Official RoTF discussion thread **PART 1 /Reviews go here** [ SPOILERS ]

[Andreas]

I'm wondering how many of you actually thought it was so great and how many of you are just drinking the Kool-Aid because you're on a Michael Bay board.

I'm not a hater, I liked PARTS of it but I thought the film had many, many problems (most of which aren't Bay's fault.) Plus, on other boards people are admitting it's just ok, nothing special.

I've been on these boards since Pearl Harbor (which is probably Bay's worst, IMHO). I became a fan when I watched Armageddon four times on the big screen, and I've been a fan ever since. All of Bay's movies are not perfect, they have their flaws. I don't go to a Michael Bay film expecting Oscar material. I'm a huge fan of his visual style, it's unique, it's fresh, it's EPIC. Bay worked with producer Jerry Bruckhemer on his first five films (Bad Boys, The Rock, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor and Bad Boys II). These movies are some of their most successful, because they have a similar style that's unique. Bruckheimer has a formula for success, and so does Bay. And it's that formula I love. It's the ultimate formula for entertainment.

The fans of Michael Bay are on these boards for a reason - because we are fans of Michael Bay! We all share the love of his visual style filmmaking. We all geek together in Bayhem. And that's why most of us are loving RotF. If you can't accept that, that's too bad. Just don't bitch and moan about it.

[TIMtationX]

Epic carnage? not close. Some canage... yes The biggest lose of lifein this movie was the Carrier going down. I thought this was cool.

...so ummm, what exactly is your definition of epic?

[ALLHAILMEGATRON]

Well it obviously hasn't worked in destroying the product because this film is a massive success financially!!!!! So I'm not sure that statement is true!

Don't get too excited, champ. If the majority people who saw it didn't like it, their word-of-mouth will destroy this movie. Make your judgments on Monday, the day-after it's release in the U.S. won't be accurate, it could bomb.

Think of it this way, the first episode of a new season on a popular TV is always high, but if it sucks the ratings go down and it gets canceled a few episodes later.

[xSoundwave]

**SPOILERS**


Bumblebee's reaction to seeing Sam supposedly dead got me. Bumblebee is the second most bad-ass robot in this movie.

Oh, and Prime is a bad-ass. Megatron got a cheap shot.

[Satan's Camaro]

Don't get too excited, champ. If the majority people who saw it didn't like it, their word-of-mouth will destroy this movie. Make your judgments on Monday, the day-after it's release in the U.S. won't be accurate, it could bomb.

Think of it this way, the first episode of a new season on a popular TV is always high, but if it sucks the ratings go down and it gets canceled a few episodes later.

I agree that it's a possibility but even if the same amount of people see it as saw the first one it will be successful. It's possible that it might not make as much as people think but I don't think it will bomb.

[calmontoya]

I think it was a great movie. Alice and Leo didn't seem particularly useful though. I would have rather they were not in the movie and use the extra time to build the story more. I mean, Alice got Sam in a bit of trouble with Mikaela, but she seemed to already forgive Sam by the time they escaped from Alice's rampage. Leo helped lead Sam to Simmons, but you could take Leo out and just write the story that Sam already knew to look for Simmons and finds him on his own.

I LOVED the banter between Megatron and Starscream this time. I didn't have any problem with the Twins, even though a lot of reactions I've seen seem to be overreacting about them. I thought they were fairly funny and not over-used. A few of the decepticons seemed to have less use this time. The fights between a lot of them seemed very short. I don't think they all needed to be longer, but maybe the fight between Optimus and The Fallen, or the fight with Devastator could have been improved (since both Devastator and The Fallen were highly anticipated antagonists).

Overall: 7.5/10
I did not love it as much or more than Transformers from 2007, but I still liked it.

I'm totally with you on this one!

The critics are on another planet. A planet called Major Assholes.

Did the comedy made me laugh? Yup. Did the action keep me on suspense? Check. Was I entertained? Hell yes.

And that's what I wanted from RotF. I wasn't looking for a deep story with Shakespearian moments. I wanted Bayhem, and that's what I got, from start to finish.

I will never again listen to critics. I'm gonna be honest and say I was a bit worried when the negative reviews kept coming... Devastator balls? Robot humping Megan's leg? Jive-talking twins? But when I saw all that, it made perfect sense - Bay balanced the comedy, action and drama very well and the outcome was epic.

Thank you, Michael.

^^ Why do most people confuse the need for a deeper plot/script, with a plot/script with some flaws that we're pointing out?? As I said before, I don't think Nolan would do a better job than Michael with the TF franchise (as someone else suggested), because a deeper plot is not necessary!, all we need is a plot that doesn't have so many holes!

* I enjoyed the comedy too (including balls, pussy humans and humping bot!)
* I enjoyed the action as well!!! (best action scenes in years!!)
* And I never pay attention to critics (I am my own critic!!!)

