Transformers The User Review Thread [SPOILERS IN ABUNDANCE!]

[Tony Stark]

I could care less about the decepticon dialogue. Some of the Autobot dialogue should have been cut. As someone mentioned the Jazz dialogue totally didn't work and should have been completely cut.

To me Shia carried the comic relief and it should have been left at that. The rest is overkill.

The tone of the film in the first 1/2 hour to an hour was pefect and if it had remained that way for the whole film, it would have been a 10/10.

When they threw in the stuff with S7, I was reminded of all the other mega budget Summer movies that were laughable, like Armegeddon, Godzilla and ID4

Overall I loved the movie, but I felt once again Bay got in the way of his own efforts.

 

[TheCardPlayer]

You'll notice that no one made the argument that the subtitled lines don't count, because they do.

No language that doesn't really exist and which is completely imcomprehensible counts.

Well, well. Sounds like you just did.

 

[Bishop2]

Well, well. Sounds like you just did.

If it's subtitled, it's obviously not "incomprehensible," is it?

 

[OverMyHead]

TheCardPlayer, just give it a rest, would you?

You just got owned.

Autobots, roll out!

 

[TheCardPlayer]

But Frenzy had tons of lines that were subtitled. So why do you keep saying he had no lines??

 

[PowersOfMind]

I can't get enough of how fluid the movements of the robots were. Love how they went from vehicles doing more than 60mph and immediately transform with screeching wheels and get into a kungfu-like battle stance.

No matter what they do - either transforming or fighting or simply goofing around at the Witwickys, they were a delight to watch.

Yeah they did a real good job on making the robots look good. Was it just me or did the Decepticons take less time to transform then the Autobots did.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

Part II.

The first half of this movie is alot more engaging than the second half. The second half barring some scattered moments of brilliance is tedious and soulless. Kind of like the Island. It's like watching someone else play a video game. The action scenes lack context or genuine suspense. The style-substance ratio becomes way too uneven and it gets boring watching explosions without rhyme or reason.

Roger Ebert made a great point that the fights lacked any tactical strategy, just alot of rumble and tumble making a great deal of fight scenes redundant and lackluster. That is a major issue considering these scenes are one of the films biggest selling points.

My friend felt too the action scenes in the second half had moments of brilliance but the lack of consistency in quality ruined the climax. He was a "negatron" too but admitted that some scenes where geekasm worthy. He especially liked the Bonecrusher fight with Optimus with the slo-mo and Optimus blade impalement as the highlight. His question was why couldn't the rest of the fights be that cool.

end of part II

This is the biggest catch-22 in my opinion. I thought the first half was great too, but it always is with these movies because it's the origin, like Spider-man, the first half was better because it was character/origin-driven, but the second half gives you the action, that is also necessary. I understand what you're saying and do agree with it, can't/wouldn't deny the first half was better, but the second half was a lot of fun.

 

[Darthphere]

I could care less about the decepticon dialogue. Some of the Autobot dialogue should have been cut. As someone mentioned the Jazz dialogue totally didn't work and should have been completely cut.

To me Shia carried the comic relief and it should have been left at that. The rest is overkill.

The tone of the film in the first 1/2 hour to an hour was pefect and if it had remained that way for the whole film, it would have been a 10/10.

When they threw in the stuff with S7, I was reminded of all the other mega budget Summer movies that were laughable, like Armegeddon, Godzilla and ID4

Overall I loved the movie, but I felt once again Bay got in the way of his own efforts.

All movies people went running to see when they came out and loved. They only started hating on it when it became cool to hate on those movies on the internet. Seriously, I was like 9 when those movies came out and I loved them. And gosh darn it, they're still entertaining as hell, I don't care what all the haters say, when Armageddon is on tv they watch it.

 

[BloodyWolverine]

A great review. Finally someone who also liked Frenzy! I agree that the Decepticons could have at least at strategized their attack. It would have been awesome to see them meet and talk before attacking. Still, I liked their somber aura of menace.

