Transformers The Reviews Thread

[The Kid]

What beans jack?

The beans the beans, they're good for your heart! the more you eat, the more you expel gas.

What I like about starscream in this movie is that he's the leader from frame 1. Then when megs returns he feels knocked down back to number 2 again. I wonder how this plays out in teh movie. That dynamic if I recall is straight out of the show. star scream tastes leader-ship and then can't get over it when he's later back under meg's command.

 

[Kap]

The beans the beans, they're good for your heart! the more you eat, the more you expel gas.

What I like about starscream in this movie is that he's the leader from frame 1. Then when megs returns he feels knocked down back to number 2 again. I wonder how this plays out in teh movie. That dynamic if I recall is straight out of the show. star scream tastes leader-ship and then can't get over it when he's later back under meg's command.

I doubt there will be much room for a Megs-Starscream dynamic in this first movie, hopefully we'll get more of that in the sequel. What would be even cooler is if they decide to throw in Shockwave and introduce a rivalty between him and Megs. Having Starscream sceeming in the background.

 

[Avangarde]

The Megatron-Shockwave-Starscream rivalry triangle might come off as being complex, as much as I would love to see it in the sequel I doubt it will happen.

 

[arty2]

Just seen it, I went to the LA FILM Festival premiere, most definitely will see it again.

There was a whole lot of people there. The movie was spread out among like 4 or five theaters, like around 3,000 seats sold out. All the stars were there, Cullen (hell yeah), Shea, Megan, Tyrese, Josh, Voight (picked a kid up from the crowd and posed with her for some pictures-cute), and Bumblebee (though seems a little stiff), even the Burger King King. I got a free t-shirt, and a whole lot of free food afterwards (yes, burgers from Burger King).

Now on to the movie. This is most definitely G1, Prime is prime and kicks a wholatta ass, you'll adore Bumblebee, Ironhide is a badass. When they get introduced, you'll scream with glee, the score makes it even more fantastic. The action is plentiful, though I wish I could see what's going on for some scenes, if the camera kept a little still. I also wish we could get to know the Decepticons, they feel nothing more than just monsters. The transformation sound is inconsistent among the bots, some you hear before they transform, some during, some you don't hear it at all. The movie was 2 1/2 hrs long, but it didn't feel like that, in fact it felt like it needed to flow a little bit longer. The ending sorta left a few things hanging, like what happen to certain characters, but it does set it up for a sequel. It was still a lot of fun, the positives outweigh the negatives.

add: I'd also add that there's no dynamic between Starscream and Megatron other than that one line where Megatron says "You fail me again, Starscream!" then that was it. There no hint of hatred or wanting to overthrow him. They also show part of Starscream's cowardice, but you'll probably wouldn't know what he was doing if you didn't know his character from G1. The human focus didn't really bother me that much, it was pretty well balance for me. I'd give it a B+, cause it was really fun for me.

 

[nosebleed.]

The Megatron-Shockwave-Starscream rivalry triangle might come off as being complex, as much as I would love to see it in the sequel I doubt it will happen.

I don't know if people are ready for a robot triangle yet.

 

[CFlash]

Abyss is generally regarded as his worst film though I've nevah seen it.

You really should. It's great sci-fi. Great human interaction drama. Great movie all-around. It's not an "action" movie.

 

[Kap]

Just seen it, I went to the LA FILM Festival premiere, most definitely will see it again.

There was a whole lot of people there. The movie was spread out among like 4 or five theaters, like around 3,000 seats sold out. All the stars were there, Cullen (hell yeah), Shea, Megan, Tyrese, Josh, Voight (picked a kid up from the crowd and posed with her for some pictures-cute), and Bumblebee (though seems a little stiff), even the Burger King King. I got a free t-shirt, and a whole lot of free food afterwards (yes, burgers from Burger King).

