Transformers The Reviews Thread

[DorkyFresh]

my guess is that we won't be seeing anything serious from Transformers besides the comics in the near future.

hopefully Bay will step aside as a producer and let a more passionate director take the helm of the sequel.

 

[terry78]

^Possibly. But asking mainstream to accept a bunch of robots that can turn into vehicles as a dramatic epic is asking a bit much. Everyone is familiar with them as toys, and the first teaser trailer had people cracking up like, "wtf, they're making a movie out of these toys?!" So it's a difficult undertaking.

 

[nosebleed.]

If directors weren't so big headed they would see how much dual directing would benefit a franchise like this (or any other, honestly). Michael Bay's action directing skills and Spielberg's art of storytelling would be my dream come true. Offense and defense dammit!

 

[nosebleed.]

^Possibly. But asking mainstream to accept a bunch of robots that can turn into vehicles as a dramatic epic is asking a bit much. Everyone is familiar with them as toys, and the first teaser trailer had people cracking up like, "wtf, they're making a movie out of these toys?!" So it's a difficult undertaking.

This movie will be the proving ground. We'll see how audiences feel after this. The successes of SM2, Pirates 2 and Shrek 2 are indicative of the audiences want to see more of characters they didn't get enough of in the original movie...its just the 3rd act where the become fickle (something the Harry Potter movies have somehow found the cure for). But if the movie makers keep giving the audiences nothing but giant robots fighting each other and destroying things...I'm sure short attention spans will kick in.

 

[pergdaddy]

I have a question if anyone has seen any reviews or if anyone has any insight. I have a 5 year old son and a 3 year old son. Both have at least 4 Transformer toys each and will probably get more. They love it and want to see the movie as do I growing up watching the cartoon in the 80's. I will probably take them to a drive in to see it as they both talk too much during movies and theaters are extremely loud now. But my questions is that some people on the radio locally here in Wheeling, WV (I'm from Ohio, so no jokes) and others have said they don't think this movie is for kids. Which has in turn made my wife concerned they are not ready for it. But, and yes I let them watch stuff they probably shouldn't, they have watched all the Spiderman movies, FF, Ghost Rider, King Kong, Talladega Nights, etc. Does anybody have any insight that could alleviate my wifes hesitancy so I don't miss out on seeing this flick?

 

[blind_fury]

^Possibly. But asking mainstream to accept a bunch of robots that can turn into vehicles as a dramatic epic is asking a bit much. Everyone is familiar with them as toys, and the first teaser trailer had people cracking up like, "wtf, they're making a movie out of these toys?!" So it's a difficult undertaking.

Well Pirates of the Caribbean is based on a theme park ride so I don't see how the toy connection will scare talented directors away especially when it may become one of the biggest franchises in Hollywood. Directors will be lined up around the block to take over the franchise.

A dream scenario is if Steven Spielberg (producer of Transformers and confessed fan of the original show) himself directs. And if he can't I'm sure as the most powerful man in Hollywood he can convince Robert Zemeckis or some other legendary director to do it and possibly elevate the franchise to another level.

 

[Cth]

If I had to guess, the first 2/3rds of the film would probably be ok..

Megatron would probably cause some nightmares -- what with a giant robot chasing a boy and what not.

Do they have a Megatron figure? And if so, how do they react? You might suggest they bring it with them if you go to the drive-in.. so if they get scared they can see he's really just a small figure and not this giant robotic monster.

 

[Cth]

Another positive review:

Heavy Metal

"Transformers is so good, I’ll transform into a red truck and run you over if you don’t watch it."

After months of waiting with bated breath for Optimus Prime to descend into the cinemas, I can say this – Transformers the movie, will leave you breathless.

It was with much skepticism that I scoffed at the first announcement trailer (the one with the robot silhouette on Mars). Simply because I doubted Hollywood’s ability to actually manifest our beloved giant robots on a live action film. But Tinsel town, oh glorious bastion of over-the-top entertainment, has delivered like never before. The CGI in this movie is so detailed and lovingly rendered it’s hard to believe that the robots aren’t really alive.

