The Energon Pub

[padfoo]

Ok, i went to see this last night, midnight preview in the UK, first time ever been to a midnight preview, and for transformers no less... I love transformers, have done since i was about 5, and im almost 32 now...

Spoilers









This film is appalling, people say there is no characterisation in DOTM, there is nothing in this one, prime puts a call out to his homies, and we get 3 disfunctional bots and an introverted bumblebee.

Drift, ok your a triple changer, why are you japanese? who/what are you?
Hound, welcome back ironhide, sorry we killed you last time, whats your plot?
Crosshairs, should have just been roadbuster, since you arent whats your point?

we have character quirks, but no actual reason for these guys, no back story, nothing about where they have hidden or why, why should i care about them?

Bee, the star of the first 3 films, becomes an introvert, whilst this isnt bad, it feels like a waste of 1 of the few characters we already know, and still appears he cant talk, must take ages to repair TF's...

Apart from prime, who apparently needs transformers to help him repair..., or gaffer tape... but seems to self repair in about 5 minutes every time he gets injured.

Lockdown seems like a good villan, however after he kills one of the characters we know from previous films at the start of this one, it appears he is taking their spark for his own use, this is then stated later that the spark is where all thoughts and memories are kept, basically a Tf's soul... Apart from megatron... megatron has a brain instead... however that doesnt help him either as he goes back to being a side plot point again, rather than the big bad... in fact pretty much not needed in the film, could just be cia vehicons...

And the dinobots... what? where? who? never named, so only the toys have names, the other bots seem to know who/what they are but again never comment, they seem to be something from the past? but even after the start of the films plot point about earth being bombed by "someone" are the dinobots part of earths past, TF's past? meh... still dont care by this point...

and thats it, i was so excited to see this film... and its just bad.

overall it could have done with 20 minutes less explosions, and 10 minutes more plot exposition, just naming names, telling you why things might be happening, or what is going on a little bit, and giving you something to care about.

It feels like there were about 5 different plot points, but everyone forgot to finish 4 of them... or even start them properly... its not hints for the next films, its bad writing or bad editing meanign the film feels hollow and shallow, and you dont care.

It also appears they forgot some things of the editing room floor, since there are alot of goofs and places with bad audio sync.

and the end, well there is an episode of the simpsons this feels very close to... but will let you find that one yourselves

The one thing i will give it is the CIA killing cons and bots basically for profit is a nice dark twist... however its just dark, and sets up the vehicons... it isnt great because its lost within the films bad editing and aweful characterisation.

sorry if i ruin this for anyone, but i had to vent as it upset me alot watching this film, its just bad.

Overall go for the cgi, get lost in that, dont go for a story, dont go for charactisation... see it in IMAX... basically its a good advert for IMAX...

3/10

I agree with most of your points, you did a pretty good summary. Even in the end Lockdown had a crew right? they never came to help he did not make a call?.....

[SlyTF1]

I almost forgot, but, I work at a movie theater, and today some woman was complaining that the movie was too scary for her grandson. I kept looking into the movie and listening to it, the whole day, and I noticed that it was right after the Ratchet scene, that she came out. Is this what kids have become, these days?

[Sabrblade]

I almost forgot, but, I work at a movie theater, and today some woman was complaining that the movie was too scary for her grandson. I kept looking into the movie and listening to it, the whole day, and I noticed that it was right after the Ratchet scene, that she came out. Is this what kids have become, these days?

The smoking corpse of Lucas would have been my first guess. That thing would have terrified me as a kid (even gives me the creeps as an adult).

Maybe it's just you, Sly. You do like dark things, after all.

[durroth]

Confusing and annoying bits
• Sparks and Souls - When Lockdown murders Ratchet, he does so by ripping his spark from him. Later in the movie when Cade is repairing Prime he mentions his "power core" to which Prime tells him it is his power core and his spark which contains his memories.

Flash forward to the Galvatron/Megatron reveal, it's explained that Megatron downloaded himself from his severed head into his new human built body. No spark involved

It's weird, but megatron is kind of weird himself considering he had the "allspark" cube shoved into his spark at one point to pretty much detonate the thing. Possibly his spark was infused into his entire body? Also, he still would have had a brain module, though a brain module without a spark sort of defies rossum's trinity... I dunno. I'm still surprised starscream's ghost didn't try to jack a body.

