The Energon Pub

I have a confession to make. As a Transformers fan and Seibertron.com member, I have yet to see Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen! Odd isn't it? I've been proclaiming that I'm a great fan of the RotF franchise. I've read the Novel Adaptation, the Comic Adaptation, heck I've even got a pile of Deluxe figures back at home.

There's just one thing that was bugging me and deterring me from seeing the Movie, obviously the reviews! I've been seeing critics bash the movie over and over again. Heck it's nearly been established as an art form of the different ways people were able to bash RotF. Then switch over to the fanbase side of things, and we see the fandom split in two, some people agreeing with the critics, and the other half defending it to the death. I've seen comments ranging from "The Plot was crap, don't see it". That hit me pretty hard because from what I can tell from the Novel and the Comic, the Plot is well established and there was nothing I could see that was wrong with it. Another comment that struck me the most was a friend of mine going... "It's a pretty bad movie, but if you're a TF Fan you should go see it!". Uh... what? This really threw me off because aren't reviews supposed to aid you in whether or not to spend your $10 on a movie or not? I couldn't help but wonder why a bad movie was worth seeing. As a TF Fan, did I really need to experience something like that? Then I took another look back at all the discussion here, I really had to think about what was going on, and this is the conclusion I came up with,

CAN WE CUT THE ****? COME ON PEOPLE!!!!


I like Armada, some people hate it to the core. Same can be said about Beast Wars. I expect this pattern is centralized around G1, and pretty much any other Transformers Story Arc. However do we really need to hark on the reviews of a movie from another person, or perhaps critics? Everyone is entitled to their opinion is a nice thing to hear, but when it comes to the fact of people pecking at each other for their opinions, then it just ends up being a clash of who can write better than the other, or from a person like Roger Ebert's position, someone who is more well known will 'win' the discussion. For someone who has yet to see the movie, all I have to say is that if you're a Transformers fan, just go see it. Reviews, opinions and other things shouldn't deter anyone from seeing it.

Before i finish my discussion with this, let's talk about Toy Reviews. THEY ARE FOR HARD CORE COLLECTORS. I believe that many of here fit under that category. I can safely say I am not a 'hard-core' collector because I only pick certain TF generations to ocllect in. Good or bad I will still collect it. So why should Toy Reviews deter normal toy collectors from buying figures? Well in all honesty they shouldn't. A toy is something we experience on our own. If you find it attractive from stock photos, but then are turned off from it's toy review on Youtube, then I think you need to have your own opinion. If you aren't going to buy a figure because a revered person like Counterpunch or some other figurehead here at Seibertron.com says that it's crap which forces you to not buy it, then hey, that's your decision.

Swinging back to RotF... I think a lot of members here just don't realize what Movie Reviews are for. THEY ARE FOR MOVIE-GOERS. So should a review deter us from seeing a movie? Hell No! They are for us, individually or with a group, to enjoy. While I watch my fair share of movies, I do not consider being a Movie-Goer because for two thingx. First, I tend to have the same feeling towards movies, they are a two to three hour time period where I forget about reality. If it does that job (which they usually do), then I am a happy person. Second, from what I said in the previous sentence, the opinions I have on movies usually either result in Good or Great, because I just can't really knack on something that filled my two to three hours with happiness and laughter.

So with all this said and done, I'd just like to say.. everyone, have fun out there! If you don't like RotF, don't be hating on people who do, and vice-versa. When it comes to people who have yet to see the movie, by all means don't let other's opinions change your perception of something you have yet to see.

Now, I said I had another problem. There's a common word going around town here, and it's 'Real Transformers Fan'. Someone here labelled me not being a 'Real Transformers Fan' for enjoying RotF, so I suppose that I'm a fake fan? When I first read it, in my mind, this is the one thing that was going on...

WTFLOLZERZ.