Now on to the movie. This is most definitely G1, Prime is prime and kicks a wholatta ass, you'll adore Bumblebee, Ironhide is a badass. When they get introduced, you'll scream with glee, the score makes it even more fantastic. The action is plentiful, though I wish I could see what's going on for some scenes, if the camera kept a little still. I also wish we could get to know the Decepticons, they feel nothing more than just monsters. The transformation sound is inconsistent among the bots, some you hear before they transform, some during, some you don't hear it at all. The movie was 2 1/2 hrs long, but it didn't feel like that, in fact it felt like it needed to flow a little bit longer. The ending sorta left a few things hanging, like what happen to certain characters, but it does set it up for a sequel. It was still a lot of fun, the positives outweigh the negatives.

Thank you for that well balanced review arty2. I think you've cleared up some question marks on the positives of TF personalities while confirming the negatives.

It's sad to hear that the decepticons lack the depth from G1, I guess we'll have to hope that upcomming sequels will focus more on that part. Maybe even with a different writer/director in charge. I still belive Bay was the perfect choice for starting this franchise of in movieform though. I recon it will be one hell of a ride in theatres and a given DVD purchase for many.

Edit: I'll still stick my fingers in my ears and go "LALALALALA!" when Prime says "My Bad"

 

[Red Mask]

I watched this film today. I give it a 3/5 stars. There is no reason to rate it out of ten. It doesn't have enough depth.

Contrary to what some have said it's the human characters who hog up most of the screen. If there is one more joke about sex it would be too soon. Sex joke here. Sex joke there. In the end we know who gets to score. There are lots of male grunting, jabs at current politics, and jokes at the old Transformers quotes. The writers do give tributes to the animated movie. Director Bay also slipped in some nods to his "Armageddon" film of 1998.

You'll all notice how quickly sunset comes in many scenes. It's a wonder how they manage to juggle the different characters. I thought X-Men 3 was difficult, but I can't even remember the names of this movie's characters.

The Transformers. Their fights are fast explosive. It's so good to see them rip through the cities. But I'm looking at giant relatives of Short Circuit's Johnny 5. Give me more humanoid faces, man! Megatron looks like a metallic thorn bush. If LotR's Ents were metallic they'd look like Megatron!

Oh yeah. There's a scene with Shia LeBeouf and a Decepticon. It reminded me of the sci-fi horror "Rottweiler". Wasn't that good then either.

If there is a sequel I hope they concentrate more on the Transformers this time. But the battle for Cybertron is obviously not an issue.

 

[blind_fury]

Maybe they can get humanoid faces with a Teletran-1 scan makeover in the sequel.

The Johnny 5 look doesn't add anything to the characters really.

 

[arty2]

Chud's 1st review by Jeremy Smith (positive)

REVIEW: TRANSFORMERS (JEREMY'S TAKE)
06.27.07
By Jeremy Smith

***SPOILERS TO FOLLOW!!! TRANS-VIRGINS SHALL NOT PASS!!!***

Michael Bay's giant ****ing robots are here, and they are dead-set on destroying lots of property, so it's fortunate that, in anticipation of the edifice-toppling third-act tilt, they've landed in Los Angeles, where great architecture is as disposable as a socialite's virginity. The only drawback to Bay's final fit of mechanical mayhem - and he is currently without peer when it comes to the staging of this stuff - is that one must endure a distended middle section bafflingly dedicated to a hunt for an antique pair of eyeglasses, which would be kind of like Spielberg pausing the ruthless forward-momentum of Jaws to have Chief Brody and Hooper chase Quint all over Amity for forty minutes just to charter the Orca.

To be fair to Transformers, it wouldn't be a patch on Jaws even if it did have a lean second act, but that can be said of every adventure/action film made since Spielberg's shark hunting classic. And why the hell drag Jaws into this review? Transformers aspires to profitability, not perfection; it's a film based on a popular toyline, which places it somewhere on the dubious source material continuum between The Jerky Boys and The Garbage Pail Kids Movie. Though devotees of 1986's The Transformers: The Ninety-Minute Animated Commercial will maintain otherwise, why take seriously the opinion of someone who misted up in response to the death of an upright talking truck?

