View Full Version : Do you prefer speaking or non-speaking BB?
darthrage
09-11-2007, 01:05 AM
I was a little thrown off when BB starting speaking near the end of the movie. To be completely honest, I wished he had stayed unable to speak because the voice they gave him just didn't suit the Bumblebee character that we got to know throughout the movie.
I personally prefer bumblebee to stay as the silent character. Because that was part of his charm and ,for lack of a better term, "cuteness". The fact that he cannot speak makes him so much more loveable. When he is captured and he starts whimpering, it wrenches at our hearts. Think about how much less effective it would be on an emotional level if BB started yelling out in a British accent during the captivity scene "Sam!! Help me!!!" (not that he yelled in the movie).
But just the fact that he stayed silent spoke with the radio made him Bumblebee more charming. I'm just thinking about how weird its going to sound now that his voice is back for the sequel. Think about what it is like to talk to your dog. You know it can't respond but deep down inside, you know he is listening and can understand and you don't require a response from him. Thats the way BB should be. I know its not 80s cartoon accurate but for the movie, it reaches out to us so much better on an emotional level.
AllThatJazz
09-11-2007, 01:19 AM
I think you're right, Radio Bumblebee is way better.
I prefer Radio BB too. :)
darthrage
09-11-2007, 03:40 AM
I think I prefer him to be silent after hearing what his voice sounded like near the end of the movie. They could've used a different voice actor.
And BB was cute in most scenes but when he is pissed, don't mess with him. I loved it when we saw him put on his battle mask for the first time and he was pointing his plasma cannon at the Sector 7 guys. That part was handled well.
But the silent BB works well in the film because you feel for the character more because he is like Sam's loyal friend, like a dog, if you will.
I guess I'm not so much bothered by the fact that he spoke 2 lines but by the fact that his voice sounded nothing like what anyone would've imagined what BB should've sounded like. He voice did not need to be iconic like Optimus Prime, and not hip like Jazz, and not Elderly like Ratchet and Ironhide but more........I don't know whats the word I'm looking for. But just more identifiable as someone who is a friend to a teenaged boy.
Xsubs
09-11-2007, 03:53 AM
I guess I'm not so much bothered by the fact that he spoke 2 lines but by the fact that his voice sounded nothing like what anyone would've imagined what BB should've sounded like. He voice did not need to be iconic like Optimus Prime, and not hip like Jazz, and not Elderly like Ratchet and Ironhide but more........I don't know whats the word I'm looking for. But just more identifiable as someone who is a friend to a teenaged boy.
I think BB would've sounded better if it was a voice actor aged roughly about his 20's or mid 20's.
Universal Kalle
09-11-2007, 03:55 AM
I read in Bumblebee's bio that he can still talk but choose not to because it's physically painful. He has seen so much evil that I guess he's become a bit depressed, my words not the bio's, and just lost the ability to speak correctly.
Anyway.. I can't find that bloody bio right now but it was on some official site (not www.transformersmovie.com (http://www.transformersmovie.com), I just checked and it only contains half the bio) before the movie premiered. If this is indeed the case the voice at the end shouldn't really be his normal voice and maybe it'll repair itself now that he's found a friend in Sam.
EDIT:
Found the bio and apperantly it's on the side of the toy box, "Bumblebee's vocal processors were shattered in battle with the decepticons and he finds it very difficult and painful to speak" and from what I've gathered it was actually Megatron himself that shattered them.
Xaniss
09-11-2007, 06:26 AM
Yeah, Megatron shattered Bumblebee's vocal capacitor (prequel) and I too have read that it is painful for BB to speak, so Universal Kalle is right.
As for him speaking or not, I do like his voice, even though 2 lines of him speaking haven't decided for me if I think it suits or not (I do like the accent though). On the other hand, he comes across as a character that wouldn't talk a great deal anyway - my opinion is that he wouldn't have called for Sam's help when Sector 7 caught him anyway - would have put Sam's life in too much risk.
Bottom line, I think he is cute talking or not but think even though he can talk I don't think he will talk much, he will still keep those cute whimpering noises and now, not use the radio. But hey, that's just my take on things.
fu2kimus_prime
09-11-2007, 06:59 AM
Definately prefered him mute. Which is strange as I had alot of doubts before the movie about the decision, but it was executed to perfection.
r-type
09-11-2007, 10:56 AM
Sirius BB.... screw XM. :D
(read:Radio BB)
xAgonyxScenex
09-11-2007, 11:24 AM
i dont have a problem with his voice...but he going to turn into a COMPLETELY different character when they have him talk. thats the problem
Trigger Mike
09-11-2007, 01:19 PM
I think he should be silent. Actions speak louder than words.
