'Transformers' Live Action Movie from DreamWorks? 432
mr_don't writes "Apprently, CNN is reporting that Dreamworks might be in talks with Michael Bay (who directed the bomb Pearl Harbor) to direct a live action Transformers movie. The article says: A November 17, 2006, release date has been set. Bay's credits include the two "Bad Boys" movies, "Pearl Harbor," "Armageddon" and "The Rock." Well, as a child of the 80's I must admit I am interested, but could the movie be directed by Robert Rodriguez instead?"
There is more than meets the Eye (Score:5, Funny)
Re:There is more than meets the Eye (Score:2)
Re:There is more than meets the Eye (Score:4, Informative)
Much, much more info here [wikipedia.org].
Cast (Score:5, Funny)
He could be made for that role.
Re:Cast (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Cast (Score:4, Funny)
Directed by.. (Score:5, Funny)
I dunno, Michael Bay could be more than meets the eye...
Re:Directed by.. (Score:2)
No, he's less. I've looked into his eyes. He's pure evil.
Re:Directed by.. (Score:5, Funny)
But then the main battle scene would be done as nothing but sound against a black screen, and most of the rest of the movie would be shots of Autobots refusing to talk to him.
Re:Directed by.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Directed by.. (Score:5, Funny)
I've killed a hell of a lot of robots to get to this point, but I only have one more. The last one. The one I'm flying to right now. The only one left. And when I arrive at my destination, I am gonna kill Megatron.
Re:Directed by.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Directed by.. (Score:2, Insightful)
Gems from Pearl Harbor:
Rafe: Danny, you can't die. You can't die. You know why? 'Cause you're gonna be a father. You're gonna be a daddy. I wasn't supposed to tell you. You're gonna be a father.
Danny: No, you are.
And:
Rafe: You are so beautiful it hurts.
Evelyn: It's your nose that hurts.
Rafe: I think it'
Re:Directed by.. (Score:4, Funny)
In fairness, they'd probably be acquitted since it would be impossible to find an impartial jury.
Team America Transformers (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Team America Transformers (Score:2)
It should be very possible (Score:2, Funny)
After I saw this movie [brucewerner.name] I knew this was going to happen. I just hope it doesn't suck, I'm damn protective of my transformers I had as a kid.
I have only six words.... (Score:5, Funny)
Old news (Score:4, Informative)
I'm mixed on this.. if its done right, it could be truly awesome...
Re:Old news (Score:2)
damn was it sad. VERY VERY VERY cheaply done and it shows. practically a still show with some cheap cgi. you know, the kind of thing that you'd expect to see done in a few mbytes flash file.
I guess they must love those robots.. because they got no lips to even try to lipsync!
Re:Old news (Score:2)
Quick guide to Transformers TV shows (Score:5, Informative)
Not quite. The projected release date has always been 2006. 2005 was just a date picked by the fans to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the first movie. On the web forum, Don Murphy mentions they were shooting for a summer 2006 [d13satellite.com] release. More information on the movie can be found on the TF - The Movie roundup [tfw2005.com] page. If the first movie is successful, they plan for Unicron to make an appearance in the third one.
Though many people do not realise it, over 500 episodes of Transformers have been made in their various incarnations.
Here is a brief rundown of the various Transformer shows that have aired in the last 20 years.
American shows
Transformers Generation 1 TV show [bwtf.com] (American written show, set during 1985-86 and 2005-06)
2) Transformers Generation 2 TV show (modified version of the G1 series that added an annoying 3D space cube animation.
Japanese only series
Transformers: Headmasters [digiserve.com] (Japanese). Available as an official or partial fandub.
Transformers: Masterforce [digiserve.com] (Japanese). Available in official dub or sub-titled versions.
Transformers Victory [digiserve.com] (Japanese series) Available as an official dub, fan dub, or subtitled.
Transformers Zone [digiserve.com] (Japanese). Available in subtitled or dubbed versions.
Though transforming robots remained popular in the East, the Transformers line was 'rested' for a few years.
The Beast Era
In 1996 the toy line was relaunched. After the disappointing sales of the Generation 2 series, vehicle modes were abandoned and animal forms introduced. Optimus Primal transformed into a gorilla and Megatron became a dinosaur. The Beast era was set years after the original series 300-1000 years, depending upon your source) and introduced two new factions - the Maximals and Predacons.
Beast Wars [bwtf.com] - The Autobots and Decepticons are gone and the Maximals and Predacons have made peace. This peace is broken by Megatron (a namesake, not the original), who travels back in time in an attempt to change the course of history. In most episodes he is thwarted by Optimus Primal and a small band of Maximals. The animation shows its age, but it is probably the most intelligently written TF show made (season 2, in particular).
