Transformers 2 Movie Writers Announced

Front Paged and Credited.

Too bad Don Murphy is back, the last thing the world needs is a crude, rude, lying, opinionated, dimwitted fat man mouthing off and being a general jerk.

i_amtrunks wrote:the last thing the world needs is a crude, rude, lying, opinionated, dimwitted fat man mouthing off and being a general jerk.

Hello, and welcome to the internet.

Honestly, I'm more concerned about Lorenzo DiBonaventura. The man's filmography makes terrifying reading. Still, this bunch pulled a big metal transforming rabbit out of a hat that promptly exploded last time, so I'm not going to go painting a "Down With Loz" placard just yet.

Bob and Alex seemed really enthusiastic at Botcon. They said at their panel that they'd rather have new writers with a good story idea come on board than come back themselves and just write something bland. I guess they had a good idea

-Nick

trilobitepictures wrote:And Watchmen. Don't forget that after they're done destroying what's left of the Star Trek franchise, they're off to dash any hopes for Watchmen...

http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3379&Itemid=99

Tell me this is not true.

How, pray tell, is this good news?
I'll go see it if Kremzeek kills Optimus Prime.

Leonardo wrote:

trilobitepictures wrote:And Watchmen. Don't forget that after they're done destroying what's left of the Star Trek franchise, they're off to dash any hopes for Watchmen...

http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3379&Itemid=99

Tell me this is not true.

/sarcasm
After that stellar script of Transformers how on Earth could they screw up Watchmen? Man consider me already stoked for TF2. Its off to a roaring start!
*/sarcasm

I'm quitting Earth...

Wow, a lot of negativity here.

I for one welcome the two writers back. They now know how anal we are and how we can spot odd things in their story, they know what they probably want/could do different this time around. I'm sure they have learned a lot or thought of other ideas since they first wrote the first movie.

Now a third creative mind to add to the mix. Bring it on.

Odd things in the story? Like Megatron DEAD??? Cybertron Completely Dead? The total LACK of any sort of "Re-energizing" for these living robots? I wouldn't call those "odd things". I'd call those GLARING mistakes.

On the other hand, I'm glad that it is the same ppl that wrote the story for the first movie, because they proably have ideas for an overall arc. I knew there would be a 2. Now let's just see how good it is...

A lot of negativity...

They turned what could have been Transformers' shining moment where it once and for all proved to the world to be a deep, complex and epic story into a two-hour version of the 1984 cartoon, only with astoundingly less emphasis on the robots.

The critics gave it slightly higher than mediocre marks because they said it was good for what it is: A two-hour toy commercial. I didn't want it to be a "two-hour toy commerical." I didn't want people to go, "That's what I expected." I wanted people to go, "Wow, I didn't realize there was so much to these toys. Now I see what all the hype was about."

As far as I'm concerned, they stole our moment of glory and made it into a toy commercial arguably as well-written as the 1980's cartoon.

Ehren Kruger is an interesting choice. Here's his IMDB entry: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0472567/

"The Talisman" (2008) (mini) TV Series (pre-production) (screenplay)
Blood and Chocolate (2007) (screenplay)
The Brothers Grimm (2005) (written by)
The Skeleton Key (2005) (written by)
The Ring Two (2005) (written by)
Rings (2005) (V) (written by)
The Ring (2002) (screenplay)
Impostor (2002) (screenplay)
Reindeer Games (2000) (written by)
Scream 3 (2000) (written by)
New World Disorder (1999) (written by)
Arlington Road (1999) (written by)
Killers in the House (1998) (TV) (written by)

I'm glad to see the rest of the crew back on board. I think one of the worst things that could happen would for #2 to have a totally different feel than #1 (no bathroom jokes now). This is actually great news that they're already putting the team together for #2. We just might see this movie released on June 26th, 2009 afterall.

