Optimus Prime will indeed have a mouth under his "battle" shield
Saturday, May 5th, 2007 2:27AM CDT
Category: Movie Related NewsPosted by: Seibertron Views: 34,208
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Nelson @ MichaelBay.com : |
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. |
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Posted by Seibertron on May 5th, 2007 @ 2:53am CDT
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.
Posted by Fireblast on May 5th, 2007 @ 3:20am CDT
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.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.
Posted by Quaternion on May 5th, 2007 @ 3:34am CDT
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?
Posted by Emperor Primacron the 1st on May 5th, 2007 @ 3:39am CDT
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.
Posted by InvaderJes on May 5th, 2007 @ 3:39am CDT
But having said that- yeah- that picture... his face is ugly with a capital Ug.
Posted by the purifyer on May 5th, 2007 @ 3:43am CDT
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.
Posted by zoso504 on May 5th, 2007 @ 3:46am CDT
Posted by Ravage XK on May 5th, 2007 @ 4:15am CDT
Posted by Blackstreak on May 5th, 2007 @ 4:24am CDT
Posted by Gutsman Heavy on May 5th, 2007 @ 4:48am CDT
Posted by Shin Optimus Prime on May 5th, 2007 @ 4:52am CDT
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.
Posted by Tigertrack on May 5th, 2007 @ 4:59am CDT
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...
Posted by † Sunstorm on May 5th, 2007 @ 5:16am CDT
Posted by Sunstar on May 5th, 2007 @ 5:17am CDT
Anyway I've became used to the movie designs even if I don't like them.
Posted by † Sunstorm on May 5th, 2007 @ 5:21am CDT
Posted by City Commander on May 5th, 2007 @ 5:39am CDT
WHIIIIIIIIINE!
lol, not really
Posted by Ataraxia on May 5th, 2007 @ 6:04am CDT
Posted by caitlindevi on May 5th, 2007 @ 6:08am CDT
DVD special edition anyone?
Posted by MYoung23 on May 5th, 2007 @ 6:11am CDT
Posted by Khemical Prime on May 5th, 2007 @ 6:27am CDT
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.
Posted by Phoenix_306 on May 5th, 2007 @ 6:41am CDT
Posted by First-Aid on May 5th, 2007 @ 6:41am CDT
Posted by rad902 on May 5th, 2007 @ 7:19am CDT
I think with the Battle Mask up all the time, it may not deliver the effect required in all cases...
Posted by shortround on May 5th, 2007 @ 7:23am CDT
Posted by LuckytheWonderLlama on May 5th, 2007 @ 7:34am CDT
6 VWs for under $17,000?
This movie is going to be great. It is different just like every incarnation of Transformers. Kudos to Bay and Speilberg for giving us their vision and actually entrtaining us with something new not spoonfeeding us the same old thing.
I say get over it and enjoy the movie.
Posted by jonusjaxon on May 5th, 2007 @ 7:38am CDT
Posted by Roadshadow on May 5th, 2007 @ 8:25am CDT
Posted by Bender Prime on May 5th, 2007 @ 8:37am CDT
Flashbang wrote:I have respect for directors who do what they want and don't sweat over what the fans say.
Exactly. Talk about crying like a bunch of school girls. Waahhh the faceplate isn't on in all the scenes. Waahhh he has flames. Like who cares, it's a TINY DETAIL.
I can't believe reading these comments like 'the film will suck cos the face plate isn't on in all the scenes', what a load of baloney, go ask Sam Raimi how he feels about leaving his main characters in masks like the Green Goblin v Spidey fight in Spiderman 1 - he'll tell you it was a dumb move cos the scenes become flat cos you are just staring a darn inanimate plastic object. Prime has to EMOTE, he needs a flippin mouth to do that, it's not a cartoon, it's a $150 million dollar major motion picture so is it so damn hard for these people to understand that he has to be more expressive?
