Live-Action Transformers Film gets Home/Release Date

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-07-25 11:19pm

Now I'm going to address my thoughts on what everyone's been bitching about: Rattrap's treachery in Beast Machines. Now, mind you I'm not trying to defend BM. I think that BW was in its prime (Seasons 2 and 3) ingenious and well-done in terms of tying into G1; in short, I like BW better. But, if we get analytical for a moment, there is indeed an explanation for Rattrap's behavior.

This comes from Ben's World of Transformers (http://bwtf.com):

Many fans were in an uproar over what they felt was an incorrect portrayal of their favorite Beast Wars veteran. We saw many instances of Rattrap being brave and formidable as a warrior in Beast Wars. However, that was when he was heavily armed, full of gadgets and confidence. Upon being reformatted into (what he perceives to be) a weaker form, that takes away some of that confidence. For a machine based life form to lose critical "parts" of himself is analagous to a human being losing a limb. It's an emotional trauma that must be worked through, and that is what we see in this episode - Rattrap working through the final stages of an emotional trauma, which can at times make people act differently than they normally would.

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2004-07-25 11:21pm

Don Murphy wrote:I will personally make sure that our director considers Frank and the gang. I think celebrity voices for a film like this is moronic.

Hooray!

Don Murphy wrote:1- I do not see mass shifting happening.

Boo! Unless they have some other ingenious alternative, I don't see how they can avoid it.

Don Murphy wrote:2- I do not see a giant robot turning into a cassette player.

Boo! Soundwave is the Decepticon Communicator. What else can he turn into?

Don Murphy wrote:3- Hasbro will not have a toy that turns into a pistol.

Boo! I blame the soccer moms.

Don Murphy wrote:We are NOT doing anything to do with Beasts and Dinos and shit.

Hoo-fucking-ray!!!! That shit never belonged in the first place, IMO.

Don Murphy wrote:The next few weeks will have us, ala X MEN, decide on 7 core members of each team. Desanto will be there to make sure we stay true.

Good news! This means each character will have some notable screentime, instead of getting lost in the mix.

Of course, the fans who consider characters like Trailbreaker, Bluestreak, and Windcharger as "must haves" will be sorely disappointed. Oh well. Gotta trim the fat somewhere.

For the seven Autobots, I'd have: Prime, Bumblebee, Prowl, Jazz, Ratchet, Wheeljack, and Ironhide.

For the seven Decepticons, I have: Megatron, Starscream, Soundwave, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Rumble, and Laserbeak.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2004-07-25 11:22pm

"Core members" means the main characters, the ones the script will focus on. No doubt there will be more than seven characters for each side.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-07-25 11:22pm

JME2 wrote:
NeoGoomba wrote:Well I just hope to god they get Michael Bell at least for a voice actor.

And if Hasbro wont let them make Megatron a pistol, why not a "space rifle" or something? Thats how they can get away with Shockwave, why not extend Megatron's stock and barell, add some display readouts to make him look "futuristic" and there you go
I concur; an excellent solutions that satisfies both sides.

Um, except that he's still a gun...

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-07-25 11:25pm

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:
JME2 wrote:
NeoGoomba wrote:Well I just hope to god they get Michael Bell at least for a voice actor.

And if Hasbro wont let them make Megatron a pistol, why not a "space rifle" or something? Thats how they can get away with Shockwave, why not extend Megatron's stock and barell, add some display readouts to make him look "futuristic" and there you go
I concur; an excellent solutions that satisfies both sides.
Um, except that he's still a gun...

Yeah, but he doesn't look like a regular gun that some kid could get ideas fun (Remember kids, firing off Cybertronian weapons isn't cool!

)

Captain Cyran · Post by **Captain Cyran** » 2004-07-25 11:25pm

Grimlock and the Dinotbots must have airtime!!

That is all I have to say about that. Though I agree with the main characters that Galvatron put up (Maybe with Shockwave... but I am a Shockwave whore so meh.)

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-07-25 11:28pm

Shadow WarChief wrote:
NeoGoomba wrote:Well I just hope to god they get Michael Bell at least for a voice actor.

And if Hasbro wont let them make Megatron a pistol, why not a "space rifle" or something? Thats how they can get away with Shockwave, why not extend Megatron's stock and barell, add some display readouts to make him look "futuristic" and there you go
Megatron being turned into a tank has nothing to do with political correctness. It has to do with the fact that he has to grab size changing technology out of his ass to do it. They don't want to have to bring in too many exotic technologies for the audience to deal with, and I agree with their decision.