I find the term 'Real Transformers Fan', stupid, idiotic, dumb, and just non-nonsensical. Because with that term, comes another, being 'Fake Transformers Fan', and that just does not exist. I'll give you an example. One of my friends on Facebook posted something along the lines of this. "GO SEE ROTF, ITS AWESOME. BEST MOVIE EVER". Obviously he shows much more enthusiasm for RotF than me, however I'd say that I've been a longer term fan than he is with Transformers, simply because I've been with the fandom for probably alot more than he did. However, that's a big probably. He might have enjoyed the cartoons when Beast Wars was released, so than our tenures as Transformers fans would be the same! Doesn't make him a fake fan, doesn't make me a real fan.

I think the main problem with this is the opinion of that moron who said I wasn't a real fan. From what I can tell, he was clearly a G1-fan, or as one my friends jokingly says 'Gee-weiners'. The one thing I don't understand from 'Pure G1 fans' is that they think Generation One is the bomb, and everything after that, or anything that doesn't involve G1 is a piece of garbage. I can't accept that. There's one thing people need to understand. TIMES CHANGE. NEW BABIES ARE MADE. Imagine if G1 kept airing the way it was? You think people in the now would enjoy 80's cartoon style? Times change. Transformers grow, and as it does we have to accept that there are more and more NEW fans. They aren't fake. They are still fans. Just because you've been a Transformers fan longer than they have, that doesn't make you any better than they are. We are all fans. We are all equals.

If I happen to see the term 'Real Fan' being thrown out there with comparison between two members, I will be rightfully pissed, and remember people, I am in league with the Mods. Anywhooo, I guess that's a wrap. The point is, I'm tired of all this complaining, bitching, moaning, and contradicting on the RotF boards, that I decided to make the biggest Complaint, Bitch, Moan and Contradictory Post ever to kill all of that Have fun people.

~Blurrz

The only problem with the plot was they didn't spell it out, since you've read the books and everything you should have no trouble understanding it. I loved the movie myself, like most things in life if you go in expecting something you're going to be disappointed no matter how good it is. It reminds me of the Bridezillas in a way, they get so nitpicky with the tiny details like how many flowers should be on each table that they lose sight of just how awesome the whole thing is.

The only reason I'm kinda hard on the film is that I'm a big transformer fan. I really enjoyed the movie, but since I kind of know better I find that I have to nit pick and tear it up to an extent. For me, the more I like something, the more I can stand to hate it. Since I know I'll like it anyway, I'm now able to think about all the "bad" things about it, rather then just forgetting about them or overlooking them.

Out of all my friends I'm the only really hardcore TF fan. But we pretty much all watch the same kind of movie/cartoons etc. And none of them have said anything about the film other than how great it is lol. Even my girlfriend laughs and says stuff like "How come you only ever say bad things about ROTF?!"

Blurrz, to be honest I didn't really read your GIANT WALL OF TEXT, I skimmed. But I would advise you go to a matinee and see it at a discounted price. I have to say it is worth seeing. Especially if you read the novel and the comics (reading those now). One of my main praises for this film is the amazing work ILM did. If you go just for that, since you already know the plot, I'm sure you will be pleased.

All my hate of the movie came from after I watched it. Not a single critic influenced my decision to go see it. The majority of the time they don't like what I like anyway. If a movie looks interesting to you then you should go see it. Screw what the critics think and screw what the people who say they hated it or loved it think. You may hear a all positive review and end up not liking the movie. So if you haven't, just go see it.

I think basically the only real problem with the plot is its mostly assumed you understand everything. I enjoyed it though, its a good watch, and I recommend. I stand by my "I have a few gripes but overall I liked" stance.

I loved the movie.
People bash it because its Hollywood/Blockbuster thing and people nickpick every flaw to say how they hate it and how its made just to profit.
Bascally people with nothing to do.
I seen people hate it just because Michael Bay its the director.
So nonsense.

Dont be upset(like i was when i heard the negative reviews)

And remenber: the only thing that matters its your opinion

Well, you are already ahead of the game having read the novelization. If you read the the prequel to it, "The Veiled Threat" it will help a tiny bit more as far as the NEST interaction works. As long as this movie is you still won't see everything the book had in it. Some scenes differ a little but nothing is really ruined by it, you will still have a greater understanding going into it. It's worth the price of admission whichever showing you see but that is just my own opinion. A matinee would actually be better since it will cost less and probably have fewer people during the week-day. Sit dead center in the back so you can see the whole screen because stuff will come flying from ALL directions.
As for expectations...just go in expecting to sit and watch a movie. You already read the book, I'm sure you can blank everyones opinions from your mind, just be a blank slate and process your OWN impressions afterwards. Screw everyone else.

