Escape to the Movies: Transformers: Dark of the Moon

[Z of the Na'vi]

Fine Bob, that's your opinion. Your personal feelings toward Transformers only reinforce what you want in a Transformers movie. Dark of the Moon, clearly was not what you were looking for; nor any of the Transformers movies for that matter. I accept that.

Don't however, assume that everybody views movies as you do. Earlier this morning, I too, went and saw the new Transformers. After stepping out of the theater, you know what? I got what I paid for: a two and half hour session of robots, explosions, and beating the crap out of each other. Nothing more, nothing less. Optimus was badass, Sentinel was cool, and Megatron, well...

Spoiler

He died like a *****.

You keep expecting this grand retelling of the old Transformers movie from the 80's, when this is just the way thing are now. So you don't like it. Oh well. Others do and will, and the movie will go on to make an assload of money. Good on them, I say. The movie was exciting and held my attention as well as entertained me.

I couldn't ask any more of any film, the fact it was Transformers notwithstanding.

 

[moviedork]

If it's any consolation to you Bob, i pirated all of these movies.
Then I deleted them.

Anyone who publicly admits to pirating movies is a bigger moron than the people who watch popcorn flicks. Can you call me a moron simply because I like those types of movies from time-to-time, yet not look like an idiot for admitting that you are breaking the law?

Just because you view spectacle-type films as a secondary type of art form (think Opera vs. a Ballet) doesn't mean you are an idiot. It just means that you enjoy those types of movies.

BTW- I loved the hell out of Transformers 3 (please note that I'm a huge fan of the first, and despised the second).

 

[Brainst0rm]

If every movie was high art, movies wouldn't make very much money, because "high art" is sometimes crap too. The difference is when "high art" is crap it's a baffling, inexplicable experience. When blockbusters are crap, they're still fun to look at.

That said, I will NOT be seeing this movie, or (if I can help it) anything by Michael Bay ever again.

 

[RTK1576]

A response to various commenters:

- It is truly amusing to see people complain about Bob in such long, drawn out comments and then wrap it up with an "Escapist should get rid of him" finale. Guess what? YOU'RE HELPING BOB. The more traffic he gets, the more likely he's sticking around. So if you really don't want him around, DON'T WATCH. Stop being a hypocrite and DON'T WATCH. Controversy sells - silence doesn't.

I like Bob, but I don't always agree with him. If you like a debate, that's one thing. Otherwise, you're just being (to put it politely) silly.

- You know, it's not that hard to make a movie where you have action AND good characters AND a good plot. Christopher Nolan has shown that not only is this doable, it's repeatable and bankable. What Michael Bay has done is to tap into the visceral-emotional part of America, and that's all he's got. Bay's filmmaking is kinda like beer: it's fun in small doses, but it's still slowly destroying your brain and you'll regret it if you drink too much of it.

I blame Steven Spielberg, incidentally. He keeps enabling Bay.

 

[Loves2spooge]

I don't care if someone enjoys this movie, I just don't appreciate being called a snob when I say to people I think it's a bad movie.

Well then maybe you can relate to people who don't appreciate when others imply that they are incapable of voting because they like a certain type of movie.

You are, in fact, a snob.

I didn't attack you or call you anything, don't call me a snob.

 

[saintchristopher]

I walked out of the theater with the same feeling i would have had if someone had spent the past 3 hours trying to get me to fight them.

 

[lacktheknack]

WHY SHOULD I NOT VOTE AND DRIVE BOB?

See above. I read that MovieBob reads his comments, but then specifically ignores them. I hope he's not confused as to why so many people think... poorly... of him.

 

[unicron44]

Yeah, I unfortunately saw it and it was retched. We started rifting it about 30 minutes in and I ranted during the credits. I'm right there with you Bob.

 

[Nurb]

People, come on, if the ending really was decided by a woman making a robot question its "manhood", how is that not completely awful? Why is a teenager's sex life so important it had to be involved in multiple movies? The black robot died first, a robot peed on a dog in one, and wrecking balls were ment to be one robots' BALLS for chrissakes

Everyone that says hating these movies makes others "eiltist" is both:
A) why studios don't have to waste money on good story or proper character development when all bros need are loud noises and shiney things on screen
B) similar to how republican shitkickers call anyone who groans over how brainless Palin is an "intellectual elitist"

That's right, transformers is the Sarah Palin of current summer movies; it's dumb, shallow, has a creepy obsession with the military, and revels in all of it. People defending Transformers are the same as people who defend Sarah Palin

YOU BETCHA WINK WINK DONCHA KNOW

 

[mikev7.0]

What did Nimoy do?

