"The Oral History of Michael Bay"

[Bayhem]

Actually I'm not good at english, so I couldn't listen what he exactly said.
could you guys write what he said, anyone?

Here it is:


Refn: "I have a lot of respect for Michael Bay (the reporter says "I do too, actually"). I think Michael is very underrated and that's a shame, because if you really look at the films her makes...I mean......I will always see a Michael Bay film and I will actually go to a theater to see them, because they really are extravagant experiences. They're bit like the William Wellman films in a way...Cecil B. DeMille...they're large, extravagant and they're very noisy, but they're certainly....you can't say that they're not right."

Reporter: "Nobody can do what he can do."

Refn: "No one."

Reporter: "It's a very specific thing, maybe the script's great, maybe it's not...but visually, the visual medium...there's really nobody else who has that particular skill set."

Refn: "And that scope.

When I saw the last "Transformers" I was like, "How do you do that?", how technically can you do that? You know what I mean? The expertise is....enormous."

[r-type]

Here it is:


Refn: "I have a lot of respect for Michael Bay (the reporter says "I do too, actually"). I think Michael is very underrated and that's a shame, because if you really look at the films her makes...I mean......I will always see a Michael Bay film and I will actually go to a theater to see them, because they really are extravagant experiences. They're bit like the William Wellman films in a way...Cecil B. DeMille...they're large, extravagant and they're very noisy, but they're certainly....you can't say that they're not right."

Reporter: "Nobody can do what he can do."

Refn: "No one."

Reporter: "It's a very specific thing, maybe the script's great, maybe it's not...but visually, the visual medium...there's really nobody else who has that particular skill set."

Refn: "And that scope.

When I saw the last "Transformers" I was like, "How do you do that?", how technically can you do that? You know what I mean? The expertise is....enormous."

Thanks for translating, B.

The probable audible gasps from some of Refn's fans, however, need no translation.

[sora]

Here it is:


Refn: "I have a lot of respect for Michael Bay (the reporter says "I do too, actually"). I think Michael is very underrated and that's a shame, because if you really look at the films her makes...I mean......I will always see a Michael Bay film and I will actually go to a theater to see them, because they really are extravagant experiences. They're bit like the William Wellman films in a way...Cecil B. DeMille...they're large, extravagant and they're very noisy, but they're certainly....you can't say that they're not right."

Reporter: "Nobody can do what he can do."

Refn: "No one."

Reporter: "It's a very specific thing, maybe the script's great, maybe it's not...but visually, the visual medium...there's really nobody else who has that particular skill set."

Refn: "And that scope.

When I saw the last "Transformers" I was like, "How do you do that?", how technically can you do that? You know what I mean? The expertise is....enormous."

Thanks for putting it down in writing. Auteurs love him, audiences love him. Why critics underrate him is beyond me.

[Bot of Badassness]

Well, we can now add him to the list along with Spielberg, Cameron and Nolan!

[AlcatrazHero07]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Vv0E...eature=mh_lolz

Nicolas Winding Refn, who directed one of most critically acclaimed films in 2011, "Drive"
He briefly said about Michael Bay. From 40min interview. 34:25 - 35:26.
Actually I'm not good at english, so I couldn't listen what he exactly said.
could you guys write what he said, anyone?

People, including Michael Bay, keep comparing him to these old directors: Cecil B DeMille, William Wellman, Bugsby Berkeley,... eventually I'm going to have to watch some of their movies. Should I?

By the way, I did NOT like "Drive". The movie was as boring as he is. The whole story could have been told in twenty minutes in a TV episode of any cop drama. Michael Bay could have told it in 10 minutes and we still would have appreciated every plot point.

P.S. I can't wait to see "Pain and Gain". Those two actors are so much fun, and then Michael Bay at the helm? It's gonna be a blast!!

[AlcatrazHero07]

Well, we can now add him to the list along with Spielberg, Cameron and Nolan!

"Well now we can add kidnapping and extortion to his list of accolades." "Mr Sinclair, General Hummel is a man of honor!"

[sora]

People, including Michael Bay, keep comparing him to these old directors: Cecil B DeMille, William Wellman, Bugsby Berkeley,... eventually I'm going to have to watch some of their movies. Should I?

Perhaps. Legendary directors.

What I like about Bay's movies is that they are topnotcher filled with inspiring visual-images speaking a lot louder than words, that deserves big screens.

When I'd like some stories or dramas, I'd read books or watch it at home. His films bring a cinema experience what makes me want to dress up and go out, to queue up for a seat in darkness and see it nonstop with excitement, like a child in a candy store.

[Flyingheart]

Well said!

[Bayhem]

This...this is so true:


"Trailers run 2 1/2 minutes and feature the best parts of the movie. They're the best shots, the best effects, the most thrilling moments, the zinger lines. If you look at a Michael Bay movie, you're watching 2 1/2 hours of money shots and quotable tag lines. Every shot is designed to send tingles up your spine. When I watch a Michael Bay feature, I feel like I'm watching a full-length trailer. He manages to sustain that level of breathtaking awe for feature length -- and then some."


