Transformers Transformers On Set Report from Scifi.com

[roach]

I'll watch that doc. I always thought they wrote the script together and that there wasn't huge strife (aside from the usual stuff). BTW, I was a fan of the book as well as the movie and I thought Spielberg did a top notch job... I didn't miss Brody's wife's love affair at all. (same with Jurassic Park... the super dumbed down science lesson scene notwithstanding).

At least Spielberg didn't turn the shark into a natural-sized tiger shark (more believable) or a Killer Whale (more poignant with the possibility of Seaworld Product Placement).... which is what Bay would have done.

more changes....Differences from the novel

The film remains quite faithful to the book, with the only significant change being the absence of an affair between Ellen and Matt Hooper. In the novel, Brody is a native of Amity while his wife, Ellen, was previously a member of the wealthy New York summer holiday set before she married him. Ellen's despair with her life in Amity leads to a short sexual encounter between her and Hooper. In the film, Brody moved to Amity Island from New York with his family to take up the position of the chief of police, and the relationship between Ellen and Hooper is removed.

There are several other minor differences as well:

The film shows that Brody has two sons, eleven-year-old Michael and four-year-old Sean. In the novel, the children were: Billy (aged 13), Martin Jr (aged 11) and Sean (aged 10).
In the novel, Hooper is killed by the shark during the dive to examine it, with the intention of killing it with a bangstick.
In the novel, the real reason for Larry Vaughn keeping the beaches open is because of his Mafia ties, not the welfare of the town.
All events in the final reel of the film aboard the boat occur in one unbroken trip at sea, while in the novel the men safely return to Amity's harbor several times.
Quint's monologue about the USS Indianapolis is absent from the novel and the original screenplay.
In the novel, the shark dies as a result of injuries from the bullets, stab wounds, and harpoons embedded in it. For the film, something with more visual impact was deemed necessary. Benchley was not happy with this change, claiming that the airtank explosion was unbelievable.[6]

 

[Lone]

They could've gotten a director who is a fan of TF and adapted Dreamwave's G1 comic...

Instead we get Bay and "WoTW: With Giant ****ing Robots!!1!"...nice.

 

[roach]

They could've gotten a director who is a fan of TF and adapted Dreamwave's G1 comic...

Instead we get Bay and "WoTW: With Giant ****ing Robots!!1!"...nice.

Singer wasnt a fan of X-men and it worked out

 

[big D Evil]

Singer wasnt a fan of X-men and it worked out

I think thats because the whole mutant/gay thing.
I had a gay friend who always loved the x-men even when we were kids and we talked about it one time as adults and he said he always related to the mutants because they were outcasts of society etc. I think I read somewhere that singer had similar feelings.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

He tries to sell the glasses on ebay not knowing what is on them, not the cube.

In regards to Bay's comments. Oh great, real glad they got a director that A. gives a **** and B. isn't interested until he can change everything to make his film. His own alien invasion film like WOTW.

Because Constantine was so faithful.

Fact of the matter is Constantine was somewhat faithful. Granted it wasn't faithful in terms of the story, but the spirit and the tone of Hellblazer was clearly evident in the film.

I think had they made Constantine into a bigger more manipulative ******* than he already is, made him hate Heaven and Hell equally, and ended the final confrontation with the First, Second, and Third of the Fallens, and remove the Holy Shotgun then it would've been the classic Constantine film.

In fact, from the looks of things, Constantine is actually a better film than Michael Bay's Transformers.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Singer wasnt a fan of X-men and it worked out

It also helped that the writers Singer brought were X-Men fans.

 

[roach]

It also helped that the writers Singer brought were X-Men fans.

and the writers of this movie are fans

 

[LastSunrise1981]

and the writers of this movie are fans

Maybe. I don't know. The changes made to the story and the fact that they're approaching it using a "human perspective story" makes me question otherwise.

I'll still see it on opening night and give it a chance. But the changes to Prime, Megatron, Tyrese, Anthony Anderson(While he's great on certain episodes of the Shield, I still don't like him), and that Even Stevens guy really makes me apprehensive about the project.

