RodThompson
Veteran
I did a search and I'm sure someone has already started a thread about it. So if anyone knows where it's at, you got 3 hours before I post my review to link it here!
rogar-BigGrin(DBG)
rogar-BigGrin(DBG)
Revenge of the Fallen
- Thread starter RodThompson
- Start date
Batutta
Major Contributor
I dunno, but this review on rottentomatoes is almost a masterpiece of negative opinion; "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" is an abject failure any way you spin it. It's heinously written. It's embarrassingly acted. It's snarkily directed by Michael Bay with his textbook superficiality at an all-time high. The action is conceived and presented as impersonal chaos, clunky and free of personal involvement. The comedy is a crime against the art form. The pseudo-melodrama is absurd, achieving the feat of simultaneously seeming both self-serious and disingenuous. The plot is a desperate death knell of hooey that can't be bought for a second because even Bay doesn't seem to buy it. Not only insensitive to race, ethnicity and physical disabilities, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" is just as appalling to the human population as a whole. Akin to an implausibly expensive fart, the film stinks to high heaven, permeates and spreads like an airborne virus, and has all the charm of gout. Early word is describing this woebegone fiasco as the next "Batman and Robin." Having seen both, Joel Schumacher has every right to protest the comparison.
Richard J. Johnson
Joystick Member
I just saw it. And it was basically Tranformers 1 with more robots. I mean it looked like they used footage from the first one.
I thought the plot was pretty easy to follow, but calling it a plot is questionable. I thought it was a humorless-blow-em-up-fest with no one being in any immediate danger at all.
I am one of the few that actually like Michael Bay movies but this one was not too good. I won't give too much away but there were a few "awesome" action scenes but after a while they all started to look the same. And the whole Jetfire scene was a waste of millions of dollars. and those scenes definately were expensive. They could have chopped that in half and still had been effective.
And those god awful twins were exactly as everyone stated. Offensive stereotypes. They were silly looking and they talked some red-neck jive lingo that was just stupid and pointless. Personally I found them to be more annoying than Jar Jar Binks.
This was the ILM show in the end. The robots look even better than before and Soundwave was beatifully rendered, although wasted (if you see it you'll see why) But he looked amazing. The Megatron-Starscream fued is displayed just like the G1 toon that I am familiar with. I thought Devastator was wasted as well. Looked great but he did not really do anything and went out real wack.
One thing for sure, is that there were some beautiful shots in the film, but he can compose a shot even if most of them are slo-mo and at dusk. Megan fox looked way too good for way too long. She wore white pants while jumping off of a roof, falling thru another roof, got up, ran out of an alley and was perfectly clean, make-up intact. Then all of sudden a few shots later she was filthy. It was like they said "sh!t, we forgot to make her dirty...wardrobe!"
Also there was a lot of random shots that were thrown in for no reason at all. The dog humping, leg humping, etc. Just pointless and not funny to me. And after previews, you will be in there for almost 3 hours so bring a Red Bull.
I say see it, just suspend ALL you know, and I mean everything and go into it like a 9 year old. and you MAY enjoy it.
But it is not nearly as bad as "Batman and Robin" and not even close to the worst movie I have ever seen. No matter what the critics say, this movie will be huge. It's pretty much critic proof.
I thought the plot was pretty easy to follow, but calling it a plot is questionable. I thought it was a humorless-blow-em-up-fest with no one being in any immediate danger at all.
I am one of the few that actually like Michael Bay movies but this one was not too good. I won't give too much away but there were a few "awesome" action scenes but after a while they all started to look the same. And the whole Jetfire scene was a waste of millions of dollars. and those scenes definately were expensive. They could have chopped that in half and still had been effective.
And those god awful twins were exactly as everyone stated. Offensive stereotypes. They were silly looking and they talked some red-neck jive lingo that was just stupid and pointless. Personally I found them to be more annoying than Jar Jar Binks.
This was the ILM show in the end. The robots look even better than before and Soundwave was beatifully rendered, although wasted (if you see it you'll see why) But he looked amazing. The Megatron-Starscream fued is displayed just like the G1 toon that I am familiar with. I thought Devastator was wasted as well. Looked great but he did not really do anything and went out real wack.
One thing for sure, is that there were some beautiful shots in the film, but he can compose a shot even if most of them are slo-mo and at dusk. Megan fox looked way too good for way too long. She wore white pants while jumping off of a roof, falling thru another roof, got up, ran out of an alley and was perfectly clean, make-up intact. Then all of sudden a few shots later she was filthy. It was like they said "sh!t, we forgot to make her dirty...wardrobe!"
Also there was a lot of random shots that were thrown in for no reason at all. The dog humping, leg humping, etc. Just pointless and not funny to me. And after previews, you will be in there for almost 3 hours so bring a Red Bull.
I say see it, just suspend ALL you know, and I mean everything and go into it like a 9 year old. and you MAY enjoy it.
But it is not nearly as bad as "Batman and Robin" and not even close to the worst movie I have ever seen. No matter what the critics say, this movie will be huge. It's pretty much critic proof.
