The Energon Pub

I just saw the live-action Transformers movie on DVD with my friend last night. I could not believe all the xenophobic, racist, and sexist messages within it let alone those pertaining to military propaganda and product placement. Very disturbing indeed.

Also, though I tried to view this movie with very low expectations, even I was disappointed. This movie would have been much better had the humor been less prevalent, slapstick, and stupid and had more focus been placed on the movie's namesake: the Transformers. Instead we get an uncaring, insensitive, and less courageous Optimus Prime, among other Autobots, who needs the U.S. military to save his hide. This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. It just isn't a bad Transformers movie. It's a bad movie period that insults the intelligence of every American and helps to further our already awful reputation worldwide.

This movie does not need a sequel! Not unless the sequel basically screams "Ignore the first one!" In otherwords, in order to rescue this horrible flick, it can't be just good! It has to basically expel bodily fluids all over this shotty attempt and contain NOT ONE (military propaganda, slapstick humor, sexism, racism, etc.) of the errors this first shotty attempt had. Only then can a series of Transformers movies stand a chance of being viewed as something respectful to this and future generations.

Welcome,

You are entitled to your opinion, and I respect that. Alot of people had similar complaints. I myself would have liked to see much more of the Transformers on screen. The Decepticons just being there athe the end was weak in my oppinion.

However I do have to ask, when did Optimus get saved by the military?

But whatever, this movie could have been better, but it also could have been alot worse.

The product placement was pretty intense. GM is a bully and have a all or nothing policy. I work in auto advertising so trust me I see it first hand. Then again some corporations like the Pepsi/Mountain Dew people ran summer promotions for free figures since they where tied into the film.

Some of the cross marketing made for some fun topics last summer.

If you didn't like it though, thats fine, as I said, alot of people have similar issues. I believe we all hope for the goods to be emphized and bads to be squashed come TF2.

I completely agree with you, moldavite. Welcome to the boards.

Liege Evilmus wrote:However I do have to ask, when did Optimus get saved by the military?

When the raptors shot at Megatron who was beating Prime pretty badly, I think.

He could have gotten out of that, all it did was spin Megs around. He still shot off his cannon though.

Oh and the line in your sig, NightWish is friggin awesome! I saw them play with Opeth a while back, it was great

Yeeees, Nightwish are fantastic, even with a new singer they're still great.

The tf movie was great. What was raceist about it? Prime was in no way a coward look at the way he took out bonecrusher. And big deal about the product placement. They're way more movies with alot more product placement than this. And besides, i thought it was better to have the autobots come in later anyway it built up to the scene better. News flash for everyone it's supposted to be a popcorn flick not a acadamy award winning drama. Look at the movie for the action and to have you're childhood remembered. Not as some critic who has to find fault with everything. The movie's not that over the top people just enjoy it for what it is; a kick ass action movie!

Mr.Bond007 wrote:What was raceist about it?

Racist.


How about everyone giving Fig **** for speaking Spanish for one. This movie came out right during the whole political debate about whether or not to give citizenship to all the myriad of illegal aliens from Mexico.



And Moldavite:

Thank you.

Dark Zarak wrote:

Mr.Bond007 wrote:What was raceist about it?

Racist.


How about everyone giving Fig **** for speaking Spanish for one. This movie came out right during the whole political debate about whether or not to give citizenship to all the myriad of illegal aliens from Mexico.



And Moldavite:

Thank you.

I saw that as more of a majority rule. I have alot of friends that speak different languages, when they come out with say, me and my brother, we want them to speak english.

On that same note though, yesterday was my best friends mom's birthday. The shoe was put on the other foot there cause I speak very very little Korean. Did I complain, no, cause now the roll was reversed, and I showed the same curiousy that I expect.

When it comes to language in a group, I don't see it as racist for everyone to be on the same page, and respect the majority rule.

Liege Evilmus wrote:

Dark Zarak wrote:

Mr.Bond007 wrote:What was raceist about it?

Racist.


How about everyone giving Fig **** for speaking Spanish for one. This movie came out right during the whole political debate about whether or not to give citizenship to all the myriad of illegal aliens from Mexico.



And Moldavite:

Thank you.

