The Energon Pub

[Madeus Prime]

Sigh, the robot cast of this movie continues to depress me. I wonder what nationality he'll be a racial stereotype of...

[RAR]

As already mentioned by someone else, BUMBLEBEE is my main source of irritation with the movies 'poisoning' characters. I like G1 Bumblebee because he's small and chatty. BayBEE is the exact opposite, and the Prime character suffered from that greatly. Now Bumblebee is known as the badass muscle car. Not only his design has changed, but his character, his role in the franchise has changed. Has he gained more popularity? Yes, but to me, it's for the wrong reasons. It's not Bumblebee that's popular, it's the bot carrying his name. I really dislike RiD Bee. We've had him become leader in the IDW verse, and that (to me) nasty Gen. toy (the one turned into Nightbeat and Gold fire) all of these things bug me.
Another thing is now Optimus keeps losing his face plate. I don't know why. Soundwave in TF Prime is a real departure for his physical design, not recognisable at all. As it's been said, it's small things, but it's those small things that sour it for me.

Long nose Trucks never bothered me he's been one many time
Action Master Armoured Convoy
Laser Optimus Prime
Hero Optimus Prime
Heck he's even been a car in G2 as well.

The Mouth plate hiding a mouth or grill dates back a long time too the Mp-01 has a grill behind the mask as a reference to the comics and early art of Optimus shows Optimus with a face many times (especially UK sources).

So I actually liked that on Cybertron Optimus in particular - a purely G1 freightliner body with that would be a bit of a no-no though - but I barely noticed on "Evasion Optimus" to be honest.

Its works well as an indicator that the character means business - and I'd even quite like the option on G1 related Bumblebees too as that is a nice explanation for the G1 head - likewise remember the igear Minibots - the alt heads they often had (like swerve) also function in that way too you could use them as toy head of comic/cartoon heads or you could think "Battle mask" too.

--

The reason Bumblebee has not a lot to do with G1 Bumblebee other than a stolen story point of loosing his voice is simple really he was never supposed to be Bumblebee he was conceived as Hotshot.

[Kurona]

The reason Bumblebee has not a lot to do with G1 Bumblebee other than a stolen story point of loosing his voice is simple really he was never supposed to be Bumblebee he was conceived as Hotshot.

Was he? Thought that was just Animated, and then because the Movie happened they changed Hot Shot to Bumblebee (and Red Alert to Ratchet)

[MrBlack]

Really it's not much. And considering those two design changes I just noted are ones I LIKE, I'm not concerned myself.

Yeah, I like those changes too along with the initial choice for the Prime Kup toy to be ironhide which had some movie elements (only the good ones, like twin arm cannons).

Yeah, there's some design alterations the movies brought that I like. Like Sideswipe now having swords.

I wonder to what extent that is due to other sources rather than the movie. His G2 iteration sported a sword alongside his numerous guns, and I could see that being more of an influence on, say, his Devastation appearance and the RID version of the character.

[Omegatrion84]

Well... that's just unfortunate. He looks like another generic looking bot with no defining attributes to his design at all. He's missing his spoiler, his arm exhaust pipes, a little color and perhaps the most puzzling of all is the lack of the flame paint job on his chest, given Bay's choice to put flames on Prime, a character like Hot Rod should be a given.

I understand this is the Bayverse but with Paramount and company wanting to pull a Marvel and make the Transformers films a cinematic universe (which is fine), I would have hoped for more respect towards the source material. If you can't tell who the character is just by looking at the art work alone or even just the silhouette, then that character has been poorly represented. It's like taking Batman and re-imagining the character to the point of making him completely unrecognizable to the fan base. If you can't tell Batman is Batman, you've done something wrong and the same applies here with "Hot Rod".

The Transformers universe is full of amazing stories to tell with great characters that have very iconic looks and personalities which is one of the things that has helped this franchise survive for over 30 years and this just comes off as a missed opportunity.

[william-james88]

The reason Bumblebee has not a lot to do with G1 Bumblebee other than a stolen story point of loosing his voice is simple really he was never supposed to be Bumblebee he was conceived as Hotshot.