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dvpixl
Veteran
As long as it's based off of the cartoon, this is as good as it gets. I dont know what they really want out of a movie like this anyway...
but really the problem with these movies are always too much too soon and not enough relevance to a human story.
Then again I think Ang Lee tried to do that with the Hulk. Boy was it a success....
but really the problem with these movies are always too much too soon and not enough relevance to a human story.
Then again I think Ang Lee tried to do that with the Hulk. Boy was it a success....
pathfinder
Well-known member
Michael Bay = Mayhem. Mayhem that brings him millions. Many pretend to hate him but would love to be him.
It's a Michael Bay Film. So, I expect to see lots of shouting, screaming, running, scrambling for cover, shooting, killing, exploding, blowing up of huge stuffs with huge fireballs...and in between throw in a super sexy chick somewhere in there and millions of young guys with lots of hormones and adrenalin junkies will open up their wallets which for sure will equal hundreds of millions of George Wahingtons for Mr. Bay, Mr. Spielberg, and the studio.
It's a Michael Bay Film. So, I expect to see lots of shouting, screaming, running, scrambling for cover, shooting, killing, exploding, blowing up of huge stuffs with huge fireballs...and in between throw in a super sexy chick somewhere in there and millions of young guys with lots of hormones and adrenalin junkies will open up their wallets which for sure will equal hundreds of millions of George Wahingtons for Mr. Bay, Mr. Spielberg, and the studio.
RodThompson
Veteran
Totally disagree with filth, in that I thought this movie was a definite improvement on the first. Yes, there are more robots (42 in all) and yes there is plenty of Bayhem, but they expand the story massively to encompass more the mythology of the Transformers (the 6 primes). Anyone who liked the first one will love this one. True, the twins are the Jar Jar binks, but they're about half as annoying and a twice as funny as that Gungan water-head.
The fights scenes are MUCH clearer. In some spots, it looks like the CGI guys actually stopped using motion blurs...but it didn't look fake, just easier to follow. Plus, the fights are much more elaborate and better than part one where it's like..."Hey, I'm going to throw you, then shoot at you, and then we'll shoot at each other some more, k?" Bumblebee proves he's a badass more than once, and Prime is just vicious...all there is too it.
The middle lags for about 30 min until they get to Egypt and then the last 45 min to an hour of the movie is one long action sequence. Not long as in, "Okay we get. You're fighting...someone die already..." But moreso in the sense that your eyes are getting molested and you don't want to get up to pee.
In the end, I walked out hella-satisfied...but I'm a popcorn fodder junky!
The fights scenes are MUCH clearer. In some spots, it looks like the CGI guys actually stopped using motion blurs...but it didn't look fake, just easier to follow. Plus, the fights are much more elaborate and better than part one where it's like..."Hey, I'm going to throw you, then shoot at you, and then we'll shoot at each other some more, k?" Bumblebee proves he's a badass more than once, and Prime is just vicious...all there is too it.
The middle lags for about 30 min until they get to Egypt and then the last 45 min to an hour of the movie is one long action sequence. Not long as in, "Okay we get. You're fighting...someone die already..." But moreso in the sense that your eyes are getting molested and you don't want to get up to pee.
In the end, I walked out hella-satisfied...but I'm a popcorn fodder junky!
pathfinder
Well-known member
Robot SMACK DOWN.
Let's get ready to RUMBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBLE!
Let's get ready to RUMBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBLE!
Nektonic
Veteran
LMAO!!!
My only interest in seeing this is for the robot mayhem and effects. Other than that I'm sure it will be a travesty just like the first one was. Then again, I kinda felt similar about Star Trek. Great effects, production design, a cool cast but horrible plot and pacing. I'm just going in expecting a big dumb movie like Independence Day or something along those lines. Its like Twinkies, Ho-Ho's, or fast food burgers. Sometimes they just hit the spot.
Supposedly there is a live action Robotech movie in the works. So the thing of it is if that ever sees the light of a projector and is well written, expertly directed, and overall narratively compelling, then wouldn't it be embarrassing to be Micheal Bay, Roberto Orci, and Alex Kurtzman on that day?
True, that's the only good thing about this movie.
Robbie Comeau
Como's back. back again
Megan IS a fox!
Great film. Any one have an effects breakdown, or a BTS with the editors/CGI artists?
Outstanding.
Robbie
Great film. Any one have an effects breakdown, or a BTS with the editors/CGI artists?
Outstanding.
Robbie
tmnt
King of Australia
Just got back from the cinema, Transformers 2 in one word; forgettable.
The first movie kicked ass but I felt pretty underwhelmed by this. Robots fight here, next scene, more robot fighting, rinse repeat several times. A few slow moments could have helped out the movie, it all lent up feeling a bit pointless.
Still, you definitely should see this at the cinema - maybe I'm having a bad hair day.
The first movie kicked ass but I felt pretty underwhelmed by this. Robots fight here, next scene, more robot fighting, rinse repeat several times. A few slow moments could have helped out the movie, it all lent up feeling a bit pointless.
