things I didn't like. As expected, the bots were overly complex in detail, and in some of the action sequences, you couldn't make out what was happening due to the quick cuts and rapidly changing camera angles. Sometimes, things just happened too fast. But for every action sequence that was poorly done, there were two that were downright beautiful.

Yes, a big thumbs up in my book. Step away from being the rabid fanboy for this one, and just become a compromising fanboy, and you will leave the theatre one satisfied customer.

Objectively, a 3 1/2 star movie, but the fanboy in me pushes it to a 4 out 4 star flick.

Leatherneck · Post by **Leatherneck** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 6:50 am

I had a thought on the everything-the-allspark-touches-is-evil thing;

The Sector Seven dork said that microchips, cars, etc. were all reverse engineered from Megatron. As such, in essence, all of the things that could become sentient robots [heh] are descendants of Megatron, and are evil by nature.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:15 am

Karl Lynch wrote:I'm in the process of... acquiring it. I'll let you know for sure, but the general vibe from those who've seen it would seem to imply its a big loud action movie with big robots, so if none of that would appeal it's probably worth giving a miss

You and I should talk more.

Post by **Best First** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:23 am

Yaya wrote:

they appealed as much as they could have to the fanboys without alienating the non-TF fans, which though much less vocal, are far greater in number.

i don't agree with that for a second, its not to say i didn't enjoy the film, beause by and large i did, but lets not leap (along with sound effect) into arse licking mode.

Overall i though the film was good fun, the plot was stupider than a monkey in a lime green dress but the payoff was generally worth it. I thought a lot of the humour worked really well, but there were points where it was over saturated - the wanking scene was great though.

I thought the soldiers were a fairly cynical addition, there was too much US Military beat off going on for sure.

But the bad stuff was largely bearable and let me see Tf's mashing it up in a city.

Bonecrushers death was the tits as well.

6/10 + 1 point for fandom.

although i am concerned i may gow to like it less as time goes on.

oh, and Shia Lebeuf was ace, as was Megan's Fox's midrift.

Post by **Kaylee** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:34 am

Professor Smooth wrote:
Karl Lynch wrote:I'm in the process of... acquiring it. I'll let you know for sure, but the general vibe from those who've seen it would seem to imply its a big loud action movie with big robots, so if none of that would appeal it's probably worth giving a miss
You and I should talk more.

Next time I'm in Japan we can meet up in Akhibara for some rummaging and general electronic-gadget based geeking out

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:11 pm

Best First wrote:
Yaya wrote:

they appealed as much as they could have to the fanboys without alienating the non-TF fans, which though much less vocal, are far greater in number.
i don't agree with that for a second, its not to say i didn't enjoy the film, beause by and large i did, but lets not leap (along with sound effect) into arse licking mode.

I would agree that the bots could have looked more like the original, and that's Bay's argument that they would not look good on screen in such form is crap.

All I can say though is that I did not leave the theatre feeling my childhood was raped by this movie. Some fanboys refuse to even see this movie because of this fear, which is ridiculous.

I would take it for what it is, a movie intended to appeal to a wider audience than us.

I loved it, what can I say. It wasn't Marvel or IDW comic given CGI form, but then I didn't expect it to be.

Post by **Computron** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:26 pm

I loved it to itty bitty pieces. Sure Jazz's death was meh, and overall TF characterization was low, BUT hopefully any sequel will allow time to fully develop storyline.

Watching Optimus transform for the first time was epic.

Also, there were giant robots fighting in a large city. That makes up for a lot.

4/5 stars in my book.

rusty_herring · Post by **rusty_herring** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:59 am

had a thought on the everything-the-allspark-touches-is-evil thing;

The Sector Seven dork said that microchips, cars, etc. were all reverse engineered from Megatron. As such, in essence, all of the things that could become sentient robots [heh] are descendants of Megatron, and are evil by nature.

Yeah I buy that. Good idea.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:23 pm

Yaya wrote:
Best First wrote:
Yaya wrote:

they appealed as much as they could have to the fanboys without alienating the non-TF fans, which though much less vocal, are far greater in number.
i don't agree with that for a second, its not to say i didn't enjoy the film, beause by and large i did, but lets not leap (along with sound effect) into arse licking mode.
I would agree that the bots could have looked more like the original, and that's Bay's argument that they would not look good on screen in such form is crap.