** Goes to fire off an email to one of the extreme powers that be in this list for consulting position for the movie **

Seibertron wrote:Ehren Kruger is an interesting choice. Here's his IMDB entry: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0472567/

"The Talisman" (2008) (mini) TV Series (pre-production) (screenplay)
Blood and Chocolate (2007) (screenplay)
The Brothers Grimm (2005) (written by)
The Skeleton Key (2005) (written by)
The Ring Two (2005) (written by)
Rings (2005) (V) (written by)
The Ring (2002) (screenplay)
Impostor (2002) (screenplay)
Reindeer Games (2000) (written by)
Scream 3 (2000) (written by)
New World Disorder (1999) (written by)
Arlington Road (1999) (written by)
Killers in the House (1998) (TV) (written by)

I'm glad to see the rest of the crew back on board. I think one of the worst things that could happen would for #2 to have a totally different feel than #1 (no bathroom jokes now). This is actually great news that they're already putting the team together for #2. We just might see this movie released on June 26th, 2009 afterall.

** Goes to fire off an email to one of the extreme powers that be in this list for consulting position for the movie **

My peace of mind has been shattered...

Ultra Magnus wrote:Odd things in the story? Like Megatron DEAD??? Cybertron Completely Dead? The total LACK of any sort of "Re-energizing" for these living robots? I wouldn't call those "odd things". I'd call those GLARING mistakes.

On the other hand, I'm glad that it is the same ppl that wrote the story for the first movie, because they proably have ideas for an overall arc. I knew there would be a 2. Now let's just see how good it is...

Lol.. what? How are those mistakes? They were part of the story, in this continuity. You just don't like parts of it, which is fine, but they are hardly mistakes.

Oddities that I am talking about are things such as the lack of clarification that Ratchets beam was helping heal bumblebee when fired it at him, or why Jazz just sorta sat there in car mode when bumblebee was laying in two pieces, etc.

Briggs wrote:

Ultra Magnus wrote:Odd things in the story? Like Megatron DEAD??? Cybertron Completely Dead? The total LACK of any sort of "Re-energizing" for these living robots? I wouldn't call those "odd things". I'd call those GLARING mistakes.

On the other hand, I'm glad that it is the same ppl that wrote the story for the first movie, because they proably have ideas for an overall arc. I knew there would be a 2. Now let's just see how good it is...

Lol.. what? How are those mistakes? They were part of the story, in this continuity. You just don't like parts of it, which is fine, but they are hardly mistakes.

Oddities that I am talking about are things such as the lack of clarification that Ratchets beam was helping heal bumblebee when fired it at him, or why Jazz just sorta sat there in car mode when bumblebee was laying in two pieces, etc.

I like to think that it was Bumblebee's direct contact with the Allspark that fixed his voice box, much like it gave Frenzy his body back. However, this line of thought would have conflicts with other parts of the story, especially if you consider the IDW prequel to be cannon. If I recall correctly, Bumblebee held the AllSpark after Megatron damaged his voice box but it's been since February since I read the prequel comic so I might not be remembering that correctly. Even so, if it was Bumblebee's contact with the AllSpark that fixed his voice, why did it take so long for it to take effect whereas Frenzy got his body back immediately?

The explanation for Jazz is simple: budget restraints. It's cheaper to have him in car mode versus robot or battle mode. It's the most glaring "we need to do this so we don't go over budget" part of the movie to me, though there are plenty of other areas where I can definitely see that they were cost cutting (this isn't a negative comment ... you can see it in all movies from Star Wars to The Departed).

trilobitepictures wrote:So Megatron's dead. They killed Superman, Godzilla, Dracula, the Frankenstein's monster, broke Batman's back... wasn't some guy named Optimus Prime dead and buried for a while back?

Here's how the problem's fixed...

EXT. OCEAN FLOOR

CAMERA TRUCKS ALONG THE SEABED. FISH swim about peacefully. CRABS scitter as they hunt for food. We see a large, metalic mass slumped in the darkness. As camera approaches, we see TWO RED LIGHTS FLICKER QUICKLY then BURN STEADILY. It is MEGATRON and HE IS ALIVE!

Ta da! That's the beauty of fiction... you can do ANYTHING!