The other thing is, yes Optimus killing Bonecrusher was awesome but for example, it would have good to see Ratchet use his saw on Brawl. I caught that he had it only on second viewing. Or when Starscream shoots Ironhide, the camera should have been more steady.

The only thing I disagree about is Starscream. He was a traitor. He took the place of one of our pilots then helped them shoot Megatron before running away. That was...well, very traitor-like.

Starscream has always been like that in ever cartoon ever done about Transformers.
I like Frenzy too he sound angry. The funny part was they learned how to talk by the world wide web. Ebay and what not. Great all around movie. Who ever expected to hear John Wayne in Transformers.

 

[nosebleed.]

I could care less about the decepticon dialogue. Some of the Autobot dialogue should have been cut. As someone mentioned the Jazz dialogue totally didn't work and should have been completely cut.

To me Shia carried the comic relief and it should have been left at that. The rest is overkill.

The tone of the film in the first 1/2 hour to an hour was pefect and if it had remained that way for the whole film, it would have been a 10/10.

When they threw in the stuff with S7, I was reminded of all the other mega budget Summer movies that were laughable, like Armegeddon, Godzilla and ID4

Overall I loved the movie, but I felt once again Bay got in the way of his own efforts.

Once the dvd comes out I'm sure there will be some really good fan edits. I know I'm going to edit out a lot of parts I didn't like...ESPECIALLY John Tuturro's parts.

 

[Tony Stark]

All movies people went running to see when they came out and loved. They only started hating on it when it became cool to hate on those movies on the internet. Seriously, I was like 9 when those movies came out and I loved them. And gosh darn it, they're still entertaining as hell, I don't care what all the haters say, when Armageddon is on tv they watch it.

Not sure who you mean by "they". I hated all those movies at first viewing. They were mindless and rediculous.

maybe it's a generational thing, I was 25 when those movies came out, and I couldn't stand any of them, especially Godzilla.

This movie was perfect other than the fact it had elements of those horrible efforts, like the S7 stuff.

 

[Darthphere]

Not sure who you mean by "they". I hated all those movies at first viewing. They were mindless and rediculous.

maybe it's a generational thing, I was 25 when those movies came out, and I couldn't stand any of them, especially Godzilla.

This movie was perfect other than the fact it had elements of those horrible efforts, like the S7 stuff.

You're only 4 years older than me.

 

[Boiiinng]

Maybe I missed it cuz I blinked... but when Optimus says "Roll out" none of them actually do... they just run towards the camera. Did I miss something?

Well, he didn't actually tell them to transform, which is ridiculous because that is half of that iconic phrase.

 

[Ladiesman2l7]

Hey im just wondering is Steve Carrel the teacher?

 

[Boiiinng]

You want to see this in a crowded theater on the big screen.

It enhances the movie a great deal.

I would have rather seen it alone. Most people in my theater didn't know how to control the length of their laughter to the point I was missing the next pieces of dialogue.

 

[Darthphere]

I would have rather seen it alone. Most people in my theater didn't know how to control the length of their laughter to the point I was missing the next pieces of dialogue.

Oh man seriously. I can't really blame them for that though.

 

[Frank Noir]

Oh man seriously. I can't really blame them for that though.

When I was watching TF, one kid (about 8 years old) was laughing (loud) for about a minute when Sam kicks Frenzy's head. I didn't think it was that funny, but the kid really made me laugh. t:

 

[CFlash]

Great review, B_F. I'm really glad you enjoyed it. I agree with a lot of what you say on some levels. I totally went in prepared to enjoy the movie the way I enjoyed Batman 89 when I was 15 (lame plot, but visuals, iconography, and theater experience trumped it all). Unfortunately, I couldn't get past the humor in this movie. And the editing during the final fight just blew. I debated giving bumping the score because of Peter Cullen and Shia, but then I thought of John Turturro's character and I couldn't bring myself to do it.

 

[DACrowe]

The complaints about the end I understand. After S7 shows up it becomes typical (aka mediocre) Michael Bay shtick. But I think the coolness of the Transformers elevate it and Shia LaBeuff and the very underrated John Tuturro save it with great comic acting.