All I can say though is that I did not leave the theatre feeling my childhood was raped by this movie. Some fanboys refuse to even see this movie because of this fear, which is ridiculous.

I would take it for what it is, a movie intended to appeal to a wider audience than us.

I loved it, what can I say. It wasn't Marvel or IDW comic given CGI form, but then I didn't expect it to be.

I have to agree with BF. Yes, there were nods to old continuity, LIKE some of Optimus's lines, or the old VW bug next to Bumblebee in the used car lot.

But those nods aren't for the "We post on Transformers Internet message boards and review IDW comics for fun" fans, those are for the "Hey, I remember that Optimus Prime used to say that! I had that Bumblebee as a kid, but I think I sold him once I outgrew toys! WOW, I really AM reliving my childhood fun!" fans.

You know, the nostalgia fans, upon whose wallets the Transformers Movie Franchise will be built.

As far as my opinion of the movie.....

I want to thank each and every pessimist naysayer on this board. Without ALL of our collective efforts to smash any possibility of this movie being anything but crap, I would have been crestfallen at the finished product. But as it stood, I expected crap, and I got a decent movie, so the movie "exceeded all my expectations."

I thought the first half of the movie was ace. Sam and Bumblebee were like watching Buster and Bumblebee from Marvel come to life. Shia LaBeauf pwnned in this movie.

It was like the movie was going along fine, slowly revealing its secrets, foreshadowing, building, and then it thought, "Holy crap, we're already a hour into this thing! Hurry, throw in some other Transformers and get them to fight!"

Pros:
Clumsy Autobots playing hide and go seek around the house (apparently the Witwickys' home is surrounded by blind neighbors)
Jazz and Ironhide characterization: Even though it was short, it was sweet.
Opening and closing monologues by Optimus Prime: kickass
A dirty, dirty Megan Fox

The only part of the movie that made me just break out in a grin was when Optimus Prime brought out the "Energy Sword." Now THAT'S a tip o' the hat to the fanboys!

Cons:
Frenzy, although plot wise, I suppose he was a necessary evil
STILL the CGI designs. When the fighting got going, it was hard to really discern the blow by blow
As saysadie said, the draaaawwwnnn ooouuutttt Optimus transformations
Megatron basically getting f***** up by the military. Yeah sure, Sam stuck the cube in him, but it doesn't make up for it, IMO. Although I read in a review that the US military LOVES Michael Bay because he makes them "look like porn", and I can totally see that.

Leatherneck · Post by **Leatherneck** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:32 pm

I was talking about the movie with PMOP at the gym today and a kid who saw it said something interesting that neither he nor I had noticed;

Did Starscream take a shot at Megatron? I hadn't seen it after watching it twice, nor had PMOP after 4x.

Yes/no?

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:20 pm

Shanti418 wrote:
Yaya wrote:
Best First wrote: i don't agree with that for a second, its not to say i didn't enjoy the film, beause by and large i did, but lets not leap (along with sound effect) into arse licking mode.
I would agree that the bots could have looked more like the original, and that's Bay's argument that they would not look good on screen in such form is crap.

All I can say though is that I did not leave the theatre feeling my childhood was raped by this movie. Some fanboys refuse to even see this movie because of this fear, which is ridiculous.

I would take it for what it is, a movie intended to appeal to a wider audience than us.

I loved it, what can I say. It wasn't Marvel or IDW comic given CGI form, but then I didn't expect it to be.
I have to agree with BF. Yes, there were nods to old continuity, LIKE some of Optimus's lines, or the old VW bug next to Bumblebee in the used car lot.

But those nods aren't for the "We post on Transformers Internet message boards and review IDW comics for fun" fans, those are for the "Hey, I remember that Optimus Prime used to say that! I had that Bumblebee as a kid, but I think I sold him once I outgrew toys! WOW, I really AM reliving my childhood fun!" fans.

Well, if you want to break down fanboys into subcategories now, yeah, I can see your point.