It's not part of the "Oral History", but it's a great article and I have a feeling that even though it's posted here some folks might have missed it (I know I missed it). So here it is - read the whole thing, it's worth it:


- http://michaelbay.com/media/articles/036/036.html

[BrunnerD]

That quote was amazing...it sent tingles down my spine. Could not have described a Bay film any better. Thanks for sharing. I also loved the article

[Bayhem]

Kevin Smith: "Michael Bay is the modern-day Steven Spielberg." (in terms of influence and success)

- SModcast: http://smodcast.com/channels/smodcast/


Joss Whedon, director of "The Avengers": "I don’t think of myself as anything resembling a great action director. The Bay stuff is ten times prettier than mine."

- http://www.slashfilm.com/film-interv...-the-avengers/

[Trailbreaker]

Joss Whedon, director of "The Avengers": "I don’t think of myself as anything resembling a great action director. The Bay stuff is ten times prettier than mine."

- http://www.slashfilm.com/film-interv...-the-avengers/

Good thing you provided those links, because here's what Joss Whedon really said:

You know the Bay stuff is 10 times prettier than mine, but very much about the sensation over the sort of explanation and for me it's very important that we know why our people are doing what they are doing and where they are and what the situation is and how I can make it worse. So I don't think of myself as anything resembling a great action director, but I do love iconic imagery.

No where did I interpret that as "Michael Bay is a great action director." The "great action director" part could have been referring to James Cameron for all we know.

It's okay to quote people on Michael Bay, but don't quote mine.

[Bayhem]

Good thing you provided those links, because here's what Joss Whedon really said:No where did I interpret that as "Michael Bay is a great action director." The "great action director" part could have been referring to James Cameron for all we know.

Actually, this is not about who's a "great action director". This thread is for quotes from people in the industry who are able to recognize Bay's movies/style. These days the stuff you read on the web about actors, directors, singers is mostly negative and sarcastic. It's good to have a balance.

Anyway, Whedon was influenced by Bay (as the article points out) and the "prettier" part was a nice, little compliment. And yes, his "dig" at Bay is correct, at least in my view - sometimes Bay's action is really about the "sensation over explanation". Sometimes, not always. So yeah, you can say that he's right about that. Same can be said about some of Tony Scott's action. Not to mention Stephen Sommers's action...

[greensmoke]

the thing about Joss Whedon, I think he's a little fond of bay's talent and works.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/06/...-whedon?page=4

in that article, even though too old one(it's 9 years ago), he said "Actually, I'm a fan of Michael's. Best eyes in the business."



by the way about "sensation over explanation", I think he has right to tell that words.
action scenes in The Avengers is impressive. these aren't something most unique or something hugest.
but like what he said, he pretty focused on each character & situation in spectacular chaos. I liked it.

[Trailbreaker]

Actually, this is not about who's a "great action director". This thread is for quotes from people in the industry who are able to recognize Bay's movies/style. These days the stuff you read on the web about actors, directors, singers is mostly negative and sarcastic. It's good to have a balance.

Anyway, Whedon was influenced by Bay (as the article points out) and the "prettier" part was a nice, little compliment. And yes, his "dig" at Bay is correct, at least in my view - sometimes Bay's action is really about the "sensation over explanation". Sometimes, not always. So yeah, you can say that he's right about that. Same can be said about some of Tony Scott's action. Not to mention Stephen Sommers's action...

Alright. I see your point now.

[Bayhem]

Words of wisdom. It's always great to hear truly smart people from the industry who, unlike 90% of the internet population, actually know how the industry works...and are able to see the big picture:






(thanks to Josh who showed me that video)

[Trailbreaker]

Words of wisdom. It's always great to hear truly smart people from the industry who, unlike 90% of the internet population, actually know how the industry works...and are able to see the big picture:

(thanks to Josh who showed me that video)

Poor John Carter. The movie's source material gave us the tropes that inspired Avatar (and pretty much the whole modern science fiction/space fantasy genre in general), and it's perceived as an Avatar copy.

[greensmoke]

http://www.craveonline.com/film/revi...men-in-black-3

Barry Sonnenfeld (Filmmaker of "Men In Black" series)

You took quite a beating on Wild Wild West, but when you see movies like Transformers and Green Lantern, are you like, “Oh, come on!”?

"You know what? I haven’t seen Green Lantern. The thing about Transformers is that Michael Bay has his own genre and no one else can make that work..."



Actually I read it some months ago. But I guess it's good to share.

[Bayhem]

New and pretty good NY Times article - http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/21/mo...anted=all&_r=0

[greensmoke]

http://www.motherjones.com/media/201...-pain-and-gain


I think it's pretty good article.