Movie reviews: The Transformers (2007) – Part 1

“Transformers” heavy on action, light on story

Longtime fans of the “Transformers” toy and cartoon series were outraged when it was announced that Michael Bay would direct the live action adaptation. Those fans had no need to worry. After seeing his vision of “Transformers,” it is obvious that no one but Bay could have made this movie work.

The cartoon series always had the simplest of plots, so animators could cut to the big fight scenes and allow kids to hurry out and make their parents buy the toys. It’s only fitting that a faithful adaptation of a cartoon would feature a thin plot heavy on action and adrenaline-pumping excitement but light on actual plot. “Transformers” fit the description of a Michael Bay film perfectly before it was even made.

Bay has a talent for crafting visually vibrant action sequences, almost always at the expense of character development (see “The Rock” for a best-case example and “Pearl Harbor” for a worst-case example). With this film, Bay gets to show off his skills at getting gigantic computer-generated robots to smash into each other. Every trick in his book-overdone explosions, heavily reliance on slow motion, quick edits-is on display here. Again, the plot in his film is a meager formality; for Bay, he earns his money on the action sequences, and with “Transformers,” he earned himself a big payday.

The plot focuses on the civil war between two races of living robots from the planet Cybertron. The beings from the planet get into a huge fight over control of a cube called the “Allspark,” which is composed of pure energy. The destructive Decepticons, led by the evil Megatron (voiced by Hugo Weaving) want to use it for nefarious purposes, while the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime (voice of Peter Cullen) want its power for good.

The war causes Cybertron to be destroyed and the allspark to be thrown across the universe. The transformers track the cube to Earth. The Decepticons arrive first and attack U.S. troops stationed in Qatar in order to infiltrate military software and discover the cube’s whereabouts.

Meanwhile, a nerdy teenager named Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) discovers that the beat-up old Camaro he just bought seems to be coming to life. It is actually the Autobot Bumblebee (voiced by Mark Ryan). Bumblebee is on a mission to locate Sam, whose grandfather first encountered the cube in 1895. Bumblebee, Optimus Prime and the Autobots must now find the cube and destroy it before the

Transformers Energon – Megatron Raid 2/3

Movie reviews: The Transformers (2007) – Part 42

Can anything be bigger than this?

“Silence is golden.

These are the infamous words that are plastered over every theater screen in the world at the beginning of a film in many different languages. However when a film production agency finally gives fans what they have wanted for years since its conception in the 1980’s, “silence is golden” no longer exists. “Transformers” was an animated series and line of toys created in 1984 about robots that could transform into different objects such as jet planes or trucks. There has been one animated series and now the most incredible representation of this phenomenon known to man. A classic tale of good versus evil with the Autobots as the protectors and the Decepticons as, basically the evildoers. Can’t get any better than that. So how do you present an 80’s television series to a brand new generation twenty years later?

You relate to your audience (Shia LaBouf your main character and Megan Fox as the car smart, gorgeous girl that is out of his league), you have incredible special effects (utilizing a large team of experts including David J. Barker of Spider-Man 3 and Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End), amazing sound (Peter J. Devlin of Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, sound mixer, among others), well known producers (Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg) and an action genius at the helm of the whole crew (action director Michael Bay). The audience won’t be able to keep quiet. The story begins with a narration in a very familiar voice (the fans remember him as Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots), then quick changes to Qatar, where a military base is established. This is where the a strange, large machine starts hacking into the US computer system and scanning top secret documents. While the government is chasing their tails about what country could create such an advanced piece of metal we see a high school get his first car and the steering wheel contains that one symbol that is decipherable by admirers from back in the day: the Autobots icon. And so the story goes on: the main character freaks out because his car has a mind of its own, the girl ends up learning more about the robots with the boy, and the robots start to fight out in the open in order to take possession of the Allspark, a very complex life giving cube. A very workable storyline. Shia LaBouf creates a believable character that spouts laughable quips here and there, very realistic reactions for the kind of situation he is thrown in. And honestly you can’t stop paying attention to him. You see Josh Duhamel as a captain who, in the beginning, is just trying to get home to his wife and new born child, but that sub story is forgotten after you see Bumblebee change for the first time. When you take a concept like Transformers and try to create subplots, there’s no point because all they’re going to be is forgotten and discarded due to the grandeur of robots in disguise’.

In a nutshell the revamped rendition of this classic is unbelievable, with such visual clarity that you forget you’re watching something that was made up and start thinking that this could possibly happen. You will never walk by another car again without thinking that at any minute, it could transform into a human saving fighting machine that has understood our form of language through the “world wide web”. From the moment you finish watching the movie, everything will be “more than meets the eye”.

A Must-Love Movie : Transformers

Transformers are robots from the planet Cybertron divided into two powerful groups namely Autobots led by Optimus Prime and the Decepticons led by Megatron. The story began during the Cybertronian Civil War. When all transformers search for the Allspark, a large cube of energy that grant eternal life to mechanical objects and where the source of of all Transformer’s lives. And finding out that the cube landed on the planet, Earth. Later it was discovered by the U.S Government and the built a Dam making it as a research facility for it. Megatron later on found out that it was there on earth but as he went to earth, accidentally he crash-landed in Artic Ocean and was frozen. Years had passed and he was found and brought to the same facility where Allspark is located. Autobots were dispersed throughout the entire universe. Optimus Prime’s group traveled to earth in search of the Allspark. However, Decepticons follows. Transformers can change in an instant from the body of common objects usually vehicles to physically grown robots.

