For those that are curious, there will be new writers for the sequel, the writers of this one are off to do the new Star Trek movie...
That's a dream come true for Transformer fans, while at the same time, a nightmare for Star Trek fans. :confused:

Can they release the score before I kill myself.

Can they release the score before I kill myself.
You already said you downloaded it, didn't you?

oink you nailed it for me about the fast camera, quick-cut editing. That ruined it for me with this movie above anything else. Its pretty obvious that the use of it was to cover up the flaws with the robots.

The whole shaky-cam quick editing thing was also my biggest complaint about the film as well. But it wasn't done to hide flaws in the robots. I mean, you do see them in quite a few lingering slow-motion close-up shots and they look absolutely flawless. That style of cinematography was a choice by Michael Bay, to add a sense of realism, grittiness, and momentum, but a wrong choice in my opinion. Just overdone. But Bay seems to be about excess... to his own detrement.

I actually like that kind of photography, but in small doses. I love the shot of Sam in the foreground with the hulking Barricade just bearing down on him. You know, right around, "are you user name, Ladies Man 217!?!" That shaky-cam zoomed-in a little style. It works well, has a kind of energy to it, but it's very breif as it should be.

I should clarify that I didn't feel there were gross flaws within the robots themselves (once transformed from their POS car alter-egos they weren't too bad) but that I thought the flaws were blatantly hidden and prevalent within the transformations back and forth. Whether or not this was due to insecurities or an intentional holding back for the sake of crating an appetite, only the second film will reveal the truth to motivation for the overused chaos-cam.

spyder, you sure spend a lot of time on a thread about a movie you despise. Posting the initial rant is one thing. Defending and chatting til page 17 is quite another. How much time do you devote to chat about a movie you love?

I should clarify that I didn't feel there were gross flaws within the robots themselves (once transformed from their POS car alter-egos they weren't too bad) but that I thought the flaws were blatantly hidden and prevalent within the transformations back and forth. Whether or not this was due to insecurities or an intentional holding back for the sake of crating an appetite, only the second film will reveal the truth to motivation for the overused chaos-cam.

Just curious what flaws in the transformations are you referring too? All the transformations were awesome. Now were they realistic? No... Should anyone expect all the thousands of piecess moving, to make perfect sense of how they reform and fit all together?

There's going to be a certain amount of "cheating," going on: shrinking, enlarging, bending, etc. of various piecess between one form to the other.

The filmmaking process is one big "cheat" anyway. Elements of time and space are constatnly manipulated to create a desired end effect, and not necessarily to merely hide flaws. Chaos-cam was used for stylistic reasons.

Also, how will the sequel reveal the truth to motivation for the "chaos-cam?"

So I saw this for the third time today lol....I still love it...and while I think the story was well done (for a first movie) the third time seeing this had me wishing that they had put more history into the story. Put in some more of the mythos of these robots to make them and their culture a little more interesting. I really wanted to know more about the cube too. Hopefully more of this will be done in the second.

You already said you downloaded it, didn't you?

the score is available for download ?? Jablonski said it was not finished yet.
should be around 90minutes !

spyder, you sure spend a lot of time on a thread about a movie you despise. Posting the initial rant is one thing. Defending and chatting til page 17 is quite another. How much time do you devote to chat about a movie you love?
How I spend my time should not be of consequence to you.

Also, how will the sequel reveal the truth to motivation for the "chaos-cam?"
To me, if the chaos-cam still prevails in the second film, it will serve as proof that Bay wasn't at all comfortable with how the transformations were presented, insecure in the manipulations of the machines. If, on the other hand, we see a nice, detailed transformation in the sequel with the camera in one place for more than 0.0000000000001 milliseconds, then we'll know that the chaos-cam was Bay's idea of artistic seduction for those events.

Give 'em hell, Spyder!!! ;) :D

I think that the transformations were, if not flawless, as satisfying as current technology could allow them to be.

The only exception would be Prime's initial transformation, which was just way too long and overly-elaborate. When the front of his chest is changing, some of the parts look like they are turning into liquid...just doesn't look right.

The best transformation by far is when Prime yells "ROLL OUT" when they are by the railroad tracks with the back-up team of Sector 7 closing in on their location.

Didn't the Decepticons transmit a signal to "roll out" as well? I found that disconcerting, as that's a saying that has always been unique to Prime.

Well, when Starscream tells the Decepticons to mobilize, Bonecrusher says "rolling..."

...which actually looks pretty stupid. Should have just been "Bonecrusher, moving out..." or something.