Beast Machines [bwtf.com] - The Beast Wars are over and the Maximals return to Cybertron. They find that Megatron has captured the sparks (soul) of every Transformer on the planet and created an army of mindless drones called Vehicons. Best remembered for the strong religious overtones, huge explosions and scenes of the Maximals running away.
Japanese Beast series
While the US got the second and third season of Beast Wars, Japan received two spin-off series that focused upon other planets.
Beast Wars 2 [digiserve.com] (Japanese). Leo Convoy (lion) Vs Galvatron (dragon).
Beast Wars Neo [bwtf.com] (Japanese) - The Maximal leader, Big Convoy (a wooly mammoth) faces against the evil Magmatron. Unlike earlier Convoy/Prime toys, Big Convoy has a removable matrix in his chest.
Autobots and Decepticons return
Hasbro's initial plan was to create a followup to the Beast Machines series called Transtech. This would feature vehicle TFs with animal moulding. However, it was later abandoned and Hasbro made a deal
Sombody's Got A Bone To Pick (Score:5, Insightful)
P.S. Pearl Harbor wasn't a "bomb"--it was a bad movie that did very well at the box office. To suggest that it was a bomb is just plain silly [rottentomatoes.com]. Pearl Harbor was a plodding movie with a trite script and stilted acting that performed extremely well at the box office thanks to aggressive marketing and some pretty good technical work. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean you can go around claiming it failed miserably.)
Re:Sombody's Got A Bone To Pick (Score:5, Informative)
Y'know, if you're gonna troll, at least take the time to make sure your claims aren't completely wrong. [the-numbers.com]
Released in US: May 25, 2001 :$45,000,000
Total US Gross: $198,539,855
Production Budget: $135,000,000
Prints and Advertising Budget
Worldwide Gross: $450,500,000
Assume that roughly 50% of gross goes back to the studio, factor in things like DVD/Video sales and merchandise, and you've got a seriously profitable movie.
Wow. (Score:5, Insightful)
I expect a lot of explosions. Terrible dialogue. An incredibly bad mixture of CGI and reality, the likes of which hasn't been seen since the end of Air Force One.
All in all, this is a silly prospect. Shouldn't they be working on more interesting things? I'd suggest something but the news of a Transformers live action movie (which isn't really "new news") has left me incapable of thinking on an intelligible level.
Re:Wow. (Score:2)
"WHAT ABOUT ME MR PRESIDENT WHAT ABOUT ME"
That guy is a cunt.
Re:Wow. (Score:2)
Why bother? People go and watch it or rent it anyway because there is no competition. The MPAA supports bullshit movies with lame scripts and too much money spent because it's good for their PR campaign against the same people that watch their movies.
Who the hell would believe them if they claimed they were losing money on a movie that made $400 million dollars on a $1 million budget?
Umm... (Score:2)
Are you one of the fortunate ones who have not seen either of the Star Wars prequels?
Re:Umm... (Score:2)
Re:Wow. (Score:2)
this, like all other films, could go both ways. probably sucks but then again most films are not great.
Re:Wow. (Score:4, Informative)
Transformers BREAK DANCE (Score:3, Interesting)
You know, it could still be really cool and quite inexpensive...
...if they made it something like this [washington.edu]!
plus explosions of course.
oh yes.
Preview (Score:3, Funny)
here's the pitch clip [steakandcheese.com] that was shown by Dreamworks during the recent discussion with Michael Bay. apparently the studio want the film to be very different from Bay's style, which is good.
Hey! (Score:2)
Am I the only one (Score:2)
I knew this was coming (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:I knew this was coming (Score:3, Informative)
Only less Citroen C4 and less dancing.
The ad is here: http://uk.download.yahoo.com/ne/fu/oa/eurcncs1850
Los Hooligans (Score:3, Funny)
Ugh (Score:2, Funny)
The Movie Will Have Everything!!!!!!! (Score:5, Funny)
So, based on that resume, we can expect the following:
This will be the most incredible movie, EVER!
Re:The Movie Will Have Everything!!!!!!! (Score:2)
Re:The Movie Will Have Everything!!!!!!! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:The Movie Will Have Everything!!!!!!! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:The Movie Will Have Everything!!!!!!! (Score:3, Funny)
Comment removed (Score:3, Informative)
Which Generation of Transformer? (Score:2)
Pearl Harbor (Score:4, Funny)
Dude, Give Credit Where Credit's Due (Score:5, Informative)
Sign of the Times (Score:3, Insightful)
20 years ago, transformers would have been described as giant robots that transform into other things. Now CNN says they 'morph', depite the face that their name contains in it the word used to describe their shape-changing. What's worse is that the word 'morph' became popular because of the terminator in T-2, where it's used to describe something noticably different from what the transformers do.
I'll never understand the media.
