Transformers Was Michael Bay a Good Choice?

[Marvin]

if Spielberg had 7 scripts given to him and two were bad boys, one was con air, one was a war movie that has a poorly WRITTEN love story for 2/3 of it, one is a pointless island movie(produced by spielberg)...

my point...
spielberg gets the shindlers list scripts/indyjones stuff....bay gets badboys and labeled....
One can't look at saving private ryan and pear harbour on a scriptual level and then simply say bay missed the point


lastly
maybe if u had tim story on this movie u'd appretiate the truth in the matter

 

[Kap]

hmm how interesting


considering he's the director brought on a heavily produced machine(like most of his films)

Action wise : he's just about completely responsible(beyond it's basic outline)

Story wise : (and here's the interesting part) It's written by someone else...it's filtered though the ppl paying for the film...
and he(staying on budget) pretty much add or takes out scenes pretty much on the spot trying to keep the tone of the story consistent and communicating with a clarity and atmosphere that best fits what's on paper

no oil sub themes?
darn that bay for not writing it in/shooting it somehow/or having one of the characters break from the script and say they want to milk this planet dry of it's "oils" u know....forget that the script has them chasing the cube...

That pretty much sums it up. What Bay is responsible for though are the changes in design, style and those thrown in on-the-spot-funny-moments. Stuff that will annoy us, probably as much as Green Goblins costume for SM1 did me. The thing is, none of those changes weakens the script more than it was from the begining. As long as the movie is a solid experience stuff like a monkey starscream and flames on Optimus will probably be forgiven.

Was MB the perfect choice for this first movie? I kinda think so. It seems like he embraced the Transformers franchise in his own way and extracted the most important stuff while keeping it very very realistic, dirty and performance driven. I think it was important for a movie like TF to really come in huge and blow everyone away this summer with so many blockbusters competing for the audience. If Bay and Spielberg did it right, Transformers will be the movie everyone remembers from this summer. Opening up for more fleshed-out sequels. I am however all for Spielberg taking over directing a future sequel. But Bay was indeed perfect for this one.

 

[Kryptonian Warrior]

If not Michael Bay, then who?

 

[DorkyFresh]

Michael Bay was a good choice...but he wasn't a GREAT choice. i WILL say that another director (depending on who) could've potentially made this film a SR, SM3, or PotC3. at least we'll get the wambam thank you mam w/out the bad after-taste.

 

[SpideyZERO]

Maybe...he has some goods and bads

 

[Cinemaman]

I will vote on July 4th after watching the movie, but now I am fine with what he has done

 

[Hunter Rider]

I will vote on July 4th after watching the movie, but now I am fine with what he has done

Likewise and other than Cameron i can't see anyone else i'd want on a TF movie so i voted yes

 

[Overman27pj]

Good thread.

 

[Figs]

I voted yes. For a first live action Transformers, it needs to knock people out of their seats. Simply for the fact that it needs to gain the interest of the general audience who most likely wouldn't want most of the movie to just be dialogue as apposed to action. With that being said, they better step it up storywise for a sequel though. I know im going to love this movie. Mainly for the action obviously, but if they make a sequel and it's just more explosions action with no real engaging story....I won't be that motivated for it. Bay all the way for this first attempt at a live action film!

 

[UltimateMagneto]

Having seen it, I vote yes. Bay was definitely a good choice.

I think it was important for a movie like TF to really come in huge and blow everyone away this summer with so many blockbusters competing for the audience. If Bay and Spielberg did it right, Transformers will be the movie everyone remembers from this summer.

Agreed. And I do think they did it right. There's plenty of memorable moments to choose from, that I just don't see how anyone will forget this movie quickly.

 

[gimmen64]

I know that the studio has done one hell of a good job marketing this film. I have enjoyed Bay's movies and look foward to seeing TF. I wait to vote until I see the movie and I'll be back to give my opinions, but as of now, from what I've seen and read, this movie is gonna rock my socks off.

 

[CFlash]

Just putting this out there:
I've seen several of the reviews cite Steven Spielberg's influence in the movie. It seems the first half is very Spielberg-ish. Do the people that have seen it agree?

So then another question might be: would Michael Bay be a good choice WITHOUT Steven Spielberg? I can't help but think of Barry Sonnenfeld... he did "Men in Black" with Spielberg, "Wild Wild West" without him.