Vote for who you want in the sequel:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2007-07-18-Transformers_N.htm

I went for Devastator. Show me a combiner!
Results are in. Soundwave won with 20%, Devastator and Grimlock at 16%, Jetfire at 11%, and Ultra Magnus and Shockwave tied at 9%. Soundwave is a great character no doubt, but they'll have to update his alt mode of course.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2007-07-18-Transformers_N.htm

SOundwave should've been in the first..most of his `cool factor' is based on his voice though.

I think that the transformations were, if not flawless, as satisfying as current technology could allow them to be.

The only exception would be Prime's initial transformation, which was just way too long and overly-elaborate. When the front of his chest is changing, some of the parts look like they are turning into liquid...just doesn't look right.

The best transformation by far is when Prime yells "ROLL OUT" when they are by the railroad tracks with the back-up team of Sector 7 closing in on their location.

I think the `liquid' aspect of it came from it being a night shot with a ton of the CG light reflecting off of rig's wax augmenting the scene some....my personal fav is still the Optimus vs. Bonecrusher sequence...Prime's first transformation was extended simply because it was his official introduction..not his coolest by any means. :D

SOundwave should've been in the first..most of his `cool factor' is based on his voice though.

Soundwave was initially written to be Blackout (the helicopter) but people online cried, b**ched and moaned and he was removed and Blackout was formed.

SOundwave should've been in the first..most of his `cool factor' is based on his voice though.
I always thought Soundwave's coolness factor came from his astute logic ("Soundwave superior, Constructicons inferior.") in all things and unwavering loyalty toward Megatron, thus serving as the perfect antithesis to Starscream. The shot of him carrying the broken body of Megatron off the battlefield amidst a barrage of fire will always remain clear as day to me. He had a "ninja-like" feel to him, plus, he had minons that remained as allegiant to him ("Nobody calls Soundwave unchazimatic!") as he was to his superiors. :cool:

He was, and still is, the consummate warrior. I certainly hope the writers listen to the fans and give him a more inclusive role than a simple underling and a more imaginative make than a simple helicopter or MP3 player. :confused:

To me, if the chaos-cam still prevails in the second film, it will serve as proof that Bay wasn't at all comfortable with how the transformations were presented, insecure in the manipulations of the machines. If, on the other hand, we see a nice, detailed transformation in the sequel with the camera in one place for more than 0.0000000000001 milliseconds, then we'll know that the chaos-cam was Bay's idea of artistic seduction for those events.

With that said, the chaotic camera is not inconsistent with Michael Bay films. In fact hand-held shots mixed with fast cutting and swooping camera cranes and dollies is his normal mode of operation for an action sequence.

So... he's not necessarily doing anything differently when featuring robot transformations. I don't think there's anything to hide. Maybe you find it amusing that this rock star of a director who's a self proclaimed perfectionist, might not be "comfortable," or, "insecure" with something in his movie, but I do believe it's all merely a stylistic choice. Once again I believe this is an incorrect choice, or at least overdone IMHO.

Expect to see a slo-motion transformation scene in one of the sequals. If done right it could be extremely satisfying. :D

I always thought Soundwave's coolness factor came from his astute logic ("Soundwave superior, Constructicons inferior.") in all things and unwavering loyalty toward Megatron, thus serving as the perfect antithesis to Starscream. The shot of him carrying the broken body of Megatron off the battlefield amidst a barrage of fire will always remain clear as day to me. He had a "ninja-like" feel to him, plus, he had minons that remained as allegiant to him ("Nobody calls Soundwave unchazimatic!") as he was to his superiors. :cool:

He was, and still is, the consummate warrior. I certainly hope the writers listen to the fans and give him a more inclusive role than a simple underling and a more imaginative make than a simple helicopter or MP3 player. :confused:

I don't remember all that much of the 80s Transformers' cartoon history..>I did have a ton of the action figures though. U could be right... ;)

After seeing it yet again, another aspect of the movie I really enjoyed was the parts where our military was shown working their magic. Now I'm not necessarily talking about some dude laying down a bike so he can shoot up a transformer's butthole, but the parts where the A10s and gunships were called in, the initial attack on the base in qatar, etc. I am no military expert, but the communications and all between the squad, base, and gunships seemed pretty realistic and a good portrayal of our armed forces.

oh and to echo the sentiment a few posts back, I'm also wondering... where is the friggin score soundtrack!?!?!? hurry up!

...Now I'm not necessarily talking about some dude laying down a bike so he can shoot up a transformer's butthole...
LOL! Nice to know you can slide for 3.5 miles after laying down a motorcycle though...without a scratch! ;)

The only exception would be Prime's initial transformation, which was just way too long and overly-elaborate.