SO, what I'm saying is that I liked the movie, but it could've been better (and that's the general feeling I get from most posters here, so it's not like were tearing the movie appart... we just want to point out the flaws so whoever pins the next script, get's it right!!!)

[phoenixgirl]

what trailers you guys see at it? i saw 9, harry potter, and..uuuh...gi joe..

I saw Harry Potter, 9, GI Joe, and The Last Airbender

[MovinForward]

I saw Harry Potter, 9, GI Joe, and The Last Airbender

Same, and '9' looks like an awsome movie. Defenantly gonna' check it out.
Just saw the movie, and in all truth, I'm kinda disappointed. For starts, the Autobots had barely any lines except the twins, OP, and(I guess)Bumblebee. Most everyother new bot(Arcee, Sideswipe, Jolt) had next to no lines or no lines! I'm glad the cons had more lines this time around but I a Autobot fan, not so much for the cons. I cared more about Sideswipe and Arcee, who both had a decent amount of hipe and in the movie? The were barely background characters, foders. The next movie better gives the Bots more movie time. I really disapointed this time around.
And the humor.... good lord, this movie was way dirtier then I expected. Humping dogs, humbing robots, male thongs, a sexed up pretender with an elonged tounge-weapon, and the language. I mean, isn't this kinda' a family movie? It was somewhat funny the first time, but around the fifth humping joke, I had enough.
Don't take me wrong, the movie was great and had some really good parts(such as Bumblebee putting the twins in 'timeout' or Bumblebee vs. the sexed up pretender hiting on Sam). I just don't know if I would go back for a second go.
I guess I didn't find this one as interesting as the first. Weird.

[lightning]

Pros:

the movie was not boring


Cons:

i wish arcee, sideswipe had more screen time.

[A49ER08]

all the negative posters, are all overtly cultural sensitive...
relax and have some fun

I don't see why people have to take a movie serious

[look out its ben]

I have no doubt that this will be the biggest 5-day opening, but the true test will definitely be the second weekend. There seems to be a much more mixed reaction from what I gather on message boards and in reviews, so I don't think the word-of-mouth is going to be as strong as it was for the first film.

[MovinForward]

all the negative posters, are all overtly cultural sensitive...
relax and have some fun

I don't see why people have to take a movie serious

You best not be talkin' about me.
Well, it's a serious movie and I'm sure Bay want's it taken seriously(but over the top, racist robots, jeez. )

[Prime9]

I have been a lurker on this site for quite a while now pretty much ever since I heard T2 was being made and it's probably my most anticipated movie ever. I don't share most of the people's opinion on this site being that they like everything you do, though I do like most of your movies. With that said, I can't help but criticize your latest effort.

I have read pretty much EVERY review on this movie from both the critics and just everyday transformer fans. I got worried once I started hearing all the negative reviews from the critics but I stayed optimistic because of the real transformer fans. I said to myself, "forget all the critics reviews because I usually have a different opinion than them anyways". I really started to get worried about this film once I saw the showwest footage of Sam and Bumblebee (more on this a little bit later).

So I go to see this movie yesterday and I can't help but feel so let down from it. I really think that if I didn't have such an emotional connection from my child hood with Transformers, I would have hated this movie.

I just want to go through some things that I really did not like about this movie.

-Way to much cheesy comedy- The mother with the weed brownies?
-All the sexual innuendos- Wheelie humping Megan's leg? Balls on Devestator? Saying Testicles or something about balls every five minutes? Megan landing right on Leo's crotch in the desert? The dogs humping (not one shot BUT 2????!!)
-The female/terminator/decepticon which had NO purpose whatsoever.
-WAAAAAAYY too long!!! That whole Egypt scene could have been cut down by like 10 minutes, it really started to get boring after awhile.
-What's with Bumblebee crying? and Starscream spitting?? They are robots right?!
-The twins were unbearable, I get the whole racist thing (though they are really reaching with that) not that I even care about that but they were just horrible and unfunny.
-What was with the language in this one? Did you really have to throw so many curses in this one? Despite what everyone thinks, THIS IS A KIDS MOVIE! or else they wouldn't be selling the toys and marketing it to kids.
-Devestator was USELESS in this movie, and did he really get beat up by the twins? COME ON! As big as he was, you guys couldn't find a battle to use him for? He did nothing.
-The Fallen? Wasn't this movie called ROTF? Where was his revenge? Where was he? He went out in like 2 minutes in a fight with Prime.
-How rushed were you really with this movie? because the ending seemed like you guys just threw that together in the last seconds before putting it all together. Like, thats it? REALLY?
-Why did all the new autobots have no screen time? Where was Sideswipe?Jolt?Arcee? They did little to nothing. Sideways? All these Decepticons coming down with little to no dialogue or meaning.
Why are you trying to make the autobots talk with a slang now? Ironhide saying "punk ass decepticons"? "you best let me out of here"? They are supposed to be noble warriors, stop trying to make them so humanlike because they aren't.
I have so many more complaints but these are really my main problems.