There are many characters of Transformers and i apologize that i cant include them all because Transformers change quite several times since it was first aired decades ago.

Here are the lists of the Transformers The Movie(2007) directed by Michael Bay:

Autobots

Optimus Prime-

Peter Cullen voices Optimus Prime. Disguised as a Peterbilt truck. Leader of the Autobots, dedicated himself to stop the Decepticons wherever and whenever they attack.

Bumblebee -

Mark Ryan voices Bumble Bee. Disguised as a 1976 Chevrolet Camaro, and upgrades into the 2009 model.

Cliffjumper-

1982 Porsche 924. Impulsive. Optimus Prime usually gives him advice about precaution.

Ironhide-

Jess Harnell voices Ironhide, a modified GMC TopKick C6500 . Autobot weapon specialist.

Ratchet-

Robert Foxworth voices Ratchet. Medic of the Autobots. Transforms into Search and rescue Hummer H2.

Jazz-

Darius McCrary voices Jazz. Second in command of the Autobot forces. A modified Pontiac Solstice in disguise.

Arcee-

Female Transformer once a member of a squad lead by Bumblebee on Cybertron.

Prowl-

1979 Nissan 280ZX Police Car . He operated Optimus Prime’s right-hand man in early episodes.

Decepticons

Megatron-

Hugo Weaving voices Megatron. Decepticon leader. Optimus calls Megatron his brother.

Starscream-

Charlie Adler voices Starscream, Megatron’s second-in-command. A Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor jet in disguised.

Frenzy-

Reno Wilson voices Frenzy. Decepticons spy who transforms into a boombox, and eventually into a mobile phone.

Barricade-

Jess Harnell voiced Barricade. Disguised as a Saleen Mustang police car.

Bonecrusher-

Jim Wood voices Bonecrusher, he attacks Optimus Prime along the highway to Mission City. Disguised as a Buffalo H Mine.]

Blackout-

Transforms into a MH-53J Pave Low III helicopter with his minion Scorponok.

Transformers became the highest grossing movie in the year 2007 all over the world. The film won number of awards and nominated several times for Academy Awards. Children and Adults were really into it and proven to be the “Must-Love Movie” of the year worldwide!

‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ Mikaela Traps Wheelie

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Theatrical Trailer) Latest with Megatron

Transformers trailer

Decepticon Profile: Starscream

In the 2007 Movie the writers agreed that Starscream would maintain his negative attitude and rivalry against Megatron. Although Starscream selfishly escapes when he notices the Decepticons had been demolished by the Autobots, the movie doesn’t do a good job of showing the rivalry between the two. Following Transformers tradition, Starscream can turn into a full powered jet. In this case he turns into a modified F-22, being bigger than the average Decepticon. Starscream’s Jet characteristics give him the ability to make huge jumps when he’s in robot mode. He can also use any of his two wings as deadly swords against his enemy.
 

Decepticon Profile: Scorponok

Megatron – Decepticon Leader

Megatron is the the Decepticon’s leader, a Decepticon robot who transforms originally into a Walther P38. Very much like his main rival Optimus Prime, Megatron is given wide exposure in the Transformers Universe due to his role as the evil leader he is. “Megatron” is a name made by the combination of two words: Megaton and Electronic. In the beginning, Hasbro, the Transformers toy manufacturers had issues with the name since it implied danger, sounding like some kind of lethal weapon. However it was agreed for the name to remain Megatron since the leader of the villains just had to reasonably have this destructive denomination.

Megatron is practically flawless and notably uncompassionate. His transformation is that of a really powerful cannon gun that can blast off an entire block with just one shot. Furthermore, he can also merge his weapon to some type of black hole, leveraging its power even more. Such force is so strong that he can use it to destroy a small planet. This skill is almost never employed by Megatron because it absorbs too much energy and stamina leaving him an easy target to his opponents.

Additionally Megatron has a barrel weapon on his back and he can also transform his right hand with an energy cannon. If that isn’t enough, he can also blast electrical charges from his fingers and laser rays from his eyes. Strategically, Megatron can also reprogram computers with a special device from his head. When transforming into a Walther P38 he can assume many sizes making it possible for another Decepticon or maybe even human-being to use him as a hand weapon. In one exciting episode he maintains full size and connects to Starscream, making him a major threat for the Autobots.

Curiously there have been some special events in which Megatron shows his appreciation for fairness in combat and sometimes even shows himself honorable. His utterly complex relationship with Optimus Prime is just one example of such traits. Both leaders show the utmost respect for one another, maybe because they know each other so well. Megatron certainly seems to enjoy his complex relationship with Optimus, sometimes taking it to such extents as to help Optimus with life threatening situations. In his mind, it’s him and only him who can put an end to Prime, leader of the Autobots. It’s been said that the two could be considered best friends if it where not for such diametrically opposing points of view.

Megatron’s technical specifications state that he has no weakness at all. However, he is not invincible and can be beaten by his enemies. Due to his massive powers and abused confidence Megatron always seems to miss an important detail in combat, often causing him to retreat his troops from combat. A key factor contributing to the majority of his losses is his poor and harsh relationships with his own comrades. Megatron’s
top achievement is to conquer Cybertron and to accomplish this he must conquer it at all costs, even if that means the massive destruction of other Transformers.
 

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