But we'll see. I just feel that they should focus more on the robots themselves instead of trying to make it into War of the Worlds.

 

[roach]

Maybe. I don't know. The changes made to the story and the fact that they're approaching it using a "human perspective story" makes me question otherwise.

I'll still see it on opening night and give it a chance. But the changes to Prime, Megatron, Tyrese, Anthony Anderson(While he's great on certain episodes of the Shield, I still don't like him), and that Even Stevens guy really makes me apprehensive about the project.

But we'll see. I just feel that they should focus more on the robots themselves instead of trying to make it into War of the Worlds.

what's wrong with the casting????
...and everything I have heard from the writers and cast suggests that the Robots get the most scenes

 

[bunk]

That does really bother me that Bay hasn't done any small films to a possible artistic side or interest in a certain subject. All directors do that, sometimes to a fault. He really is a money bastard isn't he? I'm an artist and I've worked on projects I thought were rubbish just for the money but I can still put my best into it, hopefully Bay is the same way.

 

[roach]

That does really bother me that Bay hasn't done any small films to a possible artistic side or interest in a certain subject. All directors do that, sometimes to a fault. He really is a money bastard isn't he? I'm an artist and I've worked on projects I thought were rubbish just for the money but I can still put my best into it, hopefully Bay is the same way.

but why does he have to do a smal artistic movie...I am an aspiring screenwriter and most of the movies I write are the type of movies I want to see.....

 

[CFlash]

but why does he have to do a smal artistic movie...I am an aspiring screenwriter and most of the movies I write are the type of movies I want to see.....

Because small drama driven movies are where you cut your teeth on filmmaking as a storytelling art. I mean critics can be cynical and quip about any director including Spielberg... but I've never heard a review that was quite like this: "I received the impression that Pearl Harbor was made in complete ignorance of the last 100 years of film history, using incredibly hackneyed and old-fashioned devices that might have come from D.W. Griffith himself."

 

[roach]

Because small drama driven movies are where you cut your teeth on filmmaking as a storytelling art. I mean critics can be cynical and quip about any director including Spielberg... but I've never heard a review that was quite like this: "I received the impression that Pearl Harbor was made in complete ignorance of the last 100 years of film history, using incredibly hackneyed and old-fashioned devices that might have come from D.W. Griffith himself."

so should he be making movie to please the critics

 

[CFlash]

so should he be making movie to please the critics

Nope. I didn't say that. If you don't get what I said, there's not many other ways I can rephrase it.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

so should he be making movie to please the critics

What CFlash is saying is that Bay should've started making smaller movies before going into the big budget action films.

Singer, Nolan, Raimi, Spielberg, Spike Lee, Peter Jackson, James Cameron, Ridley Scott, and so on and so forth didn't start off making big movies. They started small and eventually worked their way up to making larger films.

Bay, on the other hand, is mainly known for just making loud mindless action films. The only Bay film I truly enjoyed was The Rock. But it worked because Nicholas Cage, Sean Connery, Ed Harris, and Michael Biehn are great actors.

If Bay started in the indie projects and worked himself up to bigger films, he'd probably have a clearer understanding of what The Transformers are all about(storywise and emotion wise).

 

[xwolverine2]

If Bay started in the indie projects and worked himself up to bigger films, he'd probably have a clearer understanding of what The Transformers are all about(storywise and emotion wise).

yup.... just like uweboll...........



...........

 

[big D Evil]

yup.... just like uweboll...........



...........

Hey I just realized! Michael bay is Uwe Boll with more money!!
Has anyone ever seen the two together??

 

[roach]

If Bay started in the indie projects and worked himself up to bigger films, he'd probably have a clearer understanding of what The Transformers are all about(storywise and emotion wise).

why??? What would that prove????
If he did a movie like the Piano how would that give him a better understanding of Transformers??????

 

[CFlash]

What CFlash is saying is that Bay should've started making smaller movies before going into the big budget action films.

Singer, Nolan, Raimi, Spielberg, Spike Lee, Peter Jackson, James Cameron, Ridley Scott, and so on and so forth didn't start off making big movies. They started small and eventually worked their way up to making larger films.

