The Energon Pub

Read it and weep, fellow members,

http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forums/v ... php?t=1744

Bay is so cool!!!

Nelson @ MichaelBay.com wrote:Exactly 2 months form now, most of you will be wathcing Transformers and posting your opinions on these and other forums.

This movie is about 3-4 weeks from being locked (locked means that no more changes can be made to a film so that it could be release for masive reel duplication).

At this point, there are few mods left. Mike is tweaking the ending and maybe shaving off some minutes here and there. He's waiting for some final renders from ILM and that's it.

The photo of OP in the LA Times should tell you what the final decision is on the mouth/faceplate/battle mask is.

He and others then start the international press tour in early June.

So for now, could we stop and relax on the whining?

Nothing you say, post, scream will have an impact at this point.

If you don't like the choices, fine. And if you do, good for you.

Take a rest, and come back in 2 months all ready for more debating.

Speak for yourself, I don't mind the on/off face plate, the benefits obviously outweigh the disadvantages given the scope and purpose of the film, something no one on here can comment on having not seen how these things actually look in motion.

And Bay is cool, there is no one I'd rather have directing my big robots movie, other than maybe Cameron.

Conceptron wrote:Read it and weep, fellow members,

http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forums/v ... php?t=1744

Bay is so cool!!!

Did you really think you little petition would work this close to the release?

How very dissappointing - Prime's face looks like something that's been run through a junkyard compactor in that picture.

The LA Times picture

Bender Prime wrote:And Bay is cool, there is no one I'd rather have directing my big robots movie, other than maybe Cameron.

Kerry Conran [Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow] or Jon Favreau [currently directing Iron Man] could very likely do a great job.

Sky Captain? I fell asleep in that. Favreau is ok but he is not an action director.

Bay knows how to frame a shot, he is good at action, he is perfect for this film.

I mean let's get real, it's a film about giant f..... robots, not some European arthouse flick! Bay is the man for the job, in fact he is my first pick.

Just you wait, this film is going to rock.

This really pisses me off. It's Optimus-f'in-Prime for crying out loud. Can we at least have ONE thing in this movie not be changed for the sake of changing? I can't believe how passive so many people are being about this decision. And don't bring up the whole Optimus Primal thing. I would have been fine if they did the Beast Wars or Cybertron approach with movie Prime. This just looks ridiculous. How anyone at ILM or Dreamworks or even at Hasbro thought this looked even remotely good or "cool" seriously needs to get their eyes checked.

Please keep the entire design staff as far away as possible from G.I.Joe and any future Super Hero movies. Next thing you know we'll have a yellow Spider-Man with a visor and pinchers on his face as well as the Blue Lantern, a red Batman, a green Superman and a pink Wolverine. After seeing Spider-Man tonight and seeing how faithful they are to his costume, it helped me realize how disappointed I am to this day in the robot designs in this movie. I don't care what the reasons are for it, these design changes were poor decisions from the get-go and are completely unnecessary regardless of what mumbo-jumbo they want to make up to spin these changes to the public.

Don't get me wrong ... I'm extremely excited about the movie. But I feel a strong sense of Deja Vu. Beast Machines comes to mind. Great story. Absolutely horrible designs.

Seibertron wrote:This really pisses me off. It's Optimus-f'in-Prime for crying out loud. Can we at least have ONE thing in this movie not be changed for the sake of changing? I can't believe how passive so many people are being about this decision. And don't bring up the whole Optimus Primal thing. I would have been fine if they did the Beast Wars or Cybertron approach with movie Prime. This just looks ridiculous. How anyone at ILM or Dreamworks or even at Hasbro thought this looked even remotely good or "cool" seriously needs to get their eyes checked.

Please keep the entire design staff as far away as possible from G.I.Joe and any future Super Hero movies. Next thing you know we'll have a yellow Spider-Man with a visor and pinchers on his face as well as the Blue Lantern, a red Batman, a green Superman and a pink Wolverine. After seeing Spider-Man tonight and seeing how faithful they are to his costume, it helped me realize how disappointed I am to this day in the robot designs in this movie. I don't care what the reasons are for it, these design changes were poor decisions from the get-go and are completely unnecessary regardless of what mumbo-jumbo they want to make up to spin these changes to the public.

Don't get me wrong ... I'm extremely excited about the movie. But I feel a strong sense of Deja Vu. Beast Machines comes to mind. Great story. Absolutely horrible designs.

I saw it too tonight. If you've noticed Venom is exactly the same as he is in the comics with the webbing on the costume, and Sandman is picture perfect accurate from the comics as well. Of course some people are tearing Spidey 3 down on IMDB (then again, there is ALWAYS someone slamming a movie they saw). What's ironic is Spider-Man 3 gave fans their dreams come true with Venom and staying close to the classic designs and giving fans what they want. On the other hand the Transformers movie we are given what somebody else wants and the fans really don't have a say to well, anything. I find it quite sad about Starscream's design especially when the protoform looks better than his Earth mode. Plus I've notices Hasbro is slacking off in the quality of toys especially with the protoforms which frightens me on what Hasbro is doing and making me think we will get Beast Machines, no Animorphs quality Transformers. I also meant to say Hasbro is slacking off because Starscream's intelligence drops when he gains his Earth mode. Quite funny actually.

Fireblast wrote:Plus I've notices Hasbro is slacking off in the quality of toys especially with the protoforms...