I saw that as more of a majority rule. I have alot of friends that speak different languages, when they come out with say, me and my brother, we want them to speak english.

On that same note though, yesterday was my best friends mom's birthday. The shoe was put on the other foot there cause I speak very very little Korean. Did I complain, no, cause now the roll was reversed, and I showed the same curiousy that I expect.

When it comes to language in a group, I don't see it as racist for everyone to be on the same page, and respect the majority rule.

That's what i mean. If you want to come to the country fine, but at least speak our language when you're around us. If you go to live in India you should be able to speak their language. That's what grinds my gears people come here and can barely speak english makes me pissed off! sorry rant over.

Wasn't it decided that the Raptor leading the attack on Megatron was in fact Starscream?

So it wasn't the military helping Prime out. It was Starscream putting in his bid for power over the Decepticons, with missiles.

Senor Hugo wrote:Wasn't it decided that the Raptor leading the attack on Megatron was in fact Starscream?

How was this determined? I must have missed that conversation.

People made racist complaints about this movie from the directors website all the way to here and I have to disagree.

The first actual person killed in this movie was First Sergeant Donnelly played by Zack Ward, a white person, skewered by Scorponok, Megatron flicks a white man into a vehicle no doubt killing him and Megatron, voiced by a white person killed off yet these are not viewed as racism, violence towards a race, or otherwise however...an imaginary robot voiced by a black actor gets killed off and people were jumping on the keyboards calling it racism.

If your personal experiences in life have tainted your view of the movie or your own personal or political beliefs have then that's how you're going to view most of life and everything in it but that does not mean that's necessarily the way it is or was intended.

They asked "Fig" to speak English because they did not speak Spanish NOT because they were racist but because they simply did not understand the language, come on people!

As far as the actual characters,elements story etc that up to each person and we can like or dislike, debate them all day and night or just say the whole movie was garbage in a blanket statement but guess what...the sequels are coming so no amount of posts complaining about it from a pretty small majority of people on internet sites particularly non official sites is going to stop them.

Personally I liked it as most people here know, it was not perfect of course but hopefully they will learn from their mistakes and make improvements but to say there does not need to be a sequel is just plain naive to me and is just not going to happen.

I look forward to the next sequel!

***Galvatron*** wrote:They asked "Fig" to speak English because they did not speak Spanish NOT because they were racist but because they simply did not understand the language, come on people!

And as they were a military unit I think having everyone speaking a language everyone understood would pretty much be a pre-requisite.

This is just another case of people over analyzing this movie instead of sitting back and simply enjoying it.

moldavite wrote:I just saw the live-action Transformers movie on DVD with my friend last night. I could not believe all the xenophobic, racist, and sexist messages within it let alone those pertaining to military propaganda and product placement. Very disturbing indeed.

Welcome to Seibertron. Warning! Seibertron contains nuts!

And no insult intended but .......welcome to the real world.....a place full of "xenophobic, racist, and sexist messages".

moldavite wrote: we get an uncaring, insensitive, and less courageous Optimus Prime, among other Autobots,

Why would you describe Prime from the movie in those ways????

Dark Zarak wrote:Racist.


How about everyone giving Fig **** for speaking Spanish for one.

I'm Puerto Rican and me and my brother's buddies would always rip on our cousins or friends that just came over from Cuba or El Salvador and didnt sppek english very well of mixed the langue into what is called "Spanglish".

I didnt see that as Racist I saw it as a group of buddies ripping on each other the way guys tend to do.

***Galvatron*** wrote:People made racist complaints about this movie from the directors website all the way to here and I have to disagree.

The first actual person killed in this movie was First Sergeant Donnelly played by Zack Ward, a white person, skewered by Scorponok, Megatron flicks a white man into a vehicle no doubt killing him and Megatron, voiced by a white person killed off yet these are not viewed as racism, violence towards a race, or otherwise however...an imaginary robot voiced by a black actor gets killed off and people were jumping on the keyboards calling it racism.

If your personal experiences in life have tainted your view of the movie or your own personal or political beliefs have then that's how you're going to view most of life and everything in it but that does not mean that's necessarily the way it is or was intended.