• The Creators - Despite the hatchlings in Revenge of the Fallen, we're now told that Transformers are built, not born. The Creators are not revealed, though Prime leaves the Earth in search of them.

Has the quintesson thing ever NOT been convoluted?

• Prime leaving - Despite being tired of humans hunting them, Prime leaves at the end, rocketing into space in search of The Creators, leaving the remaining Autobots behind to look after Cade and his family...said Autobots which also hate humans.

the better question is: Is he *just now* discovering he has jet thrusters in his legs? because he seemed blissfully unaware of them throughout the movie before then.

• Transformium - The name given to the metal that the robots are made out of it. I'm sorry, but that is a completely stupid name.

They kind of made the naming tongue in cheek though. It's designed to be stupid corporate buzzword naming.

[SlyTF1]

I almost forgot, but, I work at a movie theater, and today some woman was complaining that the movie was too scary for her grandson. I kept looking into the movie and listening to it, the whole day, and I noticed that it was right after the Ratchet scene, that she came out. Is this what kids have become, these days?

The smoking corpse of Lucas would have been my first guess. That thing would have terrified me as a kid (even gives me the creeps as an adult).

Maybe it's just you, Sly. You do like dark things, after all.

The Lucas part hadn't happened yet. I was sitting outside listening to the movie before she came out. I even recited Lockdown's lines out loud; "Never is here!"

But that Lucas thing probably would have scared me as a kid, too. The Ratchet part, yeah, probably would have scared me, too. But I would have sat there and watched it, anyway. As a kid, the entire King Kong remake movie scared the living hell out of me. But what did I do? Sat there and watched it, anyway. Pissing my pants the entire time. But, at least I pushed through it. Now, I look back on that movie and it still gives me the sensation of being scared, even though I'm really not, and if not for that sensation, I probably wouldn't even remember the movie, at all.

[Sabrblade]

The Lucas part hadn't happened yet. I was sitting outside listening to the movie before she came out. I even recited Lockdown's lines out loud; "Never is here!"

Which is why I said it would have been my first guess, if the actual scene in question wasn't known for certain.

But that Lucas thing probably would have scared me as a kid, too. The Ratchet part, yeah, probably would have scared me, too. But I would have sat there and watched it, anyway. As a kid, the entire King Kong remake movie scared the living hell out of me. But what did I do? Sat there and watched it, anyway. Pissing my pants the entire time. But, at least I pushed through it. Now, I look back on that movie and it still gives me the sensation of being scared, even though I'm really not, and if not for that sensation, I probably wouldn't even remember the movie, at all.

Were you forced or threatened into watching it or something? Why would you do that to yourself? If I knew something scared me, I'd naturally avoid it to avoid the unpleasant feeling of fear.

[skidflap]

I almost forgot, but, I work at a movie theater, and today some woman was complaining that the movie was too scary for her grandson. I kept looking into the movie and listening to it, the whole day, and I noticed that it was right after the Ratchet scene, that she came out. Is this what kids have become, these days?

I read this and I remember what happened a week ago.

One of my college friends took her 7 year old son to see it and when the ratchet scene came up he did not cry. Instead he said he the most metal thing a kid could say

and I quote, "I hope someone kicks lockdown's ass!!!!"

[Burn]

Given that most of your posts seem to have an angry aggressive nature to them SlyTF1, I think it's safe to say that those movies you watched as a kid that you shouldn't have watched may have made an impact on you.

Funny thing about kids, and humans in general, they're all different, they all react to things in different ways. So the kid was upset at seeing Ratchet killed, maybe he was a Ratchet fan, not every young kid idolises Bumblebee.

[Sabrblade]

Remember when all those beloved Autobot characters were brutally murdered within the first five minutes in the 1986 movie? Ratchet's death in this movie is of a similar vein, emotionally-speaking.

[VirusCarnage]

Never mind kids being upset at Ratchet dieing, I was like heartbroken lol. I loved Ratchet, at least he went out fighting though.

[SlyTF1]

The Lucas part hadn't happened yet. I was sitting outside listening to the movie before she came out. I even recited Lockdown's lines out loud; "Never is here!"

