Age of Extinction Transformers 4 USER REVIEW THREAD

[Marvin]

The problem is that no one (with any sense) who disliked the first three would pay to see this in the theaters. Meaning the vast majority of reviewers here are predisposed to like these, uh, films.

Many(reviewers here) say otherwise.

 

[Flint Marko]

First you say it's a terrible movie. I assume you mean that as some personal opinion(which everyone claims to) but then you get into the part where you ask, 'why do people keep saying this movie was funny?'
This is very much the crux of opinion.

Clearly your opinion doesn't really speak to the truth of the matter otherwise, you wouldn't come into the conflict 'with what people keep saying'.

Kind sucks you were robbed of that much money though.

I personally thought the mouth wash joke was funny in the context. Can't speak for everyone.

I was referring to a handful of users I saw in this thread who said they found it funny.
I really do think "booger eater humor" is the perfect term to describe the comedic sensibilities of this film. I'm being extra harsh on this because, as you said, I paid money to see a movie I had absolutely no interest in seeing and ended up walking out of it. In 3D, no less. I essentially lit $30 on fire.

@Rock
sexual inuendo is nothing new to the TF brand. It was littered here and there throughout BeastWars. Particularly with the spiders. If people are old enough to even comprehend the double meaning, they can't be all that young imo.

Sexual innuendo is not a problem. Forced, awkward, unnecessary sexual innuendo for cheap laughs is.
At least, that's my problem with it. I can't speak for any one else.

 

[Marvin]

I was referring to a handful of users I saw in this thread who said they found it funny.
I really do think "booger eater humor" is the perfect term to describe the comedic sensibilities of this film. I'm being extra harsh on this because, as you said, I paid money to see a movie I had absolutely no interest in seeing and ended up walking out of it. In 3D, no less. I essentially lit $30 on fire.

Sexual innuendo is not a problem. Forced, awkward, unnecessary sexual innuendo for cheap laughs is.
At least, that's my problem with it. I can't speak for any one else.

I personally don't think that term really applies, unless it applies to a hand full of other films of the pg13 variety(see IM films even, among others).
I do suppose if you are admitting to an agenda I really can't dispute as to your personal experience.

 

[godisawesome]

Lockdown was a great antagonist, and the main conflict was pretty good. Wahlberg and most of the human stuff was an improvement over Shia and co., though his daughter-character still hasn't lost some of her Shylaman disease. Cemetery Wind and Gramer were also pretty good, but could have used a nastier exit.

On the downside, the Megatron/Galvatron subplot was completely unnecessary for this particular movie. It would have worked better to reveal him being built and tease his return then to try and cram in the resurrection of the Decepticon faction while a third faction is on the rise. The Dinobots were basically wasted when being reduced to voiceless behemoths there to sell toys. If they'd been characters who Prime had to forge an alliance with to escape the prison, they would have been much better handled. And the Chinese subplot felt like needless padding. The lateness of its addition shows with how little we see of it after they get their good press with the "scramble jets scene." We don't even get to see them successfully land an airstrike, which was a mainstay of the previous series for the humans.

All in all, I'd say there's a good movie here clogged to the gills with executive meddling. And. I don't think you can blame Bay for this. The guy clearly prefers simpler stories most of the time, but he listens to his bosses and you got the mess we had here. If someone does a fan edit, they'll probably greatly improve the movie.

6.5

 

[Tony Stark]

They are not bias; this was an incredibly terrible movie. I'd write a summary or a review about why I think that but I can't, as me and my girlfriend walked out when Mark Wahlberg popped open the bud light on the car door with the giant Goodyear sign in the background. It was already 12:30am by that point and we looked up the running time mid movie and once we saw it was 3 hours we both agreed we were not going to sit through another hour and a half of that. So we left, and I really don't think I missed much.
And why do people keep saying this movie was "funny"? The jokes were targeted towards middle school boys.
"I like my mouth to be fresh when I'm making out with your daughter".
Who the hell says things like that?

Exactly the acting was pure crap in this movie. I love how they get Markie Mark saying in his Bostonian accent how tough Texans are.

