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Transformers the Movie, The Dawning of the age of Live action Mecha!!

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 9:47 am
by skywarp-2
Love it or hate it, what michael bay, ILM, and Steven Spielberg are doing is paving the way for a new kind of science fiction. Up until recently science fiction movie, with the exception of low budget sci-fi have only touched lightly on the relationship between man and Giant robot machines, or Mecha as they are sometimes called. This movie represents in its entirety.. giant robots on the big screen in live action..!!!
Does this infact open doors for live action Robotech, voltron, votoms, gears of war, macross, gundam, or even armored core?
We are witnessing the dawning of a new age here in movie terms, and on the cliff of what may become a new trend in Sci-Fi.. the days of flying space ship battles and small fighters are over.. Star Wars and Star Trek have run their course in the mass media arena of film.. now its to the new generation and the concepts of Mecha that will be the huge delivering box office smash that will ignite the sci-fi community on its end and bring us closer ot the giant freaking robots on the big screen in live action..
I have no doubt that we may see future projects involving massive robots and giant battles rampaging across landscapes and star scapes that will rival those of Star Wars and Star trek battles..
If you are excited about Transformers and can't wait to see tyhis movie, or even if your against what has been done to our favorite autonomous robots in disguise, the sheer magnitude of what is about to transpire in the film community should atleast be enough to motivate a sense of pride in whats about ot occur.. Giant Freaking Robots are coming to the screen.. in CGI, High definition, and to the mainstream, as a big budget summer blockbuster!!!
This also opens the doors for what i like to call 80s property in the media.. it was done in comics and nostalgia became the wave that drove products coming out..could this usher in an 80s live action movie franchise?
could we see, Thundercats, a revised Masters of the Universe, Gi Joe vs Cobra, silver hawks, Mask or any other highly treasured 80s property becoming a live action movie smash??
Time will tell, but this Transfan is definately excited in what this new movie represents, live action, big budget, giant Freaking Robots!! Don't get me wrong, i understand the story and design woes, and Prime having a mouth, ect.. but I'm taking a look simply from this perspective and not intending to deny the problems and issues raised by whats already been concieved..
I do believe that if they ever do those movies above in live action, they should be done right and close to the story line themselves.. and with the thoughfulness and care that went into Spiderman, and LOTR.. granted in those movies things werte changed for the live action and realism aspects, but in essence they remained true to their original concepts and form..
Say what you will about this movie, but what it represents is a new age and dawn of one of my favorite joys, Giant Freaking Robots!!!

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 11:31 am
by Brakethrough
I wonder whatever happened to that 100 million budget Mechwarrior movie I heard about so long ago.

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 12:18 pm
by Robinson
I thought Robot Jox would be the one to open that door

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 12:36 pm
by Sonray
Dont be so silly! We all know that mechas in film reach their pinnicle with the power rangers zoids! Nothing, i mean NOTHING can top those amazing effects...
note: the above comment is ment to be sarcastic

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 12:40 pm
by Lycantendencies
I have no doubt that a successful TF film will result in a massive surge of both '80's toy movies and mech films, but I can't say I think it's a good thing.
I'm not a giant mech fan particularly, so a whole mess of films like that just doesn't sound appealing, and whilst some '80's properties would be great brought to the big screen, there's a much smaller quality selection than with comics, meaning it could very well take the videogame movie route.

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 1:19 pm
by The Shadow
A live action Voltron movie has been in active development for over a year now. As I recall, I first heard about the live action Voltron movie significantly before filming for this TF movie started. IE This TF movie has had no influence getting the Voltron movie started.
Same goes for He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - it's been in development for a good 3-4 years at least. Some recent rumblings could mean that things are starting to move forwards again for the MOTU movie. Just like with Voltron - this TF movie hasn't been a part of development process considerations.
For either property TF doing reasonably well or well at the box office could mean an expansion of budget for either the Voltron or MOTU projects but it won't be the reason we see these movies in the the future.
Also Star Trek and Star Wars have hardly run their course. I dare you not to watch the upcoming Star Wars live action TV series - or the Clone Wars cartoon series. Star Trek does have a movie coming up [which some goobers at Paramount decided to do instead of Edgar Rice Burrough's sci-fi epic A Princess of Mars ].