Bingo. I'm willing to bet that Megatron is most definitely not dead. Of course, if him being dead made room for characters such as Soundwave and Shockwave to get to the big screen, then I might be all right with it as long as they have leadership like roles.

Blozor wrote:A lot of negativity...

They turned what could have been Transformers' shining moment where it once and for all proved to the world to be a deep, complex and epic story into a two-hour version of the 1984 cartoon, only with astoundingly less emphasis on the robots.

Personal opinion, not relevant.

Blozor wrote:The critics gave it slightly higher than mediocre marks because they said it was good for what it is: A two-hour toy commercial. I didn't want it to be a "two-hour toy commerical." I didn't want people to go, "That's what I expected." I wanted people to go, "Wow, I didn't realize there was so much to these toys. Now I see what all the hype was about."

Critics unfortunately don't really matter, unless all the people that went to see Transformers said "Huh, well the critics said it was mediocre, so I'm going to go see it.

Blozor wrote:As far as I'm concerned, they stole our moment of glory and made it into a toy commercial arguably as well-written as the 1980's cartoon.

No worries, doesn't work for everyone!

I was one who went for the AllSpark *curing* him, but I've since jumped the fence and went with Orci's explanation as it makes more sense and doesn't make me think as much

I get the whole budget thing, I just think maybe it would have been better to leave JAzz out of that scene directly.. because he looked a bit like a jerk just sitting there

Nice to see Orci come back, I always liked the guy, he has a great rapport with the fans.

Ehren Kruger is also an interesting choice, and given his prior work, I think he's a positive addition to the team.

I'm glad they didn't change too much around. When franchises make drastic changes to their horse mid-stream, sometimes the results can be less than satisfactory (see X-Men 3)

Megatron better be back. He didn't have much screen time nor did the Decepticons get much character developement in the first one.

Briggs wrote:

Blozor wrote:The critics gave it slightly higher than mediocre marks because they said it was good for what it is: A two-hour toy commercial. I didn't want it to be a "two-hour toy commerical." I didn't want people to go, "That's what I expected." I wanted people to go, "Wow, I didn't realize there was so much to these toys. Now I see what all the hype was about."

Critics unfortunately don't really matter, unless all the people that went to see Transformers said "Huh, well the critics said it was mediocre, so I'm going to go see it.

Transformers was much more than a 2 hour toy commercial. It was also a 2 hour car commercial and a 2 hour pro-military movie.

It's Transformers folks. What more do you want? Transformers will never have the epic and coherent feel of the Star Wars franchise. I feel like so many of you want Transformers to be treated like Star Wars. It's never going to happen. Transformers was originally conceived as a toyline that was immediately marketed as a comic book and a cartoon. Star Wars was originally conceived as a science fiction fantasy movie first and it became a comic/cartoon/toy series later down the road. Hasbro, a toy company, is in charge of the Transformers brand. Star Wars has George Lucase in charge. Two different agendas. Two different concepts.

Transformers will always be a 30 minute toy commercial. That's what they are.

I for one am glad that the same team is in place to do the second one. The first movie is what it is...love it or hate it...there is no changing it. I like the first one, but I can sure respect the opinions of those who don't.
The same team doing the second one will ensure the same feel as the first. I hate it when you have a movie that you like or love, and then the sequel comes out with a totally different director, writer, producer, etc. Most of the time in these instances the movie fails compared to the first one. The feel of the fist one (or 2)is missing. *cough*xmen3*cough*.
My wife says I'm too picky, and I probably am, but it's the way I feel.

I can see what you're saying. I like it when continuity is maintained.

Seibertron wrote:

Briggs wrote:

Blozor wrote:The critics gave it slightly higher than mediocre marks because they said it was good for what it is: A two-hour toy commercial. I didn't want it to be a "two-hour toy commerical." I didn't want people to go, "That's what I expected." I wanted people to go, "Wow, I didn't realize there was so much to these toys. Now I see what all the hype was about."

Critics unfortunately don't really matter, unless all the people that went to see Transformers said "Huh, well the critics said it was mediocre, so I'm going to go see it.