Which is why I said it would have been my first guess, if the actual scene in question wasn't known for certain.

But that Lucas thing probably would have scared me as a kid, too. The Ratchet part, yeah, probably would have scared me, too. But I would have sat there and watched it, anyway. As a kid, the entire King Kong remake movie scared the living hell out of me. But what did I do? Sat there and watched it, anyway. Pissing my pants the entire time. But, at least I pushed through it. Now, I look back on that movie and it still gives me the sensation of being scared, even though I'm really not, and if not for that sensation, I probably wouldn't even remember the movie, at all.

Were you forced or threatened into watching it or something? Why would you do that to yourself? If I knew something scared me, I'd naturally avoid it to avoid the unpleasant feeling of fear.

I honestly don't remember. But I do remember that I liked being scared by it. It was weird.

I almost forgot, but, I work at a movie theater, and today some woman was complaining that the movie was too scary for her grandson. I kept looking into the movie and listening to it, the whole day, and I noticed that it was right after the Ratchet scene, that she came out. Is this what kids have become, these days?

I read this and I remember what happened a week ago.

One of my college friends took her 7 year old son to see it and when the ratchet scene came up he did not cry. Instead he said he the most metal thing a kid could say

and I quote, "I hope someone kicks lockdown's ass!!!!"

More kids need to be like that.

Given that most of your posts seem to have an angry aggressive nature to them SlyTF1, I think it's safe to say that those movies you watched as a kid that you shouldn't have watched may have made an impact on you.

Funny thing about kids, and humans in general, they're all different, they all react to things in different ways. So the kid was upset at seeing Ratchet killed, maybe he was a Ratchet fan, not every young kid idolises Bumblebee.

Eh, I was a psychopath way before that, anyway.

Still, does it really constitute wanting to leave the movie for one intense scene? What's the point of seeing a movie if there's no intensity, in some form? I mean, the entire premise of the movie (in the most simple of descriptions) is robots tearing each other to pieces. If you can't handle that after one scene, why go see a movie about it?

[Burn]

Still, does it really constitute wanting to leave the movie for one intense scene? What's the point of seeing a movie if there's no intensity, in some form? I mean, the entire premise of the movie (in the most simple of descriptions) is robots tearing each other to pieces. If you can't handle that after one scene, why go see a movie about it?

Why does this even matter to you? Does it affect you? Does it impact on your life?

[SlyTF1]

Still, does it really constitute wanting to leave the movie for one intense scene? What's the point of seeing a movie if there's no intensity, in some form? I mean, the entire premise of the movie (in the most simple of descriptions) is robots tearing each other to pieces. If you can't handle that after one scene, why go see a movie about it?

Why does this even matter to you? Does it affect you? Does it impact on your life?

Yes. It probably means the movie lost some money. And every penny counts.

[Burn]

Still, does it really constitute wanting to leave the movie for one intense scene? What's the point of seeing a movie if there's no intensity, in some form? I mean, the entire premise of the movie (in the most simple of descriptions) is robots tearing each other to pieces. If you can't handle that after one scene, why go see a movie about it?

Why does this even matter to you? Does it affect you? Does it impact on your life?

Yes. It probably means the movie lost some money. And every penny counts.

You seriously need a check on reality if you're this concerned about a movie franchise. Get out and enjoy the rest of the world, it might help with those anger issues you clearly have.

[Skywarp64]

Yes. It probably means the movie lost some money. And every penny counts.

How does it mean that if they already payed to get into the theater?

[SlyTF1]

Still, does it really constitute wanting to leave the movie for one intense scene? What's the point of seeing a movie if there's no intensity, in some form? I mean, the entire premise of the movie (in the most simple of descriptions) is robots tearing each other to pieces. If you can't handle that after one scene, why go see a movie about it?

Why does this even matter to you? Does it affect you? Does it impact on your life?

Yes. It probably means the movie lost some money. And every penny counts.

You seriously need a check on reality if you're this concerned about a movie franchise. Get out and enjoy the rest of the world, it might help with those anger issues you clearly have.

There's nothing for me out there, in the world. At all.

Yes. It probably means the movie lost some money. And every penny counts.

How does it mean that if they already payed to get into the theater?

They got a refund and used it to see a different movie.