Was he? Thought that was just Animated, and then because the Movie happened they changed Hot Shot to Bumblebee (and Red Alert to Ratchet)

Yeah that was weird for me too. You sure RAR? I know that Armada Hotshot was riginally supposed to be bumblebee, there is proof of that, but I didnt know it was the reverse case for the movie franchise.

[RAR]

While I agree (and was going to comment), Peter Cullen has stated that he disagrees with fans regarding this and that they are instead one and the same.

Is that the same Cullen that seemed displeased with Prime in Revenge of the Fallen -

Obviously it's now in his contract to shut up about it. what with the fun and games they had wit Megan Fox and Megatron's voice actor blabbing their mouths off I expect that was soon written into a lot of contracts.

So even if Cullen isn't happy with Murderous Prime he is either told to keep quiet about it tarnishing his late brother's memory or he rationalises it in his head perhaps with the violence Prime displayed from time to time in the original cartoon and especially in the animated Movie.

I guess ultimately this is an argument a bit like the ones that revolve around Batman's use of violence and how and how much.

I guess I secretly find it funny that Movie Optimus is a total nut case if I'm honest.

[william-james88]

Now they have a robot with colours more like Dead End or Wild Rider and a head like Rattrap and they dub it Hotrod - I am starting to think we are being mocked.

How is this any different to the ones below:









None of these look anything close to their G1 incarnations. Hell at least Hot rod turns into a concept car.

[Va'al]

Boom.



via https://twitter.com/larry_draws/status/ ... 1963255813

[MrBlack]

Well, at least Megatron was big and grey...

The movie writers aren't writing these guys to be the G1 characters. They're designing the bots around broad archetypes and then slapping G1 names on them at the last minute to appease older fans of the franchise and do what has always been the point of Transformers: Sell toys.

I don't expect this Hot Rod to resemble his G1 incarnation any more than any other G1-named character from these films. Aside from maybe Optimus, none of them have more than superficially resembled their G1 counterparts.

The movie versions are their own characters at this point, names notwithstanding.

[Kurona]

Boom.



via https://twitter.com/larry_draws/status/ ... 1963255813

Know what, I don't like the aesthetic, but at least I can look at that and say that is most certainly a live-action version of Hot Rod.

[RAR]

The reason Bumblebee has not a lot to do with G1 Bumblebee other than a stolen story point of loosing his voice is simple really he was never supposed to be Bumblebee he was conceived as Hotshot.

Was he? Thought that was just Animated, and then because the Movie happened they changed Hot Shot to Bumblebee (and Red Alert to Ratchet)

Yeah that was weird for me too. You sure RAR? I know that Armada Hotshot was riginally supposed to be bumblebee, there is proof of that, but I didnt know it was the reverse case for the movie franchise.

Quite certain. I was very active on the Don Murphy Boards back in the pre-production days.

It's one of those early pre-production changes from before Bay was even hired.

Like how Blackout used to be Soundwave
Barricade used to be Prowl
Devastator/Brawl was Demolishor
Rumble was the same body that became the toy Wreckage.

If you go way way way back to Hasbro earliest press releases I think they even mention it too that it was going to have Hotshot in it - then the fandom threw it's toys out of the pram so they changed it to the closest character of Bumblebee - that is where the whole voiceless thing was added in too.

You can kinda see why the thought Hotshot would make sense - with them knowing they were in partnership with GM - but i'm not sure I recall if that partnership pre-dated Bay or not since he used to film their adverts.

it was such a long time ago now though I don't recall what mode they wanted though a new shape Mini was mentioned a time or two after they changed the character to Bee. It seems that wasn't serious as BMW were not interested and I got the impression that the boy and his car idea had been floating about even prior to Bay coming on board - in fact I think that was one of the things that got him to sign up.

I'm sure someone like the Transformers Movie blog has all this archived somewhere.