Transformers was much more than a 2 hour toy commercial. It was also a 2 hour car commercial and a 2 hour pro-military movie.

It's Transformers folks. What more do you want? Transformers will never have the epic and coherent feel of the Star Wars franchise. I feel like so many of you want Transformers to be treated like Star Wars. It's never going to happen. Transformers was originally conceived as a toyline that was immediately marketed as a comic book and a cartoon. Star Wars was originally conceived as a science fiction fantasy movie first and it became a comic/cartoon/toy series later down the road. Hasbro, a toy company, is in charge of the Transformers brand. Star Wars has George Lucase in charge. Two different agendas. Two different concepts.

Transformers will always be a 30 minute toy commercial. That's what they are.

I think you are trying to be a realist. However, It seem more like a case of lowered expectations.

tile_mcgillus wrote:

Leonardo wrote:

trilobitepictures wrote:And Watchmen. Don't forget that after they're done destroying what's left of the Star Trek franchise, they're off to dash any hopes for Watchmen...

http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3379&Itemid=99

Tell me this is not true.

/sarcasm
After that stellar script of Transformers how on Earth could they screw up Watchmen? Man consider me already stoked for TF2. Its off to a roaring start!
*/sarcasm

I'm quitting Earth...

Not at all surprised about the choice or writers for TF2 but if this crap about Watchmen is true I have lost what little faith I have in Hollywood to give anything the respect it deserves. It's OK for them to mess up Transformers, its not like it hasnt been done before and besides it's just a perpetually rebooting kids toy line but Watchmen! It a literary masterpiece! I've just about accepted Star Trek, please don't let them ruin this too!

Yours AK

I've never been fond of Don Murphy or his website minions. Murphy is not even honest with himself. His minions, the poor fools can't even see that. Don't like the travesty dreamworks is doing to the transformers either. Which all obvious.


As Autobot032 says:
_________________
I believe in Jesus Christ as my Saviour. If you do too, copy and paste this into your signature.

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.

I wonder if Alan Moore will react to this the same way he reacted to V for Vendetta.

juushinkan wrote:

Seibertron wrote:Ehren Kruger is an interesting choice. Here's his IMDB entry: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0472567/

"The Talisman" (2008) (mini) TV Series (pre-production) (screenplay)
Blood and Chocolate (2007) (screenplay)
The Brothers Grimm (2005) (written by)
The Skeleton Key (2005) (written by)
The Ring Two (2005) (written by)
Rings (2005) (V) (written by)
The Ring (2002) (screenplay)
Impostor (2002) (screenplay)
Reindeer Games (2000) (written by)
Scream 3 (2000) (written by)
New World Disorder (1999) (written by)
Arlington Road (1999) (written by)
Killers in the House (1998) (TV) (written by)

I'm glad to see the rest of the crew back on board. I think one of the worst things that could happen would for #2 to have a totally different feel than #1 (no bathroom jokes now). This is actually great news that they're already putting the team together for #2. We just might see this movie released on June 26th, 2009 afterall.

** Goes to fire off an email to one of the extreme powers that be in this list for consulting position for the movie **

My peace of mind has been shattered...

Oh man... that is just one craptacular list... let's hope he doesn't turn TF2 into the Ring Two... that movie blew major chunks.

Briggs wrote:Wow, a lot of negativity here.

I for one welcome the two writers back. They now know how anal we are and how we can spot odd things in their story, they know what they probably want/could do different this time around. I'm sure they have learned a lot or thought of other ideas since they first wrote the first movie.

Now a third creative mind to add to the mix. Bring it on.

They just now have alot more feedback and dismay to ignore ...

Blozor wrote:The critics gave it slightly higher than mediocre marks because they said it was good for what it is: A two-hour toy commercial. I didn't want it to be a "two-hour toy commerical."

As far as I'm concerned, they stole our moment of glory and made it into a toy commercial arguably as well-written as the 1980's cartoon.

Ummm... the cartoon was a 20 minute toy commercial.

Hey, I like watching toy commercials... it helps keep my ADD under control...