Even though it was obviously the money shot, I kinda got the impression he was, for lack of better words, getting the hang of it/sorting himself out since it was the first time he transformed out of the truck disguise he assumed after crashing to earth. His later transformations like the one on the highway were made in haste in order to stand in bonecrusher's way (and then waste no time finishing him off, heh)

as for the comments about the shaky camera work, it doesn't bother me much as we usually sit pretty far back in the theater so we don't have to literally turn our heads to see what's going on in a shot. people in the front, I have no idea how they can take any of it in, shaky-cam or not.

and regarding soundwave, I'm all for the character showing up (awesome voice and all), but I think him turning into a tiny tape deck from a 40 foot robot wouldn't really work.

and regarding soundwave, I'm all for the character showing up (awesome voice and all), but I think him turning into a tiny tape deck from a 40 foot robot wouldn't really work.
My guess is Soundwave crash lands at and scan's Alan Gouger's place and transforms into his HT setup.

/\ :D

maybe soundwave could transform into a "boom car" SUV or something. i.e. a big suburban with about a 12" lift and 33" tires, full of amps & subwoofers.

All I know, is that I want to see Megatron return as Galvertron, I always thought that he in all his Schizophrenia, Pyscotic coolness was a better character than Megatron, and much more ruthless. An while their at it they can throw in the badass Cyclonus also, I love to see him and Iorn Hide go hand to hand.

So is Unicron going to be in the sequel or not? I've read scattered rumors he will be, but most say that he won't be clearly shown. ( What a surprise! :rolleyes: ) I'd love to see Transformers vs. Decepticons vs. Unicron...have them duke it out on Cybertron and its moons, thus eliminating the ridiculous human plotline altogether.

Hopefully, Bay won't reduce Soundwave into a super-bitchin' 1984 Taurus or uber-cool Fiesta. :(

Saw this thing last night and what struck me was how grainy the film was. I'm assuming the party line is this was done for "artistic intent", but the conspiracy theorist in me wonders if it was done to sort of "filter" the transformer shots so that, in conjunction with the MTV-generation editing style and shaky cam, you really couldn't see them too clearly. Basically a way to hide any CGI flaws...? I can't remember a more grainy film.... maybe Minority Report.

Hmm I don't recall. I'll have to look out for that next time. I have seen it twice, once with a digital projector and the other with film. The only problems I saw in the video was the standard editing artifacts on the film version. Although I admittedly am not the video connesiour (sp?) that some on here are.

Saw this thing last night and what struck me was how grainy the film was. I'm assuming the party line is this was done for "artistic intent", but the conspiracy theorist in me wonders if it was done to sort of "filter" the transformer shots so that, in conjunction with the MTV-generation editing style and shaky cam, you really couldn't see them too clearly. Basically a way to hide any CGI flaws...? I can't remember a more grainy film.... maybe Minority Report.

I think this was a product of your theater, that is the first time since the movie has been released (check the rest of this thread) that someone has said anything about seeing grain.

I think this was a product of your theater, that is the first time since the movie has been released (check the rest of this thread) that someone has said anything about seeing grain.

It didn't look like projector artifacts (I saw it on film); I know what those look like. It was definitely hyper-grainy, like Minority Report. Surprised there haven't been more comments on this...

oh and to echo the sentiment a few posts back, I'm also wondering... where is the friggin score soundtrack!?!?!? hurry up!
This is the best info I can find so far:


We recently told you about the little possibility of the "Transformers" movie soundtrack score being released. However, there seems to be some good news coming out of all of this.

According to Chandra Cogburn, one of the contributors to the "Transformers" score, says that there is indeed a soundtrack score in the works. Christopher Knight over at The Knight Shift quotes Ms. Cogburn on this topic: "There will be an album of Transformers score coming out soon. I do not know the details, as I am not working on it."

While a definitive timeframe is not given, Lorne Balfe, an additional composer on the score, was quoted as saying "at least 2 months" until the score is released.

Keep glued to TFormers.com as we bring you more as it is revealed.

Source: tformers.com (http://tformers.com/Transformers-Score-Coming-Out-Soon/8190/news.html)

Saw this thing last night and what struck me was how grainy the film was. I'm assuming the party line is this was done for "artistic intent", but the conspiracy theorist in me wonders if it was done to sort of "filter" the transformer shots so that, in conjunction with the MTV-generation editing style and shaky cam, you really couldn't see them too clearly. Basically a way to hide any CGI flaws...? I can't remember a more grainy film.... maybe Minority Report.
Definitely varies from theater to theater. I've seen it four times now including an advance screening. The advance screening was clear as crystal. I saw it four days later with my wife in another theater, and was terribly grainy.