The things I did like were Optimus being the warrior and badass that we all know he is and the forrest fight scene. Those two things were VERY WELL done!

It just makes me mad because this movie will make A LOT of money and it will basically mask the fact that these ARE PROBLEMS and they need to be fixed. I really hope you take into account that there was a lot of problems with this one and you actually fix it the next go round.

I know a lot of you on this site are going to bash me and call me a hater and what not but I can't just sit here and read all of this crap like everything is great with this movie when I and a lot of people know its very far from it. this movie was a mess plain and simple. Everyone can tell it was rushed and when one critic says it sucks, it might be crazy to just not like it but when almost everyone of them says it sucks, there might actually be a problem.

I know this is just more T2 talk but the discussion thread is really clouded by everyone saying its the BEST MOVIE EVER and stuff like that. No one is really stepping up and saying their issues.

Sorry to Nelson and everyone else who might be offended by this but this is my opinion and I do believe I am entitled to it. I respect your work Mr. Bay and I know you can make a much better film than this. Please make the next go round a little more mature and more about the Transformers. The script is already there and laid out for you, you just have to know how to use it.

[Optimash Prime]

Your entitled to your opinion.....but for those who are trying to celebrate a great movie, we would prefer you go criticize the movie with the rest of the wannabe critics on rotten tomato or IMDB .... at least you like the forest scene because everyone should like the forest scene

[Optimash Prime]

oh my bad or you can go on this thread......

http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum...ead.php?t=5214

[chops]

@Prime 9

I share much of your concern with the movie but we always have the chance of a huge rebound with the third installment. Don't worry about saying go elsewhere or whatever. We are all allowed to post our opinions about it and no one single person is right or wrong. I feel your pain my friend.

[banandy]

I share your criticisms. I can also understand the ravers not wanting to hear it...the thing is, you can sorta tell that some internet chatter does get through to the powers that be.

For example, the numerous complaints that OP wasn't tough enough in the first movie was something that was relayed via forums like this and addressed in TF2. Let's not forget that Cullen and later Welker both got their gigs in large part from them listening to the fanbase.

What that tells me, is that we need to be honest with our assessment of the film/series and how it could be better.

[MitP]

I've tried to keep my thoughts about ROTF short and sweet, but I still had a lot of ground to cover.

THE GOOD

1. Optimus Prime. See, this is why I love Peter Cullen. The forest battle sequence will probably be the one scene people will choose to remember from this movie. You could almost hear Peter getting worked up behind the mike. "I'll take you all on!" You just don't fuck with the Prime.

2. Hugo Weaving. Okay, this is more like it. Hugo's voice is left alone for the most part, allowing him to make a much better impression than he did in the first film. "Hugotron's" personality is much more distinct this time around, which is a shame considering he's so overshadowed by the Fallen.

3. The Megatron/Starscream dynamic. They nailed it.

4. Shia Labouf. In a movie as crowded as this one, it's a miracle he managed to rise above the chaos. The scenes where his brain goes haywire with Allspark-juice are classic.

5. The tone. Goofy, breezy, and irreverent as a Monty Python sketch, but I still loved it. When you take into account this is a flick about giant alien robots beating the everlovin' crap out of each other, you can't really demand much more. Apparently the critics prefer their entertainment to be grim and joyless. Hey, I'm sure you guys already own copies of THE DARK KNIGHT...

6. Soundwave. Again, I can't thank Michael enough for giving Frank a chance. The voice isn't vocoded as it was in the G1 cartoon, but I think Welker's unfiltered vocals are more impressive. Dr. Claw, courtesy of Satan. The moment when Soundwave uttered "Decepticons...mobilize" raised goosepimples. His brief conversation with Judy Witwicky on the cellphone was also a riot.

7. The Autobot/Human alliance. I've said elsewhere that I felt a little uneasy about the emphasis on the military in Movie 1, but Roberto and Alex really made an effort to make it more convincing here. The Autobots are badly outnumbered; why WOULDN'T they attempt to forge an alliance with the planet's "warriors"? The notion of aliens teaming up with the army is a nice flip-flop of an old sci-fi theme with the army always trying to KILL the aliens.

THE BAD

1. TOO MANY COMEDY RELIEF CHARACTERS. Ron and Judy are fine, as they're Sam's parents and already have a place in the story, but the Twins? Wheelie? Agent Simmons? Leo Spitz? I can appreciate a few clowns to keep things light-hearted, but too many will turn a movie into a circus.