Interestingly, Bay, and writers Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci (working from a story by John Rogers), do spend a good deal of screen time trying to establish Bumblebee as E.T. with a V8; that the inevitable, heart-tugging Passion of the Chevy Camaro - and all fourteen stages of the assembly line are depicted - isn't as embarrassing as, say, a thirty-year-old who sacrificed his sexual prime to collect toys should earn this creative team some kind of special commendation (****, if Superman Returns can win a Saturn, give 'em one of those). Notwithstanding its visual f/x trickery, that's easily the greatest miracle worked by Bam Bam Bay: kids are going to fall in love with Bumblebee and wail every time he's endangered (which is often).

There's something deeply discomfiting about this, but it wouldn't be a Michael Bay movie if there weren't lingering regrets about one's enjoyment. The inconvenient truth of Transformers is this: the earth's savior runs on diesel fuel. And one hasn't been paying attention to Bay's libertine cinema if they expect that the unapologetically excessive filmmaker will explicitly address global warming or, Gore forbid, the environmental benefits of driving hybrids (that said, one could argue that Bay is being unusually restrained by not having Megatron shot put a Prius). For parents struggling to raise their kids green despite the juvenile lure of sports cars and trucks and all manner of heavy machinery, Transformers is going to spin donuts on their good intentions. The machines are the show: Optimus Prime is a brawny badass, Megatron is a Mach 3 shattering spacecraft and the aforementioned Bumblebee is the little Camaro that could.

It takes a fairly brave young actor to topline a movie like this, but Shia LaBeouf wasn't quite the Next Big Thing when he took the role. Post-Disturbia, however, the kid seems set for big-time stardom; he's a nerd with sex appeal. And, unlike Matthew Broderick's David Lightman, his eventual copulation with a fetching member of the opposite sex isn't at all implausible (in that it's at all plausible that anyone on this planet could potentially get with the factory-built Megan Fox). Projects like Transformers, which call for performers to react to nothing for a good chunk of the shoot, are frequently dismissed as cash-ins (and they are for all involved), but when audiences exit the theater without a word of criticism for the visual effects team, that usually means the actor has done his/her job sensationally well. And that's the key to Transformers' effectiveness: there's a human heart beating in and around those 1s and 0s. And Shia never once looks ashamed or bored or oblivious during his myriad interactions with his autobot pals; he sells the film simply by being engaged. The only reason the movie doesn't grind to a complete halt during the Quest for Corrective Lenses of Enlightenment is due to Shia's boundless sense of play. The sequence in which his character contends with a clutch of curious autobots as he simultaneously tries to allay the concerns of his slightly tipsy parents - this will be a scene that pisses off many, but it's impressively managed by Bay, who, it must be said, allows for more improvisation than any major action filmmaker working today - is a triumph of sorts for Shia; the audience never once doubts that there are five thirty-foot-tall robots clambering about outside his bedroom window (never mind that his parents need to be far past tipsy to not see what's transpiring in their immaculately-kept backyard).

Transformers won't make Shia a star nor will it change the minds of Bay's many detractors, but there's no denying that both have delivered something of value here. Granted, "value" is a debased term in the middle of the summer movie season - especially this summer, which has thus far been a steady succession of high-profile disappointments. But Transformers is the event moviegoers have been waiting for. It's got giant ****ing robots doing huge ****ing damage to a lot of ****ing expensive hardware and property. Expecting much more than that out of a picture like this is to be an idiot.

7.1 out of 10

 

[arty2]

Dark Horizon's Review (positive)

Review: "Transformers" By Garth Franklin
July 2nd 2007, PG-13, 140mins, Paramount Pictures

No greater example of a text book Summer movie will be found this season than Michael Bay's live-action take on the near three decades old "Transformers" cartoon and toy line. Awe-inspiring spectacle and practically flawless visual effects throughout much of the runtime make this a thrill ride for all ages, but the sheer lack of a script - let alone anything approximating character or storyline - will result in an increasingly corrosive distaste on repeat viewings.