But when the military heroes (all interchangeable and forgettable) turn on S7 on a dime and it becomes a three way showdown with robots and I"m not sure what blonde hacker and John Voight are doing mashed next to 20 minutes of gorgeously lit giant explosions with no comprehension of whose who....that was the ow point for mea ctually.

That climax turned into a Michael Bay movie while the first half was held together by a good premise and actor. I still enjoyed the movie though. But I ain't a trannie fan. So it didn't bug me.

Certainly, not "mind blowing" but not Armageddon or Godzilla either.

 

[blind_fury]

Great review, B_F. I'm really glad you enjoyed it. I agree with a lot of what you say on some levels. I totally went in prepared to enjoy the movie the way I enjoyed Batman 89 when I was 15 (lame plot, but visuals, iconography, and theater experience trumped it all). Unfortunately, I couldn't get past the humor in this movie. And the editing during the final fight just blew. I debated giving bumping the score because of Peter Cullen and Shia, but then I thought of John Turturro's character and I couldn't bring myself to do it.

Enjoyed is such a strong word.

Let's just say I was "reasonably entertained".

 

[LostSon88]

Wow 79% rate it 8 or higher...impressive.

I'll be watching it tonight. Can't wait! t:

 

[Shinobi Rendar]

Hey im just wondering is Steve Carrel the teacher?

he looked a lot like him.


Man in my country we need spanish subtitles for some reason and i was incredibly lost when the decps spoke because of all the subtitles appearing on the screen

 

[The Guardian]

Enjoyed is such a strong word.

Let's just say I was "reasonably entertained".

BUT, BUT YOUR NAME IS BLIND FURY, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HATE EVERYTHING!!! JK MAN NICE REVIEW!!!up:

 

[thegameq]

Saw it. Had a whole night to discuss it with friends. Slept on it.

If there’s anything I’ve learned from participating in this TF forum and lurking in the others here at SHH, is how to make lemonade from lemons. Hence, why I’ve liked everything from brilliant X-Men to just-OK Fantastic Four. Yes, I even liked (or rather didn’t hate) Superman Returns and Spider-man 3. And, while I totally understand the marks the latter two missed, I would never ever call them “dumb.”

On the other hand, this movie, boy oh boy, is probably the most ******ed (and I don’t use that word lightly), most innane, meaningless movie I have ever seen. I’m sorry… but it must be said… if you think this movie is “good” you need to have your IQ checked. No, I didn’t expect the movie to be some cerebral masterpiece like 2001 or A.I. And, sure, some movies suffer from bad execution (like.. I dunno… Daredevil, Fantastic Four, maybe)… but it takes a lot for a movie to be BALLS-OUT DUMB.

I’m not going to point out the pros and cons because many of you have done it really well. There was some good stuff. I really enjoyed the first 45 minutes or so: the air base attack, Sam being chased by Bumblebee (the scene where he’s spying BB as a robot from away is very good), etc. The movie went seriously down hill once Frenzy started doing his thing. The arrival of the Autobots (falling from the sky) was AWESOME… and oh so promising. But the movie went utter craptitude once they were actually introduced. Once the backyard scene was over the entire audience breathed a sigh of relief.

I remember months ago people were asking “what scene are you most looking forward to.” Because of the trailers everybody was like “oooh the Optimus/Bonecrusher fight.” What Optimus/Bonecrusher fight?!!! They fall over an overpass and Optimus stabs him? What Megatron/Optimus fight???? Did I miss it? There is NO OPTIMUS/MEGATRON fight! If you saw it, it’s because your brain spliced in the missing scenes. Half the time you couldn’t tell if it was Megatron or Starscream doing the fighting in any scene.

I don’t really know how to close. I can understand how some people liked it or just 'enjoyed' it. But, you have to do some SERIOUS brain checking at the door… something I was apparently unsuccessful at doing.

Thanks CFlash.

 

[Darthphere]

LOL! CFlash thinks AI is a cerebral masterpiece. I don't think anymore has to be said.