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 1:20 pm
by Abilor
I too am deeply enthusiastic about the potential for a giant robot turn in cinema. I hope that Live Action TF isn't considered the make-it-or-break-it prototype, whether it's succesful or not. I personally don't see other eighties properties having the same potential as TF, except for potentially Voltron and Robotech, because aside from giant freaking robots, there's definitely a strong anime undercurrent reaching cult-like status in the states. I think hybrid live action anime/US giant robot cinema would be an instant crowdpleaser here and overseas (and by anime, I mean anime culture more than animation style). Remember, the Japanese LOVE robots, big and small.
I think the Matrix sequels, which were personally deeply underwhelming and self-strokingly pretentious for me, were proof that people want Big Freaking Robots. The mech-fighter units in Zion were definitely the high point of the films for me, so we need more of that.
I LOVED robot jox (there were two or three of those, right?). I saw them when I was like fifteen or so, and of course back then they were the coolest thing, ever. I saw one again recently though, and man, they really are like aerosol cheez on ritz crackers though. BAD movies. Not a card to play in convincing Mr. Hollywood Ponytail Golf-Swing to fund a major Mech property. So Shhhhhhhhhh........
Re: Transformers the Movie, The Dawning of the age of Live action Mecha!!

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 1:26 pm
by Roberto Orci
skywarp-2 wrote:Love it or hate it, what michael bay, ILM, and Steven Spielberg are doing is paving the way for a new kind of science fiction. Up until recently science fiction movie, with the exception of low budget sci-fi have only touched lightly on the relationship between man and Giant robot machines, or Mecha as they are sometimes called. This movie represents in its entirety.. giant robots on the big screen in live action..!!!
Does this infact open doors for live action Robotech, voltron, votoms, gears of war, macross, gundam, or even armored core?
We are witnessing the dawning of a new age here in movie terms, and on the cliff of what may become a new trend in Sci-Fi.. the days of flying space ship battles and small fighters are over.. Star Wars and Star Trek have run their course in the mass media arena of film.. now its to the new generation and the concepts of Mecha that will be the huge delivering box office smash that will ignite the sci-fi community on its end and bring us closer ot the giant freaking robots on the big screen in live action..
I have no doubt that we may see future projects involving massive robots and giant battles rampaging across landscapes and star scapes that will rival those of Star Wars and Star trek battles..
If you are excited about Transformers and can't wait to see tyhis movie, or even if your against what has been done to our favorite autonomous robots in disguise, the sheer magnitude of what is about to transpire in the film community should atleast be enough to motivate a sense of pride in whats about ot occur.. Giant Freaking Robots are coming to the screen.. in CGI, High definition, and to the mainstream, as a big budget summer blockbuster!!!
This also opens the doors for what i like to call 80s property in the media.. it was done in comics and nostalgia became the wave that drove products coming out..could this usher in an 80s live action movie franchise?
could we see, Thundercats, a revised Masters of the Universe, Gi Joe vs Cobra, silver hawks, Mask or any other highly treasured 80s property becoming a live action movie smash??
Time will tell, but this Transfan is definately excited in what this new movie represents, live action, big budget, giant Freaking Robots!! Don't get me wrong, i understand the story and design woes, and Prime having a mouth, ect.. but I'm taking a look simply from this perspective and not intending to deny the problems and issues raised by whats already been concieved..
I do believe that if they ever do those movies above in live action, they should be done right and close to the story line themselves.. and with the thoughfulness and care that went into Spiderman, and LOTR.. granted in those movies things werte changed for the live action and realism aspects, but in essence they remained true to their original concepts and form..
Say what you will about this movie, but what it represents is a new age and dawn of one of my favorite joys, Giant Freaking Robots!!!
Amen.
Agree with most of what you said except for the part about Star Trek being dead!

Re: Transformers the Movie, The Dawning of the age of Live action Mecha!!

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 1:32 pm
by Bed Bugs
Roberto Orci wrote:Agree with most of what you said except for the part about Star Trek being dead!

It is dead though, you guys are just the defibulators*.

*A machine that brings one back to life
Re: Transformers the Movie, The Dawning of the age of Live action Mecha!!

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 1:44 pm
by Sonray
Fender Bender wrote:Roberto Orci wrote:Agree with most of what you said except for the part about Star Trek being dead!

It is dead though, you guys are just the defibulators*.

*A machine that brings one back to life
A defibulator that can make an 11th movie for the franchise...


Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 2:01 pm
by Robinson
I cant wait for people to say "new kirk looks nothing like G1 kirk"

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 2:09 pm
by Bed Bugs
Chris™ wrote:I cant wait for people to say "new kirk looks nothing like G1 kirk"
Actually, me thinks the fury of nerdom will come when the topic of Klingon foreheads is discussed.....