Here is a crazy idea, why not talk about the actual important things in the film like the story or the plot, or the characters (not their looks) instead of crapping on for what must be a year now about stuff that is completely irrelevant. It's like someone yapping on about what type of shades NEO wears in the Matrix, it's completely and utterly trivial!!!
No wonder Bay must get the impression a lot of fans are off the reservation.
Posted by DetectiveFork on May 5th, 2007 @ 8:44am CDT
It's weird, though, how there's all this hype for the movie and people are getting excited about it (Even my girlfriend wants to see it!) but I'm just shrugging my shoulders and waiting for the next Transformers incarnation.
Posted by Noisemaze on May 5th, 2007 @ 9:28am CDT
Posted by Maldroth on May 5th, 2007 @ 9:31am CDT
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.
Ryan I've seen you as a large supporter of the movie up until now and it surprises me you to take such a passionate stance against this now. Please realise this is not an attempt to be snarky, i'm just genuinely surpised.
Yeah you know when you take a major iconic character and nothing is more iconic than prime and make an alteration like this its going to look out of place. Even non Transformer fans know what Prime looks like. They see the design in all the promo material and what do you see? Prime with is "battle plate" on since that is the face of prime.
This will be the thing that will really impact the performance of the film as a whole. Too much artistic licence was taken and now it will suffer the same fate that all game/tv show movies that deviate too much from the baseline. Many will go but the following won't be there and the sequel (which we know there will be) will just look like grabing at more money than being as welcome as say the Spiderman franchise.
Many people will see the face and go, "Is that Optimus Prime? That looks silly." I'm really surpised their research department didn't realize what an impact changing a major iconic character would be. Shows that they really didn't care about being true to the franchise otherwise they would have come halfway on their visions and what is already set in the IP.
Posted by Blitzwing the warrior on May 5th, 2007 @ 9:40am CDT
Optimus: mmphm mmmmhphm mmphm!
Sam: WHAT!?
Optimus: MMPHMM MMMPHMMMMM!
*Megatron steps on Sam*
Posted by Kalon on May 5th, 2007 @ 9:43am CDT
Posted by signalcore on May 5th, 2007 @ 10:04am CDT
Dont know if that was intentional, but might be something to think about although it remains unmentioned.
Posted by Dr. Caelus on May 5th, 2007 @ 10:09am CDT
And at least the changing face plate is precedented - the only TF series since G1 that didn't have one is Armada, right? - Unlike Gorillascream and Scrapatron.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Maldroth wrote:Ryan I've seen you as a large supporter of the movie up until now and it surprises me you to take such a passionate stance against this now. Please realise this is not an attempt to be snarky, i'm just genuinely surpised.
Umm... Remember when the Starscream design came out? Or the Megatron design? I don't understand why you're surprised.
-------------------------------------------------------------
And is it absolutely necessary for those in favor of the design changes to ritually insult those who aren't?
I guess things really haven't changed in this forum afterall.
Posted by Sideshow Sideswipe on May 5th, 2007 @ 10:12am CDT
:cries:
Posted by Skowl on May 5th, 2007 @ 10:13am CDT
Bender Prime wrote:
Exactly. Talk about crying like a bunch of school girls. Waahhh the faceplate isn't on in all the scenes. Waahhh he has flames. Like who cares, it's a TINY DETAIL.
Flames and a mouth on Optimus Prime are "tiny" details? I can't believe someone is even saying this! The flames were bad enough (Prime is such a noble, calm, collected, heroic leader, let's put flames on him wooooo! now he's X-Treme!) and let's give him a mouth so that our dumb audience can see how he's feeling all the time, and have his emotions spelt out in big, bold letters.
"Oh look, Prime has a sad face, he must be sad... duhhh... that girl is pretty, Og like explosions!"
If you think those are "tiny" details, I hate to see what you would consider to be a "big deal".
Bender Prime wrote:I can't believe reading these comments like 'the film will suck cos the face plate isn't on in all the scenes', what a load of baloney, go ask Sam Raimi how he feels about leaving his main characters in masks like the Green Goblin v Spidey fight in Spiderman 1 - he'll tell you it was a dumb move cos the scenes become flat cos you are just staring a darn inanimate plastic object. Prime has to EMOTE, he needs a flippin mouth to do that, it's not a cartoon, it's a $150 million dollar major motion picture so is it so damn hard for these people to understand that he has to be more expressive?