2. THE TWINS. Okay, look; enough has been said about these two already. When I made an issue about Jazz in TF1, I was banned from this forum. But I can't deny they made me feel...uncomfortable, and it would be wrong for me not to admit that. I was sitting next to a young black guy in the audience, and although he didn't say anything out loud, I did notice that he was shaking his head during scenes featuring the Twins. I don't know if he was doing that out of humour or disgust, but if the third movie comes to pass, it might be a good idea to leave Skids and Mudflap behind.

3. Optimus was a little too bloodthirsty. When fighting an enemy as cruel as the Decepticons, it becomes crucial not to resort to their own methods. Otherwise, you're in danger of turning the battle into a case of evil vs. evil. I could understand some of his rage during the forest duel, but the way he blew off Demolisher's head was OTT.

4. Soundwave. Robot mode. I missed it.

5. The story was ALL OVER THE PLACE. If I hadn't read the prequel comics, most of the movie probably wouldn't have made a lick of sense to me. I don't like to think about how a regular moviegoer might have responded.

6. The Fallen. A wasted opportunity. Tony Todd is da bomb, but he simply didn't have enough screen time to make his presence more keenly felt. For such a powerful adversary, he got his ass handed to him by Prime awfully quickly. Bringing back Megatron could have been cool, using the Fallen could have been cool, but when you try to have both at once, they end up cancelling each other out.

7. The military. I have absolutely nothing against the U.S. Forces, but the only reason they seem to play a part in these movies is because Michael insists they should. Alex and Roberto did their best to make them an organic part of the narrative, but they still felt a little forced. Maybe if the film wasn't so overloaded with characters, more time could have been afforded to Lennox and Epps. (And it's time we saw Epps's girlfriend, damn it! The man NEEDS a life outside the USAF!)

THE UGLY

Agent Simmons. Specifically, the moment when he took off his pants. Again.

[overdosedchaos]

I saw Harry Potter, 9, GI Joe, and The Last Airbender

I got all of these, except HP. I got New Moon instead.

[yan008]

Your entitled to your opinion.....but for those who are trying to celebrate a great movie, we would prefer you go criticize the movie with the rest of the wannabe critics on rotten tomato or IMDB .... at least you like the forest scene because everyone should like the forest scene

^^This This This This This Error Error Error Error!

[MovinForward]

I actually agree with you about almost everything you said, except I liked the Twins(no clue why, I just do). Really, this movie really disappointed me. Glad to see I'm not the only one who thought so.

[Optimash Prime]

I'm sorry if i came across as arrogant; it is just that this is a Michael Bay site and I mean, come on, its geared towards admiring Michael's work from the Aron Burr commercial to ROTF. I come here so I can meet more people that share my utmost respect for the man and his work. I think I'm just heated by all the criticism thats all...but like said before You are all entitled to your own opinion... and I agree that they mos def listened to the people about making prime stronger on the battle field. Which was a huge plus for me. At least bay listens to his fans unlike some of these other directors. Cause i mean at the end of the day its his movie and hell do as he pleases ... but I'm seeing it again tonight and ill take the point made as i watch it see if i can pick up on it..

[Simon]

Oh man.. ok, this is not a review or anything, just some random thoughts...
I still can't believe it.. but I just saw T2... and was dissapointed... I even think I was very dissapointed...
I don't give a fuck about the negative critics or whatever, I don't give a shit about Transformers fans or whatnot... I'm the greatest Bay fan there is... But this movie... while louder and bigger than part 1... wasn't Bay at all somehow. I know that sounds strange and I know even Bay himself wouldn't understand what I mean (and I can't really explain it anyway) but ya...
I don't like the transformers overall... I just liked T1 and was looking forward to T2 because of.. well, Bay.
I would love the Transformers if they were a lot darker, grittier and so on (and yet Terminator 4 also sucked big time). But that's not the point.
There were so many things in this movie (besides it's running way too long) that were almost awful... Most of them probably already mentioned.
But the main problem was... it had not one really Bay moment... Ya, there were some of his famous shots, but all of them were so incredibly "out of place". Transformers 1 had those famous Bay scenes and they were breathtaking (Autobots arriving, e.g.), with the great score and so on... This time... it had nothing... (well it had pieces, but whenever the goosebumps came they already were gone) Ah well.. I'm gonna watch it a second time, but that's about it probably... I so hope Bay will do something other than Transformers as soon as possible.

[MovinForward]

Yeah, I agree. I don't feel attachted to this movie at all. Other the Prime dieing their was no mystical or 'breath-taking amazing' scenes. Like you said, nothing in TF2 has really compared to the 'Arrival' scene and Bumblebee's capture(which I think was sadder then OPs death, cuz I cried when he was caught but not when OP died) in TF1. In total, I think TF1 is better then TF2 because.... well I don't know how to describe it but it feels much more touching.

[MitP]

On a side note, I really hope Obama never met Galloway personally. Otherwise, I'd hate to think he'd use an ill-tempered SOB like him as a representative to an alien species...