Civinfo - View Single Post - Transformers the movie - First review (with some minor spoilers).....

CivPilot · 11th July 2007, 08:28

Now I've put this as a new thread as the other Transformers thread kinda went down the off topic route near the end.

Basically last night I managed to catch an exclusive screening of the film....

HOLY COW. Beleive the hype.

Micheal Bay and MR. Speilberg have truely knocked this one out of the park. I cannot remember the last film that made my jaw hit the floor as often as this one did. I'm not just talking about the effects (the trailers do not do them justice) but the whole pace and tone of the film.
Now the plot and script will never be oscar material (its not that kind of movie) but anyone who discounts it based on the trailer is missing out on a cinema experience like no other. the trailers really do miss out on 90% of the "wow" moments and can be considered teasers.
I'm going to try a spoiler free review here, but be warned, whilst I wont give away any key moments or plot devices I will go a little on my opinion of the characters film as a hole (and might hit a few moments to stood out).......

Spoilers may follow, you have been warned!!!!!

Human actors
Sam - Main human lead played by the Shia bloke. Superb. This guy is going to be a massive hit. His ability to hit the right comedy note without being over the top is perfect. And his relationship/bonding with Bumblebee is just spot on.
Mikaila - Sams love interest. Extremely hot (for the lads) and not helpless (for the ladies). Again she plays off Sam perfectly and has a superb part to play in the final battle with Bumblebee (its in the trailer a bit). Did I mention that she is hot?
Rest of Humans - Sams parents are totally superb and very, very, very funny ("Sams happy time" is all I will say). Main sector 7 agent (played by John Tortoro) is very good. Really over the top smarmy. Rest of them are just right for the roles with no real disapointments. The military guys (seen in the trailer with Scorpinok) are good, real soldiers.

The Autobots
Optimus Prime - Sends a shiver down your spine the first time he talks. Can a CGI robot be considered the action hero star of a film? Just perfect. Peter Cullen was totally the right choice to bring back, he sounds totally different to the original cartoons, but so much like Prime should. You actually believe that he truly cares about preserving life. Unmistakable.

Ironhide - Again, superb, hard as nails and totally no noncence. Deffinately the man to have by your side in a fight and not in anyway the tooth fairy

Ratchett - Yup, again, just the right note. Also has one of the funniest lines in the movie.

Jazz - Very cool and knows it, smallest of the autobots, but totally fearless in the final battle.

Bumblebee - Up there with Prime, he is totally cool, and actually more likeable than I thought he would be. Pretty funny at times considering that for the most part he can only comunicate via his radio ("float like a butterfly..."). Again, when it kicks off... he is a proper tough soldier and Sam's protector.

Decepticons

Megatron - Badass with a capital BAD. He really does hit the right note of pure evil and menace. And the voice is perfect for the film. He is huge and doesnt care about what humans think so makes no effort to hide or limit the damage around. EVIL.

Starscream - If his mid air "ballet" against a squadren of F22's doesnt win the "coolest sequence ever in an action movie award" then a crime has been commited. Put simply, he is starscream.

Devastator/Brawl - Huge tank thing, hard as a hard thing but only really used in the final battle. But he is extremely tough, extremly. Listed 2 names as the toys are called Brawl, but in the film he calls himself Devastator?

Bonecrusher - Not in it long to be honest (he takes on Prime 1on1) but nasty. Very tough.

Blackout - The Helicopter. very powerful and formidable. His attack on the base (as hinted at in the trailers) is a huge sequence right near the start of the film and simply stunning to watch.

Scorpinok - Very cool and seemingly unstopable.

Barricade - Police car. Really nasty piece of work after Sam so I guess he is Bumblebees main rival. He has the real potential to scare little kids when he threatens Sam, his voice is just plain nasty when he screams right in Sams face (in the trailer, on the bonnet of a car)

Frenzy - Boombox travels with Barricade, mainly an opponent for the humans as he is only about 4ft tall. A little bit comic relief, but very nasty none the less.

Stand out moments without hitting specific polt points or details.....

Sams bungling attempts at courtship of Mikeala with a little un-noticed help from Bumblebee.

Bumblebee revealing himself to Sam for the first time.

Autobots arrival - This really is a stand out moment, the music, the tone, the visuals etc all perfect. The sence of wonder and the way it builds to Primes first words in the film, just wow.

Sams parents, his mum is just so funny.

How much screen time the autobots get, this is their film more than anyones and thankfully Bay totally understood that and gives them loads of screen time and loads to say and do. They are not as critics earlier feared just CGI dressing on a human story. In fact they have several scenes with no humans in sight.

Starscream V a squadren of F22's - This is just awsome, pure movie action gold that shows just how formidable Starscream really is.

The effects are unreal. The trailer does not do them justice, you really do have to see this film to understand what special effects really are. So good are they that ILM do not feel the need to ever try and obscure the Autobots/Decepticons in darkness. Harsh bright sunlight shows no flaws, in fact it makes them look even more real. Transformers=2008 Oscar for special effects

The film is 2hrs 20mins something long and it didnt feel it at all, it could have been "lord of the rings" long and I would not have cared.
Seen spiderman, seen pirates and whilst they are enjoyable diversions (Pirates more than spiderman) they are simply nothing compared to this film. It has already smashed July 4th weekend records in the USA and I predict it will go on to be a record breaking box office success more than anyone expects. It deserves to be.