They asked "Fig" to speak English because they did not speak Spanish NOT because they were racist but because they simply did not understand the language, come on people!

As far as the actual characters,elements story etc that up to each person and we can like or dislike, debate them all day and night or just say the whole movie was garbage in a blanket statement but guess what...the sequels are coming so no amount of posts complaining about it from a pretty small majority of people on internet sites particularly non official sites is going to stop them.

Personally I liked it as most people here know, it was not perfect of course but hopefully they will learn from their mistakes and make improvements but to say there does not need to be a sequel is just plain naive to me and is just not going to happen.

I look forward to the next sequel!

*claps* Thank you.

Seriously people, it's just a movie. Enjoy it, don't enjoy it, whatever, but seriously...it's just a movie.

And racist? I hardly think so.
Sexist? The lead girl had one of the biggest fight scenes in the film. She was with Bumblebee as he took out Brawl. Not to mention she embarrassed the crap out of Agent Simmons.


Find something legitimate to complain about people. Like not enough character development (humans and machines) too much jittery action, etc.

Autobot032 wrote:Sexist? The lead girl had one of the biggest fight scenes in the film. She was with Bumblebee as he took out Brawl.

Perhaps it's sexist in that the female lead dove into the middle of a war zone to fight while the male lead essentially ran away.

Okay, the whole Jazz dying thing being rascist....


I don't see it. And I hear a lot of people acting like it's bad because he was "black". I guess that's what Moldavite meant by Racism. I see now where people are coming from about Fig's Spanish.


As for Jazz:

1. He wasn't black. He was silver. Ironhide was the black guy.
2. The voice actor's skin color shouldn't matter, considering he was the voice actor.
3. They did, however, make him all ghetto gangsta style. It's a sad state that people see that and think "he must be black" rather than "what an idiot" like I did.
4. And since he was a retarded stereotype, they had the decency to kill him off. It's a civil rights victory. Well, almost.
5. Let's say he is the "black guy". So all of a sudden black people are immortal? I say it's racist to assume he shouldn't die. Doesn't mean you have to kill him, it just means that he has just as much chance as anyone else, right?

But everyone I know who isn't white, and who I've talked about the movie with, brings up the whole Jazz thing. "They killed the black guy..." I'm white. Maybe I'm missing something. As far as I can see, Jazz was an awesome character in the cartoon and tech specs, and stupid in the movie. Good riddance to him I say, which hurts because he's such a great guy in the original versions.


But I still say Moldavite's right. I've seen the movie 3 times. I spent the first time having a two and half hour orgasm. I spent the second time thinking "Damn this is lame, even on IMAX". I spent the 3rd time pissed off that there was no Bay commentary on my netflix verison when there was supposed to be, and that Michael Bay forced Shia LeBouf to hang off the f'ing building with no safety net when they could have gotten the same shot after 5 minutes with Adobe After Effects. Hell, bring me in for the sequel. I'll whip up that **** for free if it means saving someone's life. I probably will never watch it again because of that, and Bay is a selfish pig.

Never in my life have I loved and hated a movie so much as this one. The 1986 movie is way better, and Prime dies in it.

Disregard this post it got duplicated while editing

As for Jazz:

1. He wasn't black. He was silver. Ironhide was the black guy.


No, Ironhide was voiced by Jess Harnell, Jess Harnell is white.


Bay forced Shia LeBouf to hang off the f'ing building with no safety net

Bay had a gun forced to Shia ? If he felt he was in mortal peril he could have walked away and refused to do it simple as that. Shia had two cables attached to him for safety otherwise Shia would not have long ago already signed up to do BOTH upcoming sequels if he did not want to do it again.

Never in my life have I loved and hated a movie so much as this one. The 1986 movie is way better, and Prime dies in it.

Don't go to the sequels then but the person in the movie ticket line will appreciate the fact they got in a little quicker if you're not there to occupy a seat in the theater.

As I already stated love the film or hate it for it's special effects,scritp,characters etc but to just call it a racist film is just another cheap shot against Bay and everyone else who worked on the film and is that supposed to imply that everyone who watched and liked the film is a racist then ?

What kind of grown man gets "disturbed" by a movie about robots from space?

