Transformers The User Review Thread [SPOILERS IN ABUNDANCE!]

[LostSon88]

People said those were trees...nothing more.

 

[The Caped Knight]

Despite the ironic fact that the Beast Wars writers were so in the dark about certian aspects on G1, they wrote a great Prime and chose an equally-great Voice actor for his voice. And as a BW fan, I still think to this day that (just by a smidgen) Primal > Prime.

Both Prime & Primal are my favorite, Primal more so than Prime (since I grew up with Beast Wars . However thanks to my Father I was also familor with G1 as well .)

 

[LostSon88]

...

 

[Golgo-13]

Just saw the movie for the third time...even better this time around. The fights were much clearer...really great movie. However, I have a question that may have been answered already (if so, please direct to the anwser).

When Bonechrusher 'skates' towards Optimus for their big tussle, if you look over Bonecrusher's left shoulder, you see the legs of two Transformers apparently fighting, however it's not in the movie. Could this 'deleted' fight explain the disappearance of Barricade in the last fight in Mission City? You can also see this 'moment' in the trailers as well!!!

Help me out!!

Yeah, this movie is like Batman Begins in the sense that the more you see it, the clearer the fights become. I too have seen it 3 times, my third time being my most enjoyable viewing because i had become immune to the sometimes annoying cheese in the flick. Didn't notice the TF's in the background. I'll look for it when i see it AGAIN, next week!

 

[zanos]

Overall I liked it as a big giant robot movie but this film has lost potential all over it. Transformers is not a film that can be done in live action form and this film proves it. While it was funny and entertaining there was not much of a compelling story. This would have been a much better robot movie if it was just Sam and his yellow transforming car being hunted by humans.

 

[StylishHokie21]

I just watched it and thought it was alright. It dragged in a lot of places and the script was a mess. Shia LaBeouf annoys me and he's no different here. Megan Fox is pretty hot, but she can't act.

The robot effects were amazing. Optimus Prime was my favorite, even though I was never really a fan of the cartoon series. Everytime he was on the screen, the movie became much more enjoyable. The other Autobots didn't do a whole lot for me. I wish there would have been more of the Decepticons though. I could hardly tell them apart half the time with the exception of Megatron and Scorponok. The action sequences delivered, although some of the sequences near the end were hard to follow. Maybe I'd have to watch it again.

Overall, I'd give the movie a 7/10.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

I work in a theater and I've seen this film three times. For me it gets better with each viewing as I feel like a kid watching this movie.

Seriously when the Autobots are arriving to earth via meteor showers and the score playing? I actually teared up during that scene as I felt I was literally right there looking up at them transform into their earth forms.

Starscream owning the Autobots when Ironhide screams "It's STARSCREAM!" was badass. All I can say is I hope the sequel expands the possibilities of a much larger war between the alien robots.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

I also got chills when Megatron screams "Decepticons attack!". Pure badass and pure Megatron.

We need more of his development for the sequel. He HAS to be in it.

 

[Spade]

It's interesting that the nuclear bomb concept never made it to the final cut of Transformers- maybe a sign that they wanted to insinuate survival for Megatron in some way? The pressure would seemingly do him in, but humanity underestimated Cybertronian durability many times and Bumblebee was able to recover given that he wasn't hit by Sabots to stop his healing. Megs' spark is extinguished, but if they find a way to revive Jazz from the dead as they are rumored to be considering maybe something goes awry and they accidentally bring back the villainous behemoth too?

I would love to see Starscream come back from Cybertron with a Decepticon armada in a sequel- this film only briefly hinted at his G1 views on Megatron as leader, and after the F-22 sequence this is a Decepticon who definitely deserves his time to shine.

 

[KevanG]

Just watched the movie for the first time... WOW!!! We'll need a 600 font size for just how amazing that was. The flow of the transformers from auto to autobot was so fluid it was incredible and the last words "You want a piece of me?" "No! I want two pieces of you!" Pure badass on both ends. I have a few what I consider nits with this movie 1) Killing megatron off. He'll be back and it was pretty well done but I hate it when they kill off the main bad guy in the first movie. 2) Sector 7. It was almost like the bumbling FBI agents in a little kids movie. They seemed to be as authoritive and realistic as care bears most scenes, before getting to the dam. And 3) Starscream having almost no role in the movie. He's a fan favorite and I loved the banter with Megatron back in the days. Maybe in the sequel...

Beyond that I have abso-friggin-loutly no problem with the movie. Like I said those are just my nits and with or without them this is still an incredible movie.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Fans are a fickle thing- they were bashing the script that came out for the most part the same as the film itself and are now lavishing it in praise for things done in the same script they bashed.

Ummm....no...actually the fans, like the ones who appear at Transformers sites, were singing it's praises from the beginning. This board, composed largely of casual fans only, was complaining. But Allspark, Wikia Transformers, Transfan, Seibertron, and TFW2005 pretty much sung it's praises universially from the beginning.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Not the simplicity in the formation of the material, in what the adaption is primarily drawing upon. I'm not saying that they drew upon only one source, just that it's obvious from my view (and many others, as far as the TV industry) that this film used G1 as a platform for the other references made during the course of the film to other incarnations.