Huh, still haven't seen it??? Well i thought it was worth going to see, perhaps it wasn't as good as it should have been. Considering how EVERYONE expected it to be better than TF1, but seems to have failed at that. But i payed $10.99 for a ticket at a regular Cineplex theater, and i thought it was worth it in the end.

The first time i saw it i woulda rated it like 4/10
Second time 7/10

Dunno why....

I have a fix for your dilemma.
Matinee! That way you can see and not pay full price if you hate it.

I personally loved it.
I'm kinda upset that my favorite movie reviewers hated it, but it doesn't really matter.

I've seen it twice and I'm going back to the cinema to see it a 3rd time.

Movie critics are like the most useless thing there is and I'm a "movie goer" (Almost every weekend), I've stopped reading movie reviews after I noticed what a load of BS most of the time they are.
Examples:

"I am Legend", critics prised it and announced it as "greatest movie evar!!1111" I watched it instead of AVP2 and do I have to say more then "the dog was the best thing about the movie and they killed it halfway through"? They even praised the special effects, the special effects looked like a mediocre PC game.

"Norbit", critics proclaimed it a steaming failure and said it was once again proof for the fact that "Eddy Murphy has passed his time". Just recently I watched it on DVD and must say it was one of the better comedies released in the 2000's.

"300", critics once again proclaimed it a huge failure and it was named one of the worst movies ever, I loved it soo much that I've watched it like 6 times now.

"Spider-Man3" "A brilliant movie, grate cinema, fantastic story, must see" Short I'm a Spider-Man fan and I hated it.

Oh and people claimed that the new "The day the Earth stood still" was inferior to the original, the only thing good about the original is that it's the original and that Klatu's actor is brilliant, other than that the new one is better in every way.

If something interests you go watch it and decide for yourself if you like it or not. And if you're not sure, wait for it to come out on DVD and rent it.

I wouldnt put much stock in critics views. I generally go see what I see regardless of them. Ebert in particular I can point out he didnt pay too much attention to it, and isnt a fan. (he put 2006 for the first movies date for the starscream image, its 2007, hes really paying attention.*sarcasm*...sure thing brainaic.) He later even mentioned he didnt notice they mentioned Obama by name. Like the movie could been in french with no subtitles for how much of it he got. He gave the oh i cant tell whatw as happening bit, when they fixed the view of the fights in this movie, as they zoomed out alot more. I just think the man never played a video game in his life since he hasnt the eye cordiation to follow it heh.

While the plot isnt air tight, alot of it supposed plot holes spawn from people not paying attention. Like the battle in Mission city being covered up (aka faux La as Leo mentions LA in RotF) global communications were down. While it be a good question how the world dealt with that, I d just assume Rachet or the autobots fixed it, as wasnt something terribly important to cover. As for mission City we had tons of troops, and the people had no way commincating with the rest of the world, would been pretty easy to suppress it during that window.

Over all the plot is actually very G1 like. The Decepticons are going do massive amounts of damage thru some scheme to get energon.(the same thing we do every night, pinky..try take..I mean get energon.) Thats it really. Its simple, classic and to the point. Hopefully all the more interesting details of the story havent been spoiled for you in all the reviews you might read so far. I was rather surprised a couple times, as it was a fun film, which I didnt read the novel or comics before. I could easily fill in most the blocks with my existing knowledge of transformers though.

Not say you need know about transformers enjoy the movie. I went with my sisters kids, my friend and my mom. They all enjoyed it just fine. The kids were like it was awesome, as they laughed at most the stuff. My mom seemed figure it all out, and she never was a huge transformers fan. My older sister watched it later her husband that night. She liked the firts one more, but she liked it alot.

