Trust me, Transformers has a story. Albiet simple, but full of heart- in my opinion. It's whether or not you personally relate to it which is key.
The story is a simple one it's the journey of a teenage guy becoming a hero. It's the story of a teenage guy, his car, and getting the girl of his dreams.
Being around the same age as Sam, this is actually the most relatable character for me personally in all of these films combined (by that I mean one that is based off of a comic type property- or something that resembles that). I think it will probably be the same for most teenage guys and young college aged guys as well... beyond that? I really can't tell you, I don't know.
There are ALOT of other characters as well, but the key player is Sam, Bumblebee and Mikela- at least in my opinion. Because that's the branch of the story I relate to most.
This is one of those films that you have three side stories with their own interesting characters, personalities and arcs that eventually come together during the grand finale. Hell, we haven't even seen one side story AT ALL in these trailers.
But, I can tell you - to those just watching the trailers and thinking this film will be ALL about Transformers and little about the people in the world, you're going to be in for the surprise of your life. This is truly ID4 in ALL ways... and sure, ID4 may be considered 'shallow'- but, it's a triumphant of the human spirit. Joining together, uniting against a greater evil. I still feel great during that "this is independence day" speech, even though I know it could be considered corny.
Optimus doesn't show up until late into the SECOND or early in the THIRD act. That should give you an idea.... there is a LOT that happens before Optimus and the Transformers appear that we are actually seeing very little of in these trailers. Those who have read the script and are reading the novelization know this.
It's only that marketing wise- the human stories isn't exactly what is going to sell that well... I mean, it's going to sell- but if you had the choice to either showcase the Transformers or showcase the human stories, which do you think will get more people interested? Which is another reason I think the film might have good legs... those thinking "just robots" will probably come out saying, "that movie was better than I though- great effects, great action, and actually pretty cool characters (human) as well."
If you ask me personally, as someone who has read the first script for Transformers and the novel for FF2, although both are my next really really hyped films of the summer. To me at least, Transformers has the better characters and the most heart in it- at least on the page. It's just- they're not really aiming to sell three human stories and Transformers, their aiming to sell Transformers.
I guess it depends on your view point though. FF2 is an upgraded version of FF1. Whereas Transformers is really akin to ID4 and more 'Day After Tomorrow' than War of the Worlds... in that it has a story, great characters and these characters journeys are so spread apart, yet cohesive.
Just ramblings to the post, no particular order- but I think you got the point I was trying to make.
