uh anyone snag any good toys?
i saw target exclusive stuff on sale…was wondering if i should pull the trigger
Afterthought:
Believability, actually, is an important part of the fiction world. There are fact checkers in the literary world (and I’m sure Hollywood too) to make sure that something you wrote is actually plausible. I could write: “So there I was, on the corner of 3rd and Vine, talking to Lou. Lou used to work for the Russian KGB, but now he was a hot dog vendor in front of the Borders bookstore. We were shooting the shit, when suddenly an alien spaceship came down and asked us to take them to our leaders. Me and Lou get into an argument over whether to send them to Bush or Putin.” There would be fact checkers to make sure that 3rd and Vine exist, that those streets actually do cross, that there’s a Borders there, and if it’s legal to sell hot dogs there. Nevermind the stuff with me talking to ex-KGB and the descending alien or whatever.
As much as we get wrapped up in fiction and fantasy and what not, in the end we still want our stories to make sense in some way. Like, “Okay, this isn’t really real…but it COULD happen.” So there are areas where you can push the envelope, and others where you can’t. While we’d be okay with it, I’m sure there would be people who’d say “WTF?! There’s NO WAY that HUGE robot just turned into a HANDGUN. Totally unrealistic.” Which is I guess where Bay was coming from for this film.
Megatron
Spoiler
The toy turns into a jet
I don’t have a problem with anybody’s objections, but I’ll say this:
I’m damn glad the property is in the hands of Hasbro, and NOT the fans.
some people have some damn funny ideas about what the film should be (most arguements here are civil, but I don’t think the original designs would’ve been better than this, I just don’t…they’re ALIENS, they should look strange, and they do.)
I disagree with the “Megatron into Gun” crowd, unless you want Megatron to be seven inches tall, versus a gigantic Truck.
and I’m just pleased Optimus is a Truck, I don’t give a fuck what kind of truck.
I hated the initial designs, leaked images, and info. Even the “final” CG renders looked like shit (most of them). Couldnt tell one from the other (Decepticons, mainly). While I think the initial idea of not translating their cartoon and comic version directly to the big screen was a good idea, they went a tad overboard. I think a couple of more simplified lines, and more “solid” parts would have made them epic (look at the art in the Official Prequel Comic, for example).
BUT
Seeing them in MOTION, on the big screen, against real life environments, people, and the what not makes them look REALLY cool.
So in the end, I’m a see it, and probably dig it. Then I’ll proceed to purchase whatever Nerd Collectors version they release on DVD, all while defending it as I do with everything I like (like the whole Spider-Man 3 debacle).
EDIT: I’m so glad this version of Megatron wont be a pistol. Ugh. That would be superfail. Works in the context of the 'toon and comics, but would be wack on the big screen. Maybe a large canon, but not a pistol. While I loved the G1 Megs, he was most enjoyable in Robot form. lol
I guess i’ll chime in. while i am a G1 fan, and i dont luuuv the designs , i can tolerate them. Once i see the movie ill judge.
For me, if any of the characters get some characterization and passable lines, ill be surpised. Thats the one thing imo people are nto focusing on.
The early script , ratchet/ironhide/brawl and a lot of the deceps dont speak or dont get anything distinctive.
The thing that separates TF from other big robot/mecha fiction is that they’re autonomous characters with personality. Granted the show had a lot of 2d characterization but the voices/acting pulled it up.
Im still kinda worried that while the fx and action will be good, It will still be ID4 with robots.
But for the aesthetics part, Im somewhat not too upset with the designs save for Frenzy,Starscreams lower half(no homo),scoponok not having a robot mode and Ratchet.
The autobots are mostly true to the essence of their alt modes w/bb being a slight deviation.
Brawl still a tank, screma a till a fighter jet, bonecrusher while different, is true to what little of his G1 personality he has. Blackout to me is an upgraded fom of Vortex.
If MEgs was a gun, it would be laughable to the gneral audience for him to shrink down. If they make him a tank, hes stoo similar to brawl. So, i guess the cybertronian jet was one of the few limited options that work.
So really, the voice/character is what really affects my decision on the movie overall.
oh, and I’m a big fan of “Shortpacked” (What Allsparker isn’t?)…me and Dave Willis (Walky) get along.
we’re not pals, and I’d never let him crash at my place, but I might donate plasma to save his life.
if he needed it.
but he’d owe me a kidney.
Movie TF toys fan-painted with G1 colorways…
EDIT: I guess I’ll eat my words about the designs. I still hate the ‘mangled metal’ look most of the TFs have, but the really abstract faces give them a robotic look (kind of like certain Japanese mecha designs) that works better on film than the humanoid faces of the cartoon.