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 2:30 pm
by Sonray
Chris™ wrote:I cant wait for people to say "new kirk looks nothing like G1 kirk"
Hahaha! Yeah i bet that will happen someplace, it is inevitable.
As for the Klingons, not to sound too nerdy or anything, but in the era the film is said to be set i dont think they have discovored klingons yet...

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 3:27 pm
by Rodimus Cloud
It would be sweet if some good director starts making a Robotech into a live action movie.

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 4:11 pm
by AbsumZer0
I reeeeeeally hope this doesn't help bring the Neon Genesis Evangelion movie out of development hell. I can't see them including the Oedipus complex, end-of-the-world psychosis, scenes of extreme gore, beer-drinking penguin, Christian terminology applied to monsters, or any of the other things that made the series so infamous and different into a 2-hour PG-13 movie. Even with a visionary director it's have to be gutted and watered-down for a mainstream audience. Then we'd have people going "it was an overrated and cheesy series to begin with and the monster fights were the best part" and arguing with people who really love the the series for everything it was. It'd be the Transformers movie all over again.

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 4:13 pm
by Burn
Sonray wrote:Chris™ wrote:I cant wait for people to say "new kirk looks nothing like G1 kirk"
Hahaha! Yeah i bet that will happen someplace, it is inevitable.
As for the Klingons, not to sound too nerdy or anything, but in the era the film is said to be set i dont think they have discovored klingons yet...
What, Post-Enterprise/Pre-TOS? I suppose if they want to ignore Enterprise completely they could do that.
Though they'd be idiots to do so.My only problem with a Voltron movie is it'd be about those damn lions. I'm a vehicle Voltron guy.


Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 4:36 pm
by Robinson
I like lion Voltron, but my black lion never flew like it did in the show.


Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 5:15 pm
by skywarp-2
The Shadow wrote:A live action Voltron movie has been in active development for over a year now. As I recall, I first heard about the live action Voltron movie significantly before filming for this TF movie started. IE This TF movie has had no influence getting the Voltron movie started.
Same goes for He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - it's been in development for a good 3-4 years at least. Some recent rumblings could mean that things are starting to move forwards again for the MOTU movie. Just like with Voltron - this TF movie hasn't been a part of development process considerations.
For either property TF doing reasonably well or well at the box office could mean an expansion of budget for either the Voltron or MOTU projects but it won't be the reason we see these movies in the the future.
Also Star Trek and Star Wars have hardly run their course. I dare you not to watch the upcoming Star Wars live action TV series - or the Clone Wars cartoon series. Star Trek does have a movie coming up [which some goobers at Paramount decided to do instead of Edgar Rice Burrough's sci-fi epic A Princess of Mars ].
Yes but if transformers is a success, then budgets will increase and that makes the Giant robot franchises do even better in production values and story content as well as actors.. I wasn't suggesting that transformers will be the cause of those movies being in production, but come on, some movies stay in the "Planning" phase, and are talked about and almost even get film shot, and then some are never made entirely.. so this Transformers movie brings light to that genre, and can ultimately be the reason why it actually comes out of production and becomes an actual movie..

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 5:19 pm
by Sonray
Basically what he is saying is, if TF is a huge hit, other film studios will catch on to the niche market TF has tapped into, and thus its success proves that movie going audiences want films with big freakin robots in em. Thus prompting the production of more, and probably far inferior, movies of the same genre, i.e. the mecha robot movie.
Re: Transformers the Movie, The Dawning of the age of Live action Mecha!!