Now this... I don't really now how to answer other than it's just plain wrong. I don't know how many times I need to say this, but you do not need a mouth to project emotions! Good film makers will allow the audience to draw emotions out of a character given the context. You don't need to have sentiments spelt out for you. If you really needed a mouth to project emotions, well, wouldn't every novel ever written have to come with puppets or something, if not - oh no - the reader wouldn't know how the characters were feeling!
Just look at Darth Vader here, his helmet is, as you say, "a darn inanimate plastic object", but I guarantee he emotes better than most on-screen characters with the full range of facial features.
Because, yeah, if Darth Vader needs one thing to emote, it's a mouth...
[/i]
Posted by Spooner on May 5th, 2007 @ 10:13am CDT
Ravage XK wrote: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.
My sentiments exactly - Mr. Cullen, with that John Wayne "the-voice-alone-could-kick-your-a**" inflection, made the character. Praise God Mr. Bay had the wherewithal to bring him in - that's going to make this movie work, if nothing else.
Posted by Emperor Galvatron on May 5th, 2007 @ 10:17am CDT
Oh, that's right, giant robotic bug aliens don't emote, silly rabbit. Just their good guy enemies do.
And I don't lay the blame squarely at Bay's feet, either. Aaron Archer has been pushing for a 'mouthed' Prime for years. (See Energon, Cybertron, TF Movie, etc.) It wouldn't suprise me if Archer pushed for this the whole time.
Posted by rad902 on May 5th, 2007 @ 10:28am CDT
Wolverine dons leather, instead of neon spandex. Did that spoil the movie? NOOO!
Ra's al Ghul is a mortal in Batman Begins, as opposed to the immortal character in comics and other continuities. Did that spoil the movie? NOOO!
He's still Prime. Lips or no lips... This is a pretty tiny issue!
Posted by Dr. Caelus on May 5th, 2007 @ 10:30am CDT
rad902 wrote:Ra's al Ghul is a mortal in Batman Begins, as opposed to the immortal character in comics and other continuities.
What makes you think that?
Posted by Omega Sentinel on May 5th, 2007 @ 10:35am CDT
In a Michael Bay movie you do. He has never made a movie with deep characters.Skowl wrote:I don't know how many times I need to say this, but you do not need a mouth to project emotions!
Mouth, eyes, flipping the bird, or whatever. He needs to do whatever he can with Prime to project emotions because the story certainly won't.
PS...How come the bot that shouldn't have a mouth (Prime) does and the bots that should have a mouth (everyone else) don't?
Posted by Nemesis Cyberplex on May 5th, 2007 @ 10:36am CDT
I never liked the idea of Prime with a mouth. He never even needed one untill Mainframe got ahold of Primal. Why does a robot need a mouth? Surely it's not for eating.
Oh, & whoever said that about Spidey & the Green Goblin fight....IMHO, the reason that looked bad is for the same reason it looks bad in the Power Rangers shows: They try to make up for lack of facial features by waving their arms around too much(read:emoting through excess movement), which just looks silly. With Prime being all CG, emotion could be pulled off without having to use access movement. Hell, they could easily have him communicate through his eyes. They did in G1. I mean, when he was on his deathbed, his eyes made him look defeated & in pain, & you could tell exactly what he was feeling, & that was a frikin cartoon movie in the 80's. Surely they could do the same thing if not better with all the CG tech they have nowadays.
Oh, & BTW....Disagreeing with the directions these guys are going in with character designs is not whining. Most people I've seen on these boards, as well as others, have argues the points in a reasonable, mature manner, but the few "OMG Bay ButT-r4p3D My Ch1lDH00d!!!" comments apparently was all they heard...or wanted to hear so they could call the fandom as a whole a bunch of whining babies....