The thing with the Bud Light was it came out of no where. Just a pure WTF was that?! moment.

 

[Rock Sexton]

I liked that Tucci had an actual character arc. Simmons kinda had one but he was such a cartoon it was just....eh.

He did at first. It was during that drawn out 3rd act of the movie where he became nothing more than one of the outlandish, annoying characters from previous TF sequels spouting random nonsense.

@Rock
sexual inuendo is nothing new to the TF brand. It was littered here and there throughout BeastWars. Particularly with the spiders. If people are old enough to even comprehend the double meaning, they can't be all that young imo.

This isn't BeastWars and that was a niche spinoff of the TF series.

Sexual innuendo is not a problem. Forced, awkward, unnecessary sexual innuendo for cheap laughs is.
At least, that's my problem with it. I can't speak for any one else.

It's most definitely forced and for cheap/immature laughs. Hand jobs from a 17 year old are not something I care to be hearing about in my TF movies.

 

[Tony Stark]

He did at first. It was during that drawn out 3rd act of the movie where he became nothing more than one of the outlandish, annoying characters from previous TF sequels spouting random nonsense.

Yeah it was like in the middle of the film Bay said, "Dammit, I don't have my token annoying male who screams like a girl character in this film. Hey Stanley, let me run this idea by you..."

 

[Rock Sexton]

Yeah it was like in the middle of the film Bay said, "Dammit, I don't have my token annoying male who screams like a girl character in this film. Hey Stanley, let me run this idea by you..."

Yup ..... and then that kiss he tried to plant on the Asian girl. I was just sitting there thinking where is this all going?

 

[Flint Marko]

I personally don't think that term really applies, unless it applies to a hand full of other films of the pg13 variety(see IM films even, among others).
I do suppose if you are admitting to an agenda I really can't dispute as to your personal experience.

Not to start a pissing contest but I think it's quite a stretch to compare the transformers series to the iron man films, or most other pg 13 films for that matter. Transformers is on a level all it's own in my eyes.

 

[Marvin]

This isn't BeastWars and that was a niche spinoff of the TF series.

It's most definitely forced and for cheap/immature laughs. Hand jobs from a 17 year old are not something I care to be hearing about in my TF movies.

And these film aren't G1, it's a 'niche' elseworlds. One in which predacons exist apparently. If anything they are in themselves a spinoff of the TF series. That being said, innuendo of this nature isn't foreign to this universe.

As for that last part, the film never said anything about hand jobs. Perhaps you are reading too far into it

 

[Rock Sexton]

And these film aren't G1, it's a 'niche' elseworlds. One in which predacons exist apparently. If anything they are in themselves a spinoff of the TF series. That being said, innuendo of this nature isn't foreign to this universe.

They're more G1 than Beast Wars. The cameo of the dinbots that literally was wedged out of nowhere doesn't change that.

As for that last part, the film never said anything about hand jobs. Perhaps you are reading too far into it

..... and now you're playing dumb.

 

[Marvin]

Not to start a pissing contest but I think it's quite a stretch to compare the transformers series to the iron man films, or most other pg 13 films for that matter. Transformers is on a level all it's own in my eyes.

Seems more like a double standard in my eyes. But that's my usual bit. Anyways, comparing the content of the jokes themselves and not the films they find themselves in. Keeping it short: Stark peeing in his suit? This is some comedic achievement?

 

[Rock Sexton]

Seems more like a double standard in my eyes. But that's my usual bit. Anyways, comparing the content of the jokes themselves and not the films they find themselves in. Keeping it short: Stark peeing in his suit? This is some comedic achievement?

One pee in suit joke makes IM and TF on the same playing field in terms of obnoxious, juvenile humor?

 

[Flint Marko]

Seems more like a double standard in my eyes. But that's my usual bit. Anyways, comparing the content of the jokes themselves and not the films they find themselves in. Keeping it short: Stark peeing in his suit? This is some comedic achievement?