Re:Sign of the Times (Score:2)
MORPHFORMERS!!! CRAP FLYING IN THE SKY!!!!!!!!
Re:Sign of the Times (Score:5, Insightful)
morph: To be transformed
I don't know why you think it's a sign of the times that the media is using synonyms.
Re:Sign of the Times (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Sign of the Times (Score:2)
Re:Sign of the Times (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Sign of the Times (Score:5, Funny)
Now there is an idea. Amidts these giants, Megatron is simply some tiny robot with a napoleon complex.
Re:Sign of the Times (Score:3, Funny)
It simply receeds over the horizon, duh. Weren't you paying attention?
Now, the interesting part is that it's the same desert horizon, regardless of where they're actually at.
So in short, your answer is: Over the horizon, in the desert. That's where the trailer goes.
Re:Sign of the Times (Score:2)
This is old news (Score:3, Informative)
http://www.transformerland.com/transformers-the-m
Why do I say it's been around for months? Because they have already secured the voice of the ORIGINAL Optimus Prime! Not that crappy one on the new cartoons, the ORIGNAL voice. The TRUE voice of Prime !
Shockwave (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Shockwave (Score:2)
Rodriguez is not an option. (Score:5, Informative)
And AFAIK, it works kind of like a union thing, the major studios only hiring directors from the DGA.
Rodriguez will no doubt have little trouble finding work... but expect it to be via indie studios.
Re:Rodriguez is not an option. (Score:4, Informative)
So Rodriguez dropped out of the DGA. That move cost him the opportunity to direct Paramount's sci-fi adventure A Princess of Mars. (The union forbids non-members from signing onto projects already in the works at a member studio.) He can, however, make movies independently and distribute them through a studio. His friendship with Bob and Harvey Weinstein, who headed Miramax but split from Disney this week to start a new company, practically guarantees he will continue to direct movies.
So it looks like the old having-powerful-buddies thing will still happen for Rodriguez. Sure, it won't be as good as it would if he was in the DGA, but who knows.
follow the sweet scent of money (Score:3, Insightful)
Get (Score:2)
Too late (Score:3, Funny)
Rodriguez? (Score:2)
The "Bomb" Pearl Harbor? (Score:5, Informative)
From boxofficemojo.com [boxofficemojo.com] this is the breakdown:
Pearl Harbor:
Production Budget: $140 million
Est. Marketing Costs: $70 million
Domestic gross: $198,542,554 (44.2%)
+ Overseas gross: $250,678,391 (55.8%)
-----------------
= Worldwide gross: $449,220,945
So... it cost $210 million to make and market the film, it took in $450 million from the box office ALONE (not including the millions that selling tv rights brings, DVD/VHS sales, pay-per-view spots), and I'm sure the producers are really crying about this "bomb" - crying all the way to the bank...
Re:The "Bomb" Pearl Harbor? (Score:2)
Est. Marketing Costs: $70 million
Damage to the reputation of the writters , the director and the actors : Priceless
Seriously i can not be the only person in the world sick to death of remakes and live action versions
(im still pissed off what with what they did to ga
I don't blame... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I don't blame... (Score:2)
Robert Rodriguez does not make flawless movies. I loved i>El Mariachi and Desperado but Once Upon a Time in Mexico was just really silly and boring, despite all the action.
I do not agree with you on the H1/Ferrari car chase in The Rock. Look at the chase again now, ha
Re:I don't blame... (Score:2)
Better Director (Score:2)
there will be boobs in this movie.
"Live Action"? (Score:2)
Why Is This Nessesary? (Score:2)
Hollywood rewrites tend to be trite compacted affairs, dumbed down for the censors. They almost invariable bastardise and demean the material they base themselves off. Go ahead mention the Lord of the Rings. I have
Please please please.... (Score:2)
The Obvious Issue (Score:2, Funny)
The submitter used a colon after a verb; clearly, this is the more important issue at hand.
Someone set up us "the bomb Pearl Harbor" (Score:2)
Did the movie bomb? (Fared poorly at the box office?)
Was the movie da bomb? (Good, eg critically acclaimed?)
Did they bomb pearl harbor? (historically accurate!)
This better not be stupid (Score:2)
"Pearl Harbor" a bomb? (Score:2)
It's number 60 on the ALL-TIME domestic takes, and number FIFTY-TWO all-time worldwide.
But you read on rotten tomatoes that it was a bomb, and you're sticking to it.
Will it have the usual Plot? (Score:2, Insightful)
I assume I'm not alone in thinking the plot will be:
The
Live Action, My Shiny Metal Ass (Score:2)
Look like this? (Score:2)
No he cannot... (Score:2)
Don't forget, Hollywood is a Union Shop.
