Improvements for Transformers 4
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:03 am
Michael Bay has been confirmed to direct Transformers 4. The first three were decidedly flawed. Here are some of the improvements I'd like to see made in the fourth instalment.
-Don't make the robots look so complex and mechanical. Giving the robots a simpler look will make the robots more visually appealing, the action sequences will be easier to follow, and it will cost less per frame to animate the robots; meaning that the robots could have substantially more screen time.
-Make the story about the robots. The thing which has upset me the most about the first three films is that they were essentially about the humans who were running around screaming while the robots fought. A transformers film should be about the conflict between the transformers, and not about Shia Labeouf's love life. Transformers: Prime has demonstrated that it is possible to inject a human element into Transformers fiction without allowing it to overpower the story of the robots.
-Give the robots discernible personalities. Transformers has arguably been such an enduring franchise because people liked the characters. Optimus is noble and brave. Prowl is logical and efficient. Starscream is ambitious and treacherous. Soundwave is unwaveringly loyal. Ironhide is headstrong and tough. People have enjoyed the Transformers media over such a long period of time because the robots, in all of their incarnations, had these clearly defined characteristics which made them more interesting. The personalities of the robots were not terribly well conveyed in the films; the robots simply fought each other while the humans ran around screaming. Take Shockwave as an example. In the G1 cartoon Shockwave was a brilliant and ruthless tactician who was loyal to Cybertron. In the films, Shockwave simply made gurgling noises as he wandered around in search of enemies. Another example is Starscream; whose desire to overthrow Megatron has not yet been conveyed in the live actions films. Giving the robots clear and distinguishable personalities would make the film a lot more interesting and would improve the story enormously.
While this is what I would like to see, it probably won't happen. Michael Bay's formula for Transformers has proven to be commercially successful, so I doubt that anything will change in Transformers 4. Nevertheless, one can always dream. What would you like to see in Transformers 4? Post your thoughts below.
-Don't make the robots look so complex and mechanical. Giving the robots a simpler look will make the robots more visually appealing, the action sequences will be easier to follow, and it will cost less per frame to animate the robots; meaning that the robots could have substantially more screen time.
-Make the story about the robots. The thing which has upset me the most about the first three films is that they were essentially about the humans who were running around screaming while the robots fought. A transformers film should be about the conflict between the transformers, and not about Shia Labeouf's love life. Transformers: Prime has demonstrated that it is possible to inject a human element into Transformers fiction without allowing it to overpower the story of the robots.
-Give the robots discernible personalities. Transformers has arguably been such an enduring franchise because people liked the characters. Optimus is noble and brave. Prowl is logical and efficient. Starscream is ambitious and treacherous. Soundwave is unwaveringly loyal. Ironhide is headstrong and tough. People have enjoyed the Transformers media over such a long period of time because the robots, in all of their incarnations, had these clearly defined characteristics which made them more interesting. The personalities of the robots were not terribly well conveyed in the films; the robots simply fought each other while the humans ran around screaming. Take Shockwave as an example. In the G1 cartoon Shockwave was a brilliant and ruthless tactician who was loyal to Cybertron. In the films, Shockwave simply made gurgling noises as he wandered around in search of enemies. Another example is Starscream; whose desire to overthrow Megatron has not yet been conveyed in the live actions films. Giving the robots clear and distinguishable personalities would make the film a lot more interesting and would improve the story enormously.
While this is what I would like to see, it probably won't happen. Michael Bay's formula for Transformers has proven to be commercially successful, so I doubt that anything will change in Transformers 4. Nevertheless, one can always dream. What would you like to see in Transformers 4? Post your thoughts below.