It's funny that in a Summer filled with overstuffed sequels containing unnecessarily convoluted plots and an increasingly dark tone, the one truly original big action movie staunchly goes the other way - keeping the story as simple as a nursery rhyme and light as a feather. Two groups of warring aliens from a robotic planet come to Earth seeking a power source in the form of a cube. Along the way they encounter allies in the form of a likeable young teenager, a hot girl he's after, a group of US soldiers in the Middle East, and a sexy female Australian computer hacker.

That's truly about it. Bay and scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci understand that people are simply here to see giant robots thrash the hell out of both each other and metropolitan surroundings - thus don't bother spending time with much preamble. The result is a 140 minute movie with over an hour of it devoted to truly hardcore action - and on that front Bay shines as always.

Despite a camera that shakes so much it often makes the frentic visuals of "The Bourne Supremacy" look like still life in comparison, the action is superb. Kicking off with a truly bone-shattering attack on a US military base in Qatar, sequences spice the film throughout which means the pace rarely falters, whilst much of the last hour is one giant series of sequences which sees downtown Los Angeles ripped apart by feuding robots.

It does all go on too long at times, most notably that last act, yet the scenes that need to be exciting are. ILM's truly jaw-dropping effects not only look practically photo real throughout, but also take into consideration the one thing that far too many films of this type ignore - the laws of physics. Giant robots have mass, intertia, and thousands of complex working parts - something the FX house not only understands but gets right. Shots like two robots falling off a raised highway or Optimus and Megatron in a death grip as they go flying through a building (the film's single most epic shot) feel very real which makes the action that much more intense.

As the series was several years before my time I had no knowledge or favoritism toward it going in, yet was able to follow things very easily and without issue. In terms of sheer spectacle, "Transformers" is a hard film to beat and certainly it looks like every single dollar of its $200 million budget is up there on screen and spent well. Combined with so many cars in display it'll satiate any auto-fetishist or toy-collecting child, a blaring soundtrack and some silly but at times effective light humor - it certainly feels as if it's one of the few movies this Summer that is actually worth the ticket price.

Yet don't look too closely under the hood as what's here is a true sports car - sleek, sexy and powerful yet lacking both fuel economy and stamina. Scribes Orci & Kurtzman continue their so far unblemished streak of mediocre action vehicle scripts which, much like their work on "M:I-3," "The Island" and "The Legend of Zorro," delivers forgettable nonsense for a storyline and stock TV characterisations to fill out the empty gaps between action scenes.

When focused on character, or more specifically Shia LaBeouf's enjoyably sympathetic awkward teen Sam, the pair do well. Rather than striving for realism or backstory, the tone is kept light with some tired but audience-pleasing sitcom laughs including parents that look like they walked right out of ABC's Family Hour line-up. John Turturro as a shadowy Government agent seems to be the only one acknowledging the ridiculousness of the whole scenario and so hams it up with glee in a fun supporting performance.

Hugo Weaving was paid handsomely to voice the villain Megatron, but he's so barely in it (not to mention sounds completely unlike Weaving) that it seems an utter waste. Peter Cullen on the other hand relishes his time behind the mike as Optimus Prime again. That instantly recognisable voice is a little distracting at first, but gives Prime necessary nobility and gravitas. Even Bernie Mac, reduced to a few line cameo as a car salesman, FINALLY delivers work that can actually be termed funny.

These make the wooden turns by much of the rest of the cast stand out even more. Jon Voight as a Donald Rumsfeld knock-off continues to cash in pay cheques, Josh Duhamel shows up at points but keeps his shirt on throughout (kind of defeats the point) and Anthony Anderson as a whinging computer geek simply annoys. The women especially are mere handbags - Rachael Taylor as a hot Australian computer geek does well but struggles with such little material, whilst Megan Fox shows off little more than her torso and pouty mouth. She's the female lead, yet all she gets in the way of character development is that she's a gearhead with a laughable 'past'.

Moments like that, when the action and comedy have to be put aside to try and develop serious dramatic conflict and tailor the story into a cohesive plot, crash land with a thud. The plot holes are gaping, but more notably what plot is on display is silly - even for a cartoon show. From a pair of eyeglasses of a 19th century Arctic explorer being a keypoint, to some almost Reagen-era US politics which show more than ever why the rest of the modern world has turned against such jingoistic imperialism, the subplots aren't just tired but truly dumb and borderline offensive in some cases.