Definitely varies from theater to theater. I've seen it four times now including an advance screening. The advance screening was clear as crystal. I saw it four days later with my wife in another theater, and was terribly grainy.
Theatre #1 uses Jimmy, the 16 year-old kid making $5.25/hr, and that also sells popcorn at the concession stand to "calibrate" the system. Theatre #2 actually hires a professional do it. Sadly, 85-90% of the audience probably doesn't notice the difference between #1 and #2. :(

The remaining 10-15% have their own HTs, having grown tired of Theatre #1.*

*Don't blame Jimmy, by the way. He's trying. ;)

the NON DLP showing I watched @ HArkins was flawless pic wise....the DLP/DTS screen ended Friday so I can't see it now.

If I recall correctly from what I read here a while back, VW apparently didn't give permission for them to use the beetle in this movie cause they didn't want to be associated with violence but I find it ironic that they allow their Taureg to be used in the new Bourne flick as a "Co-star" (according to the radio ad I heard this AM). I guess they must not be familiar with this movie cause it sure is a lot more 'violent' than Transformers.

well perhaps, but said taureg is just being driven. in transformers it'd be the beetle itself that's doing the 'violence'. I think it's dumb either way, but that's probably their reasoning. They're probably kicking themselves for not allowing it now, seeing as how bumblebee is a good guy, and probably the hottest selling toy out there. I personally am glad they did the new camaro though as I'm a chevy fan :)

"I'm witt you" all the way. Stupid move on their part, missed out on a great marketting opportunity.

If I recall correctly from what I read here a while back, VW apparently didn't give permission for them to use the beetle in this movie cause they didn't want to be associated with violence but I find it ironic that they allow their Taureg to be used in the new Bourne flick as a "Co-star"

The Taureg is in "Bourne," but the bit about VW not giving permission for transformers, I believe is false. There's an interview with Micahel Bay on Yahoo Movies where he explains that he wanted to "beef up" Bumblebee and so opted for the Camaro. A VW bug is actually in the movie anyway, don't you remember? Bumblee pulls right up along side a yellow bug at the used car lot.

Wasn't there a deal with Bay and company with General Motors? Money talks.....

There are many, many reports that Bay just loved the Camaro to pieces, thinking it was the greatest, most innovative, spectacular car ever built. :confused: Sort of makes me wonder how much real politiking went on with V-Dub. Not that the Beetle is any more exotic, by any means. :(

Well it definitely wouldn't make sense to have tried to go with the Beetle for one of the main characters if you've made a huge endorsement deal with GM. I didn't mind it at all, as I said before I'm a pretty big GM fan :) The only thing that kinda rubbed me the wrong way as far as the vehicle selection was Jazz as a solstice... I mean, come on, the guy is all "street" and he passes up the caddy for the solstice!??

The Taureg is in "Bourne," but the bit about VW not giving permission for transformers, I believe is false. There's an interview with Micahel Bay on Yahoo Movies where he explains that he wanted to "beef up" Bumblebee and so opted for the Camaro. A VW bug is actually in the movie anyway, don't you remember? Bumblee pulls right up along side a yellow bug at the used car lot.

Hey thanks for clearing that up, and yes I did notice the homage to BumbleBee in the car lot.

Heheh yeah and he puts a huge door ding in it :)

I'm glad they used the new Camaro for Bumblebee. It fits the personality of the character in the movie much better than the VW would've. Plus that car is going to be badass when it comes out. GM's LSx series of engines are phenomenal powerhouses. Perhaps when the sequel comes out, Chevy will do a Bumblebee Edition with the fly yellow/black racing stripes combo. Between the Camaro and the Saleen S281, I was in muscle car heaven. Michael Bay knows his rides.

I'm glad they used the new Camaro for Bumblebee. It fits the personality of the character in the movie much better than the VW would've. Plus that car is going to be badass when it comes out. GM's LSx series of engines are phenomenal powerhouses. Perhaps when the sequel comes out, Chevy will do a Bumblebee Edition with the fly yellow/black racing stripes combo. Between the Camaro and the Saleen S281, I was in muscle car heaven. Michael Bay knows his rides.

That Camaro is bad. I can't wait until it comes out so I can trade my GTO in on one. And, I'd never thought I'd buy a yellow car, but I just might this time.