IAmTheeOne
09-11-2007, 02:53 PM
man bb as a mute was tiiiiite! did he always have just the right song for the occasion or WHAAAA...when he spoke a the end it def threw me for a loop...imo it SUCKED...bb shoulda been WAY younger sounding than that...even my lady makes fun of him and says "i would like to staywitha boy" keep him mute...or change the voice!
or gathering from what some have posted here just make him not talk so much because hed rather do the radio thang(and cause he knows his voice sucks):D
OmarB
09-12-2007, 09:41 AM
I remember there was a whole bunch of bitching and moaning before the movie came out about a mute BB.
In any case, I prefered him mute. His voice actor was really jarring to me.
LadiesMan217
09-13-2007, 10:46 AM
He should definitely be mute. The voice didn't suit him at all, and he was more likeable when he couldn't speak. I hope he stays silent in the sequel. I really, really hope so.
Simon
09-14-2007, 02:39 AM
Ya, I would have preferred "radio bb" also... Not because "the voice they gave him just didn't suit the Bumblebee character", just because it would have been a lot cooler.
barricade505
09-17-2007, 07:06 AM
I hope barricade damages BB's vocals in the next movie.I don't believe it's over between them....If you know what I mean??????????BB did, after all, left barricade with a gaping chest wound.It just wouldnt seem as though Decepticons aren't the revenge seeking type.:mad: Come to think of it....Down with Bumble Bee...Down with the Autobots!!!! Till all are NONE !!!!!!!!!!! Hahahahahahhaah.......Transform and Terrorize!!!!!**cough****cough**sorry.......too many coffees .........:(
IRONMAIDEN
10-19-2007, 06:57 AM
BB needs to be voiced by little richard and have the most speaking lines. WOOOOOO
newguy2119
10-21-2007, 01:43 PM
I would rather have BB mute as well. I didn't watch the Transformers growing up, so I don't know much beyond this movie, but the character in this movie just seems to be unique with using the radio to talk with. His choice in what radio station to play is also funny, as it shows his quirky sense of humor. I think it's just a part of him, like Jazz's way of talking, and Ironhide's love of showing off his weapons. It makes the character distinct from the others.
xXRavenXx
10-21-2007, 04:30 PM
I like Radio BB I just wish he was more like a junkion which would make it pretty damn funny. Was pretty close to a Wreck-gar wringer.
Mech_1000
10-21-2007, 06:09 PM
Hmm...
If he talks with a friendliness like he was in the G1 cartoon it probably will add to his character. But as for this movie and only this movie, it was kind of odd to hear him talk, half of which was asking permission to speak.
I'd like to know when ratchet found the time to repair/replace his "beyond repairable vocal processor". :confused:
I'd like to know when ratchet found the time to repair/replace his "beyond repairable vocal processor". :confused:My guess is that the brief contact with the Allspark (at Sector7) brought some kind of slow-acting reparation. The Allspark even repaired Frenzy's half body instantly.
Xaniss
10-23-2007, 07:46 AM
Hmm...
If he talks with a friendliness like he was in the G1 cartoon it probably will add to his character. But as for this movie and only this movie, it was kind of odd to hear him talk, half of which was asking permission to speak.
I'd like to know when ratchet found the time to repair/replace his "beyond repairable vocal processor". :confused:
From what I found over at the good site of IMDB (under FAQ: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0418279/faq and I really mustn't take credit for this, someone else posted this link in a previous thread - you know who you are! Thankyou! :D), it seems that what 'cured' Bumblebee according to the writers was Ratchet's laser ray that he shone on Bumblebee when they first landed/where introduced and it took that long to work, but the other considered theory was that Bumblebee's voice 'healed' when he touched the cube during the mass shifting exercise.
DaHaRaN
10-25-2007, 02:37 AM
to me Bumblebee's voice when he did speak didn't sound repaired. I think Bumblebee choose not to speak with his damaged voice box for a simple rule of "first contact" not wanting to freak people out right away by gaining trust first. the first contact of Sam with a talking character was Barricade, Sam was extremely freaked out by this, so Bumblebee took the route of action instead of words. Thats just my thinking on the topic.
HDFan01
10-25-2007, 01:02 PM
I liked the radio BB, and I o=would like to have seen a little more. I think though too much of it and it would get old.
darthrage
10-26-2007, 02:55 AM
i think the radio BB was fun and it also provides a certain charm about the character. Because everytime he plays a song, he tells a message to Sam and the fact that we can figure out what he's trying to tell him makes us laugh and its a very uplifting moment in the film.:D
I liked him when he was silent. Talking through the radio was cool, and now that we have Sirius and xm radio he can even use lines fom movies now.