For every one example you could list from the IM series, you could easily find many more in the transformers films.
Off the top of my head: the *********ion joke from the first film, the oogling of the robots on Megan Fox, the mom freaking out on pot brownies, the handjob joke in the newer one, the out of place mouth wash joke, and the biggest offender, the giant clanking metal balls on the robot in the second film.
Are you really going to try and tell me that these movies don't go for a more infantile approach in their comedic bits? I know words like "infantile" and "immature" are all subjective but I really feel like most people would be on the same page with this one.

 

[Marvin]

They're more G1 than Beast Wars. The cameo of the dinbots that literally was wedged out of nowhere doesn't change that.

..... and now you're playing dumb.

Beast Wars is G1 though, the continuity is explicitly tied, Optimus and Mags themselves showed up on camera. And even then it wouldn't matter, it's the same universe/brand. Like Buffy and Angel. This brand is not foreign to that level of humor. Which is very much the point I'm making.
Also, I'm not talking about the dinobots for I don't know what that would change(they were very much 'G1). I'm thinking Skorpinok

Innuendo.
Any modicum of clever humor is beyond these films, or so I've been told. If they wanted to make a joke about hand jobs, they surely wouldn't have had the tact to do it by way of double meaning and pun. Not bay. He doesn't know the meaning of restraint or clever.
Maybe the character meant what he said, she has the best hands in texas, they kinda payed if off at the end given the action beats. Just saying.

 

[scatterax]

And these film aren't G1, it's a 'niche' elseworlds. One in which predacons exist apparently. If anything they are in themselves a spinoff of the TF series. That being said, innuendo of this nature isn't foreign to this universe.

As for that last part, the film never said anything about hand jobs. Perhaps you are reading too far into it

I think it's more an issue of execution. Innuendo can be funny when subtle. When obvious it comes across as childish.

 

[Rock Sexton]

Beast Wars is G1 though, the continuity is explicitly tied, Optimus and Mags themselves showed up on camera. And even then it wouldn't matter, it's the same universe/brand. Like Buffy and Angel. This brand is not foreign to that level of humor. Which is very much the point I'm making.
Also, I'm not talking about the dinobots for I don't know what that would change(they were very much 'G1). I'm thinking Skorpinok

Show me an example form G1 Transformers where someone spewed an innuendo similar to "best hands in the state for working my stick". We know what Bay was doing with the comments too, trying to make the character of Cade uncomfortable given his anti-dating stance. He took it too far considering the age ramifications of the characters.

Innuendo.
Any modicum of clever humor is beyond these films, or so I've been told. If they wanted to make a joke about hand jobs, they surely wouldn't have had the tact to do it by way of double meaning and pun. Not bay. He doesn't know the meaning of restraint or clever.
Maybe the character meant what he said, she has the best hands in texas, they kinda payed if off at the end given the action beats. Just saying.

They've never come right out and said things like that, it's always been innuendo, just like Sam Witwicki's "happy time" in the first TF.

I think it's more an issue of execution. Innuendo can be funny when subtle. When obvious it comes across as childish.

Exactly. Dunno why we have to keep re-explaining.

 

[scatterax]

One pee in suit joke makes IM and TF on the same playing field in terms of obnoxious, juvenile humor?

Yeah, that joke was dumb, but I don't see that humor repeated times 1000 throughout like the transformer movies. What is a low point in iron man 2 is the norm in transformers.

 

[Marvin]

I think it's more an issue of execution. Innuendo can be funny when subtle. When obvious it comes across as childish.

Unless you have the insight to declare here and now if the joke was technicall funny and or effective...I think, you are explaining your personal parameters for such things. Feel free to speak for yourself, I personally always encourage it.

I frankly don't agree. That is, I don't even agree on the issue of it's actual execution in the film(thought it was fine). I do think there is plenty of similar 'execution' in these dedicated summer comedies and they don't seem to fall flat.
I just have a hard time getting behind these kinda of rules as it pertains to the film experience. Pretty hard to tie down imo.

 

[Marvin]

One pee in suit joke makes IM and TF on the same playing field in terms of obnoxious, juvenile humor?