I thought Megatron was going to be tank this time. That’s actually pretty cool, but it sounds like a wannabe Autobot.
Starscream still looks retarded, as does the Autobot who transforms into a fucking Mustang. Fuck product placement.
that Starscream is fucking ridiculous.
we already have a Movie Universe Starscream, why do we need one in “G1 Colors”?
the G1 Crowd is the last people I’d be catering to, since they don’t wanna get behind the movie, or the designs.
Mustang?
Nice work. I like the G1 color scheme for movie Ratchet. That green/red scheme makes me want to vomit.
Eh, I’ve accepted this is going to be nothing like what I really want to see, so I’m just going to go into the theater with an open mind. If I like it, good. If I hate it, I’m okay. If I think it’s the best thing ever, something must be wrong with me. 
No matter what happens, it’s not going to be the same thing you cherished when you were younger. Actors are dead and gone, people who aren’t overly familiar with the fandom won’t care about if it’s the exact same as G1 (they don’t even know what “G1” is, and often confuse Shockwave with Soundwave). Then there’s the people who were weaned in on Transformers starting with Beast Wars, or Armada, or Energon. It’s not going to be the eighties all over again, with the exception of the insanely-huge amount of retail product found in stores.
We still have what was left behind from our childhoods, not to mention cool things like Alts, Classics, and new G1 comics. For me, that’s enough. At least we know something like that will continue, even if the mainstream version is vastly different.
f_man - I posted a page back about some of the toys I picked up.
Brian - I wanna hear a-chan’s thoughts on this! :lovin:
Heh. I have crashed at his place. We played a looooot of paper telephone those days.
I was looking over some of the CG renderings. As I’ve said, some of the designs have grown on me. My main gripe is that the feet are all somehow the same, lol. But that was the same case with G1.
Cool promo shot with Prime:
actually thats a **Decepticon **character, whos the mustang. (Barricade.)
also, GM is the main sponsor of the film,not Ford.
Bay wanted to have a camaro vs mustang chase/battle in the film at some point. But ford had some issues with being in the film , so they are using a saleen-modified mustang was used as the alt mode to get around that.
I actually LIKE that.
So are fans still arguing about the movie designs?
At first I was in the “OMG THIS MOVIE WILL SUCK” camp.
But then I sat and thought about it, after seeing some of the newer trailers, and stopped being a bitch.
Look at Starscream, he is a jet, and he looks awesome. Jazz, he looks amazing, so does blackout.
That scene with bonecrusher and prime made my whole week. How can you not be excited for this movie after that scene?
They are giant walking robots, they have tons of gears and shit inside then when they transform. I love the new designs, I was looking at a pack of Lunchibles today and noticed that Megatron had sharp teeth, that is awsome.
Michael Bay is probably the perfect director for this movie too. People are acting like the transformers are some amazingly crafted story that you can butcher, they aren’t.
They are toys who fight over purple cubes and have terrible aim.
I predict that 80 percent of the haters will instantly take back everything they are spouting once they see the movie and shit their pants at the awesomeness.
The other 20 percent will act like it was the worst movie ever because it’s the internet and you have fags like that.
I’m can’t wait till Jazz fucks someone up. The one scene where he was like “Shit, I need a form” and picks whatever car he is, was great.
After seeing all the trailers I don’t understand how anyone can be like “oh, this movie will stink”. Bay is going to nail this watch. Instant franchise.
When Bonecrusher fights Prime, I wonder if anyone in the audience will say, “NIGGA ROLLERBLADING ON THE FREEWAY.”
I definitely understand what you’re saying. Most of it is very true. But I can also understand the Anti-Movie camp, somewhat. While I agree the designs made me take a step back, I am now more in the “This movies gonna rock hard as fuck” camp now.
I think we just have to accept this is NOT a reimagining of the G1 story, but another take on it, just like the other 50 versions of the same Transformers’ story (Armada, Energon, Robots in Disguise, various comics, various Publications (Dreamwave, IDW, Marvel, Marvel… and so on, and so on).
Seriously guys, this is Transformers 2007, not 1984. The older designs would look KIDDY/SILLY on the big screen against REAL people. I wouldn’t be scared/intimidated by fucking Bumblebee, or anyone. I would be like “FUCKING BORING, YO” seeing Megatron Transform into a fucking pistol. Get the fuck out of here.
http://www.alwaysbeta.com/wp-content/uploads/bshih/optimus_1_full_1.jpg
^ No thx.