Hasbro's QC has been getting worse but my protoforms were in perfect condition. In fact, I marveled at the awesome, non f'ed up paint jobs - especially on Op. I hoped that meant that their QC was finally getting better. Maybe I'm wrong. What was wrong with the protoforms?

Why even have a mouth if one has a chin plate like Optimus, Onslaught and Soundwave has? Having a mouth seems redundent then.

Seibs, I watched the LOTR triliogy last week on extended DVD's, and was really moved as to how much Mr. Jackson put into the films and make them as close to the books as possible. Pity Bay feels that everything in TF lore needs to be changed in some way. Wish we could find a Peter Jackson equivilent to make this film.

While I'd prefer he didn't have a mouth, I think it's a pretty minor point to get worked up about. The essence of the character really isn't based on the fact that we can't see his mouth.
But having said that- yeah- that picture... his face is ugly with a capital Ug.

If you want a child to stop whining you give them what they want.

Obviously most of us Transfans have loved the brand for 23 years. I think we know a little something when it comes to a film about Transformers, at the very least what the most iconic Transformer's face should look like.

People like what they like, hate what the hate if the movie staff can't hack that quite a large group of people are appalled at their efforts maybe they should have taken a step back and taken a look at the whole picture, or at very least came to terms with the fact that some of us just don't like it?

As long as they keep beating a dead horse, I will too, it's only fair.

Is anybody else worried that this big budgetted film will become, say, Peter Jackson's King Kong? I'm optimistic but there's a part of me that just says....

I think Prime doesnt look half as heroic without his face plate. He actually looks a bit scary in that LA Times picture. I get the whole "these are aliens" thing but Prime was always able to emote perfectly well without a mouth thanks to skill of Mr Peter Cullen.

I like that: "Could we stop and relax on the whining?" Whether Optimus has a 'mouth' or a 'battle shield' shouldn't matter. We are seeing our childhood heroes on the big screen and that is enough to be elated about. I can't wait to see it.

yeah I'm over complaining about the designs. No chance he wasn't having a face plate only.

It's true, Prime is ICONIC as a Transformer. It really can't be said better than that. Although not everyone cares about Transformers the way we fans do, those who are even somewhat familiar with the brand know who Optimus Prime is, and would recognize him in no time. Not to say this movie Prime isn't recognizable as Prime, but if they didn't at least give him his trademark antennae and colors, I'm not even sure I'd know who I was looking at, and he's my all-time favorite character! It might seem small and strange to some, but Prime's faceplate does give him a certain character. I'm not even sure how I can put it to words, but it gives him a certain strength and authority, and it augments his position as leader. Actually, I'd say it gives him a certain powerful humility, like he is that caring and compassionate friend of man, but piss him off, and he'll bowl through Decepticons like they were nothing (see original Transformers animated movie). And even worse than taking away his faceplate, what they've left him with underneath is barely even recognizeable as a mouth. I hate to say anything negative about my beloved Autobot leader, but his lips make him look ape-like, and if I'm not mistaken, one of the things that makes the Transformers so likeable is there relative similarities to humans, despite being "alien". (Yeah, that's a card the guys behind this movie are playing WAY too much) Yes, the Transformers are alien, but if you want to make an alien lovable, give it a certain human quality. If you make it completely foreign, it's just plain scary, not interesting.

Sorry, Prime, I'll still support you, but I hope to God somehow the guys behind these live-action movies get some sense and rework you properly a little for the sequels.

They've brow beat me enough with these designs...I'm a bit numb to things that would have been a big deal to me early on in production.

I just want to see it. Call it a fun movie, and go back to my IDW G1 stuff, and my Classics, and vintage items.

Collecting toys... Not planning on being a completist here, I am going to be very picky about what I buy, which is quite new for me...

this sucks balls, critics gonna ask themself if Ttransformers makes love with lips now, there is NO logical use for metal lips for a machine damed! this is just stupid, MB can no officially suck my G1 balls!

OH good, at least Prime looks odd. So that means the cons did not get all the bad luck. I couldn't care less if prime had a mouth or a flashing light like Shockwave. I never liked optimus Prime.

Anyway I've became used to the movie designs even if I don't like them.

oyeah, btw, i actually HOPE it wont come an sequal if this is the final desicion, cause i dont want to se other cool G1 heroes get blammed up as monsters, damed, megatron aint megatron, hes a fricking warhammer character!

Who's complaining?

WHIIIIIIIIINE!

lol, not really

Stop being such whiny little bitches. who cares? i mean seriously. it's a film about giant transforming robots destroying things and eachother, that's the concept we all know and love and that hasn't changed. just be thankful you're getting a movie based on a toy franchise. and by-the-by spidey has more exposure than transformers so it'd be harder to change anything like that. plus a battle shield over the face tends to make it hard for a cgi character to emote...stupid funking fanboys...

You know...a clever cgi artist would have done two versions of all primes head scenes...after all a mouth plate isn't as complex an element as a full mouth is...they may just need the rendering time.

DVD special edition anyone?

Nelson remains a prick to the end

Someone needs to tell the a-holes associated with this film that this is still a free country and if you want to cry foul about something you can.

To me, this whole film production these guys have shown nothing but arrogance and talked down to the fans. I was actually leaning towards seeing this in the theatre but why line the pockets of people who treat fans like this. It's like they think we have no choice and must see this film.

Screw'em.