::Revokes Man-card::

~Windcharger~ wrote:Wasn't it decided that the Raptor leading the attack on Megatron was in fact Starscream?


How was this determined? I must have missed that conversation.

My same thought, We don't decide anything.

Whats disturbing is your comments. The movie was great and your complaint about product placement is garbage. The movie is supose to look and feel real. Well lets think for a sec...In real life there are xbox 360's real cars from real companys that make it seem like real life. Other then that "product placment" i dont get where your going with this. Im sick of people saying that with every movie. Thanks to the "product placment" That money helps pay for a part 2 which means more robots for us true fans which means more TRANSFORMERS. Companys pay for there product in a film which help money flow etc. People need to chill and enjoy the movie instead of acting like critics. The movie was fantastic and i love that BAY made this film real and not like giant toys with square blocks walking around jumping in the air and turning into guns. In the cartoon that was fine but for this century its not. Change is good and it made me very happy. And as far as the "slapstick" Im happy they added some humor to it. A lot of movies like this need some humor in it. Shia LaBeouf is great and was the perfect casting along with everyone else.

BumbleBee217 wrote:Whats disturbing is your comments.

Wrong. Just because you disagree with him doesn't mean it's disturbing. No movie is objectively great.

Counterpunch wrote:What kind of grown man gets "disturbed" by a movie about robots from space?

::Revokes Man-card::

No grown man. And he didn't say that the robots disturbed him.

He said the terrible writing and retarded humor disturbed him.

Dark Zarak wrote:

BumbleBee217 wrote:Whats disturbing is your comments.

Wrong. Just because you disagree with him doesn't mean it's disturbing. No movie is objectively great.

Counterpunch wrote:What kind of grown man gets "disturbed" by a movie about robots from space?

::Revokes Man-card::

No grown man. And he didn't say that the robots disturbed him.

He said the terrible writing and retarded humor disturbed him.

The script was great. Where do you come off saying that it was terrible. Grow up and stop focusing on nitpicking about everything. Instead of being happy people comlpained about everything from..Prime is a long nose truck and not a flat nose truck..To the dreaded megatron dosent turn in to a gun. Oh yeh a 80 foot robot turns into a gun. Thats cartoon not real life like this movie was focusing on. Bottom line. I loved it and a lot of other TF fans loved it. The rest are just haters. Be happy for the fact that your love for TF was made into a blockbuster movie from a great director instead of complaining like spoiled little brat children.

Dark Zarak wrote:Wrong. Just because you disagree with him doesn't mean it's disturbing. No movie is objectively great.

I beg to differ.I have seen a few film that I would describe as "objectively great"

BumbleBee217 wrote:The script was great.

Hahahahahagaha!!!!! I have never laugh so hard.

BumbleBee217 wrote: Where do you come off saying that it was terrible..

He's just telling the truth.

BumbleBee217 wrote:Grow up and stop focusing on nitpicking about everything. Instead of being happy people comlpained about everything from..Prime is a long nose truck and not a flat nose truck..To the dreaded megatron dosent turn in to a gun. Oh yeh a 80 foot robot turns into a gun. Thats cartoon not real life like this movie was focusing on. Bottom line. I loved it and a lot of other TF fans loved it. The rest are just haters. Be happy for the fact that your love for TF was made into a blockbuster movie from a great director instead of complaining like spoiled little brat children.

I enjoyed the film.A lot to tell the truth but thats because I [ un-like mane others ] was able to see Bays movie for what it was.....just an other TF serries like all the others.

The "haters" as you called them had their dreams and hopes set on a G1 retelling of some kind and started nitpicking the movie the secon they say pic's that suggested that it wasnt going to be any thing like G1.

But the truth is the script for Bays TF movie was far from great and nether was the film.A great script doesn't have "plot holes" you can drive a Mac Truck trew.

A great film doesn't have characters completely disappear from the screen with out so much as a "sneak off scene".

None of the robot characters in the film had any character development to speak of and the only ones to show more then the slightest bit of character were Prime and Bumblebee and that was by the shere factor that they got the most speeking lines.

That was the fault of the writters and the director.

I can go on but I don't feel like it.