Other moments simply don't work. Whilst fans will be pleased to hear that the Prime/Megatron fight is one of the best bits of the movie, many will be disheartened by a drawn-out alley scene in the which the Decepticons are introduced and the back story explained in a pain-stakingly tedious way that reminds you that you're watching a cheesy science-fiction story. It's a tough task adapting an 80's children's show into a workable film, yet a real chance to invent a rich and compelling mythology is never even attempted - rather cheap tricks and only a semblance of story to try and link the action sequences together.

That is ultimately what "Transformers" was designed to be though - a quite effective thrill ride. It's the ecstasy of Summer movies - the first time is a rush, but each subsequent hit has less effect and proves ultimately futile after the first few times. Whereas truly great Summer films get more rewarding on subsequent glances, this packs all its power on the initial viewing and that viewing will please most everyone from fanboys to casual cinemagoers. It's not a movie that you need to see again however, and whilst it'll probably be one of the better films of the season - it ultimately doesn't have the weight let alone staying power to sit fondly in retrospect.

 

[Disclaimer]

Reading through, I'm not sure anyone has simply palmed the film off as 'bad'. I most certainly didn't. I gave what I see as valid reason why the film could easily have been far better on an emotional and narrative level.

Far too many people appear to think the emotional and visual can't co-exist.

That, my friends, is what I find most frustrating.

In fact, I think this whole discussion board thing has made me dislike the film more than I actually did upon seeing it.

I came out with major complaints I could perhaps get over... I even quite enjoyed the first hour or so... but, in arguing against those who just settle for quantity over quality, I've become far more in favour of quality. It's tainting the film more because I'll forever see it as representing a return to that 'Independence Day' type of mentality I thought had disappeared with the success of intelligent fantasy mega-blockbusters like 'Lord of the Rings' and certain comic book films.

I was happy to substitute half the quality for some excellent visuals but - in my opinion - the balance is too far off.

 

[Avangarde]

Well thats just opinion, you can either take it to heart or with a grain of salt. The choice is yours. Personally these latest two reviews seem consistant with a Michael Bay movie, but I shall soon find out for myself.

 

[CFlash]

Yup, all the reviews both positive and negative are consistent... and they all say the same thing. Where they differ is in the final analysis. The movie may be fun, but don't expect a sci-fi classic of high caliber. If you love "Independence Day" this is the movie for you, which was my fear all along.

 

[blind_fury]

Reading through, I'm not sure anyone has simply palmed the film off as 'bad'. I most certainly didn't. I gave what I see as valid reason why the film could easily have been far better on an emotional and narrative level.

Far too many people appear to think the emotional and visual can't co-exist.

That, my friends, is what I find most frustrating.

In fact, I think this whole discussion board thing has made me dislike the film more than I actually did upon seeing it.

I came out with major complaints I could perhaps get over... I even quite enjoyed the first hour or so... but, in arguing against those who just settle for quantity over quality, I've become far more in favour of quality. It's tainting the film more because I'll forever see it as representing a return to that 'Independence Day' type of mentality I thought had disappeared with the success of intelligent fantasy mega-blockbusters like 'Lord of the Rings' and certain comic book films.

I was happy to substitute half the quality for some excellent visuals but - in my opinion - the balance is too far off.

Yeah, what gets me is when a reviewers start off talking about how kickass the action is then says how the story is shallow and characters forgettable but concludes that it's acceptable because "what else would you expect from a Transformers movie". It just screams wasted potential to me.

If Transformers was just about explosions it would've never sustain a noticeable life-long fanbase. The whole point of an adaption is to capture what resonated enough to justify a loyal following. That means more than just loud explosions and flashy effects.

If you translate the source material (comics/toons) accurately exposing the best aspects that's one thing. If you vaguely adapt the source material but elevate it to another level adding subtext and layers while creating characters that are far more iconic and memorable then that's another. But Bay did neither. He just used the namesake, trivialized the source material/fans and made it a big loud empty spectacle for a quick buck.