Oh wow, look at you just make up a reason when the truth is actually known...

If an audience can accept giant living robots that transform, then they can easily accept mass transfer. You yet again demonstrate that you have contempt for a general audience by underestimating limitations of SoD.

DM himself said that he doesn't see HASBRO allowing Megatron to turn into a gun, not that it isn't logically acceptable. That implies that it's a PC/legal issue, rather than being one of audience SoD.

Jesus, you're dense...

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-07-25 11:31pm

A lot of it will also come down to choices that affect who will see it; I mean, you are appealing to two groups: Die-Hard Transformers fans and the average movie-goer; something will obviously be lost in the transfer or not turn out like we wanted it to, ie Spiderman's webbing.

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2004-07-25 11:35pm

Captain_Cyran wrote:Grimlock and the Dinotbots must have airtime!!

That is all I have to say about that. Though I agree with the main characters that Galvatron put up (Maybe with Shockwave... but I am a Shockwave whore so meh.)

I think they're trying to avoid any sci-fi'ish alt modes. A giant space gun would stand out like a sore thumb.

As would a T-Rex.

Shadow WarChief · Post by **Shadow WarChief** » 2004-07-25 11:37pm

Spanky The Dolphin wrote: Oh wow, look at you just make up a reason when the truth is actually known...
.
.
.
Jesus, you're dense...

Suck it Trebek. Suck it long and suck it hard

we are gonna try to treat this as realistically as possible

one giant robot doesn't turn into the gun for another
nor does a giant robot turn into a tape deck

We MAY have Soundwave- but we'd keep him proportional and make him a cd player or something.

Think REALITY

If Megatron is a tank, then when he transforms it is to scale.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-07-25 11:39pm

JME2 wrote:A lot of it will also come down to choices that affect who will see it; I mean, you are appealing to two groups: Die-Hard Transformers fans and the average movie-goer; something will obviously be lost in the transfer or not turn out like we wanted it to, ie Spiderman's webbing.

Actually, that example doesn't work, because Spider-Man's organic webbing wasn't because of audience SoD, but directoral preferance. Raimi thought it made more sense and worked better for HIM that Peter's webbing be organic rather than artificial in origin, because he didn't think it made any sense.

All Transformers needs is a throw-away line or two about how they can change size and it's done, such as with Optimus or a couple other Autobots giving a brief explenation to Spike on how they transform. There, done and addressed with in less than a minute.

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-07-25 11:40pm

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:
JME2 wrote:A lot of it will also come down to choices that affect who will see it; I mean, you are appealing to two groups: Die-Hard Transformers fans and the average movie-goer; something will obviously be lost in the transfer or not turn out like we wanted it to, ie Spiderman's webbing.
Actually, that example doesn't work, because Spider-Man's organic webbing wasn't because of audience SoD, but directoral preferance. Raimi thought it made more sense and worked better for HIM that Peter's webbing be organic rather than artificial in origin, because he didn't think it made any sense.

All Transformers needs is a throw-away line or two about how they can change size and it's done, such as with Optimus or a couple other Autobots giving a brief explenation to Spike on how they transform. There, done and addressed with in less than a minute.

I stand corrected; you are indeed correct on this matter, o mighty spanker

.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-07-25 11:42pm

Shadow, fuck off and read the most recent DM quote on the previous page, where he specifies HASBRO as why Megatron won't turn into a gun. DM seems to actually support mass transfer, but says it's possible that it might not occur.

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2004-07-25 11:47pm

I understand DM's point of view. Transforming robots are one thing. Transforming "incredible shrinking" robots are another. The Hollywood distillation process might discard the latter as it did with the X-Men's uniforms, thinking it's unnecessary and therefore expendable.

Shadow WarChief · Post by **Shadow WarChief** » 2004-07-25 11:51pm

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:Shadow, fuck off and read the most recent DM quote on the previous page, where he specifies HASBRO as why Megatron won't turn into a gun. DM seems to actually support mass transfer, but says it's possible that it might not occur.

Yes, he specified why HASBRO won't have him as a gun, not why the movie writers won't have him as a gun. Hell, he called the gun mode "lame" and told us to "think reality" and how megatron would "transform to scale". PC-ness is certainly a reason why gun-Megs won't ever have a toy again, but DM said that the scale was the issue with the hollywood movie.