[Burn]

There's nothing for me out there, in the world. At all.

Sounds like someone needs a hug! Shame Va'al's off on holidays.

They got a refund and used it to see a different movie.

SO everyone wins then!

[Skywarp64]

Yes. It probably means the movie lost some money. And every penny counts.

How does it mean that if they already payed to get into the theater?

They got a refund and used it to see a different movie.

Okay, but still, do you really think a Michael Bay film will be seriously hurt by losing only one viewer? That's like, what, $7?

Out of literally millions of dollars, yeah, I'm sure losing $7 is gonna seriously hurt.

[Burn]

Yes. It probably means the movie lost some money. And every penny counts.

How does it mean that if they already payed to get into the theater?

They got a refund and used it to see a different movie.

Okay, but still, do you really think a Michael Bay film will be seriously hurt by losing only one viewer? That's like, what, $7?

Out of literally millions of dollars, yeah, I'm sure losing $7 is gonna seriously hurt.

Oh don't try reasoning with him. He's a self admitted psycho who thinks the Transformers movies are the greatest things under the sun and will defend them until he's blue in the face.

They're like the one ring, precious ...

[Love Dragon]

Saw it yesterday. It is grotesquely awful - the worst of the series.
Acting, characters, plot, dialogue... Bay demonstrates once again he doesn't have clue #1.

It looks nice and that is all.

[Rodimus Prime]

Bee, the star of the first 3 films...

I strongly disagree. Bee may have been the "star" of the 1st film, due to his character's necessity to connect with the main human character, and GM's promotion of the new Camaro, but no way is Bee the star of RoTF or DoTM. He wasn't the 1 fighting 3 Decepticons in a forest to protect Sam, nor was he wearing a dead Jetfire suit to defeat the main bad guys in RoTF. In DoTM, I don't even know if I can call Optimus a star of the film. He did the killings at the end, but throughout the movie everyone had good scenes, especially Ironhide. Hell, if "star" of the movie doesn't have to require the character to be the protagonist, I'd go as far as to say the TF "star" of DoTM was Sentinel Prime. He was the main driving force behind the story, and he kicked the most ass, including Optimus Prime's.

[Sub-Prime]

Ever since Nolan jumped onto the scene everybody wants directors to be dark and boring like him. I respect Bay for one thing! He does whatever he wants instead of trying to be like every other director. He also doesn't believe that a 2 hour and 30 minute movie have to be just about straight dialogue in an ACTION movie of characters made popular by their robot civil war. The movie wasn't long to me because of that. He gets to the point in a story much quicker than other directors who just waste a lot of time with useless story filler. For the people that want all those things I could see why they would hate his style but I get his style. He takes a 500 page book and gives you the story in 200-250 pages,

[RhA]

Ever since Nolan jumped onto the scene everybody wants directors to be dark and boring like him. I respect Bay for one thing! He does whatever he wants instead of trying to be like every other director. He also doesn't believe that a 2 hour and 30 minute movie have to be just about straight dialogue in an ACTION movie of characters made popular by their robot civil war. The movie wasn't long to me because of that. He gets to the point in a story much quicker than other directors who just waste a lot of time with useless story filler. For the people that want all those things I could see why they would hate his style but I get his style. He takes a 500 page book and gives you the story in 200-250 pages,

He's the polar opposite of Peter Jackson!

[Skywarp64]

He's the polar opposite of Peter Jackson!

Who, may I remind you, condensed the slag out of the Shire sequence, which was like the first third of the book.

[Sub-Prime]

Ever since Nolan jumped onto the scene everybody wants directors to be dark and boring like him. I respect Bay for one thing! He does whatever he wants instead of trying to be like every other director. He also doesn't believe that a 2 hour and 30 minute movie have to be just about straight dialogue in an ACTION movie of characters made popular by their robot civil war. The movie wasn't long to me because of that. He gets to the point in a story much quicker than other directors who just waste a lot of time with useless story filler. For the people that want all those things I could see why they would hate his style but I get his style. He takes a 500 page book and gives you the story in 200-250 pages,

He's the polar opposite of Peter Jackson!

I agree! LOTR 1 and 2 was way too long for me and sleep inducing. The only one I truly enjoyed was LOTR 3.