I agree that if you take into account ALL of the material from G1-today (comics especially), the Transformers universe and mythology is quite deep. But my point was that G1 cartoon wasn’t really that complex as it was designed specifically to sell the toyline to young kids. Instead of well written dialogue and humorous moments that you’ll find in today’s comics and shows, you had lots of flash, zap-zap, and break-dancing back in the day.
The point is why are you thinking so hard on why people flock to and enjoy Transformers versus say insert movie of better quality?
I can kind of see specs’ point on higher quality films with great writing and direction getting the box office shaft because people chose to see a low brow comedy or a mindless summer popcorn flick over something deeper and thought-provoking. It’s part of, if not the main reason, that a film like Punch-Drunk Love stays in theaters for no more than 2 weeks while the latest Twilight hangs around for almost 2 months.
But at the end of the day, people are going to like what they’re going to like. No use engaging in hyperbole over differing tastes.
I agree with specs as well BUT i’m certainly not gonna weep for the public or feel somebody is stupid for going to see a mindless action movie or lowbrow comedy. I mean alot of the high profile movies ALWAYS end up gaining favor once they hit the DVD and cable market anyways so people are actually watching it and enjoying those as well.
Anyone care to answer one question for me: Why is G1 a persistent dart board for TF fans? The 3 or so years that the show aired was poorly-written and full of silly moments, budgeted animation, filler episodes, and heavy censorship. Fine. But the main story was still about a bitter war waged across galaxies and centuries. Why doesn’t the series deserve to be reworked into anything better?
And why is a complaint about a movie automatically interpreted as some Freudian longing for G1? I complained the action is hard to follow, and designs of some of the TFs in the movie are too ‘busy,’ but that doesn’t mean returning to the budgeted G1 series with simple animation shortcuts makes sense either. Even though the new TF Prime show are based on TF Animated and have that simple DCAU look, I think the designs in that series leagues better than G1.
I get that the ‘raping my childhood’ whining is annoying, but so is making a rocket launch of conclusions, from complaining that a movie is off the mark to expecting Cannes accolades.
And anyway, Bay’s TF isn’t based directly on G1 anyway, is it? The Fallen isn’t G1.
Spoken like a true fan! I agree with you. Humanoid with car parts isn’t perfect, but it was what the Takara designers worked with at the time. The movies have to have the “Human Factor” unfortunately, because, if it didn’t, then why do it live action. While I would love to see a movie devoid of human presence, it just won’t work.
With that said, who thinks the Ferarri is supposed to be Hot Rod?
The Fallen was a character originating from the Dreamwave comics.
Except when people say “thanks for raping my childhood”, it’s safe to assume that they mean “thanks for ruining my fond memories of watching G1”. Unless your 12 right now, most of us late 20/early 30 forum members (I’d wager a fair amount of us) were children when G1 was popular. So whenever people use that phrase as a negative/knock against Bay’s Transformers, they are the ones directly comparing G1’s Transformers and Bay’s Transformers… which as I pointed out is just silly as their “childhood memories” are based off of a 20 minute commerical for a toyline.
EDIT: Basically, I don’t understand how a person can enjoy G1 (cartoon series specifically, the comics were a bit better) and all of it’s glorified silliness and not enjoy Bay’s Transformers and all of it’s bigger-budgeted glorified silliness.
i read somewhere that the ferarri is a decepticon. And Ferrari has to ok the voice actor for it lol
See that was my couterargument as well when it came to defending Bay’s Transformers series. Its like i understood the legit hate but these guys were making it seem like G1 was Shakespeare and there was so much deep though provoking aspects to it. I’m not saying thats an excuse for certain things Bay has done but i don’t think the movies are the works things ever like many are quick to say.
I mean, I get where people have legit complaints against Michael Bay and his film-making prowess outside of action sequences, but let’s be real here, you know damn well what you’re getting with a Michael Bay film. There shouldn’t be any letdown or shock as you really shouldn’t have any sort of expectation at all walking into the theater to begin with. And this isn’t something unique to Michael Bay, there are plenty of terrible directors that somehow continue to get opportunity after opportunity to showcase how terrible they truly are; not every film-maker can be Nolan, etc.
I think you are talking about that interview from AICN. That was just bad editing of the text, as they had to hack it up so no spoilers were let out. The Ferrari is surely an Autobot, unless he’s a spy. Yes, the Ferarri voice thing is true though. So you know it won’t be Charles Martinet as the voice actor.
actually, 'twas another interview. I went back, and found out it’s a lambourghini decepticon. I got my ridiculously out of my paygrade cars mixed up 
anyone else find it ironic that Neil Armstrong’s latest interview includes a bit that more or less says that there was " off the record exploring " …
I am coherently refering to the TF3 trailer.
As it’s been stated before, a lot of it is nostalgia.
If you’re a male in his 30’s, and raised in North America, odds are that you were most likely a TF fan in your youth. When you’re 9 or 10 years old, the G1 toys and cartoons seem(ed) pretty awesome, and that’s what we all remember, the awesomeness of TF.
Going back and watching the G1 cartoons now in my 30’s, I wholeheartedly agree with your post. The plots suck, the animation is choppy and recycled frequently, the dialog is corny, etc, etc. With the exception of Prime, Starscream, Megs, and some others, the majority of the cast are pretty forgettable as far as personality goes.
Now Beast Wars on the other hand, has left a lasting impression on me. It’s easily my favourite TF series. Sure, the CG has not aged well, but the plot, character development, and voice acting are top-notch. I still watch that shit on a regular basis. The fact that characters die during the series says something about the writing and the intended audience. Just watch “Code of Hero” and you’ll see what I mean.
As for the movie, I’ll go see it, but I’m not expecting much. I ought to know better after the sheer disaster of the second movie, but I’m a TF fan, and I’m a sucker for transforming robots.
I think it’s because Bay’s TF is barely related to the 80s cartoon, aside from shit writing. As laughably bad as GI Joe was, a ton of that movie was lifted from the cartoon/comics that most fans recognize. Even though the cartoon went into tangents, the bulk of the series wasn’t about Spike drooling at a chick’s downblouse.
And you know good and well that the series was tied down by syndication standards and censors. Was the 86 movie any less of a toyline advertisement? No, but it was free of silliness and filler that G1 and most syndicated shows from the 80s suffered from.
The War for Cybertron game resembles (a heavily distilled) G1, but the movies are just Bay movies (and imo poor ones even by Bay standards).
I saw the other two, so I’m sure I’ll see the third one.
tf was a weak ass movie people with no clue about good movies like or biased tf fans like. for normal people, the movie sucked ass. unless your one of the 2 mentioned categories or a 13 y o zit faced geek.
Huh, so Dark of the Moon is the name of a play from the 1940s…
Wonder why they couldn’t just named Dark side of the moon though.
Read if you DARE!
New Packaging, Same Product
Spoiler
Confirmed Identity of the Tanker Truck
EDIT- There is a Facebook user that has pics posted of it said characters bot mode. Best version yet
It’s different, but I am not opposed to it.