I don't get hate on the Transformers

"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake) 06/20/2014 at 14:13 • Filed to: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

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Brief rant here:

People be all like 'Transformers sucks, it's just a giant GM ad. They ruined my childhood memories'

Newsflash: The Transformers cartoons were just a giant ad for toys. Your childhood was a lie if you think otherwise

crowmolly > Jayhawk Jake 06/20/2014 at 14:19

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Jazz was a Martini liveried Porsche 935 voiced by Scatman Crothers. How can that not be awesome?

Jayhawk Jake > crowmolly 06/20/2014 at 14:36

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I'm not saying it wasn't awesome, but it wasn't whatever people seem to think it was.

Someone was complaining about the plot of the first transformers movie. The plot!

I remember there being an episode of the cartoon where the Decepticons steal energy from the Hoover Dam and turn it into energon cubes. Can't believe that didn't win an emmy...

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jayhawk Jake 06/20/2014 at 15:00

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My dad is one of those engineers who, if a movie defies even one law of physics or contains one logical fallicy, regardless of the genre he'll throw up his hands and stop watching.


Honestly, it's an action movie. Turn off the logical part of your brain and enjoy the explosions and boobs (and boob explosions). That's how I was able to enjoy the fast and furious series, transformers, and the more recent James Bond movies.

crowmolly > Jayhawk Jake 06/20/2014 at 15:18

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Product placement is everywhere these days. Movies, video games, etc. Transformers was no different. Look at the RX-8 scene in X2. Anything in i-Robot. Or go back to E.T. with the Reese's pieces. Toyota sponsored Smallville for a while. Dodge sponsors Longmire now, and has even gone so far as having the actors shoot commercials that look like part of the TV show.

And yea, they will re-hash anything popular from back in the day and take huge liberties in a lot of cases. Just the way things go.

I don't get the hate either. You can't stop the flow of $.

Agrajag > Jayhawk Jake 06/20/2014 at 15:26

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I've no problem with the new movies story wise. It's the shitting on the original for the sake of it that bothers me.

The beetle scene in the first one, which Michael Bay put in there as an FU just because he hates the beetle.

Then there was Jetfire:

It was announced he would be in the movie. "Yay!"

He is an SR-71 instead of cool space plane. "I'm okay with that. At least it is a cool plane."

He is depicted as an old incontinent Scottish man with a robot cane. "Fuck you Michael Bay."

The Revengel > Jayhawk Jake 06/20/2014 at 15:33

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Movies are all about expectations. If you're watching "Adult Entertainment" and you complain that the actor "Doesn't portray a believable office manager" then odds are you're watching the flick for the wrong reasons.

The same for Transformers.

Not to say there isn't bad "Adult Entertainment" or "Transformer Movies" but expectations make the review.

Lukkhe > Jayhawk Jake 06/20/2014 at 15:45

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the transformers look like shit in the movies that's why.

Jayhawk Jake > Lukkhe 06/20/2014 at 15:54

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In what way?

When they are cars or when they are robots? It's not like they looked that great as either in the cartoon

My point is I think people are being ridiculous. They put the transformers they knew as kids on a pedestal it never deserved to be on. It's like Kraft mac & cheese: as a child it's the greatest fucking thing in the world, as an adult it's bland fake food that you only eat because you can't afford Annie's

Jayhawk Jake > The Revengel 06/20/2014 at 15:55

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That's my point. People are going nuts about the transformers movies as if they are setting out to win Best Picture. They aren't, they are just fun action movies with a huge budget.

Jayhawk Jake > Agrajag 06/20/2014 at 16:00

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I don't know, I guess I look at it differently. I might agree with jetfire, but the Beetle I view as a sort of easter egg to the original. Sort of like the Witwicky name, or Soundwave being a satellite that shoots ravage down from orbit (seriously, that was the best way to modernize a walkman).

For as much shitting on the original as there is, there's plenty of nice touches with regards to it. Shockwave was properly badass in the 3rd one and I thought that was a nice modernization of his character, optimus getting to use the trailer as a gun cabinet was a nice touch. The feel of the characters is about right, Jazz was spot on, starscream as a bumbling idiot who wants to take over for megatron, lazerbeak in the 3rd one was an interesting take (and nice touch that at one point he was a CD player IIRC).

I guess I'm just too much of a fan to hate on it. I like the movies. I'm in the process of rewatching them all. I have a poster from the 1985 movie in my basement.

Jayhawk Jake > crowmolly 06/20/2014 at 16:02

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I don't mind product placement, it's a reality. But to say that the GM placement in transformers is terrible is bullshit, it's about as good as it gets. It's not like some awkward forced thing, it's just what the characters are.

The worst product placement I've seen was the BMW ad in White Collar. At one point last season Peter and Neal take a BMW out and they intentionally pause awkwardly for a better camera shot of the car and make some remark about how fun it is. Modern Family did that sort of thing recently too, the family gets home and they get out of the minivan and there's a totally forced 'I forgot how cool your car is mom!' with a long shot of the van.

The Revengel > Jayhawk Jake 06/20/2014 at 16:05

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True, but as pointed out (I think by you) these are the toys many played with as kids. And since we traditionally have a "What Was Cool When I Was Young Is The Coolest" attitude (see: Manual transmissions circa 1967 vs 2015 PDK argument) folks will be rather harsh.

Personally I'm not a fan of the last Transformer flick . . . but I have to admit it was fun eye candy!

But Batman doesn't need nipples and Optimus still doesn't need lips. Granted that's just my opinion.

Lukkhe > Jayhawk Jake 06/20/2014 at 16:14

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see!! those look great! i'll just go sit on my pedestal of ridiculousness with my cool looking transformers. you can keep the KD though

Agrajag > Jayhawk Jake 06/20/2014 at 21:37

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I seem to recall him stating in an interview, or maybe commentary, that he put that Beetle scene in because of his dislike for the car. Other than that and the Jetfire thing I have no issues with the movies. I agree with you about the rest of it though. Satellite Soundwave was indeed badass.

Maybe another gripe would be the designs are overly complicated, but that is an aesthetic opinion.

user314 > Jayhawk Jake 07/18/2014 at 15:08

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Hey man, think whatever you want about Transformers, but Kraft mac and cheese (especially spiral mac) is awesome, and I will tolerate no dissent!

Jayhawk Jake > user314 07/18/2014 at 15:52

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Do yourself a favor and get Annie's mac and cheese next time.

Or make your own, it's not that difficult

user314 > Jayhawk Jake 07/18/2014 at 20:18

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Ugh, if their mac is anything like Annie's other products, no thanks. Now, I have done both of Alton Brown 's recipes, and they're both great, but I like Kraft just the same.