If people enjoy the empty spectacle on a superficial level, fine, but don't repeat over and over again that the emptiness is the inevitable result of shallow and weak source material.

 

[nogster]

i just saw it and even after reading the deplorable script that i thought "raped" my childhood, even after reading about primes lips, oil pissing bumblebee, transforming xboxs etc etc.....all of that was forgiven after witnessing the final product.....
what an entertaining hard rocking movie!!!!
man that movie rocked harder than jazz, tracks and blaster playing in a concert!!
it was cheesey, yes, it had silly lines, yes, it had some silly scenes, yes, the script that "raped" my childhood is largely intact but after all is said and done....the transformers vibe and my childhood memories are mostly intact and then some...
the feelings u get when the autobots 1st land,....and optimus transforms....its just great..and there are plenty of nods to G1 to keep us old school tf fans happy.
and the action....man its insane....the final 30 minutes just do not let up...and wait till u see optimus face megatron..
"one will stand, and one will fall"!!!!! I was cheering inside!
my breakdown on the tfs...
the decepticons were basically cannon fodder, still it worked....hardly any lines were spoken by them except megatron really....but they were intimidating.. i wouldve prefered if they stuck to the original characters...only starscream and megatron and i suppose bonecrusher were what i remember in G1...[never followed after that]
blackout: was basically vortex. the combaticon...[why didnt they just call him that?..]
devastator: why call what was basically brawl the combaticon, the name of the iconic merged constructicons?...
frenzy: was basically a newer version of lazerbeak and frenzy [minus the punk attitude] combined into a freakish looking bot...he had lazerbeaks job, as infiltrator and espionage, but acted like a mettalic skeleton ewok.
bonecrusher: just cannon fodder with a constructicons name...prime owned him..
barricade: a typical stunticon. disguised as prowl...he was tough and very cool looking, his battle with bumblee was tops although too short and the camera moved on to frenzy fighting the 2 human leads which was dissapointing.
starscream: okay okay, starscream was a shadow of his awesome self....largley regarded as a fan favourite, its dissapointing to see such a cool character have such little to do and only with 2 lines.. he sounded cool when he talked...like a tougher less whiney starscream, but yeah....his rivalry with megs is not mentioned other than megs calling him a failure. it wouldve been so awesome to see starscream attempt to blindside megatron and selfishly take the cube, only for megs to smash him out the way, giving sam a chance to continue his run....man i wouldve loved to have seen that....thats all that was needed...but alas....hopefully in the sequel starscream will be trying to assume leadership at the start only for soundwave to arrive and awaken megatron....
megatron: his design really worked in the film and he was a BADDAASS!! more badass than ever before...u couldnt even tell it was weaving...his voice was tops though....loved his opening scene..u just know he is going to kick some ass and he does bigtime....also when he arrives at the city, the autobots reaction was awesome: "megatron!,....retreat!" they are all intimidated by him and for good reason.
the autobots..
bumblebee: u really feel for bumblebee and the radio talk thing really works....i read the script and was disgusted but it really does work in the film....bumblebee has the courage, loyalty and "cuteness" of his G1 counterpart mixed with his older tougher goldbug personality.
ratchet: it was great to see ratchet realized in the film....his voice sounded quite similar and his 1st lines are great..he didnt have many lines in the film but he was clearly the grizzled medic that we all know and love.
ironhide: same as above..his no nonsense grizzled warrior personality was intact.. i wouldve liked his voice to have had a "southern drawl" but no matter...
jazz: jazz reminded me more of a mix of say...cliffjumper [esspecially after his last words], bluestreak and sideswipe than jazz really. he was the most acrobatic of the tfs, still he was cool
optimus prime: wow!! prime rocked and rocked hard!!!he alone is worth the price of admission...lips and all.....the lips worked i thought!! gave him more personality...but man thats what every TF fan has wanted to see...the iconic optimus prime on the big screen looking real and sounding more awesome than ever before....prime was a perfect 10 to me...