What is the G1 platform. Giant robots who fight each other and transform into cars and planes? Because that's pretty much the Transformers platform in general, considering the toy line is pretty much "Giant robots who fight each other and transform into cars and planes".

Which adaptation is it primarily drawing upon. Well let's see. G1 was about a group of robots, who, in the throws of Civil War left to clear an asteroid field (or in the cartoon for some undisclosed reason) and ended up on Earth. After staying dormant for 4 million years their battle began anew and they fought, generally, over energon cubes. lather, rinse and repeat each episode.

RiD was about modern day vehicles who fought both Predacons and Decepticons as they laid their cruel intentions to take over earth.

Armada was a story about Transformers who came down in asteroid shaped balls, self scanned modern day vehicles in the millenia and fought over minicons.

Energon was about modern day Transformers who fought over a crystal like substance known as energon, with aid of a human named Kicker. The substance granted them the ability to unlock powers and the Autobots and some Decepticons could superlink, combining their strengths into one.

Cybertron was about Transformers, who in attempt to save their world, went after a mystical device known as the Cyber Planet Key Omega Lock. They travelled to earth in asteroid shaped balls (actually technically they warped there) and self scanned vehicles. The mystical device was suppose to save their world from dying at the hands of a black hole.

Hmmmm...it seems the platform of the movie, which features a smaller cast (much like BW and UT), a singular mystic item, and Transformers who travel as individuals (rather than on a ship) to a present day Earth because it has said artifact sounds much similar to the platform used by the movie than Generation 1. Don't fool yourself. They were given UT and IDW comics to study while writing...not Marvel comics. They may have been familiar with G1 as a whole. But Hasbro certainly didn't supply them with those materials. This is as much G1 as any other incarnation of Transformers has been.

 

[blind_fury]

 

[BloodyWolverine]

Transformers dropped 50% and is sitting at 222 million dollars domestically. I wonder if it will get to 300 million or Harry Potter 5 for that matter. Its nice to see several filsm do well and not just afew like last years summer season.

 

[Spade]

Ummm....no...actually the fans, like the ones who appear at Transformers sites, were singing it's praises from the beginning. This board, composed largely of casual fans only, was complaining. But Allspark, Wikia Transformers, Transfan, Seibertron, and TFW2005 pretty much sung it's praises universially from the beginning.

What is the G1 platform. Giant robots who fight each other and transform into cars and planes? Because that's pretty much the Transformers platform in general, considering the toy line is pretty much "Giant robots who fight each other and transform into cars and planes".

Which adaptation is it primarily drawing upon. Well let's see. G1 was about a group of robots, who, in the throws of Civil War left to clear an asteroid field (or in the cartoon for some undisclosed reason) and ended up on Earth. After staying dormant for 4 million years their battle began anew and they fought, generally, over energon cubes. lather, rinse and repeat each episode.

RiD was about modern day vehicles who fought both Predacons and Decepticons as they laid their cruel intentions to take over earth.

Armada was a story about Transformers who came down in asteroid shaped balls, self scanned modern day vehicles in the millenia and fought over minicons.

Energon was about modern day Transformers who fought over a crystal like substance known as energon, with aid of a human named Kicker. The substance granted them the ability to unlock powers and the Autobots and some Decepticons could superlink, combining their strengths into one.

Cybertron was about Transformers, who in attempt to save their world, went after a mystical device known as the Cyber Planet Key Omega Lock. They travelled to earth in asteroid shaped balls (actually technically they warped there) and self scanned vehicles. The mystical device was suppose to save their world from dying at the hands of a black hole.

Hmmmm...it seems the platform of the movie, which features a smaller cast (much like BW and UT), a singular mystic item, and Transformers who travel as individuals (rather than on a ship) to a present day Earth because it has said artifact sounds much similar to the platform used by the movie than Generation 1. Don't fool yourself. They were given UT and IDW comics to study while writing...not Marvel comics. They may have been familiar with G1 as a whole. But Hasbro certainly didn't supply them with those materials. This is as much G1 as any other incarnation of Transformers has been.

"I'm not really interested in engaging in The Epic Debate over this film, so you'll have to forgive me if I choose not to delve any further." -ChibiKiriyama

So, yeah...you can consider yourself 'right', or whatever it is you consider yourself after writing all of that.

 

[Spider-Man Luvr28]

Just got back from watching the movie & I really, really loved it. I got into it. Half the movie I was just there in my seat saying "oh my god.."
Visually it was freaking awesome.

 

[CFlash]

So I re-watched Transformers yesterday with my bud. He loved it the first time around... but we had gone in a big group (6 people) and 4 of us, including my fiance, hated it. There was lots of negativity. Plus I think I was a little too drunk....

