Michael Bay: Transforming Transformers

Nice ending to the interview...

-It's what I keep trying to tell the fanboys is that this is gonna be so much more realistic than what they've seen in the past. But you know, they're angry about everything anyway."

Ah yes, the fanboys. Those gentlemen and ladies who remain so devoted to the Transformers that they fear any possible changes that might be made to the characters for Bay's film. The director is well aware of them, and he says he knew even before he took on the project that there was "a huge following for this thing." But still…

"I heard they want to protest at my office, but I won't be there," laughs Bay. "I'll be shooting!"-

I would almost like to call him an arrogant piece of trash for coments like that, but I won't. Even still, very uncalled for.

Anybody ever heard the old saying, "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything?" Would certainly keep him from coming off as a jerk. I mean, so what if people don't like what he's doing & piss & moan? He should be the bigger man & just ignore the ones that are just ranting(which I would say are probably in the monority, most people I've seen are simply displeased with the unnecessary changes) & just acknowledge the ones that are supportive.

Nemesis Cyberplex wrote:Nice ending to the interview...

-It's what I keep trying to tell the fanboys is that this is gonna be so much more realistic than what they've seen in the past. But you know, they're angry about everything anyway."

Ah yes, the fanboys. Those gentlemen and ladies who remain so devoted to the Transformers that they fear any possible changes that might be made to the characters for Bay's film. The director is well aware of them, and he says he knew even before he took on the project that there was "a huge following for this thing." But still…

"I heard they want to protest at my office, but I won't be there," laughs Bay. "I'll be shooting!"-

I would almost like to call him an arrogant piece of trash for coments like that, but I won't. Even still, very uncalled for.

Anybody ever heard the old saying, "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything?" Would certainly keep him from coming off as a jerk. I mean, so what if people don't like what he's doing & piss & moan? He should be the bigger man & just ignore the ones that are just ranting(which I would say are probably in the monority, most people I've seen are simply displeased with the unnecessary changes) & just acknowledge the ones that are supportive.

I could not agree more. Bay comes off as pretty arrogant and scornful.

I am not happy with a lot of the changes. I will not pretend to accept everything that is being handed to me. However, if the image changes, and the soul of the charachters, the mythos remains, not all is lost.

To me, sharapnel Megatron is unfortunate, and Waspinator/ape Starscream is also kind of a letdown. But the one key thing they should NOT f*** with, is the personality of the TFs themselves. To me, that is halloed ground.

I consider myself a casual, yet passionate fan. I have fewer than 30 TFs total. I own the original Rhino DVD TF:TM, and the 20th anniversary re-release. That's it.

I hang out at Seibertron.com.

But what irks a self-described "casual" fan is when someone changes one of the things that makes TFs a saga: the history.

If the charachterization for Jazz, as an example is way out in left field, I fear we have lost something.

If the history of the TFs, in it's many different tellings through the TV show, the US comics, the UK comics, DW and IDW universes don't honor the basics of the TF's history, I fear that we have lost yet another thing.

Here is hoping July 3rd/4th, we learn that they did not neglect the esence of what seperates a Transformer, from some generic giant Japanese mecha.

There are people out there who are obsessed with minor little details. Details casual fans, and regular movie goers normally don't really give a damn about. Those are the fanboys Bay is talking about. People so encased in their undying love from the franchise, any small direction change is a cause for outrage, and anger.

I know one guy who's refusing to see the movie because Jazz's headlights don't match the front of his alt mode. Even after we told him Jazz's alt mode isn't a stock Solstice, but a custom one modified Limited Edition Solstice, he still refuses to back down.

Nemesis Cyberplex wrote:I would almost like to call him an arrogant piece of trash for coments like that, but I won't. Even still, very uncalled for.

Anybody ever heard the old saying, "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything?" Would certainly keep him from coming off as a jerk. I mean, so what if people don't like what he's doing & piss & moan? He should be the bigger man & just ignore the ones that are just ranting(which I would say are probably in the monority, most people I've seen are simply displeased with the unnecessary changes) & just acknowledge the ones that are supportive.

So basically thousands of people can insult a person, but that's okay by your standards, but the minute he speaks up and gives a bit back you jump on his back?

You're right, he should have been the bigger man and ignored things. Just like you should have been a bigger man and not used this to criticise Bay. Perhaps he hit a little too close to home with his comments?

You won't buy the toys because you feel insulted?

XeroSyphon wrote:You won't buy the toys because you feel insulted?

Insluted by the way Bay is acting. I thought this "war" was long over, then he had to say stupid comments. I hate the toys, they're all ugly, why should I support that and buy them. This just my opinion, those who love the movie toys, go out and enjoy them, but I just don't care for them. Anyway, this is another topic, so later.

Doesn't matter, they would whine either way. They just want a reason to complain. Bay calling them on it, just a new reason.

He has more class than me. If I was him, with his money and clout, I'd whiz in the fanboys' faces. He has the power to do so, yet doesn't abuse it. What a class act!

You know, good point... you don't hear George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Alex Proyas bitching about fans. Because, heck, they don't interact with fans at all.

I can't remember a movie that's been this open with this many members of the production crew. That communication remained even after stuff started leaking out and was bashed all over the place. And the war's never been over, there are still people who are going as far as to throw personal insults at Bay because the Optimus Prime in his movie has flames on it. But yeah, he has no right at all to be angry.

Beyond coming off as an ass, it's not good business to insult people you're trying to get money from. And while I'm well aware that Transformers die-hards are only going to be a fraction of the box office for the movie, it's still unwise to give them any reason not to go.

Now that Bay is done with the film, his job should be either to keep quiet, or be a cheerleader for his work. Convince the old guard that yes, this ain't their fathers' Transformers, but that if they just give it a chance, they might see they like it after all. I don't think that would be too much to ask.