CivPilot
(35yrs old and now wants to go out and buy a bumblebee toy)

11th July 2007, 08:28	#1 (permalink)
CivPilot 您看了 Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 1st May 2006 Location: Surrey/Hants Posts: 447 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Transformers the movie - First review (with some minor spoilers)..... Now I've put this as a new thread as the other Transformers thread kinda went down the off topic route near the end. Basically last night I managed to catch an exclusive screening of the film.... *HOLY COW. Beleive the hype.* Micheal Bay and MR. Speilberg have truely knocked this one out of the park. I cannot remember the last film that made my jaw hit the floor as often as this one did. I'm not just talking about the effects (the trailers do not do them justice) but the whole pace and tone of the film. Now the plot and script will never be oscar material (its not that kind of movie) but anyone who discounts it based on the trailer is missing out on a cinema experience like no other. the trailers really do miss out on 90% of the "wow" moments and can be considered teasers. I'm going to try a spoiler free review here, but be warned, whilst I wont give away any key moments or plot devices I will go a little on my opinion of the characters film as a hole (and might hit a few moments to stood out)....... *Spoilers may follow, you have been warned!!!!!* Human actors Sam - Main human lead played by the Shia bloke. Superb. This guy is going to be a massive hit. His ability to hit the right comedy note without being over the top is perfect. And his relationship/bonding with Bumblebee is just spot on. Mikaila - Sams love interest. Extremely hot (for the lads) and not helpless (for the ladies). Again she plays off Sam perfectly and has a superb part to play in the final battle with Bumblebee (its in the trailer a bit). Did I mention that she is hot? Rest of Humans - Sams parents are totally superb and very, very, very funny ("Sams happy time" is all I will say). Main sector 7 agent (played by John Tortoro) is very good. Really over the top smarmy. Rest of them are just right for the roles with no real disapointments. The military guys (seen in the trailer with Scorpinok) are good, real soldiers. The Autobots Optimus Prime - Sends a shiver down your spine the first time he talks. Can a CGI robot be considered the action hero star of a film? Just perfect. Peter Cullen was totally the right choice to bring back, he sounds totally different to the original cartoons, but so much like Prime should. You actually believe that he truly cares about preserving life. Unmistakable. Ironhide - Again, superb, hard as nails and totally no noncence. Deffinately the man to have by your side in a fight and not in anyway the tooth fairy Ratchett - Yup, again, just the right note. Also has one of the funniest lines in the movie. Jazz - Very cool and knows it, smallest of the autobots, but totally fearless in the final battle. Bumblebee - Up there with Prime, he is totally cool, and actually more likeable than I thought he would be. Pretty funny at times considering that for the most part he can only comunicate via his radio ("float like a butterfly..."). Again, when it kicks off... he is a proper tough soldier and Sam's protector. Decepticons Megatron - Badass with a capital BAD. He really does hit the right note of pure evil and menace. And the voice is perfect for the film. He is huge and doesnt care about what humans think so makes no effort to hide or limit the damage around. EVIL. Starscream - If his mid air "ballet" against a squadren of F22's doesnt win the "coolest sequence ever in an action movie award" then a crime has been commited. Put simply, he is starscream. Devastator/Brawl - Huge tank thing, hard as a hard thing but only really used in the final battle. But he is extremely tough, extremly. Listed 2 names as the toys are called Brawl, but in the film he calls himself Devastator? Bonecrusher - Not in it long to be honest (he takes on Prime 1on1) but nasty. Very tough. Blackout - The Helicopter. very powerful and formidable. His attack on the base (as hinted at in the trailers) is a huge sequence right near the start of the film and simply stunning to watch. Scorpinok - Very cool and seemingly unstopable. Barricade - Police car. Really nasty piece of work after Sam so I guess he is Bumblebees main rival. He has the real potential to scare little kids when he threatens Sam, his voice is just plain nasty when he screams right in Sams face (in the trailer, on the bonnet of a car) Frenzy - Boombox travels with Barricade, mainly an opponent for the humans as he is only about 4ft tall. A little bit comic relief, but very nasty none the less. Stand out moments without hitting specific polt points or details..... Sams bungling attempts at courtship of Mikeala with a little un-noticed help from Bumblebee. Bumblebee revealing himself to Sam for the first time. Autobots arrival - This really is a stand out moment, the music, the tone, the visuals etc all perfect. The sence of wonder and the way it builds to Primes first words in the film, just wow. Sams parents, his mum is just so funny. How much screen time the autobots get, this is their film more than anyones and thankfully Bay totally understood that and gives them loads of screen time and loads to say and do. They are not as critics earlier feared just CGI dressing on a human story. In fact they have several scenes with no humans in sight. Starscream V a squadren of F22's - This is just awsome, pure movie action gold that shows just how formidable Starscream really is. The effects are unreal. The trailer does not do them justice, you really do have to see this film to understand what special effects really are. So good are they that ILM do not feel the need to ever try and obscure the Autobots/Decepticons in darkness. Harsh bright sunlight shows no flaws, in fact it makes them look even more real. Transformers=2008 Oscar for special effects The film is 2hrs 20mins something long and it didnt feel it at all, it could have been "lord of the rings" long and I would not have cared. Seen spiderman, seen pirates and whilst they are enjoyable diversions (Pirates more than spiderman) they are simply nothing compared to this film. It has already smashed July 4th weekend records in the USA and I predict it will go on to be a record breaking box office success more than anyone expects. It deserves to be. CivPilot (35yrs old and now wants to go out and buy a bumblebee toy)