 

[Cth]

Just putting this out there:
I've seen several of the reviews cite Steven Spielberg's influence in the movie. It seems the first half is very Spielberg-ish. Do the people that have seen it agree?

So then another question might be: would Michael Bay be a good choice WITHOUT Steven Spielberg? I can't help but think of Barry Sonnenfeld... he did "Men in Black" with Spielberg, "Wild Wild West" without him.

1) Absolutely. They manage to juggle the introductions of all the characters as well as establishing the locales and still keep it moving fairly quickly and coherently. There's moments that just scream E.T. at times, others evocative of JAWS, the Blackout sequence reminded me of War of the Worlds.. so yeah.

I fully expected Bay to give us surface moments with characters.. he actually spends some time with Sam and Mikaela, giving us some quiet emotional moments too. I wasn't expecting that. So I dunno if it's Spielberg's influence or if Bay is maturing somewhat as a director (given his comments during the press conference)

2) Dunno to be honest. Hard to say really. I'll have to see it again and reevaluate.

 

[Cinemaman]

Likewise and other than Cameron i can't see anyone else i'd want on a TF movie so i voted yes

I hope it will be my choice after opening day as well

 

[Mr Jide]

Judgement before seeing the actual film?? Isn't this otherwise known as madness?

 

[GhostPoet]

For me, I feel Bay was the ONLY choice for Transformers...no one else could pull it off.

 

[ervann]

Bay was perfect. Remember this is bringing a cartoon for 10 year olds to the big screen for kids and adults. And I couldn't believe he made this picture with $128m. Go see it to believe it.

 

[CFlash]

Bay was perfect. Remember this is bringing a cartoon for 10 year olds to the big screen for kids and adults. And I couldn't believe he made this picture with $128m. Go see it to believe it.

I thought it was $200m?

 

[Figs]

I thought it was $200m?

$200m sounds way more realistic than the other numbers ive heard being qouted like $120-$130m. With that much CGI the only way the film would have only cost $120-$130m is if the guys at ILM gave them a huge discount price lol.

 

[Thirteen Shadows]

I thought the official budget was around $150-$160m

 

[AyeCapn]

$145m

 

[AyeCapn]

So then another question might be: would Michael Bay be a good choice WITHOUT Steven Spielberg? I can't help but think of Barry Sonnenfeld... he did "Men in Black" with Spielberg, "Wild Wild West" without him.

Yep - that's the kicker right there for me. Spielberg brought out stuff in Bay that he has never really tried before. I'm another for the team directing approach. Pair folks up who are great at what they do to enrich the whole picture.

 

[The Kid]

If not michael then it'd probably be brett ratner's movie and it'd be so average, maybe worth one viewing but nothing to watch again.

the thing about michael bay is that he delivers a competent story if that's your thing, but when it comes to visuals, there's no equal, not even the berg. And most action movies nowadays, like 300 have just copied what michael bay's been doing for a long time (MAKE EVERY SHOT A MONEY SHOT), yet people act like it's new and fresh.

 

[XXTBWCXX]

I thought it was $200m?

$158 million - $200 million.


Whoever said $128 million is smoking on something.


But, anyways, I think Bay was a good choice and the best choice...a movie like this needs to have a great intense level of action (blowing crap up all over the place), and that's Michael Bay's speciality.

 

[CFlash]

If not michael then it'd probably be brett ratner's movie and it'd be so average, maybe worth one viewing but nothing to watch again.

the thing about michael bay is that he delivers a competent story if that's your thing, but when it comes to visuals, there's no equal, not even the berg. And most action movies nowadays, like 300 have just copied what michael bay's been doing for a long time (MAKE EVERY SHOT A MONEY SHOT), yet people act like it's new and fresh.

It's not new and fresh. But it is considered bad filmmaking in terms of storytelling. Commercials, video games, music videos have been doing it for years. The reason it worked for 300 is because it helped the surreal visuals.

I'm glad to hear that Spielberg's storytelling and directing talents may have rubbed off on Bay in Transformers. I can just picture him telling him "Michael, no, that's hackneyed acting.... I keep telling Lucas this but he doesn't listen... Please don't let me down too! Now go in there and give that actor his motivation!"

BTW, I'm pretty pumped for Transformers.