Still, you definitely should see this at the cinema - maybe I'm having a bad hair day.
RodThompson
Veteran
WTF did you expect? Braveheart?
It's an action with a reasonable story. All pop-fodder is forgettable.
It's an action with a reasonable story. All pop-fodder is forgettable.
DEPTH OF PHIL
Well-known member
i went to see Public Enemies, sorry the marketing put me off, it was so "Burger King"
I liked the first one though,
Cheers
I liked the first one though,
Cheers
Nektonic
Veteran
Well................ I had fun watching this implausibly long and expensive fart. Does it beat Terminator Salvation? Heck no, but I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. Went initially for the effects and Bayhem, but actually had fun with the whole thing sans several bits of dumb and distracting humor. I liked it more than the first Transformers too.
SPOILERS
Of course there were some really stupid elements like the Twins and their ghetto attitudes, the old English Transformer that had a cane, the humor at times was distracting or overdone, etc... but overall those elements didn't ruin the film for me.
I understand that they need to give the Autobots and Decepticons some individuality, and some of the tricks they used like the yellow car (Bumblebee?) that LeBeouf's character had not being able to talk but he uses sound samples, that's great. Or just getting a great voice behind the character like Optimus Prime's voice, or Hugo Weaving for Megatron. That makes complete sense to me, but giving some of the other ones anthropomorphized elements like the Twin's looking ape-like, the old one with a cane and British accent, and the little remote control truck one that had sort of an Italian, even goodfella voice was too over the top (I guess he was a rat).
My biggest gripe was that Optimus didn't have more brawl time with Megatron and the Fallen at the end. Especially since the other fight scenes he was involved with where pretty bad ass. One thing that was a huge relief was John Turturro's character, who annoyed the hell out of me in the first film. This time he was fine, and I actually liked how he was written and portrayed. Also, there doesn't seem to be much space for them to go with a third film now that the Decepticons seem to be pretty much defeated.
END SPOILERS
Besides some cool action scenes and effects it was forgettable, but then who sits and thinks about the great insight into human existence that was illuminated upon in Independence Day or Cloverfield the next day after seeing it? Not that a movie should get a pass because it was not meant to be complex or intellectual, but the whole point of this film was to be a roller coaster ride.
Now could they have went all out like Christopher Nolan did with The Dark Knight or like the Wachowski Bros. did with The Matrix and delivered both an excellent narrative and some insane action/effects? Sure, and if they did I'm sure it would be extremely successful and could possibly become a classic sci-fi/action flick. It's too bad that more filmmakers and screenwriters don't think long term like that, but are focused on the short term goal of a big box office haul. Its not that they have to sacrifice box office results either, look at Terminator 2 or Star Wars.
In the long term the studio will make way more money when they can create a compelling and well told high concept story with great spectacle and thrills. Hollywood thinks that is too much of a risk. It is easier for them to go the safe route. As long as the box office and initial DVD sales are good, then they're happy. Just the nature of the business I guess.
As I mentioned a few posts upwind, there is supposed to be a live action Robotech movie in development right now. Who knows, maybe that will get made and will have not only amazing effects, but a really compelling story and great characters that equate to a memorable film in all facets? If that were the case, it could make more money at the box office and on DVD than Transformers. Then years later the studio can continue to make substantial profits on it through sequels and DVD/Blu-ray re-releases because people will still care about it. Or it could be just like Transformers 1 and 2. A fun movie that makes a profit, but years later no one is that interested in it.
Good golly, this whole post was way more than a Transformers movie deserves to be analyzed.
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Mattykins
Cute Member
I thought it was fun. If you walk in expecting something highly complex storywise, something to make you cry or otherwise pull at you emotionally, then I would ask you - why did you see it in the first place knowing Michael Bay's films?
Typical Bay film. I thought it was fun and entertaining. Something that I find with DVXuser reviews is that everyone describes the film as "I would have done it..." or some derivation of "It could have been..." People who see hollywood films see them for entertainment, not because they are looking for some perfect example of the idea of film a lot of people here have. They [viewers] don't care what camera it was shot with, the originality of the story, the perfect story structure...they care about entertainment value and bang for buck.
(PS. They did use some footage from the first one. The shot I noticed was of the black Predator UAV. Same shot from the first one)
Typical Bay film. I thought it was fun and entertaining. Something that I find with DVXuser reviews is that everyone describes the film as "I would have done it..." or some derivation of "It could have been..." People who see hollywood films see them for entertainment, not because they are looking for some perfect example of the idea of film a lot of people here have. They [viewers] don't care what camera it was shot with, the originality of the story, the perfect story structure...they care about entertainment value and bang for buck.
(PS. They did use some footage from the first one. The shot I noticed was of the black Predator UAV. Same shot from the first one)
Mark Harris
Pain in the ass
If you are complaining about people analyzing movies more than the average viewer, then I would ask you - why are you on a filmmakers' website?
Something that I find on DVXUser is a lot of 20 yr olds in bumblefuck nowhere towns who like to act all Hollywood, and throw on a condescending tone, because only they know how the world really works.