Obviously the more crazed fans like me and my best friend loved it. Which we ve both seen it twice so far.(I need go see it Imax still, so im goign work in a 3rd at some point.) I think you d do yourself a huge injustice as a long time transformer fan to skip this. Just to see Prime be every bit of the hero we knew as a kid during this film. I say just find the inner 6 year old(the part of you that can still watch G1 episodes and enjoy those .) in you and just have fun watch it. Not every movie needs be as complicated as The Watchmen, but that doesnt make it bad.

Is it the best film ever? Probably not. Best film of the year? debateable. Best of the Summer 2009? possibly? Will make craploads of money and spawn a sequel? absolutely heh. Ultimately its not for everyone. Which is fine, but it doesnt make you a moron if you do enjoy it either. Like a pair of shoes they arent one size fits all. But in my case, they fit dang near perfect as Im one happy lil nerd hehe.

(TLDR version..Just go see it damn it.)

i'm with u ... all the way.

The plot of the movie isnt really at all that complex. Well, at least what I make it out to be. Im not going to explain what I think it is because I dont want to spoil the movie for whoever hasnt seen it yet. It takes a bit of thought, but eventually you can figure out what I assume the main plot is supposed to be. Also, I too didnt read your massive mountain of text, but did skim it. People who are complaining about the plot are missing the point. Sounds funny, right? But its Transformers. The episodes from G1 usually didnt make alot of sense either, it was just a bunch of crap they thought up and put together into a show, but we love it. Overall, you go to the movie to see the Transformers fight each other, that all.

With the toys, I agree. I recently got Universe Cyclonus and Galvatron, and I love them. I saw a review by someone why HATED the 2 figures,(I dont see how anyone can hate them) but I decided to pick them up because I thought they looked good (and they are) I agree people shouldnt completely take the information from the Critics of the movies and the people who review the toys and make their own opinion out of it.

Once again I didnt read all of your text, and I hope the flood of text I just wrote had at least something to do with the topics.

I'm a fan of the Transformers series especially the Generation 1. But still, I love the movie, every bit of it. The only thing I really don't like is that the Transformers are rather speechless seeing Megan Fox running around. LOL

Sooooooooo........
Have you watched the movie yet?


I found your thesis on "Real Transformer Fan" great. Im kind of curious what would dictate a "Real" transformers fan from a "Fake" one myself.

But as for complaining about all the complaints to end them.....that seems couter-productive. Like trying to warm up a fridge with ice. Truth be told, I like all the counter views. I like the split, it makes for interesting reading, and people are more then free to voice their opinions. I would even argue that in our disagreement, more of us are actually brought together. I've made a few friends here by arguing with them more then complimenting them...

And for those taking things too seriously, well thats is their choice.

For me, I find the movie threads refreshing as a place to vent about the directors and producers and the powers behind the film. To lay out all the groundwork and really have at it.....be it pros or cons....praise or damnation, and what I've recieved out of all this forum warfare is that this film is riddled with controversy...and for that reason alone it should be viewed at least once by anyone intrigued by the franchise.

I understand your concern about this fictional world being taken too seriously by others and therefore targeting other people seemingly......less committed. And you are rightfully correct in your uproar for being such a target. I mean when stripped down to it's core, Transformers are toys, and a world of imagination and fun. When this world ceases being that, then really, it looses it's purpose and meaning. So in that, I understand whole heartedly.

I would say anyone finding themselves being caught up too much in this world, a world meant to be fun and aweinspireing, and finding themselves not having said fun but instead just getting anxiety out of it and picking forum fights (Which is another concept I find entertaining in it's definition) that one should take the time to just sit back, breathe, and remember.....what was it that you liked about this franchise in the first place. and perhaps, just dwell on that for a little bit. Just you and your thoughts....and re discover that bit of magic that got you started to begin with.

So saying all that, I'm off to go argue some more I hope things work out for you Blurrz. And that you have fun at the movies
Laters,
Josh

Just watch the movie. Surely you have blown a few bucks before on something you weren't sure about. If nothing else, you need to see some of the scenes in the movie. Devastator on the big screen, The fight in the forest, etc. Even if you hate the damned movie, there are just some parts that you NEED to see while it is still in theatres.