This time around I think I was able to appreciate the movie for what it is. Just pure fun. It won't win any awards for sci-fi, but it was loads of fun. And beyond that... I was surprised at this sense of pure love the movie exuded for the bots and the original Transformers cartoon. Soooo many lines that harkened to the cartoon (Ironhide's cannon line, Megatron's "No, it's just me, Prime," etc.).... I was just taken aback.

Reading Michael Bay's recent interview it's apparent the movie had to make due with its budget. Which is why a lot of the battle at end seems... I dunno.... cut short (especially Megs v Prime). Still, the movie is beautiful... and impressive.

I have to give it up. Michael Bay outdid himself. Made a beautiful movie... and pretty much hit the nail on the head with the characters (obviously, especially the Autobots)... and really what else can you ask for? I still think it could have been a much better serious sci-fi-action movie (think Terminator, Aliens, Close Encounters but with giant robots etc)... but the movie is what it is... and I felt the love.

I raise my score to 7.5. Had they actually shown the Prime v Megs fight it would be an 8.

 

[zwesell]

I got the movie on DVD (don't ask how). Its great using quicktime to scrub thru the transformations in slo mo!

 

[millennium movies]

Uhm.. you shouldn't have posted that, your going to get swarmed with PMs. I call shotgun lol

 

[HoratioRome]

I LOVED this movie. Kik ass action from beginning to end. Good acting, solid directing,...just awesome.
THIS is what these movies are supposed to be like.
after 300, second best movie of the year.

 

[Reptile]

I got the movie on DVD (don't ask how). Its great using quicktime to scrub thru the transformations in slo mo!

How'd ya get it?t:

 

[millennium movies]

Hey! I called shotgun...

 

[pickleweed]

kay, just saw it.

wasnt the worst thing ive ever seen, but not good. i shouldnt expect shakespeare from my summer popcorn flicks, but occasionally they hit gold (PotC, the first one, and only the first one). sadly, this wasnt it.

cons:

the designs sucked. they all looked like jumbled messes of vacuum hoses and pumps. its as if they abandoned designing semi-logical transformations for trying to distract your eye with all the moving pieces. its a bad magic trick that didnt always pass muster. also, they all looked alike! rule number one of character design: they've got to be able to be told apart.

plot: ok, its a popcorn movie. ok. but certain aspects were just lackluster. they come all the way after these glasses to find the allspark. but they still would have found it without them. it was unecessary, and quickly forgotten. sector 7 was abruptly thrust into the movie, and the hackers were quickly eliminated from it. ive got to be loose on this, but just because its july doesnt make movies suck less.

the faceplate. nuff said.

all the immature schtick. who am i kidding here, its a transformer movie. BUT since when did the autobots turn into bumbling adolesents? they cant wait five minutes for the kid to get his glasses? wtf? all the pissing, and pop culture riffs were cute in the first half, but then the tone of movie drastically changed and it felt out of place.

the product placement: do i need to see the gmc logo transform? or bumblebee turn into a shiny 2008 camaro? at times it seemed more car commercial than movie.

the incredibly deadly nokia: what in the hell in that cell phone could possibly, or logically become missiles? i know, over analyzation. but do something stupid, and get stupid questions.

action: going back to the designs. i couldnt tell what the hell was going on. is that a punch or a batch of hoses? i couldnt tell either.

now the good

the cgi: it all looked beautiful. they made 50 foot robots look like they belonged.

action: thats what i spent the money for. and i got it. lots of explosions and guns. me likes.

that hot ass girl. omg the things i woul.....

alright, rant over.

 

[millennium movies]

^

 

[Marvin]

ppl could call it product placements yea...

on the other hand..the film has cars as protagonists..these real cars(like most real cars) have the maker(logo) on the front of the car somewhere...

I suppose the director could simply opt to shoot the car from somewhere other than the front for the whole film...

curious..is there a big fat GMC logo on optimus' chest?

my friend said the same thing about the Panasonic flash card..
i asked him if he that scene needed a close up of the card(for story telling purposes...the ones bay doesn't have) he said YES...then i asked if it's maybe possible that she could have been using one of the best flash cards...which would tend to be one like Panasonic...he said yes....and finally i asked if the Panasonic cards say Panasonic...he just nodded...
(note the product placement in that past paragraph lol)

cell phone with missles?
-the energy giving all spark gives the creaturs a spark, where there was none...
don't be so sure those are normal missles it's firing
but rather nrg weapons maybe even encased in shells

apart from star screams and the other military vehicles....cybertronians were using cybertronian weapons(note BB)

The camero upgrade was a story telling device...and the fact that it came right before the autobots did their scanning thing...was actually really key story telling...
my pal came out saying, how the hell did optimus and the others copy the cars...that made no sense..
I said, did u remember how BB did it...
and he said, i thought BB just stole the guys car..
NOW IT MAKES SENSE
(i suppose it could have been clearer)

if u think the designs were unclear..take a look at the house scene again
everyone reads as who their supposed to read as...
if ur gonna complain about the crazy action scene...go take a look at any war film for example (cept pearl titanic harbour), when the fighting starts soldiers get jumbled...it's the way of things

if u think these characters were "similar" looking?
go take a look at the ninja turtles