Transformers BUMBLEBEE-The E! True Hollywood Story

[CFlash]

They also see them as brand images too, so they don't want themselves connected to the Transformers.

But if Hollywood wanted to be a ass about it... they could have used the old VW Beetle without getting permission, because the design is actually in the public domain since it has been around for so long.

What's more is that Michael Bay also could have used a new Beetle ALSO. There's a little thing called freedom of speech in works of art (which movies are considered to be.... even Michael Bays- tho I shudder at the thought). In fact, he pretty much admitted on his site that it was because VW refused a MARKETING tie-in or give him FREE vehicles to use. It was about $$$$$.... NOT VW's refusal to "let him" use the Beetle.

The problem is that the freedom doesn't extend to "toys" (Supreme Court court cases have decided this already). So Hasbro could not have made a VW-looking toy for the movie. But still it's not like the Bumblebee toy we've seen looks anything like a Camaro anyway.

 

[Anti-Moderator]

In fact, he pretty much admitted on his site that it was because VW refused a MARKETING tie-in or give him FREE vehicles to use. It was about $$$$$.... NOT VW's refusal to "let him" use the Beetle.

I'm no fan of Bay or 96% of what I've seen of this movie so far, but that is just good business IMO. I would much rather Bumblebee be a VW (or ANY small car to be honest) than a camero, but if Chevy is willing give you tie-ins, free cars, and other things and you got VW not giving you anything....you go with Chevy.

 

[CFlash]

I'm no fan of Bay or 96% of what I've seen of this movie so far, but that is just good business IMO. I would much rather Bumblebee be a VW (or ANY small car to be honest) than a camero, but if Chevy is willing give you tie-ins, free cars, and other things and you got VW not giving you anything....you go with Chevy.

I don't disagree. I was just calling B/S on the untrue story about VW not "allowing" their car to be in a movie.

 

[Creature SH]

Of course none of this explains why Bumblebee couldn't be another small car.

 

[deathshead2]

Of course none of this explains why Bumblebee couldn't be another small car.

I think Bay said something about kids wouldn't want a small car as there first and want something cool. So we get what got now.

 

[CFlash]

I think Bay said something about kids wouldn't want a small car as there first and want something cool. So we get what got now.

A kid didnt want an old 70's Beetle back in 1985 either. THAT's THE POINT!!! Michael Bay is the worst kind of person. I mean, didn't that guy watch Spider-man and understood the lesson Peter learned?

I'm not knocking auto-enthusiasts out there, but, when I was a kid it was the obnoxious jocks that rode around in muscle cars. I was quite happy with my 6-yr-old Nissan Sentra. It was ghetto complete with tinted windows and the sound system I put in it cost more than the car itself.

In any case, Bumblebee should have been the Solstice that Jazz is and Jazz should have been the souped-up overpowered Mustang. As it stands BOTH those characters are being insulted with Bay's choices.

 

[AyeCapn]

Bumblebee should have been a Chevy Cobalt/Pontiac Pursuit

 

[Avangarde]

Not pimped enough for a Bay movie I'm afraid.

 

[CFlash]

Bumblebee as a Solstice (what Jazz is in the movie).

(sorry for the bad quality... it was taken from a moving cab)

My opinion:
1) Energy-efficient small car- great!
2) Electric car- even better!
3) Small 4-cylinder roadster (Solstice above) - OK. Not bad.
4) Muscle car, hot rod - NO WAY.

 

[Tad Fatherton]

camaros are cool, bumblebee is a cool character.

anyways, who wants to see a high speed chase with a chevy cobalt? no one, they want to see a high speed chase with a camaro.

 

[AyeCapn]

camaros are cool, bumblebee is a cool character.

anyways, who wants to see a high speed chase with a chevy cobalt? no one, they want to see a high speed chase with a camaro.

agreed!

That means that scene would be a chase with Jazz instead of Bumblebee

 

[AyeCapn]

Not pimped enough for a Bay movie I'm afraid.

 

[1987olds442]

anyways, who wants to see a high speed chase with a chevy cobalt? no one, they want to see a high speed chase with a camaro.

Seeing how the Cobalt is GM's take on Import tunner car... I actually think there would be a lot of younger people that would have liked that kind of car chases. You know the people that liked the Fast and Furious movies.

 

[CFlash]

Seeing how the Cobalt is GM's take on Import tunner car... I actually think there would be a lot of younger people that would have liked that kind of car chases. You know the people that liked the Fast and Furious movies.

But they worked backwards. Rather than thinking about what Bumblebee REPRESENTED and finding a suitable vehicle to replace him with (there's like a gajillion) they said "oh, man, we need a Mustang or some overpowered hot-rod to be the star of the movie... because- you know... we need the cliche!!!"

It's 2007! Not 1983. We don't have an energy crisis, pollution problem, or impending natural disasters to deal with. Oh wait...

Whatever... screw what Bumblebee represented!

 

[Avangarde]

I was refering to the picture at hand, while I agree a smaller car would be better then something that is not Bumblebee-ish, but we all know what Bay is like, thats why we have a Prime with flames.

 

[Anti-Moderator]

I could be VERY happy with BB being a Cobalt. Bay could even trick him out if he wanted to.



The Camaro is badass....but it's not Bumblebee.

 

[AyeCapn]

I was refering to the picture at hand, while I agree a smaller car would be better then something that is not Bumblebee-ish, but we all know what Bay is like, thats why we have a Prime with flames.

I still have hope

 

[Spark]

Now that you mention it I think I remember hearing about that lawsuit during that time as well.

This is all really just a moot topic too. It's just VW's policy so no matter how much everyone one "myself included" would have loved Bumblebee to have been a Beetle. It's just isn't going to happen

VW are a business and $$$ is the bottom line. I don't know anything about that moronic lawsuit but it was known AAAAAAAAAAGES ago that VW were interested.

Plus there's no way the production peeps would take flack for this if they could simply blame it on someone else.

Then there's GM. They wanted an exclusive deal (see Transformerscon vids).

Then There's Michael bay...

"There have been some rumors going around for the longest time that VW didn't want to be associated with the Tf movie because of ___ reason or that they didn't want to be associated with Bay for ___ reason, etc.

So I asked Michael today to clear it up and he simply indicated that he didn't want want BB to be associated with....

Herby the Love Bug."

http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1430

Point being, everything puts to the decsion resting in the production's hands, and nowhere is VW ever mentioned (except to say they were interested).

 

[1987olds442]

Spark VW wasn't going to change their policy for this movie now that is the real Bottom Line....Cause Stone Cold says SO!

And VW wasn't interested in having their vehicles in this movie.

 

[CFlash]

I couldnt care less if BB was a Beetle. In fact, I'm glad he's not.
But, I just dont think him being a souped up hot-rod muscle car is right.