Lacking as Bay's TF might have been, it wasn't nearly as bad or disrespectful of the mythos I expected it'd be... And keep the continuity between movies by keeping the same teams will be good for the franchise (in terms of box office and audience reception at least).

Leonardo wrote:I wonder if Alan Moore will react to this the same way he reacted to V for Vendetta.

I can't see how he wouldn't.

Maybe not exactly the same way, but he sure ain't gonna like this... the reaction won't be good either way.

I'm hoping that there's more character development of the Autobots and Decepticons in this film. The exposition was tied up in the plot device in this last movie- the Glasses. But it turned out that they didn't even serve much of a purpose in the end. I want to see more character moments with Prime, STARSCREAM, Ratchet, and whoever else didn't get gunned down by the USAF.

I'm done complaining. Now that they know they've got a hit on their hands, they can not worry about being so "Cautious" and go for some really outrageous things. Like the REAL DEVASTATOR...
[+_+]

tile_mcgillus wrote:/sarcasm
After that stellar script of Transformers how on Earth could they screw up Watchmen? Man consider me already stoked for TF2. Its off to a roaring start!
*/sarcasm

I'm quitting Earth...

do you think they could incorporate that "more than meets the eye" line just a few more times in the watchmen.. for nostalgia reasons really

i_amtrunks wrote:Front Paged and Credited.

Too bad Don Murphy is back, the last thing the world needs is a crude, rude, lying, opinionated, dimwitted fat man mouthing off and being a general jerk.

We should be used to it...we've elected 537 of them to Congress and the Presidency....

Seriously though. If any of you havent read Watchmen, go out and buy it. Trust me, it is beyond your highest expectations. HECK IF YOUR TOO POOR, I'LL SEND YOU MY COPY!

/sarcasm/
But it is just a comic book and we shouldn't have high expectations for something from a medium aimed at children...right?
/*sarcasm/

Oh that list of movies by new the writer is so dreadful, I am speechless. How do guys like this keep finding work?

my advice watch seasons 1 + 2 and get some ideas
(jetfire)

my advice watch seasons 1 + 2 and get some ideas
(jetfire)

tile_mcgillus wrote:Seriously though. If any of you havent read Watchmen, go out and buy it. Trust me, it is beyond your highest expectations. HECK IF YOUR TOO POOR, I'LL SEND YOU MY COPY!

/sarcasm/
But it is just a comic book and we shouldn't have high expectations for something from a medium aimed at children...right?
/*sarcasm/

Oh that list of movies by new the writer is so dreadful, I am speechless. How do guys like this keep finding work?

how about gettingsome sci-fi writers (like the ones for battlestar,etc..) to write the next movie.
it was obvious the first was still being written after the movie was shot (and it was, read michael bay's blogs), and it's terribly painful that these guys had hardly any knowledge of transformers, and they wrote the damn script.
let alone all the prequel nonsense that was written by a fifth grader named alan dean foster.
the writing for all of it was the last thing on the minds of those in charge.

i know its not he writers fault.....but please for the love of god....no more shaky cam or at least not as shaky...and please no more bad editing....u have to admit it really took a lot away from that movie

yes the new movie is starting to be written excitemnt in overdrive i just hope there arent that many damn humans in the movie

I'd rather Megatron stay dead and not return, than to have him mocked in yet another movie

And here it starts already , now we get to hear the bashers and cryers for the next year all over again..
sad sad

tile_mcgillus wrote:I think you are trying to be a realist. However, It seem more like a case of lowered expectations.

It's my response to people saying the Transformers movie seemed like a 2 hour toy commercial, which is apparently bad in their opinion. I personally don't feel that way. I was actually very surprised at how seriously the movie folks took the Transformers franchise. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and if that's what a 2 hour toy commercial looks like, then sign me right up for #2 and #3. I'm game for another 4 hours of toy commercials if that's what people want to call them.