He apparently makes a cameo in this film.

And that got a dis from Bob? Not cool Bob, not cool.

He voiced Sentinel Prime. I guess Bob thinks since Spock is now in someway pushed into Bay's movie it's a disappointment.

That shouldn't have upset moviebob? It was probably just a nod to the voice work that he did for the animated movie. I think he was the voice of Galvatron. That movie had a lot of great voices: Eric Idle, Robert Stack, Judd Nelson, Orson Welles....

OT: Hey moviebob? Could you do me a favor and post your Captain America review one day after the movie actually is released? I'd like to actually go see this one. Although I am going to see Green Lantern now that my room mate (She is completely not a comics or games fan.) took her Dad to see it and they both loved it.

I think Cap will be a great movie. Look at it this way, how hard do you think they were trying to make this a July 4th release? If it didn't make it then they must not be willing to take any short cuts or kick er' out the door, to me this is a good sign.

 

[Condiments]

My question is, why does Bay dodge "critical" story analysis whereas other directors aren't held to the same standard? Has Bay become so synonymous with "BIG ACTION NO BRAINS" that he has somehow transcended the very expectations we hold others to?

People act like you can't possibly make a good transformers movie, and that Bay is the only good alternative. I'll come right out and say, I've never been a huge fan of the transformers franchise(though BEAST WARS was amazing), this is an absurd idea. Just look at the comic movie industries which is often built around ridiculous premises. People assert that 'The Dark Knight' is a classic, and its about a man WHO DRESSES LIKE BAT TO INSTILL FEAR, AND WORKS AGAINST A PSYCHOPATH CLOWN WHO IS INTENT ON REVEALING THE SOUL OF A CITY THROUGH TERRORIST ACTS.

Any type of movie can be good and its all about execution. Movies don't have to be intellectually stimulating to be good(often movies fail because they try to hard to be), but they at least have to TRY TO BE GOOD. I won't give a movie a pass because its intent was to show me robot fight scenes surrounded by awful characters, and story. Why must we tolerate this at all?

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

TBF, I think Mark Kermode is an overrated smug wanker.

 

[SapphireD910]

I can say honestly, that I have not seen any of the Transformers films. I almost saw the first one, but I got bored and distracted and did other stuff.

I can really side with your views on movies in general though, Bob. I'm really sick of explosions sucking up so much money (both in production and theater tickets). If I can zone out and not really have missed anything once I tune back in (if at all) then that's a stupid waste of time. If you have time to go to a movie and shut your brain off, then stay home and take a nap.

I go to movies for a story that's delivered maybe with a similar quality, but with more ease and less time than it would take a book, and to admire the talent (whether the actors, director, etc), not to shut my brain off.

I have faith in Chris Evans and Marvel that things will come out at least as decent as Thor with Captain America. I really did not see Thor being as good as it was (thought the fantasy aspect would overwhelm). So I hope that Cap will still be better or just as good, since Thor, the wild card in my book, pulled through so amazingly.

Edit - Also, thinking about it... none of it makes sense except that many movie-goers (sadly a large portion are American, we feed these films more than any other country) do shut their brains off. A better script and a few better choices in cast (not necessarily names, but just good actors) can't possibly equate to shutting down sections of cities and setting up explosions. Can it?

 

[daxterx2005]

Best part about this film was the fact that this trilogy is over.

Wrong. http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/785702/transformers_4_definitely_happening_without_michael_bay.html

Hasbro confirmed there would be more back in Feb, However Michael Bay may not be directing it.

"trilogy" is three films broski

So no, you're incorrect. This trilogy is over.

Unless of course...you know...they continue it...

Which they will...because it's been confirmed.

In which case, it would be a NEW Trilogy.

You're either entirely missing the point, or are as stubborn as an Ox.

You're wrong.

 

[Madara XIII]

I like Transformers. AND YES. EVEN THE BAYSPLOSIONS. And I like Shia, too.

WHY SHOULD I NOT VOTE AND DRIVE BOB?

Same here! Bob really needs to get off that high horse of his. He really and truly has proven himself a Snob.

First he's complaining about a Emotionally Devoid Replacement for Megan Fox? HA FUCKING IRONY!!
Secondly He approves of Sucker Punch over this!? BULL SHIT BOB!! Sucker Punch sucked 10 x harder than this and this movie had more relate able characters

So you know what I say to you Bob!?
I'm glad this movie was better than Green Lantern.
I'm glad this movie was better than Transformers 2!
I thought this movie was better than Sucker Punch

And to Movie Bob