The Energon Pub

Your point is ....

Fact. VW simply would not allow the use of their product or image in the film officially, they did not want it associated with anything violent and the license to use it was not renewed several years back so everyone can just get over the fact that bumblebee wasn't a VW
Bay had NO choice legally and just because he said he hates VW does not mean that was the sole reason it wasn't used as a lot of people still seem to be implying and ignoring the truth, it's really ridiculous to the effect of rabid obsession with a lot of TF fans.

You really think that as much money as could be made by having their vehicles in the biggest blockbuster commercial of the summer, they couldn't be convinced to let the VW bug be the star attraction & have it get all the attention the concept Camaro is now? Surely you underestimate the power of the allmighty dollar to cause people to drop their integrity for a few quick bucks.

Nemesis Cyberplex wrote:You really think that as much money as could be made by having their vehicles in the biggest blockbuster commercial of the summer, they couldn't be convinced to let the VW bug be the star attraction & have it get all the attention the concept Camaro is now? Surely you underestimate the power of the allmighty dollar to cause people to drop their integrity for a few quick bucks.

With the huge success the newer VW bug has had at least in the states since it first came out they probably don't need to worry too much, they have often had troubles filling orders for them and at times there's been a wait list for them and that would involve a shady business tactic at best and it would also mean that the studios would have to risk even more money just to get a VW bug into the movie and personally I had no problems with bumblebee not being one.
It would have been foolish for them to waist any further time and money with trying to negotiate a contract just to get a VW bug.
200 million dollars including advertising was enough of a risk the first time around and it's really easy for everyone and there have been way more than enough ( not saying you ) to whine about what they did or did not like or what they did or did not want in the film when it's not their money,time,career etc to risk.
I liked both versions for different reasons, the 1977 version was like the crappy old car everyone for the most part had as their first car but at the same time it was cool and had a muscle car look and feel to it.
The prototype camaro was just plain sleek and oozed power to me even a little more than the 1977 version.
People have been so blinded with the first things they saw in 1984 and I'm glad I'm not stuck in the past.

I get tired of the old excuse that German car manufacturers don't want to allow their vehicles to be associated with "war".

Look at BMW; nearly every Bond movie that Pierce Brosnan was in, featured a BMW. Some of the BMWs had a full array of weapons built into the car.

VW was used prominently in the Bourne Ultimatum, even being driven by a bad guy no less.

I don't even know if a VW Beatle was even considered as a possibility for Bumbleebee when they started writing the movie. After securing the GM licenses, they would have gone with a GM vehicle anyways. It was for the best because not only did Bumblebee have an awesome alt mode, GM could not have made a better commercial for their new Chevy Camaro.

I thought production on the modern VW bug ended a few years ago ....

That aside, Bay made a deal with GM, he got a bunch of cars all for free which allowed him to save a bit of money in one area and put it elsewhere for other things.

Why waste time and money pursuing another car manufacturer when you've got one knocking on your door wanting to give you freebies?

Swerve wrote:I get tired of the old excuse that German car manufacturers don't want to allow their vehicles to be associated with "war".

Look at BMW; nearly every Bond movie that Pierce Brosnan was in, featured a BMW. Some of the BMWs had a full array of weapons built into the car.

VW was used prominently in the Bourne Ultimatum, even being driven by a bad guy no less.

I don't even know if a VW Beatle was even considered as a possibility for Bumbleebee when they started writing the movie. After securing the GM licenses, they would have gone with a GM vehicle anyways. It was for the best because not only did Bumblebee have an awesome alt mode, GM could not have made a better commercial for their new Chevy Camaro.

VW is not BMW and vice versa so one may have a problem with it while the other is not, the simple fact of the matter was Bay had zero control over it legally yet a lot of people continue to cry about bumblebee not being a VW in the movie, others cried about the flames on optimus and state that they never answered that question and they did before the movie came out and it's also on the dvd extras.

I personally hate the new bug. Would have been more upset if they had used it.

Meanwhile, the thread was about shill scripts? anyone heard anything yet?

A la the ARG (sector seven) they ran, I wonder if Bay will leave a fake script on a computer to hack?

***Galvatron*** wrote:

Swerve wrote:I get tired of the old excuse that German car manufacturers don't want to allow their vehicles to be associated with "war".

Look at BMW; nearly every Bond movie that Pierce Brosnan was in, featured a BMW. Some of the BMWs had a full array of weapons built into the car.

VW was used prominently in the Bourne Ultimatum, even being driven by a bad guy no less.

I don't even know if a VW Beatle was even considered as a possibility for Bumbleebee when they started writing the movie. After securing the GM licenses, they would have gone with a GM vehicle anyways. It was for the best because not only did Bumblebee have an awesome alt mode, GM could not have made a better commercial for their new Chevy Camaro.

VW is not BMW and vice versa so one may have a problem with it while the other is not, the simple fact of the matter was Bay had zero control over it legally yet a lot of people continue to cry about bumblebee not being a VW in the movie, others cried about the flames on optimus and state that they never answered that question and they did before the movie came out and it's also on the dvd extras.

What about VW being used in the Bourne Ultimatum? That would be considered a "volent movie", and VW used the movie as a promotion to pick up sagging sales. Apparently VW does have a price.

Swerve wrote:

***Galvatron*** wrote:

Swerve wrote:I get tired of the old excuse that German car manufacturers don't want to allow their vehicles to be associated with "war".

Look at BMW; nearly every Bond movie that Pierce Brosnan was in, featured a BMW. Some of the BMWs had a full array of weapons built into the car.

VW was used prominently in the Bourne Ultimatum, even being driven by a bad guy no less.

I don't even know if a VW Beatle was even considered as a possibility for Bumbleebee when they started writing the movie. After securing the GM licenses, they would have gone with a GM vehicle anyways. It was for the best because not only did Bumblebee have an awesme alt mode, GM could not have made a better commercial for their new Chevy Camaro.

VW is not BMW and vice versa so one may have a problem with it while the other is not, the simple fact of the matter was Bay had zero control over it legally yet a lot of people continue to cry about bumblebee not being a VW in the movie, others cried about the flames on optimus and state that they never answered that question and they did before the movie came out and it's also on the dvd extras.

What about VW being used in the Bourne Ultimatum? That would be considered a "volent movie", and VW used the movie as a promotion to pick up sagging sales. Apparently VW does have a price.

Oh I agree 100%! It's total hypocrisy to say the least.
Perhaps they were given special treatment as that film took place primarily in europe, I haven't seen it yet but I know that is does. I'm going to pick up the trilogy soon.