More than meets the eye: Anticipating the release of the Transformers movie

The moment all of us 80’s kids have been waiting for is almost upon us…the release of the Transformers Movie! This big screen adventure started as a cool toy back in 1984 produced by Takara and sold in the U.S. by the Hasbro toy company. Soon after, the toy sparked into a cartoon phenomenon and even had a feature-length movie called “The Transformers: The Movie”.

The premise of the cartoon and movie was that two divisions of transformers, Autobots and Decepticons, fought for control of their home planet, Cybertron. The Autobots were considered the good guys, while the Decepticons were the enemy. Using their unique ability to morph into different modes of transportation, these two opponents were in constant battle with each other. Now we can look forward to these two foes meeting in movie theaters.

Directed by Michael Bay (Bad Boys) and written by Roberto Orci (Mission Impossible III) and Alex Kurtzman (Legend of Zorro), it should be interesting what happens. The plot of this 2007 Transformers movie, due for release on July 4, involves the two races led by Optimus Primus (Autobots) and Megitron (Decepticons) taking the battle to planet Earth. The main question posed by this feud is the possible annihilation of Earth in the process.

CAST

Sam Witwicky- Shia LaBeouf

Mikaela- Megan Fox

Captain Lennox- Josh Duhamel

Maggie- Rachael Taylor

USAF Master Sgt. Epps- Tyrese Gibson

Keller- Jon Voight

Glen- Anthony Anderson

Agent Simmons- John Turturro

Banachek- Michael O’Neill

Optimus Prime- (voicePeter Cullen

Megatron- (voice) Hugo Weaving

The way Internet Movie Database has presented the plot outline for this movie has me worried about its integrity. It seems like the movie will be based on a few human characters on Earth with not so much a focus on the Transformers themselves. Additionally, this movie is bound to be primarily made up with Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) which often comes off as hokey. I suddenly have visions of 2003’s “Hulk”. I guess we will have to wait and see however, but either way I’m sure it will be #1 in the box office. Past generations that have grown up with the Transformers and a new generation that is into science-fiction action movies will all be flooding theaters this fourth of July.

Video games reviews: Transformers: The Game (Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, PS3)

Video games reviews: Transformers: The Game (Wii)

From the block buster hit Transformers: The Movie, Activision brings Transformers: The Game to the Nintendo Wii, as well as other platforms. A war rages on earth between the Autobots and Decepticons, a battle between good and evil. Allowing you the gamer to decide which side you wish to fight for. Which ever side you swear your allegiance to you be put into essentially an open world. Where you can roam the surrounding area or accept mission objectives. Do not mistake Transformers version of a free roaming environment with the likes of Grand Theft Auto. Your progression through out the game is extremely linear. You will be assigned one new mission upon completion of the previous one. Although, most of the surrounding environment is interactive, allowing you pick and hurl items around. There is little satisfaction to be had with terrorizing the local inhabitants.

This all fails in comparison with the weak control system of the game. Transformers is a third person shooter using the analog stick on your nunchuck moves you bot around,

and the IR is used to aim. This is where most of my grumbling comes from in this game. Often, if an enemy is behind you it will take sometime before you will be able to turn a full 180 degrees and return fire. A major problem for a game brings plenty and fast action.

Transformers also proved to be a very shallow game. Missions eventually become boring and repetitive, shoot this blow up that. All without ever really changing how you have to play the game. A few things like bonus content or trying to find 100 energon cubes, provides a little more depth to the game. However, with the problems in controls and a lack luster story line, the same old recover the “Allspark” “protect the world” theme. I could only imagine why anyone would want to play this game other than to just beat it and be done with it.

Game Play Score: 6/10

Controls ruin what could have been a very enjoyable game. IR controls are very sluggish in responding to movement

Graphics Score: 7/10

The game looks pretty good in 480p with 16:9 wide-screen. Cinematic look great and the open worlds look pretty decent.

Audio Score: 6/10

Boring music from the movie and no use of the Wii Remote speaker makes the audio experience a dud.

Creativity/Innovation Score: 5/10

Transformers makes little use of the Wii controls. Waggle to throw a punch, point to shoot. both feel unresponsive and have been done better by other games.

Replay Value Score: 5/10

Bonus content, pictures and images of old transformers, does not make up for a lousy battles/missions that become boring and repetitive real fast.