Spiderman 3 is a very good example of how this TF movie could have been made with respect to the previous designs & still been well-accepted. Even what they did change was not so far-fetched in design that it slapped the source material in the face(mainly talking about the New Goblin).
I call BS.
Posted by 1337W422102 on May 5th, 2007 @ 10:39am CDT
If you want to make a movie about the Transformers, make one about THE TRANSFORMERS. If you want to make a movie about generic shape-shift alien mechanoids who simply look cool and want to blow shit up, do that. But you CANNOT make a movie about both of them! And simply attributing the classic characters' names and personalities to the new Terminator-like droids does NOT make them the Transformers. Modifying timeless, iconic characters just for the sake of 'cooler CGI' is a big mistake and a bitch move.
Perhaps one day a movie about the Transformers, the real Transformers, will reach theatres. But that day is not July 4.
Posted by ZoneDaiatlas on May 5th, 2007 @ 10:40am CDT
Bender Prime wrote: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.
I wanted Peter Jackson or Ridley Scott directing the Transformers movie. Those directors would schooled Michael Bay about directing a big budget film with a plot, script and acting... I was sadden that Paramount didn't hire Stan Winston since he's the best in the business in animatronics and robot designs.
Posted by ZoneDaiatlas on May 5th, 2007 @ 10:42am CDT
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.
Seibertron, this Transformer movie has Godzilla (US 1998) written all over it...
Posted by Octavious Prime on May 5th, 2007 @ 11:01am CDT
It would have been impossible to use G1 designs in this movie, I mean you saw the type of crazy sh** those bots are doing. True, theres alot more they could of done (they could of atleast made starscream's head look like the newthundecracker toy that looks more like the orignal screamer), but thats hollywood for you.
Remember, this is not Spider-man, Batman, or Superman. Those movies are easy to stay true to the character designs, story, etc, but this is transformers, not exactly the easiest franchise to adapt into a live-action film. Changes HAD to be made, and though they might not have been the best decisions, I'm just going to except it as another encarnation of the series.
Anyone could go for days talking about what wasn't done right for the movie, but i just don't have the energy anymore. Come on people, it's live-action Transformers! you're not even a little excited?
Posted by Senor Hugo on May 5th, 2007 @ 11:06am CDT
Flashbang wrote:I have respect for directors who do what they want and don't sweat over what the fans say.
Yeah, I have respect for the directors who do that as well. Kevin Smith did that, and we got Jersey Girl, Joel Schumacher did that, and we got Bat Nipples. Steven E. de Souza did that, and we got Street Fighter. Annabel Jankin and Rocky Morton did that, and we got Super Mario Brothers, and the list goes on. MK:Annihilation, Blade: Trinity, AvP, Hulk.
Ataraxia wrote: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...
I love these replies. "ZOMG be grateful you're getting a movie!" Hm, we should be happy we're getting a movie that could very well ruin Transformers.
Also, since when was Transformers just about destroying each other? If that was the case, why even bother making a Transformers movie, they could just call it "Rock'em Sock'em Robots: The Movie."
Transformers is not just about robots destroying each other, it's about an alien race trying to not only protect humankind from their evil counterparts, but to gather energy to save their planet.
The whole "it's about giant robots and fighting" is just a huge excuse to cover for a poor movie script, and to cover up the fact that the person/people making the film really have no clue about the source material.
Also, Prime doesn't need a mouth to emote. Eyes say a hell of a lot more than seeing lips does.
Posted by zodconvoy on May 5th, 2007 @ 11:10am CDT
6 VWs for under $17,000?
Yeah, but the fact is Bumblebee isn't one. This is officially no longer the Transformers movie. It is now the Go-Bots, a $150,000,000.00 90 minute episode of the fire-trucking GOBOTS!
Posted by Seibertron on May 5th, 2007 @ 11:11am CDT
Ataraxia wrote: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...
It's OPTIMUS PRIME! Can't you at least appreciate that? And please don't call the fans who are complaining about this whiny bitches. Thanks.