Bay, on the other hand, is mainly known for just making loud mindless action films. The only Bay film I truly enjoyed was The Rock. But it worked because Nicholas Cage, Sean Connery, Ed Harris, and Michael Biehn are great actors.

If Bay started in the indie projects and worked himself up to bigger films, he'd probably have a clearer understanding of what The Transformers are all about(storywise and emotion wise).

That's right. Heck, he didn't even have "start off" making character driven movies. He could have turned to them the same way Steven Spielberg did after Jaws.

 

[CFlash]

why??? What would that prove????
If he did a movie like the Piano how would that give him a better understanding of Transformers??????

The Piano? LOl. Anyhow, to answer your question it would give him insight into the elements that made Transformers standout (the characters, the sci-fi elements, etc) rather than focusing on the cliched aspects of it (good guys vs bad guys) and big explosions.

Lucas had his American Graffiti... a cinema classic. Spielberg turned to Close Encounters after Jaws... a decidedly very non-big-budget movie. And he's since made even deeper character driven movies. Sam Raimi had A Simple Plan (a great movie).

Hollywood Cheese is not exactly good filmmaking. Sure it might be fun... but it's forgetable and ultimately means nothing. Bay is that sort of director and it's sad that he's doing Transformers.... a franchise that has lasted 20 years.

 

[big D Evil]

why??? What would that prove????
If he did a movie like the Piano how would that give him a better understanding of Transformers??????

What they are saying is Bay only understands the action aspect of movies. He is lacking in the character development areas.
If he would have started off making small drama/character driven films he may have a better understanding of those aspects and be able to make deeper movies with more feeling.

 

[roach]

That's right. Heck, he didn't even have "start off" making character driven movies. He could have turned to them the same way Steven Spielberg did after Jaws.

and that would be him following Spielburg...all of the directors you just mentioned got to greatness in their own way. Dont get me wrong I know that when it comes down to it Bay will not be known as one of the great directors of our time(based on his current work). However he he decided to change up and make what you guys consider real movies and become a real director in you guys's eyes he should do it on his own path.

 

[roach]

What they are saying is Bay only understands the action aspect of movies. He is lacking in the character development areas.
If he would have started off making small drama/character driven films he may have a better understanding of those aspects and be able to make deeper movies with more feeling.

Honestly I would rather have someone who understands action to helm this movie rather than someone who doesnt. Look at the bang up job Ang Lee did on Hulk.

 

[big D Evil]

and that would be him following Spielburg...all of the directors you just mentioned got to greatness in their own way. Dont get me wrong I know that when it comes down to it Bay will not be known as one of the great directors of our time(based on his current work). However he he decided to change up and make what you guys consider real movies and become a real director in you guys's eyes he should do it on his own path.

No offense but he isnt capable of making those kind of deep movies. Thats why alot of these guys make small drama movies to start off and work their way up to bigger films.
Bay didn't work his way up. All he knows is big budget no-brain movies.
He is like a b movie director with a giant budget. He has professionals all around him and he does know the formulas of making big budget schlock but his movies are soulless.
he should have started off small, learned the trade and then worked his way up. he would be a much better director if he understood the non explosion side of film making...

 

[roach]

No offense but he isnt capable of making those kind of deep movies. Thats why alot of these guys make small drama movies to start off and work their way up to bigger films.
Bay didn't work his way up. All he knows is big budget no-brain movies.
He is like a b movie director with a giant budget. He has professionals all around him and he does know the formulas of making big budget schlock but his movies are soulless.
he should have started off small, learned the trade and then worked his way up. he would be a much better director if he understood the non explosion side of film making...

ok but this guy got an in to Hollywood thru his big budget mindless movies. I guarantee that if Dream works called you to direct or write this movie you wouldnt turn it down because you hadnt worked on smaller films.
and why is everyone being judged by past exploits. Who knew Raimi could knock one out the park on Spider-man???? Who knew PJ would create the phenomenon of LOTR and then disappoint on King Kong???
Who knew Jamie Foxx was a pretty good actor before Ray????