The Transformers Movie (Score:2)
Robert Rodriguez, king of overrated (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Robert Rodriguez, king of overrated (Score:3, Insightful)
NPR did an interview with him a couple years ago. He talked about how people were surprised that he did the Spy Kids movies after such fare as "From Dusk 'Til Dawn" and "El Mariachi" (sp?). He said he always wanted to do the Spy Kids type movies, the others were just to make the money.
My point is I see him as a kind of George Lucas, he made "Star Wars" and everyone thought he was going to be this great scifi director, when in fact all he wanted to do was make cheezy kids movies with puppets and "
Just bring back the original animated series (Score:4, Interesting)
They would be better off bringing back the original Transformers series using modern animation, and targeting it as scifi for adults rather than a silly cartoon for kids.
The original US Transformers generation 1 series had a more personal, emotional, sci-fi aspect to it than do the modern shows like Transformers Armageddon. Granted, it had its 80's cheese factor (like, how many oil rig workers do you know who wear hard hats all the time on land and write touchy-feely entries in their diary every day?) But it also had better-written dialog and stories that were delivered with a more serious and measured touch.
The newer shows have better animation and dropped the corny 80's feel, but in the process picked up the corny 90's feel and all the horrible attributes of those ridiculous american-anime shows like YuGiOh and DragonballZ: terrible dialog spoken too fast and characters who do nothing but boast stupidly at each other constantly about their superior fighting powers like it's a pissing contest.
If they would just return to the original writing, characters, and story, but do it all using modern animation (maybe CGI), and target it more as scifi for the 20+ crowd instead of as cartoons for kids, then I think they'd really have something.
Re:Just bring back the original animated series (Score:3, Insightful)
A movie about robots that transform into big rigs and boom boxes... aimed at adults. You lost me there, amigo.
Perhaps update Transformers to 21st century (Score:5, Funny)
I'm wondering if they'd make the following adjustments to the Transformers characters to really make the whole movie more "realistic" and proper to the 21st century:
IronChefMorimoto
News! (Score:5, Insightful)
-A
Old news (Score:3, Informative)
Re:The Rock! (Score:2)
come to think of it... that might be funny to watch on Robot Chicken. [adultswim.com]
Re:Live Action? (Score:2)
I'd almost like to see something in the style of Titan: AE. I know they didnt intend it to be a mixture of CGI and traditional animation, but I liked the effects.
This at least prompted me to make a new sig.
Re:Live Action? (Score:2)
OK, keep in mind that this is coming from someone who knows who Orion Pax and Alpha Trion are.
Get a grip.
Re:Live Action? (Score:2)
I agree that Beast Wars was pretty great, though. And yeah, the current shows are pretty much crap, though Armada did end up as a petty good PS2 game, with the collect-em-all power-up aspect
Re:Live Action? (Score:2, Informative)
That's because the original Transformers was really just a 22 minute advertisement for a cool toy line. There was only just enough actual plot to keep things moving. And it wasn't always that coherent. The CGI ones, while also being about the marketing, actually did have a strong plot in their own right.
Of course, that's just my opinion.
Re:RTFA (Score:2, Insightful)
For the sake of consistency, perhaps we could rewrite the rest of the article headlines: "Sun's Schwartz Attacks GPL" becomes "Jonathan Schwartz is President of Sun Micro?", "Star Wars Fans in Line... at the Wrong Theater" becomes "New Star Wars movie to be released?" and so on.
Re:RTFA (Score:3, Insightful)
The only people that would have known about it are the kind of guys that would stand in line for a Star Wars movie a month before it opens... at the wrong theater.
I mean hell, I watched Transformers as a kid and loved it, but why on earth do you assume a 30 year old man would keep up on a cartoon, much less that it's apparentl
Re:RTFA (Score:4, Insightful)
Precisely. From an fx point of view, it's more than plausible. Not only have commercials featured this, but some ameteurs have pulled it off as well.
I think you'd be surprised, though, at how many people are Transformers fans today. I recently visited an FX studio and was shocked at how many Transformers models they had posed around their cubes. (next to LotR figurines...) There are also quite a few people wearing autobot/decepticon insignias in various forms. (Hats, t-shirts, bumper stickers...)
I think a LOT of people would like to see a live-action transformers movie. Unfortunately, it would be VERY easy for the director to really fudge it up. The animated Transformers movie from the mid-eighties showed a glimpse of being 'more grown up'. (main characters dying, swearing, etc...) For the people I'm thinking of, it'd be great if they did something more matrue and sci-fi. They've got a great mythos to draw from, but those tards are quite likely going to try to appeal to kids. (Inspector Gadget, anyone? )
So, yeah, expect a lot of news about it followed by moaning and groaning.
No way for Bird (Score:2)
He pissed off enough people to get fired from three different studios when he was working "in the system"; I can't imagine the toy-based dictates of Hasbro being any easier to deal with.