Yeah I wonder how many people's pre-chosen color for their planned Camaro purchase changed when they saw this movie :)

and how many transformer logo steering wheel horn buttons they sell

...and how many Bumblebee-yellow Camaros there will be on the road after this movie, thus making it much more of a plain-Jane, everybody's got one, "stale as two week old white bread" car, as opposed to something a little more unique. I never liked yellow vehicles in the first place, and, to me, it only works with a very select few cars anyway (like taxis, buses, and VW bugs) but to suddenly have a glut of dandilions driving around? Not my idea of cool at all.

I'm not ripping anybody for wanting it, just saying their little weed won't stand out in the flower patch as much as they'd hoped.

Well Chevy's approach for the '08 Camaro isn't to be a unique, expensive, very few on the road kind of vehicle. They want a car that sells as many as the Mustang does now. They want all the sixteen year old girls driving 2008 V6 Camaros instead of Mustangs. I think they'll accomplish that goal.

Well Chevy's approach for the '08 Camaro isn't to be a unique, expensive, very few on the road kind of vehicle. They want a car that sells as many as the Mustang does now. They want all the sixteen year old girls driving 2008 V6 Camaros instead of Mustangs. I think they'll accomplish that goal.

They can have their V6 Camaros. I'll take the SS, Z28, or whatever they call the biggest of the bunch.

I'd wait one year for a new Camaro..price will drop.

(On soundwave)
He was, and still is, the consummate warrior. I certainly hope the writers listen to the fans and give him a more inclusive role than a simple underling and a more imaginative make than a simple helicopter or MP3 player. :confused:

and that's why you'll wallow in Xformer disappointment. Next thing you're going to want some sort of character development.

my bet is the 2nd will end on a "sad" note with devestator taking over the country and the 3rd will see the creation of the dinobots with Grimlock pouring kick ass all over the screen.

I hope this won't start any juvenile squabble between format-fanboys, but it seems noteworthy that Michael Bay has just announced he will refuse to make "Transformers 2" because Paramount and DreamWorks have just dumped blu-ray and gone exclusively HD-DVD.
I'm format neutral, as my HTPC plays both formats. But this silly format "war" is obviously counter-productive to HD optical media adoption.

I hope this won't start any juvenile squabble between format-fanboys, but it seems noteworthy that Michael Bay has just announced he will refuse to make "Transformers 2" because Paramount and DreamWorks have just dumped blu-ray and gone exclusively HD-DVD.
I'm format neutral, as my HTPC plays both formats. But this silly format "war" is obviously counter-productive to HD optical media adoption.

Rumor is that he wasn't guaranteed a spot in the drivers seat anyway.

Did anybody hear or read anything about a new extended IMAX version of Transformers due out in September? I thought I saw it saw something about that the other day on one of those ticker screen crawlers but not sure.

Heard it's coming to Imax but nothing about extended edition:
http://www.seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=11479
Either way, I'll be seeing this in Imax (for the fifth time).

Modified Topkick > Concept Camaro

Modified Topkick > Concept Camaro

Check out the tailgate:

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n172/spyderswebphotos/ironhide.jpg

I thought Imax movies were limited to 2 hours. I seem to remember Batman Begins and the Harry Potter movies being shortened to fit.

I thought Imax movies were limited to 2 hours. I seem to remember Batman Begins and the Harry Potter movies being shortened to fit.

sheeesh... that must suck... didn't they release spiderman and 300 on imax also??

shortening the movie plain sucks.. i don't watch tv broadcasted movies hardly ever anymore due to the editing and shortening...

the website of the nearest Imax theater to me is showing the TF movie as having a runtime of 2 hours, 29 minutes, which is normal length. haven't heard anything about shortening a movie for Imax before but I haven't been to many imax movies before :confused:

I thought Imax movies were limited to 2 hours. I seem to remember Batman Begins and the Harry Potter movies being shortened to fit.

Sweet! Take out the ridicuous agent scenes, the cheesy teen angst scenes, the putrid 45 minute hide from ma and pa scene, and shorten the film to 1 hour. Go, IMAX! You could make Transformers 2007 into a decent movie!

wow 2 months after it's released and spydey is still venting!

Like an eternal volcano, I just keep venting. It's the only way I keep from totally erupting! ;)

anyone heard more about the score soundtrack?? seems people were talkin about it a lot but its kinda died down... i still want this!

answered my own question:
http://www.**************.com/tfmjabcd/
Warner Bros. Records will release the CD of the TRANSFORMERS score by Steve Jablonsky on October 9th 2007



and totally off topic but sbwillie: noticed your sig, cool man I'm a skillet fan too!

just watch Batman begins and just think ,"What would a remix sound like?"

people keep saying that, but i guess i don't hear it. at least, nothing that compares w/the autobots fly in and choose their vehicles scene.