all in all. this movie is the best blockbuster ive seen this year...not the best movie.. best blockbuster......it really is a great experience... oil pissing, optimus lips and all...
8-10

 

[Mr. Credible]

i hate to be one of those people the say "what did you expect?" but honestly, what did you expect? a character driven tour de force featuring giant alien robots fighting over energy?

i'm actually glad that we (apparently, having not seen the film yet) got a fun, funny, big loud spectacular cgi fest. i've watched transformers, and i watched the animated movie the other day, just to catch up. it doesn't work anymore.

did transformers have a rich backstory fleshed out in comics and novels and what not? i don't know, i've never read them, and neither have the other 99.7% of the people that are going to see this movie. what people are going to see is what they remember from the show: giant robots fighting.

if you want your backstory and whatever else, go read your comics and watch your corny outdated tv show. i'm sick of hearing people complain that this isn't that. it is what it is. deal with it.

 

[blind_fury]

i hate to be one of those people the say "what did you expect?" but honestly, what did you expect? a character driven tour de force featuring giant alien robots fighting over energy?

i'm actually glad that we (apparently, having not seen the film yet) got a fun, funny, big loud spectacular cgi fest. i've watched transformers, and i watched the animated movie the other day, just to catch up. it doesn't work anymore.

did transformers have a rich backstory fleshed out in comics and novels and what not? i don't know, i've never read them, and neither have the other 99.7% of the people that are going to see this movie. what people are going to see is what they remember from the show: giant robots fighting.

if you want your backstory and whatever else, go read your comics and watch your corny outdated tv show. i'm sick of hearing people complain that this isn't that. it is what it is. deal with it.

well human nature isn't going to change. So you'll have to endure the rantings of those dissatisfied until they make a TF movie that is more than an empty spectacle.

Criticism of the movie is what it is. Deal with it.

 

[Marvin]

Reading through, I'm not sure anyone has simply palmed the film off as 'bad'. I most certainly didn't. I gave what I see as valid reason why the film could easily have been far better on an emotional and narrative level.

actually alot of ppl have alot invested in this movie being bad

Far too many people appear to think the emotional and visual can't co-exist.
who?
maybe that's just ur opinion after experiencing a "visual" at this high a caliber

That, my friends, is what I find most frustrating.
same here

In fact, I think this whole discussion board thing has made me dislike the film more than I actually did upon seeing it.

I came out with major complaints I could perhaps get over... I even quite enjoyed the first hour or so... but, in arguing against those who just settle for quantity over quality, I've become far more in favour of quality. It's tainting the film more because I'll forever see it as representing a return to that 'Independence Day' type of mentality I thought had disappeared with the success of intelligent fantasy mega-blockbusters like 'Lord of the Rings' and certain comic book films.
the success of LOTR spawned more bad films than I can count on one hand in recent years..

I hope ur not referring to the ppl here defending the Human story line(whadduya know the first hour or so of the movie...) without that it would have been the cartoon show..it would have been more robot time
which in fact translates to Quantity....

I was happy to substitute half the quality for some excellent visuals but - in my opinion - the balance is too far off.

I'm not happy substituting any.

not sure why u think the execellent visuals being present mandates a dip in quality???

 

[blind_fury]

It's style without substance.

which is as rewarding as eating a vanilla frosted doorstop.

 

[Marvin]

Yup, all the reviews both positive and negative are consistent... and they all say the same thing. Where they differ is in the final analysis. The movie may be fun, but don't expect a sci-fi classic of high caliber. If you love "Independence Day" this is the movie for you, which was my fear all along.

I must've missed that review
which one was it?

 

[Marvin]

It's style without substance.

which is as rewarding as eating a vanilla frosted doorstop.

I'll save that statement till after i see it...
perhaps u should too

 

[Marvin]

and that's a horrible analogy

ice cream by definition is pretty much "style over substance"

 

[Kargo Warrior]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2007/06/141_5561.html

Another positive

So you may think that you've seen everything films have got to offer in terms of grand scale action and amazing visual effects. Yet ``Transformers'' marks a new paradigm of computer graphic technology in cinema and shows you that ``man's reach exceeds his imagination.''