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 5:26 pm
by skywarp-2
Roberto Orci wrote:skywarp-2 wrote:Love it or hate it, what michael bay, ILM, and Steven Spielberg are doing is paving the way for a new kind of science fiction. Up until recently science fiction movie, with the exception of low budget sci-fi have only touched lightly on the relationship between man and Giant robot machines, or Mecha as they are sometimes called. This movie represents in its entirety.. giant robots on the big screen in live action..!!!
Does this infact open doors for live action Robotech, voltron, votoms, gears of war, macross, gundam, or even armored core?
We are witnessing the dawning of a new age here in movie terms, and on the cliff of what may become a new trend in Sci-Fi.. the days of flying space ship battles and small fighters are over.. Star Wars and Star Trek have run their course in the mass media arena of film.. now its to the new generation and the concepts of Mecha that will be the huge delivering box office smash that will ignite the sci-fi community on its end and bring us closer ot the giant freaking robots on the big screen in live action..
I have no doubt that we may see future projects involving massive robots and giant battles rampaging across landscapes and star scapes that will rival those of Star Wars and Star trek battles..
If you are excited about Transformers and can't wait to see tyhis movie, or even if your against what has been done to our favorite autonomous robots in disguise, the sheer magnitude of what is about to transpire in the film community should atleast be enough to motivate a sense of pride in whats about ot occur.. Giant Freaking Robots are coming to the screen.. in CGI, High definition, and to the mainstream, as a big budget summer blockbuster!!!
This also opens the doors for what i like to call 80s property in the media.. it was done in comics and nostalgia became the wave that drove products coming out..could this usher in an 80s live action movie franchise?
could we see, Thundercats, a revised Masters of the Universe, Gi Joe vs Cobra, silver hawks, Mask or any other highly treasured 80s property becoming a live action movie smash??
Time will tell, but this Transfan is definately excited in what this new movie represents, live action, big budget, giant Freaking Robots!! Don't get me wrong, i understand the story and design woes, and Prime having a mouth, ect.. but I'm taking a look simply from this perspective and not intending to deny the problems and issues raised by whats already been concieved..
I do believe that if they ever do those movies above in live action, they should be done right and close to the story line themselves.. and with the thoughfulness and care that went into Spiderman, and LOTR.. granted in those movies things werte changed for the live action and realism aspects, but in essence they remained true to their original concepts and form..
Say what you will about this movie, but what it represents is a new age and dawn of one of my favorite joys, Giant Freaking Robots!!!
Amen.
Agree with most of what you said except for the part about Star Trek being dead!

well, the way i look at it, if you have to start doing prequels on a sci-fi property that has been around for a long long time, then you've kinda run out of stories to tell, and its kinda ran its course...Not to mention live action star wars TV show has been talked about for like what a couple of years now, ever since episode 3 ended..its like no on can decide on anything.. but I'm not talking about TV here, i'm talking about taking sci-fi, big budget sci-fi to a new direction, one that has only really been explored in cult or anime fashion.. not to mention Robot Jox, which I kinda loved, but it is cheesy as hell, and was completely low budget...
tis is the 1st big budget, Major CGI undertaking that hollywood has put forth in the giant robot arena..its the reason why we might actually have more to look forward to. Finally they are turning their heads to something new.. and when they say new, its because from the time of jurassic park and dragon movies, we have seen that stuff before, star wars, star trek, we have seen space fighters and space ships before.. but Mecha.. CGI mecha has never really been explored, so when those guys at the studio say its new and fresh, they aren't speaking of the comics and toylines or cartoons, they aren't aware, mostly that that stuff is present. as we are.. so to them and the rest of the free world in the mainstream, this concept will be new and exciting..

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 8:49 pm
by Shadowman
Star Trek needs to die.
Star Wars, however, needs another trilogy. I know Mark, Carrie, and Harrison aren't dead yet.

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 9:02 pm
by Sonray
Shadowman wrote:Star Trek needs to die.
Star Wars, however, needs another trilogy. I know Mark, Carrie, and Harrison aren't dead yet.
Oh it has to be the other way around. Jeez those prequels sucked so hard...

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 9:20 pm
by skywarp-2
Sonray wrote:Shadowman wrote:Star Trek needs to die.
Star Wars, however, needs another trilogy. I know Mark, Carrie, and Harrison aren't dead yet.
Oh it has to be the other way around. Jeez those prequels sucked so hard...
I think it was the choice of Anakin actors, jar jar binks..but other then that it was okay as a trilogy.. not what i expected.. and the mediclorines thing was a joke...

Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 10:13 pm
by Sonray
skywarp-2 wrote:Sonray wrote:Shadowman wrote:Star Trek needs to die.
Star Wars, however, needs another trilogy. I know Mark, Carrie, and Harrison aren't dead yet.
Oh it has to be the other way around. Jeez those prequels sucked so hard...
I think it was the choice of Anakin actors, jar jar binks..but other then that it was okay as a trilogy.. not what i expected.. and the mediclorines thing was a joke...
Bad directing, crappy dialogue and over used CGI which makes the film feel like you are watching a video game cut scene had nothing to do with it then?


Posted:
Mon May 14, 2007 10:43 pm
by skywarp-2
Sonray wrote:skywarp-2 wrote:Sonray wrote:Shadowman wrote:Star Trek needs to die.
Star Wars, however, needs another trilogy. I know Mark, Carrie, and Harrison aren't dead yet.
Oh it has to be the other way around. Jeez those prequels sucked so hard...
I think it was the choice of Anakin actors, jar jar binks..but other then that it was okay as a trilogy.. not what i expected.. and the mediclorines thing was a joke...
Bad directing, crappy dialogue and over used CGI which makes the film feel like you are watching a video game cut scene had nothing to do with it then?

yeah i could totally see the cutscene POV...