Michael Bay is awesome.

Other than the Bad Boyses...I am a fairly big fan of Bay's.
I'll never understand the hatred bandwagon for this cat
(nor will I ever jump on it.)

Blaine...

You are a good friend, but...

are you poo pooin' kidding me?!

Bay and Uwe Boll?!
​
 
Amen Callaghan, Uwe Boll really can't be put in the same bracket with anyone . That man defys all logic and sense of what is right in the world.
 
Brandon Rice said:
I generally cannot stand "Art" movies... and for us who want to be in the business of making movies, we have to balance our "artistic" side with our "what works" side... you gotta have a pulse on humanity.
for me, im not in the "business" of making movies. and in a mirrored position to your own, I generally cannot stand "Artless" movies. as a filmmaker, i'm in it solely (and perhaps "soully") for the art. i only care about two things when making a film: the friendships that are forged within the small community of my cast and crew, and entering into a collaborative, creative endeavor that will hopefully reveal something about ourselves -- whether that be in regard to our emotional, intellectual or spiritual lives. i'm not in it to make money. I have other much more profitable avenues for that. i'm in it to learn and to share. not to entertain. not to sing and dance. not for the magic tricks. we have more than enough options available to help us look away from ourselves. maybe too many. i don't want to look away. i don't feel a need to escape. and in doing Q&A's at screenings of my films, i've learned there is an audience out there that feels the same way. this reinforces my desperate want to fill that need, to make that contribution. for me, to try to appeal to a broad audience would actually suck the humanity right out of what i'm trying to do. just my 2¢ [/soapbox]
 
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Well, the only director that I have seen that fits the bill for crossover between art and action is Clint Eastwood. Now there's a different direction to the conversation. He makes the studio a ton of money, does action and art, gets the most out of his actors, comes in under budget and wins academy awards.
 
Zak Forsman said:
for me, im not in the "business" of making movies. and in a mirrored position to your own, I generally cannot stand "Artless" movies. as a filmmaker, i'm in it solely (and perhaps "soully") for the art. i only care about two things when making a film: the friendships that are forged within the small community of my cast and crew, and entering into a collaborative, creative endeavor that will hopefully reveal something about ourselves -- whether that be in regard to our emotional, intellectual or spiritual lives. i'm not in it to make money. I have other much more profitable avenues for that. i'm in it to learn and to share. not to entertain. not to sing and dance. not for the magic tricks. we have more than enough options available to help us look away from ourselves. maybe too many. i don't want to look away. i don't feel a need to escape. and in doing Q&A's at screenings of my films, i've learned there is an audience out there that feels the same way. this reinforces my desperate want to fill that need, to make that contribution. for me, to try to appeal to a broad audience would actually suck the humanity right out of what i'm trying to do. just my 2¢ [/soapbox]

That is a great take Cyg !

I love all films (I am a film whore junkie). I can say I love The Return of the Living Dead, Schindler's List, The Godfather and Aliens equally and for varied reasons

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Personally as a filmmaker, I feel I am still finding myself but the art in film has really spoken to me over the last year. I really want to express myself and communicate ideas
 
John_Hudson said:
Personally as a filmmaker, I feel I am still finding myself but the art in film has really spoken to me over the last year. I really want to express myself and communicate ideas
i'm sure that last bit is what will put the "John Hudson" in "a film by John Hudson". :thumbsup:
 
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Zak Forsman said:
for me, im not in the "business" of making movies. and in a mirrored position to your own, I generally cannot stand "Artless" movies. as a filmmaker, i'm in it solely (and perhaps "soully") for the art. i only care about two things when making a film: the friendships that are forged within the small community of my cast and crew, and entering into a collaborative, creative endeavor that will hopefully reveal something about ourselves -- whether that be in regard to our emotional, intellectual or spiritual lives. i'm not in it to make money. I have other much more profitable avenues for that. i'm in it to learn and to share. not to entertain. not to sing and dance. not for the magic tricks. we have more than enough options available to help us look away from ourselves. maybe too many. i don't want to look away. i don't feel a need to escape. and in doing Q&A's at screenings of my films, i've learned there is an audience out there that feels the same way. this reinforces my desperate want to fill that need, to make that contribution. for me, to try to appeal to a broad audience would actually suck the humanity right out of what i'm trying to do. just my 2¢ [/soapbox]

wow, that was a really inspirational post. Very well said. I one day hope to be able to be in your situation. (Making movies for the fun of it, not to make money)
 
AllAroundFilmLV said:
wow, that was a really inspirational post. Very well said. I one day hope to be able to be in your situation. (Making movies for the fun of it, not to make money)

Especially when your 'day job' is working on others artless, commercial projects to
fund your own :) Now THATS a great situation.
 