The science-fiction story is based on a popular American comic book and TV cartoon of the same title, and in 1986, Korean-American animator Nelson Shin directed the much loved animated feature for theaters. Produced by Steven Spielberg (``Jurassic Park'' series, 1993-2001) and directed by Michael Bay (``Armageddon,'' 1998), the ``real-life'' version recreates and even transcends the freewheeling imagination that was only possible hitherto in 2-D.

Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBoeuf) is an ordinary teenager who just wants to get a car and impress his beautiful classmate Mikaela (Megan Fox). One day, he discovers that his car, a worn-out yellow Chevy Camaro, is more than just a heap of junk on wheels as it ``transforms'' into a towering robot named Bumblebee, an Autobot or an alien race from the far side of the universe.

Sam meets other human-friendly Autobots that dwell on Earth in the form of cool cars: Ultimate 18 Wheeler (Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots), Pontiac Solstice (Optimus Prime's right hand, Jazz), GMC Top Kick (weapons specialist Iron Hide) and Hummer H2 (medical officer Ratchet).

It soon becomes clear that Sam, Mikaela and others must team up with the Autobots to battle the evil Decepticons. They must destroy the robots' long-lost energy source, the Cube, to which Sam unwittingly holds the key, and ultimately save the planet (and also make sure Sam and Mikaela fall in love).

Like its multifaceted characters, the film multiplies the scale you've seen in other movies. Think alien attack plus super hero action, where a super-sized Superman is crossed with an upgraded Terminator. Plus, the image of massive creatures climbing skyscrapers reminds you of ``King Kong'' (2005), particularly when Optimus Prime carries Sam in his hand.

The movie shakes up heaven and earth, with adrenaline-pumping car races speedier than those in Luc Besson's ``Taxi'' series (1998-2006) or ``The Fast and the Furious '' trilogy (2001-2006) and high-soaring aerial action as helicopters and jets transform into Decepticons.

Whether or not you're a fan of robot cartoons, you will be dumbfound and impressed by the visual shock that is comparable to the groundbreaking effects initiated by ``Jurassic Park.''

ILM (Industrial Light & Magic) and Digital Domain, the maestros that orchestrated the computer graphic breakthroughs of ``Titanic'' (1997), created the astonishing effects of the film.

The film is well polished with funny and dramatic touches. With much wit, ``Transformers'' treats typical family matters and teenage concerns, and even includes a hilarious parody of a red-socked President Bush ordering chocolate-covered ding-dongs amid the global disaster.

Befitting its cartoon origin, the mighty robots in the film do not forget to declare in booming voices ``I AM OPTIMUS PRIME!'' and so on every time they transform. Or in the case of the ``mute'' Bumblebee, he cleverly maneuvers radio channels to get his messages across.

After watching the movie, you might look at your car in a different light, since everything possesses something ``more than (what) meets the eye.''

Fans of the cartoon will be delighted to know that the narrators for the voices of Optimus Prime and Jazz of the 1986 animation joined the crew for the film.

 

[nogster]

Yup, all the reviews both positive and negative are consistent... and they all say the same thing. Where they differ is in the final analysis. The movie may be fun, but don't expect a sci-fi classic of high caliber. If you love "Independence Day" this is the movie for you, which was my fear all along.

yeah thats pretty much right....its definatley not a scifi classic, and it is basically throwaway popcorn stuff, but its really good quality popcorn stuff,.
i thought independence day and godzilla sucked big time, and while this film has a similar "style" to it, its much better than those crap films. its damn entertaining and keeps with the spirit of the source material i think....
my hopes were not high, and even during the film my enjoyment ebbed and flowed as there are some silly scenes and dialogue, but everytime optimus is on screen, ur childhood come roaring back.....thats what i felt basically...i felt like my childhood imaginings, when i would role play with my TFs had come to life...and thats what i hoped for while watching this film.....in that sense it delivered in spades.