But yes I'm quite certain that back in say 2005 they were planning to use some version of Armada/Energon characters like Demolishor and Hotshot in the Movie.

I would say ask Aaron Archer if he wasn't wrapped up behind a hundred non-disclosure agreements. I don't know if Don Murphy even likes talking about Transformers at all - he likely would prefer to forget it.

[RAR]

How is this any different to the ones below:

None of these look anything close to their G1 incarnations. Hell at least Hot rod turns into a concept car.

I can answer that too.

Sideswipe was supposed to be Tracks so that is why he has Track's head and a stingray alt mode.

One of the early pre-production ideas that kinda survived to the screen is that someone must have seen some Japanese G1 like breastforce and decided that the liked the animal themed heads

So Ratchet is a Walrus
Ironhide is a Bull.
Bumblebee is a bee (obviously)
Starscream is a bird
Bonecrusher is a Bulldog

Also at one point Megatron was going to be Galvatron or become Galvatron s that s why his head is more like Galvatron than Megatrons.

If Brawl is supposed to look like something I forget what but it's possible his head is based on Energon Demolishor (a bit) but If he's an animal I forget what it's supposed to be.

Oh and Rumble is a snail

[SlyTF1]

I am starting to think we are being mocked.

I certainly hope so. It's what I'd do. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Va'al]

I am starting to think we are being mocked.

I certainly hope so. It's what I'd do. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Shush you, or I'll change your signature on a weekly basis.

[Decepticon Stryker]

He looks more like Wildrider, which would be awesome. I like the design, but only if it was someone else.

[Decepticon Stryker]

Sigh, the robot cast of this movie continues to depress me. I wonder what nationality he'll be a racial stereotype of...

As long as there isn't a character that's like the whiny kids in the Gamera movies we'll be fine.

[Decepticon Stryker]

I am starting to think we are being mocked.

I certainly hope so. It's what I'd do. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Shush you, or I'll change your signature on a weekly basis.

I'm starting to think he is Michael Bay, and not just a fan...

[Nemesis Maximo]

Grimlock never became leader of the Autobots.

... actually.
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Grimlock_(G1)/Marvel_Comics_continuity

Ah, beat me to it. Hoist by your own ignorance there, Ol' Sly.

[DedicatedGhostArt]

Sigh, the robot cast of this movie continues to depress me. I wonder what nationality he'll be a racial stereotype of...

As long as there isn't a character that's like the whiny kids in the Gamera movies we'll be fine.

...or Short Round from the Temple of Doom.

[SlyTF1]

Grimlock never became leader of the Autobots.

... actually.
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Grimlock_(G1)/Marvel_Comics_continuity

Ah, beat me to it. Hoist by your own ignorance there, Ol' Sly.

Those don't count.

[DedicatedGhostArt]

Grimlock never became leader of the Autobots.

This is your brain:



This is your brain on Michael Bay:



Any questions?

NOTE: This was only a joke. Not meant to be taken in any insulting way. We love you Sly (Not in a weird way.)

[Burn]

Grimlock never became leader of the Autobots.

... actually.
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Grimlock_(G1)/Marvel_Comics_continuity

Ah, beat me to it. Hoist by your own ignorance there, Ol' Sly.

Those don't count.

It's Marvel continuity, it counts.

[Bradimus]

I just noticed how he has wheels on his forearms and shoulders. That would make it a different transformation thatn bumblebee if they do something close to this model.

I see the wheels on his shoulders and also alongside his knees. His elbows look to be designed similar to Bumblebee. But it could be that one set of wheels splits in two explaining why his elbow armor appears to have wheel-like qualities.

I just really wish the doors angled up along his back to give him his iconic silhouette.

[Deadput]

Sigh, the robot cast of this movie continues to depress me. I wonder what nationality he'll be a racial stereotype of...

Does he look like he is an obvious racial stereotype?


Robots having accents are not racist by the way in fact it's diversity.


Drift wasn't racist either sure he has heavy Japanese inspiration but that's pretty similar to what G1 Drift had going for him maybe a bit more then the G1 guy but still.