Transformers is one of those movies that will be the talk of the town on its cinematic run and eventually, a DVD staple in every home. Not only that, it will also ceaselessly play at all electrical retail outlets simply because it pushes all known boundaries of visual and aural overload. If your friendly neighbourhood TV salesman wanted to show off his new super-expensive, state of the art home entertainment system, Transformers is the way to go. And unbelievably, it still won’t be enough to truly show off the magnitude of Transformers’ greatness. It’s THAT spectacular.

Imagine this. It’s an all-out robotic close quarter combat in a jam-packed city. Amid the laser cannon shots, multiple heat-seeker missiles and steel-on-steel melee are human soldiers gunning down the Decepticons and civilians running for their lives. There’s so much happening at one time, you forget to breathe and wince every time Megatron’s armoured fists slam into Optimus.

The climactic battle scene is so intense, any Transformers fanboy will think that they’ve died and gone to Cybertronic heaven.

It’s a bona fide cinema-must-watch. Only in the theatres can you fully appreciate the carnage that unfolds relentlessly in large robotic dollops.

And despite the formulaic silly humans that infest this mechanical fantasy, the hero, Shia LeBeouf is quite endearing. I don’t have to spoil the plot for you, because you already probably know that all the hoo-ha on Earth is all due to the All-spark; the life creating cube that the Decepticons crave and the Autobots have to destroy.

Miss this movie at your own pop-culture peril!

5 Stars and a !
Autobots, ROLL OUT!

- Imran Johri, Malaysian Today

 

[blind_fury]

I have a question if anyone has seen any reviews or if anyone has any insight. I have a 5 year old son and a 3 year old son. Both have at least 4 Transformer toys each and will probably get more. They love it and want to see the movie as do I growing up watching the cartoon in the 80's. I will probably take them to a drive in to see it as they both talk too much during movies and theaters are extremely loud now. But my questions is that some people on the radio locally here in Wheeling, WV (I'm from Ohio, so no jokes) and others have said they don't think this movie is for kids. Which has in turn made my wife concerned they are not ready for it. But, and yes I let them watch stuff they probably shouldn't, they have watched all the Spiderman movies, FF, Ghost Rider, King Kong, Talladega Nights, etc. Does anybody have any insight that could alleviate my wifes hesitancy so I don't miss out on seeing this flick?

I don't think anything in this movie will be as disturbing as the giant slug/insect scene from King Kong or as scary as Venom, just a bunch of robot on robot violence.

But then again I haven't seen it yet. Maybe you should wait till some of your friends have seen it before you take the kids.

 

[Cth]

I don't think anything in this movie will be as disturbing as the giant slug/insect scene from King Kong or as scary as Venom, just a bunch of robot on robot violence.

But then again I haven't seen it yet. Maybe you should wait till some of your friends have seen it before you take the kids.

I'd agree. If they handled those, it shouldn't be a problem.. then again, someone posted a story on the board where a kid saw the Megatron toy and ran screaming

 

[DorkyFresh]

Does anybody have any insight that could alleviate my wifes hesitancy so I don't miss out on seeing this flick?

it's pg-13 but there's most likely no blood, gore, hardcore cussing (f**k, sh**, etc.) and no nudity. the movie targets young men ages 8 to 30 but most everyone will probably walk out of the theater just fine.

 

[superherofan777]

Another positive review:

THATS A AWESOME REVIEW, GOT ME PUMPED!!!!!!

 

[CFlash]

I have a question if anyone has seen any reviews or if anyone has any insight. I have a 5 year old son and a 3 year old son. Both have at least 4 Transformer toys each and will probably get more. They love it and want to see the movie as do I growing up watching the cartoon in the 80's. I will probably take them to a drive in to see it as they both talk too much during movies and theaters are extremely loud now. But my questions is that some people on the radio locally here in Wheeling, WV (I'm from Ohio, so no jokes) and others have said they don't think this movie is for kids. Which has in turn made my wife concerned they are not ready for it. But, and yes I let them watch stuff they probably shouldn't, they have watched all the Spiderman movies, FF, Ghost Rider, King Kong, Talladega Nights, etc. Does anybody have any insight that could alleviate my wifes hesitancy so I don't miss out on seeing this flick?

it's pg-13 but there's most likely no blood, gore, hardcore cussing (f**k, sh**, etc.) and no nudity. the movie targets young men ages 8 to 30 but most everyone will probably walk out of the theater just fine.