For every one example you could list from the IM series, you could easily find many more in the transformers films.
Off the top of my head: the *********ion joke from the first film, the oogling of the robots on Megan Fox, the mom freaking out on pot brownies, the handjob joke in the newer one, the out of place mouth wash joke, and the biggest offender, the giant clanking metal balls on the robot in the second film.
Are you really going to try and tell me that these movies don't go for a more infantile approach in their comedic bits? I know words like "infantile" and "immature" are all subjective but I really feel like most people would be on the same page with this one.

That one film supposedly has more than the other(I'll respect the no pissing contest sentiment, though I will say stark has plenty more such things in his wheel house including masterbation and debaucherous jokes of his own) is actually beside the point. the issue was that of one film containing 'booger eater humor' as you called it. The sheer presence of it annoyed you. For I doubt you are going to argue that all the humor in the TF films is of that ilk(dad buys the cheap car, jokes). The point I made was that this was hardly the only film to contain such things. Other pg 13 films have it to. "It's not foreign" was my sentiment.

Now, if your actual problem was a matter of quantity of this particular level of humor, to each his own I suppose. One could just as easily come down on IM in relation to TDK in this same regard. It's a matter of preference, each deck looking down at the one below and thinking themselves above imo.

 

[Flint Marko]

Unless you have the insight to declare here and now if the joke was technicall funny and or effective...I think, you are explaining your personal parameters for such things. Feel free to speak for yourself, I personally always encourage it.

I frankly don't agree. That is, I don't even agree on the issue of it's actual execution in the film(thought it was fine). I do think there is plenty of similar 'execution' in these dedicated summer comedies and they don't seem to fall flat.
I just have a hard time getting behind these kinda of rules as it pertains to the film experience. Pretty hard to tie down imo.

I get that this is all subjective. But can you at least understand why several of us feel that a movie franchise which takes the time to showcase giant metal balls on a robot in the middle of a battle scene, and has comedic beats that are pretty similar to this regularly peppered throughout each movie, just might be a little more childish than your average summer blockbuster?

 

[scatterax]

Unless you have the insight to declare here and now if the joke was technicall funny and or effective...I think, you are explaining your personal parameters for such things. Feel free to speak for yourself, I personally always encourage it.

I frankly don't agree. That is, I don't even agree on the issue of it's actual execution in the film(thought it was fine). I do think there is plenty of similar 'execution' in these dedicated summer comedies and they don't seem to fall flat.
I just have a hard time getting behind these kinda of rules as it pertains to the film experience. Pretty hard to tie down imo.

Ok, now you are putting words in my mouth. All I said in that quote was that innuendo's are better when subtle. Because that's the point. There is a fine line between when a joke is flat out a sex joke, and when it's merely implied. Innuendo's are meant to be the latter.

As for the rest of your post... What exactly are you trying to say? You're starting to come off like a politician in that you're trying to sound PC and smart, but you really don't want to say what your thoughts are, and are being vague just to make it impossible to disagree with you.

 

[DA_Champion]

The Iron Man movies are much too crass and juvenile for me.

 

[scatterax]

I get that this is all subjective. But can you at least understand why several of us feel that a movie franchise which takes the time to showcase giant metal balls on a robot in the middle of a battle scene, and has comedic beats that are pretty similar to this regularly peppered throughout each movie, just might be a little more childish than your average summer blockbuster?

He doesn't want to admit we have valid reasons for finding the humor immature.

Look Marvin, it's ok if you like humor that's purposefully immature. Some people like corny knock knock jokes. That's fine too. We all have different senses of humor and that's not bad. It's just weird when you try to defend things like bumblebee peeing on a human as not being childish when it seems pretty clear that's what they were going for. Like we get that you have your opinion, and you are entitled to think that's funny. I just don't see why you feel the need to pass it off as the kind of humor we normally see in blockbusters when that's rarely the case. Surely you can objectively see the difference in the tone of the humor in these movies?

 

[scatterax]

The Iron Man movies are much too crass and juvenile for me.

See, I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not here lol.