Tranformers Movie Style over Substance

[iAMelimeliah]

because this movie is all our childhood dream...will it just look good or will it be good? and what do you guys think has both style and substance in the new age of visual effects movies, or tv shows like the matrix or firefly...i feel just too many movies are eye candy like matrix 2 and 3 and firefly the movie! what do you all think?

[Yossarian!]

Well.... Michael Bay is directing it, so I guess that all depends on your definition of good. And whether you're out of early childhood..

[VFXTalkDotCom]

i gotta say that i loved firefly the movie (watched it at least 7 times) - loved the series as well :) why did everyone knock it?

[Cogliostros]

I wish Bay had set it back in the 80's, all original transformers, themes, and vehicle/jet styles, but with an updated storyline... but it's still going to be some kick'a$$'shyt seeing these machines larger than life animated, transforming and reeking havok. But I don't care for the character designs at all... I'm sure the kids will love'em though...

As far as eye candy goes, it's going to be typical Michael Bay, lots of action, chases, and explosions. But I don't think it will fall into the overdone eye candy category, but who knows... Aruna?!? ;)

[Aruna]

Have you been reading DG? ;) We saw an extended (30min) ShoWest reel of some sweet robotic action.. Very cool. From what I've seen, all the sequences are typical Bay (and so is some of the dialog), but it's giant farking robots. I won't care if the story sucks, since it's giant farking robots. And Optimus Prime is great, with Peter Cullen's voice.. And there's some extra eye candy in addition to the giant farking robots too.

While the cars will disappoint the fans of the old 80s series (no VW, Porsche, etc), the new transformations of the vehicles are pretty badass. We didn't get to see any Decepticons except Blackout and Scorponok, and they kicked ass. Megatron and Starscream are so going to rule..

It's going to be a summer popcorn movie, and it's going to be awesome.

[CGnews]

i agree, from what i have seen in the trailers so far the robots look fricking awesome - probably the best robots ina feature film to date. i just hope the rest of the story line keeps up with the movie as it pans out

i remember watching the original tansformers as a kid back in the day on the saturday morning cartoons :) if Michael Bay can put that awesome feeling back in my head now that i am grown up it would be great :)

[alive]

I agree with Aruna that Transformers would be treated with the typical Michael Bay style action. IMO, the story demands the VFX to be flamboyant, and from the trailers it is totally that way!

Couldn't care less about the story. When most of us could watch a boring Harry Potter just for its VFX, no question transformers would be totally entertaining.

[stevenbray1]

No-one was going to make an 80's period piece. That was 20 years ago!

As other old geezers have been known to say, "I've got socks older than that!"

(That's not something I'm proud of though)

Most of the audience who'll go see the film weren't born then! Why would the filmakers restrict the designs to what could be made as a plastic toy two decades ago?

Bay may not have much story sense (based on previous evidence) but he knows his visuals pretty well and I completely agree with the choice to create the best version of the robots can be done today.

[iAMelimeliah]

stevenbray1 almost has me on his side, BUT i am a writer b4 anything else and if bay wants to make eye candy films dont make it transformers...bay should make it robots from space movie...transformers have a great story and dont need it tanted! i dont want to see this kid and his girl w/ robots running around...it seems too kidish...but i know ill go see it because the vfx will be legendary...i saw the trailer and i was in shock of how great it looks.

[Cogliostros]

stevenbray1 - in terms of merchandise, toys, etc, yeah It would be a bit silly to come out with the same transformers again... but, BUT hell yeah do an 80's period piece! 23 years is enough time to showcase a distinct time and place, styles, fashions, and the times, the music, the vehicles, those G1 transformers still hold up in form and design, they are still awesome, all though I don't think megatron as a gun would fly these days... G1 is classic.

Well after this beautiful beater of a show comes out, and we see that all the technology is ironed out, hopefully someone will do the 80's G1 Transformers period piece!!! Aruna, lets do it fine sir. ;)

I agree with you on the target audience and why, but no way do I agree with the updated designs, they could have gone more retro 80's yet still updated it for the kids... possibly mixed it up where some selected the classics, and some selected some fancy new shizzle.

anyhow, I'm still going to love seeing as Aruna said "giant farking robots" on the big screen!

[aidenfx]

In order to bring the 80's back it would have cost more money, need to do a ton of more props for clothing, cars on the street, music ect. I think it would be a waste of money to time warp the movie back there is no good reason to put the movie back in the 80's. All of us 80's children are going to see this movie regardless of time frame. I would much rather see them spend the monie on other aspects of the film then watching people dress in pink neon jackets. Also I wonder how well neon works on green screen

[stevenbray1]

In order to bring the 80's back it would have cost more money, need to do a ton of more props for clothing, cars on the street, music ect. I think it would be a waste of money to time warp the movie back there is no good reason to put the movie back in the 80's. All of us 80's children are going to see this movie regardless of time frame. I would much rather see them spend the monie on other aspects of the film then watching people dress in pink neon jackets. Also I wonder how well neon works on green screen

Roto baby. Roto. ;)

[anthonymcgrath]

I really dont care if the storyline aint that good - I'm going to watch the culmination of a shedload of planet-sized-vfxbrains just destroy the screen with enormous robots. Its gonna be an awesome summer flick :D
this shot on youtube showing the transformation of bonecrusher (I think thats its name) transforming on the motorway is mindblowing!!
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=21067

[sgr]

To be honest effects are merely a great tool for enhancing the story in a film - to do a film that is all based on effects will never move up in my book - it should complement the story line in new and innovative ways... but I will for sure enjoy the movie for the effects never the less..

[anthonymcgrath]

hehehhehe love that last sentence sgr ...sums us all up lol! :p Definitely agree tho - vfx dont a good film make... but certainly one where you can sit there and think 'bloody hell thats clever' helps :D

[Tyhr]

I predict the VFX will be very, very impressive.
I also predict the story will be good COMPARED to the cartoon, lol.

Remember, watching the original Transformer cartoon as a kid is entirely different that watching now as an adult. The story is so much more weaker than I seemed to remember it was. I think my creative kid brain just filled in the blanks it wanted, lol.

I never said that story is going to be great and on par with the vfx - but I bet it will be better than the cartoon, if we were to watch it now.

I also don't watch an Arnold or Jessica Simpson movie for the stories - but I will still watch them. ;)

[Carlos84]

Transformers is the best movie made to date, what more do you want? action packed all the way through, the robots transforming was unreal, strong story, and a good balance of Visual Effects. Well done guys, I think they should consider doing a mech warrior movie, now that would be awesome.

[Motski]

I went to a sneek peak premiere 2night! and ive got to say that it aint something special! I thought it would be better actually! Ofc. the effects is top notch, but after seeing the trailer a million times, i were a bit disapointed about it! There's to much humor in it, and thats the total oppisit of the trailer imo!

and since it was a sneak peak premiere, there were so many "Transformers" geek fans in there clapping in their small fat hands, and yelling like a 8 year old kid, and that didnt make it better!

well effects was top notch, no doubt! and that was also the only thing that made me go see it! Really enjoyed the robots transforming! But still, story laaacks way to much imo!

[alibaba22]

Hi all,

Did you guys see this?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMVTgnW1_Pw

It totally blew me away!


N-joy

[mboden]

GO watch this movie. I can die happy.