As a parent of a young daughter (8yro): Unless the movie is out and out comedy or satire (like Men in Black for instance)- and done well- the problem with these types of movies (to me) is that they portray a lot of carnage with nary a hint of seriousness and gravity. I'd take my daughter to see War of the Worlds quicker than I would Independence Day because the latter is a confusing movie that suggests its OK to clap and cheer when buildings fall and people (presumably) die off camera... or if they die on-camera, it's still emotionless, or worse, even funnier. According to the reviews the rampage and destruction through the streets in this movie are in the same vein. No gravity.... Lots of jokes.... But, serious movie.

Some scary my daughter has watched with me: All King Kongs (1933, 1976, and the new one). Several Godzilla movies (mostly the more recent ones). Jurassic Park. The last one wasn't nearly as scary to her as I thought it would be (scared me *****tless when I was in High School). But for the most part she sticks to her kid movies (Night at the Museum type stuff).

 

[AyeCapn]

my daughter is 4 and loves G1. My wife has forbidden me from taking her to see it

 

[DorkyFresh]

As a parent of a young daughter (8yro): Unless the movie is out and out comedy or satire (like Men in Black for instance)- and done well- the problem with these types of movies (to me) is that they portray a lot of carnage with nary a hint of seriousness and gravity. I'd take my daughter to see War of the Worlds quicker than I would Independence Day because the latter is a confusing movie that suggests its OK to clap and cheer when buildings fall and people (presumably) die off camera... or if they die on-camera, it's still emotionless, or worse, even funnier.

i understand the need to protect our children from potentially harmful material but i can't help but think of the soccer mom's that keep saying that video games are the reason why young adults turn violent when i read that...

...no offense, it's just don't think that children seeing a 2 hour movie about robots beating the crap out of each other is going to make them shallow or materialistic all of the sudden.

 

[pergdaddy]

cth,
No, my 5 year old has Bonecrusher, Barricade, Brawl and Wreckage. My 3 year old has Barricade, Brawl, Bumblebee and Jazz.

Some things scare them, but movies don't seem to put a dent in them. King Kong made me squirm. All they had were questions. Except for the fact my 3 year old got up on my kitchen counter and started beating his chest like King Kong.

I usually try to talk to them as we are watching things, explaining how they use makeup and computers to do alot of the animation. Seems to work. What really helped was watching, I think USA does the behind the scenes stuff as they are showing a movie. Hellboy was on and they were showing the makeup artists putting the suit and makeup on Ron Perlman. Things like that help to explain that they are just telling a story and none of it is real.

 

[YÅ«gi's BM]

The reason why kids are killing each at school is because of bad parenting. I've got a bunch of peers I'd like to kill but you don't see me doing it. I'm too conservative. If I'm going to kill someone it'll be in self defense, or war.

Anyway, may I remind you all that this film contains about fifteen characters that need to be developed in two hours an twenty or so minutes. Of course someone'll get the shaft.


EDIT: Alright, that first paragraph sounds awfully morbid. What I'm trying to say is, parents need to pass o ntheir morales to kids.

 

[pergdaddy]

Dorkyfresh,
I completely agree. The only issue is the age of the children. Mine seem to be older than their age dictates so I let them watch a little more than normal. You can't blame video games and movies for the violence today. You have to shield them from some stuff. I certainly wouldn't let them watch Hostel or anything like that or Bad Santa. But I think what goes a long ways towards understanding is explaining what they are watching, how it's done, cgi, makeup, stuff like that.

 

[AyeCapn]

i understand the need to protect our children from potentially harmful material but i can't help but think of the soccer mom's that keep saying that video games are the reason why young adults turn violent when i read that...

...no offense, it's just don't think that children seeing a 2 hour movie about robots beating the crap out of each other is going to make them shallow or materialistic all of the sudden.

That's not the issue with really young kids. I know that it would give my daughter nightmares for months. She has a very highly developed imagination and is very artisitc. At 4 she has a very tough time distinguishing reality from fiction.

