DoctorZero986 wrote:Agreed. Honestly, the only things I didn't like about it were the robot heaven scene, some of the adult humor was just stupid, and the twins. I honestly thought it was way better than the first because I felt it was more like the G1 universe with Megatron actually beating Starscream up for failing him or trying to take command of the Decepticons, and them trying to obtain energon and all.
This post brings up a point.
On the one hand, you have the group who looks at it like this: G1 is considered THE TransFormers universe and everything else is an homage or re-envisioning of it, but none are better than G1. So automatically, they're going to hate the movies with a passion, and for the most part...they do.
On the other hand, you have the group who looks at it like this: G1 was the groundwork, but what was built upon it far surpasses what came before, such as the movies. I still can't find much to like about G1, admittedly, it just grates on my nerves because it's so cheesy, so campy, so corny, so silly, etc.
And then you have the critics who are in neither camp and either like the film or dislike it, without any prior knowledge of what's come before, other than they know it merely exists.
The first film was total Hollywood and aimed for a reboot, making G1 nonexistent in the movieverse. Critics and a large number of fans embraced it and it made money with praise. Had a mix of teen movie humor, which obviously appeals to a large audience, and it took a more realistic approach to the TF mythos. Well, as realistic as possible.
The second film still had some Hollywood to it, but it went back to the G1 roots and borrowed heavily from it, such as the massive weapon of doom idea, the aforementioned Megatron/Starscream squabbling, and it was just silly, overblown FUN. This one wasn't even close to the realm of the realistic. A large number of fans and critics hated it. Still made large sums of money though.
So, it's confusing, really. What is it exactly that we all want?
The first film was more realistic, rather dark in spots, and showed the human side of the matter more than the title of the film would have you believe. Sure, the film WAS about TransFormers, but not directly. It was more about how WE take to them, observe them, integrate with them. It won a lot of people over solely on the wow factor. I can't deny it, even I could feel goosebumps, pulse racing, flat out excitement when Optimus transformed for the first time. It's THE definitive scene in the movie verse. There's not another scene in either film that can top it. Problem is, that's one scene, and they're bit characters in the first film, really.
The second went back to the G1 roots and was loud, insane, cartoonish, and a LOT of fun. It was dark in some spots, absolutely hilarious in others, and the TransFormers were no longer bit players, they were just as heavily featured as the humans, and perhaps even more so in some scenes. The wow factor is gone at this point, but you really don't need it. You need a plot, and ROTF had one. Yes, razor thin, but still a plot.
So...we go back to G1 for ideas, people hate it, yet all they did was bitch about the films being nothing like G1.
We tried realism, as much as possible, and it sated the critics and most of Hollywood, but left us behind.
Obviously we cannot have it both ways, so how do we compromise? How do we win?
G1's not going to work anymore.
Making the TF's bit players isn't going to work anymore.
So, I guess the third movie is our only hope. By all accounts, the only way is up, since we're already in the gutter with the first two films.
So, how does the writer keep a link to the past and the future? I'm not sure it's possible. No one's willing to be pleased with what we've been given, so it's really just a hopeless cause, isn't it?
I'm just going to find the first film boring, love the second one, and merely enjoy the experience of TFs in the theater for the 3rd one. I have literally no expectations good or bad for DOTM, because at this point, it's pretty much over. This is the final and third act of our story, the trilogy is finished, there's nowhere to go from here as far as we know, so we're going to have to take it as is, good or bad. And I realize there's not a damn thing I can do about that, so I'm just gonna watch it and let the chips fall where they may.
We can't win here, because we're not willing to let it happen.
NOTE: Realize that I am not a perfect Christian, nor do I profess to be. I apologize if anyone's ever offended by me, I'm not perfect. Don't hold my posts and opinions against other Christians.