ZShade · Post by **ZShade** » 2004-07-25 11:53pm

Galvatron wrote:I think they're trying to avoid any sci-fi'ish alt modes. A giant space gun would stand out like a sore thumb.

As would a T-Rex.

Well, I think a bigger problem would be Grimlock and the Dinobots kinda overshadowing the rest of the Autobots. I mean, it's Big Grim. Let Optimus Prime be the hero of the first movie. Save Grimlock for the sequel when you need the badass among badasses to save the Autobots.

Plus, it'd be a bit odd explaining how everyone else received real world counterparts and the Dinobots... didn't.

My Big 7:

'Cons
Megatron: M1A2 Abrams - He's probably going to be a tank in the movie. Incredibly cool looking toy Walther P-38s = bad, after all. And at least this way we won't have to see Starscream and Soundwave pawing his trigger.
Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp - F-22 Raptors - Because F-22s look cooler than F-15s.
Soundwave - Maybe a nice Bose CD player. If not... are there any military communication vehicles?
Ravage and Rumble - Not sure what to do with them. I just find Rumble amusing, and Ravage more badass than Laserbeak.

'Bots - generally in their original forms
Optimus Prime
Jazz
Prowl
Ironhide
Bumblebee
Ratchet - Look ma, a remold!
Skids - because Skids gets no love.

And you know, I'd prefer to see Megatron having a real vehicle altmode like a tank, as opposed to having to have someone else around to use him since he's a pistol. He's MEGATRON, he needs no one else.

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2004-07-25 11:58pm

ZShade wrote:Well, I think a bigger problem would be Grimlock and the Dinobots kinda overshadowing the rest of the Autobots. I mean, it's Big Grim. Let Optimus Prime be the hero of the first movie.

I think it's more likely that Bumblebee will the hero of the movie. Optimus is best when used sparingly, as he was in TFTM.

ZShade · Post by **ZShade** » 2004-07-26 12:01am

Galvatron wrote:I think it's more likely that Bumblebee will the hero of the movie. Optimus is best when used sparingly, as he was in TFTM.

I dunno about having Bumblebee as a hero. I can see why it'd be done, but I'd rather have Hot Rod as the 'new kid who becomes the hero.'

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2004-07-26 12:15am

ZShade wrote:I dunno about having Bumblebee as a hero. I can see why it'd be done, but I'd rather have Hot Rod as the 'new kid who becomes the hero.'

Oh, me too. The problem is, Hot Rod has that sci-fi look.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2004-07-26 12:16am

Galvatron wrote:
ZShade wrote:I dunno about having Bumblebee as a hero. I can see why it'd be done, but I'd rather have Hot Rod as the 'new kid who becomes the hero.'
Oh, me too. The problem is, Hot Rod has that sci-fi look.

It would be nice.

Though Optimus as the hero wouldn't be that bad...I would not mind seeing him tear through Decepticons in some final battle to go mano a mano against Megs.

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2004-07-26 12:22am

Ghost Rider wrote:Though Optimus as the hero wouldn't be that bad...I would not mind seeing him tear through Decepticons in some final battle to go mano a mano against Megs.

That's what I meant about using him sparingly. He should show up and kick ass like he did in TFTM, but I don't want them to ruin the legend by putting him in silly situations. Bumblbee will act as more of the liason to humanity like he did in the cartoon and I think it'll fit.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2004-07-26 12:27am

Galvatron wrote:
Ghost Rider wrote:Though Optimus as the hero wouldn't be that bad...I would not mind seeing him tear through Decepticons in some final battle to go mano a mano against Megs.
That's what I meant about using him sparingly. He should show up and kick ass like he did in TFTM, but I don't want them to ruin the legend by putting him in silly situations. Bumblbee will act as more of the liason to humanity like he did in the cartoon and I think it'll fit.

Ah. Very true....that he fits the role.

Who knows maybe Bumblebee will get blown to bits(likely not....but one can dream)

Though honestly I hope they try and make the Deceps do some evil and not cackle mindlessly as they suck valuable energy. Like blow up a city or something.

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2004-07-26 12:37am

It'll be interesting to see how the Decepticons get around. It might set off more than one alarm at US airbases when they detect three unidentified F-15s flying all over the place.

The Autobots have the advantage of being far less conspicuous.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-07-26 12:41am

The Decepticons never really seemed very concerned with being inconspicuous, considering how often they'd fly around and crash the party in robot mode.

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2004-07-26 12:42am

Good point.