I believe I'm looking at the facts that time has ultimately revealed about the Transformers brand. I think the movie folks went beyond the call of duty and did far more with the Transformers brand than I ever expected anyone to do. If the movie experience from the past 4.5 years has done anything to my thought process about the Transformers ... it's opened my eyes to looking at the Transformers brand as a business process. With every decision the powers-that-be make with this brand, I try to ponder why they made that decision. It certainly is never to piss us off, which many fans would have you believe. There's always a reason and I find myself wondering more and more about the real-world business decisions that drive this hobby more than wishing that someone would treat Transformers like Star Wars.

Maybe it's because I've met or know so many official people in the hobby so it's difficult for me not to think like that. Instead of wondering why IDW or Dreamworks or Hasbro made a decision to do something a certain way like I did a few years ago, I now ponder things like "wow, I wonder who was in the meeting where that was decided" or "I wonder why Robby Musso used that approach to tell this part of the story" or envisioning Tom and Don pitching the movie to Hollywood or Brian Goldner in a meeting with Michael Bay discussing this or that decision about the movie or Aaron Archer and his crew at Hasbro talking about the next series or pitching their new ideas to their bosses or picturing the Activision guys discussing parts of the game development process at their offices. The more people I meet, the more fascinated I become with the actual process behind this brand.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Transformers on that huge epic Star Wars scale. But that's not the formula that has made Transformers work for the past 23 years. So I guess I am being a realist. I don't consider that lowering my expectations. Transformers is a toy line. It will always be a toy line. Everything about the Transformers will ultimately be geared toward maintaining and/or increasing product sales related to the Transformers brand.

It is what it is. And that doesn't mean that it's a bad thing.

Yeah, yeah, but the movie still sucked. But I'm ready for it this time. I'll buy all my tickets for Wall-e (the new and already better Pixar film- Which will have much cooler robots. I know this because it's made by Pixar, not hacks) and go see the sequel having payed Pixar good money.

Oh, wait. Transformers is 2009... not 2008. (Remember, summer 2008, a movie better than TINO2 comes out).

Bring on the Bumble-pee lil' bitches!

I do so love how people are so quick to jump on the condemn or praise bandwagon, is it me or did everyone completely miss the "are in negotiations" part?

Perhaps the title of the thread is also misleading. They're not "announced", they're simply in "negotiations", all three could still be told to bugger off.

Or all three could be hired, who knows ... but clearly nothing is set in concrete yet. Doesn't seem to stop people though does it?

As for Ehren Kruger ... what a suprise, a lot of people didn't like his stuff yet I did. Personally I LOVED The Skeleton Key, thought it was one of the best thriller movies in a while. Scream 3 ... well it redeemed the Scream trilogy after the god awfully predictability of Scream 2.

It is IMHO that the Transformers Movie (Movie itself, Toyline, etc.) was extremely well thought out and executed.

The more I see the actual movie, the more I understand. Character development and all that would have been nice, but the overall plot of the story is what was most important. Which brings me to my next point: MEGATRON MUST STAY DEAD.

We cannot have some Jason Voorhees return, nulifying the whole purpose of destroying the Allspark. That'd be just stupid.

Besides, HASBRO has too much money to be made with new characters to introduce.

So with most of the original crew on hand to tackle this project, and the amazing fan outcry that influenced the first TF movie, Im looking foward to some crazy Autobot VS Decepticon action with more CYBERTRONIAN alt modes (That would be wayyy cool) along with a decent storyline.

just as long as they don't have the autobots reformat them selves, i'll be ok with any writers, even robert and that other guy. even if they did lie to me before. fyi i asked them if they would say masterbating in the film and robert said no.

Yay they are about to get started

I hope they can find better than "Legendary Cybertronian artifact on Ebay"!

Make it stop...

Just please make it stop.

These "writers" are bad, and damage/destroy what they touch. They have no idea what a story line is, nor a plot. How they got that far only shows that Hollywood itself needs a reboot before another film project is started.

Let's give them another chance to fix the mistakes they made.

Remember, when it comes to canon always ask yourself one question:
WWPD (What Would Prime Do?)

Return staff lessens the chance of the usual TF rehash, "no this is different from that" crap that has made me loose any and all interst in canon