Which takes us back to an argument that has spanned the very fabric of space and time itself on TF message boards, "What is a fanboy?"

I doubt that the average joe that grew up with Transformers will remember "one shall stand, one shall fall". They just aren't up to par with the cartoon movie as regular TF message board fanboys.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:09 am

Yaya wrote:
Shanti418 wrote: But those nods aren't for the "We post on Transformers Internet message boards and review IDW comics for fun" fans, those are for the "Hey, I remember that Optimus Prime used to say that! I had that Bumblebee as a kid, but I think I sold him once I outgrew toys! WOW, I really AM reliving my childhood fun!" fans.
Well, if you want to break down fanboys into subcategories now, yeah, I can see your point.

Well, the point was that the former group are fanboys, whereas the latter group are just average people.

I doubt that the average joe that grew up with Transformers will remember "one shall stand, one shall fall". They just aren't up to par with the cartoon movie as regular TF message board fanboys.

Perhaps not, but they sure as hell will remember "Autobots, Transform and Roll Out," and "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings."

IronHide · Post by **IronHide** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:52 am

Best. Movie. Ever.

Yeah, anyone worth their TF salt can point out the plotholes. The big picture....THEY MADE A F**KING TF MOVIE!!! Not butchered to bits from unnecessary drama and continuity cross-over bs.

The only thing that would have made me happier was to see Jazz alive at the end (I mean f**k, he was ALWAYS the one left alive at the end of both the comics AND the cartoon, show some respect). Maybe a Soundwave appearance if you're gonna have "Frenzy" running around. Either way, I still have a half chub from watching something I loved as a kid and mildly obsess over as an adult, appear on the big screen in fantastic form.

Oh...and Ironhide....was kickass. But missed the southern accent

Optimus Prime · Post by **Optimus Prime** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:31 pm

I went in to the theater with a open mind and ready to see a fun movie, and came out loving the movie. All my doubts were gone, and it was a great TF movie that I loved. My beloved Prime and rest of the TF's were back (although looking different). I welcome this movie into my TF world! A world where I am mainly just a G1 fan. So I am ready to go see it again, how about you guys? Or have any of you already seen it more than once.

Post by **Best First** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 7:09 pm

i can't see it again until i go to the states in a weeks time.

However i do still cackle to myself that i saw it before pretty much everyone (bar some lucky Aussies).

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:08 pm

I've never really gone to a movie twice, but maaybe this time.

If somebody that hasn't seen the movie yet asks me if I want to tag along, I'll probably say yes.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:24 pm

Optimus Prime wrote: So I am ready to go see it again, how about you guys?

Already saw it twice, about to see it a third time today.

Basically, it's like I bump into someone who hasn't seen it who wants to see it, and we end the conversation with a "I'll see you there at 7:00".

I have to stop bumping into people who want to see it, cause I can't resist tagging along.

Post by **Best First** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 10:58 pm

Serioulsy, the number of people i know who think no one wants to see it except their goober TF mate (i.e me) is amazing. I have had about 7 people say, i want to see it, will you go with me.

At least one of whom is hubba hubba.

If, indeed, people say such things.

doesn't get much better than that does it?

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 2:33 am

Best First wrote:Serioulsy, the number of people i know who think no one wants to see it except their goober TF mate (i.e me) is amazing. I have had about 7 people say, i want to see it, will you go with me.

Little do they know their goober mate has a tribe of goobervites more goobery than the goob himself.

I almost feel guilty for not having gone to see the movie again.

doesn't get much better than that does it?

I failed to see the words "beer" or "alcohol" in your post, but otherwise yes.

Optimus Prime · Post by **Optimus Prime** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 3:34 am

Shanti418 wrote:
Best First wrote:Serioulsy, the number of people i know who think no one wants to see it except their goober TF mate (i.e me) is amazing. I have had about 7 people say, i want to see it, will you go with me.
Little do they know their goober mate has a tribe of goobervites more goobery than the goob himself.

I almost feel guilty for not having gone to see the movie again.

doesn't get much better than that does it?
I failed to see the words "beer" or "alcohol" in your post, but otherwise yes.

Case of beer in the movie theater watching TF the movie w/ a hottie. Now that sounds perfect!