Greggl said:
Especially when your 'day job' is working on others artless, commercial projects to
fund your own :) Now THATS a great situation.

You could always be slopping hogs 14 hours a day in order to pay for it.
 
Piffer said:
Everybody has a right to their opinion. But those guys definitely suck.

An opinion without a logical argument is not worth the same as an opinion backed up with a well thought-out argument -- I'm sorry if that goes against anyone's lovey-dovey daycare rules, but it's the honest to god truth. That being said, you should say you dislike their films, not "they suck!"

I must say I disagree with your blunt claim. Cameron has written directed some widely loved movies including Aliens, Terminator, T2, and Titanic. All of which had great theatrical runs. If that's not a good resume, I don't know what is. On the subject of Michael Bay, I don't go to his movies to see a reunion of estranged sisters, I go to watch **** blow up. Perhaps it's your expectations that don't match his movies or subject matter. Michael Bay could stand to look more into the thoughts of his characters, sure, but he's in absolute control of the look and feel of his movies -- actually I think he's more of a cinematographer than a director. It's unfortunate he doesn't have the same control over the marketing of his films, because that's what killed The Island. Mindless? Loud? 1-second cuts? Yes! It's action-cheese and I love it.
 
There's a difference between work and practicing our art for most of us.

For those lucky enough to get paid to practice their art, good for you!

For those noble enough to practice their art whilst scraping by.. kudos as well.

For those able to practice their art whilst skating on mom and dad's money or some outside source they didn't earn, I don't even want to hear it.

We're all in different positions to be able to make statements about artistic integrity is all I'm saying. I think someone who makes "artless" film and gets paid a ton isn't necessarily anything- and who am I to judge anyway. This person is obviously good at their "work" regardless of it's artistic merits and could as easily be making their own personal "art" far off in deep, dark, secluded places -for themselves- as the next guy.
 
Ming said:
We're all in different positions to be able to make statements about artistic integrity is all I'm saying. I think someone who makes "artless" film and gets paid a ton isn't necessarily anything- and who am I to judge anyway. This person is obviously good at their "work" regardless of it's artistic merits and could as easily be making their own personal "art" far off in deep, dark, secluded places -for themselves- as the next guy.
While I don't like Michael Bay, I'm not going to go so far as to say that he's not creating "art." It just may not be what I am looking for in art. I'm sure that he sees what he's doing as art. And with the wide definition of art, who is to disagree with him.
 
No matter what anybody says on this thread. If any of these "suck ass" producers/directors came to us and said they wanted to fund or produce or direct our film we wrote and made. I know 100% that nobody would deny an offer like that.

Anybody who denies it is a liar. Just my 2 cents... again
 
I'm with what appears to be the minority

I do not understand the hatred for Michael Bay

He does not try and be anything but what he is. His movies are big budget, action oriented, blowing things up spectaculars; pure pop corn with extra butter.

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What's the big deal ? Does it not fit my Elvis / The Beatles analogy ? I don't think Bay is trying to really say anything in film. He is just entertaining people. There is no crime is that.

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Bay comes from that Music Video maker mold; which although an important contribution to the world of cinema; it isn't usually one of high art. It's slick, over-polished, rapid cut candy.

Have any music video directors ever made anything film that was considered an important contribution to cinema history ?

Maybe Fincher ?
 
Michael Bay knows his audience, and he does a great job of entertaining them. I think he really cares about them and gives them just what they want. Bay is a summertime blockbuster filmmaker, he's not trying to release Transformers in December right before oscars. And I think he knows his limitations. He does what he does best, can you picture Bay trying to make Schindler's List?

I like The Rock. It's an awesome action flick, not as good as Lethal Weapon, but worth the price of admission.
 
finicher and a few other european and asian cinema directors. fincher is probli the better and still does videos.
 
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