Transformers (2007): One Year On

[grahamthomson]

After a year, does the film hold up to re-watching?

[The Doctor]

No idea. Not watched it since the IMAX run. I'm not convinced it's a film that will work on the small screen. I may be one of the few here who does not own the DVD!

-Ralph

[kayevcee]

Saw it four times in the cinema, lastly on IMAX. Haven't seen it since.

-Nick

[Andy Turnbull]

I have it on DVD and haven't watched it in months.

Probably only watched it a few times.

Andy

[duffism1981]

I watched it in the cinema, then picked it up on ex-rental DVD a couple of months ago and watched that twice.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

I can't see an option in the poll that fits me. I saw it a few times in the cinema, and enjoyed it a lot, not 'cos it was a great film (it isn't one), but 'cos these things I've loved since I was 10 have been made to look real on screen 20+ years later.

Then I bought the DVD. I've seen it a couple of times on the small screen all the way through, plus put it on many times just to marvel at little bits of it, particularly the Autobots' arrival on Earth, and wish I could go back in time and blow the minds of people a decade ago who were impressed with Beast Wars.

Martin

[Deleted]

I watched a pirate copy of it on DVD before it hit the cinemas in this country but haven't seen it again since.

[legios]

I can't really find an option to vote for either. I saw it once at the Cinema and subsequently picked up the single disc DVD for buttons when it ended up in a "5 for £30" sale I've only watched it once since then. I thought it was alright but that parts of it simply don't work on a small screen (Although it actually sounded better in mono than it did in the cinema - which is more to do with the problems with my cinema' sound set-up than anything to do with the film).

I can't see me watching it again in the near future unless the Scots boys are around and we decide to watch it with the accompaniement of some alcoholic beverages.

Karl

[Andy Turnbull]

I listened to the commentary the other night. Michael Bay does a good commentary. You'll dig it Ralph as he is a man who places great importance on sound design.

Andy

[Mark_Stevenson]

To me, it's a film where the parts are greater than the sum. The robot bits are stunning, some of the humourous bits work well. Every moment Frenzy is on screen is pure gold. But I can happily fast-forward through the tedious military fetishism, and the Dawson's Creek shit makes my toes curl.

Mx

[Deleted]

There's also a spot of product placement by Hasbro in the film. During one scene a young girl walks out of the house holding a large My Little Pony toy.

[legios]

Jul 22, 2008 8:55:40 GMT Mark_Stevenson said:

To me, it's a film where the parts are greater than the sum.
Mx

Which pretty much puts it in line with just about every Michael Bay film I've seen. He's not a director who I think puts together particularly good motion pictures, but he can be good on the level of the individual scene.

The military fetishism is something that comes with the territory with Bay - for that matter it is how they got the use of some stuff for the film that would otherwise have been well outside the films budget to acquire.

(I agree with you - Frenzy was one of the highlights of the movie. I'd have happily traded more seconds from Barricade's appearances to get Frenzy on the screen more).

Karl

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Two of the better montages from YouTube:

The transformation sequences:



The Autobot vs. Decepticon fights:



What do people consider to be the best in each category?

For me, the best transformation sequence is far and away the modern Bumblebee when Prime tells them to "Roll out".

Best fight? I'm tempted to say Prime/Bonecrusher. All the others are too fast and frenetic to follow to my satisfaction. However, the three Autobots vs. Devastator is pretty well choreographed.

Martin

[The Huff]

I loved the transformation sequences video - I always thought that more could have been made of this in the film. Who is the music by - it sounds familiar.
One of my fave. scenes is the part when Bumblebee passes the cube to Sam after getting his legs blown off and Sam says that he can't leave him.
Also the bit where Barricade transforms for the fist time and chases Sam - and then when he speaks!

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Aug 22, 2008 19:55:37 GMT The Huff said:

I loved the transformation sequences video - I always thought that more could have been made of this in the film. Who is the music by - it sounds familiar.

I think it said it was from the TF computer game.

Martin

[legios]

I don't know that I have a definite best in either to be honest. I have those I quite like but it is hard to separate a clear leader. I do like the Bumblebee transformation that you mentioned Martin, but I also quite like Starscream's airborne transformation when he is fighting the -22's in the final reel. The latter isn't a beauty pass or anything but I just like the way it works in context of the scene.

I don't mind the Prime/Bonecrusher fight, except for one scene where I think the CG has to be carried by the sound work quite heavily. I do like the way Prime decides to just end the fight swiftly and efficiently and move on with the mission though. In storytelling terms I think that is something that works very well. (Actually one of my favourite battle sequences in the film only involves a robot on one side. The fight between Skorpornok and horrendous amounts of USAF firepower really goes a long way to making the Decepticon's feel like a real threat - they have to escalate to an AC-130 and still barely manage to kill it, for that reason Skorpornok feels more threatening to me than Devestator does when he shows up later in the film. Despite the latter packing more heat). Funny that the Optimus/Megatron fight doesn't really feature anywhere in my consideration at all. But then, it isn't really important as far as the film is concerned either - its real value lies in what Sam does.

Karl

[Shockprowl]

I watched it the other night for the first time in ages. It's a good romp. The transformations and fighting are pretty good. The acting is ok. I just wish the robot dialog and characterisation was better.







AND WHY DID THEY KILL JAAAAAAAZZZZ?!?!?!?!?!?

[The Doctor]

He is not dead. He is just terribly unwell.

-Ralph

[Shockprowl]

I, I hope you're right Doc'.

[grahamthomson]

You'll just have to wait until 2016 for the straight-to-Purpleray* 100% CGI animated prequel movie to see Jazz again.

*Or whatever the heck the current home format will be by then.

In the meantime, I am looking forward to the Blu Ray version next week to play on my PS3.

[charlesrocketboy]

I still haven't seen it, even though I regularly buy the tie-in comic! That's the wrong way round, I'm sure.

[KnightBeat]

Digg is linking to a video that allegedly shows Megan Fox auditioning for Transformers. I say allegedly because I can't view it at the moment, so please re-edit the post if it's inappropriate.

[Andy Turnbull]

It is legit, no comments on the actual performance as my pc has no speakers.

Andy

[The Doctor]

This is why you need speakers, Turnbull!!!

-Ralph