For example: when I ask her to pick up her dirty clothes she thinks it is fiction

also, one movie in isolation does not change someone into a maniac, but it does influnece our perception of the world. If that were not true, there wouldn't be so many of us for whom TF changed our lives. Inspiration from a piece of art is just as real as negative influnce from other media.

 

[blind_fury]

Honestly, if he doesn't take his kids they'll hate him for it later. t:

"I missed a chance to see Transformers on the big screen? Dad? What were you thinking????"

 

[AyeCapn]

Honestly, if he doesn't take his kids they'll hate him for it later. t:

"I missed a chance to see Transformers on the big screen? Dad? What were you thinking????"

I'm gonna tell my wife that LOL

 

[blind_fury]

That's not the issue with really young kids. I know that it would give my daughter nightmares for months. She has a very highly developed imagination and is very artisitc. At 4 she has a very tough time distinguishing reality from fiction.

For example: when I ask her to pick up her dirty clothes she thinks it is fiction

also, one movie in isolation does not change someone into a maniac, but it does influnece our perception of the world. If that were not true, there wouldn't be so many of us for whom TF changed our lives. Inspiration from a piece of art is just as real as negative influnce from other media.

Yes it's all about context.

Watching Bambi's mom get shot and Optimus get killed trying to stop Megatron probably helped me become a better person in certain ways. Yes I cried and felt terribly depressed but the lessons themselves were well worth the temporary tears and discomfort. Not all of life lessons are going to be gentle, it's what you take from the lessons that is of the greatest importance.

*steps off soap box*

Oh and the Large Marge scene in Pee Wee's Big Adventure gave me nightmares for a week but I'll always treasure the experience of watching that movie in the theater with my mom.

 

[CFlash]

For me, at this point it's no so much about explaining what's real or not (she knows it's all fake), it's in explaining to her what acceptable behavior is... and fostering a sense of empathy and caring rather than self-absorption.

 

[DorkyFresh]

Dorkyfresh,
I completely agree. The only issue is the age of the children. Mine seem to be older than their age dictates so I let them watch a little more than normal. You can't blame video games and movies for the violence today. You have to shield them from some stuff. I certainly wouldn't let them watch Hostel or anything like that or Bad Santa. But I think what goes a long ways towards understanding is explaining what they are watching, how it's done, cgi, makeup, stuff like that.

well, as long as your explaining everything to them and making sure they understand how to take certain things then you should be fine. the biggest thing hurting our youth is ignorance...so as long as you tell them that this movie isn't a lesson in morality and that it's just a fun-flick to watch every once in a while then they'll be just fine. t:

That's not the issue with really young kids. I know that it would give my daughter nightmares for months. She has a very highly developed imagination and is very artisitc. At 4 she has a very tough time distinguishing reality from fiction.

For example: when I ask her to pick up her dirty clothes she thinks it is fiction

also, one movie in isolation does not change someone into a maniac, but it does influnece our perception of the world. If that were not true, there wouldn't be so many of us for whom TF changed our lives. Inspiration from a piece of art is just as real as negative influnce from other media.

i totally understand your points...my post was aimed specifically towards this movie alone. i just don't think anyone will come out of this movie thinking that it's okay to blow stuff up and get people killed if they weren't thinking that way going into it.

 

[CFlash]

well, as long as your explaining everything to them and making sure they understand how to take certain things then you should be fine. the biggest thing hurting our youth is ignorance...so as long as you tell them that this movie isn't a lesson in morality and that it's just a fun-flick to watch every once in a while then they'll be just fine. t:



i totally understand your points...my post was aimed specifically towards this movie alone. i just don't think anyone will come out of this movie thinking that it's okay to blow stuff up and get people killed if they weren't thinking that way going into it.

I think you're correct in your last paragraph. But why should I take her to see a movie that she will think is "stupid." Isn't that a waste? And if I do, what does that say to her about ME and the lessons I'm trying to teach her?

I remember how a gave an academy award winning performance in hyping Godzilla 98 on DVD. I did the whole "let's watch it... it'll be FUN." I really wanted her to like it and explain to ME what I missed. I think she was displeased with me for even making her watch it. Time would have been much better served watching Neverending Story or something.