Final Score: 5/10

A playable and passable game but I would not recommended it to anyone other than those die hard fans of the Transformers series.

Film Review: Transformers (2007)

First off, I’m not a fan of director Michael Bay and second…I’m not a fan of Michael Bay. His films are mindless exorcises in human endurance that are easily forgotten right after they’ve been watched. The few good parts of his films can never make up for the other two hours that I have to endure to get to those parts (can anyone say Pearl Harbor or Bad Boys II). That being said, the mega budget Transformers is not entirely bad, it’s just not all that good either. The saving grace of the film comes in the form of Shia LeBeouf (hot off the heels of this year’s surprise hit Disturbia).

LeBeouf plays Sam Witwicky, a young man, who in the tradition of most teenager films, is trying to do everything he can to earn a new car from his father which includes trying to sale personal items of his famous grandfather on EBay. Little does he know one of his grandfather’s items holds the key to the location of a secret weapon that brings a race of war-like robots out of hiding – The Decepticons, who want nothing more than to use the weapon to destroy the benevolent Autobots, who want to save mankind from eminent destruction. When Sam finally gets his car it’s not long before he discovers its more than what it seems when it transforms into the enigmatic Bumblebee who only wants his help to stop the Decepticons from resurrecting the long hibernating Megatron (who crash landed on Earth years earlier).

With the help of an ensemble cast that includes Megan Fox, Jon Voight, John Turturro, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Bernie Mac, and Anthony Anderson, the Autobots have an army of help but will it be enough to defeat the Decepticons?

Transformers suffers from the same thing that plagues all of director Bay’s “epic” films which is the lack of a coherent story that actually involves all the characters in addition to misuse of “humor” that takes away from the film rather than helps it. It’s very obvious that LeBeouf’s character is meant to be the main character of the film but all the sub stories with the rest of the characters seem tacked on just for effect and never seem to go anywhere, especially in the third act when many of the actors become window dressing and nothing more to a plot that has all the human characters take second stage to the onslaught of Autobot verses Decepticon carnage. Only LeBeouf and to an extent Fox’s character are given any substantial screen time and/or character development. This lack of tying everything together in a coherent manner is the same thing that plagued Bay’s Pearl Harbor and Armageddon. Also, the film repeatedly spends too much time on bit parts in the film meant to be funny or places of humor but they really come off as lame excuses at levity.

There are a few exceptional moments in the film, as is the custom with a Bay film, and the CGI and action sequences are some of the best offered in a summer blockbuster all year and at a fraction of the cost of such summer films as Pirates 3 (approximately $300 million) or Spider-Man 3 (approximately $250 million), Transformers (which only costs approximately $150 million) has some of the best moments I’ve seen all summer.

The biggest problem I have with a Bay film is that it never seems as if he’s ever getting better as a director. Even though each of his films seem to be on a bigger palette, it never seems as if he’s advancing as a filmmaker but rather remaining stagnate which means that with his next film I can be assured of one hell of a visual ride that won’t mean all that much and will be forgotten soon after first watched.

Megan Fox – A brief History and her career.

Amazingly a big number of celebrities belong to very poor background with a very low income levels. Megan Fox has to go through the same but she is the famous artist and model of the new era. We have seen her in different roles. She is an actress and model who have fascinated the world with her amazing beauty and sizzling personality.
Early Age and Family

Rockwood, Tennessee is the birth place of Megan Fox and she was born on May 16, 1986. Unfortunately she doesn’t belong to a very rich family and has grown up in very poor atmosphere and livelihood. She has one elder sister. Megan Fox has Irish, French, and Native American ancestry.
In the year 2007 , that means that Megan Fox was still 20 years old and she got engages to Brian Austin Green, the previous actor in the hit series Beverly Hills 90210. She is known that she has a thing for tattoos and her body has five tattoos on it, also a fan of Shakespeare where she tattooed a quote from “King Lear”. The quote means “We will laugh at (Fake Individuals). The wedding between Green and Fox is still not yet determined

Career
She started training of drama and dancing at just age of 5. She continued her training after arriving at Port Saint Lucie. Florida. She finished her high school there as well. After her high school she went back to Tennessee. She lived in Oak Ridge for six month and then started her acting career.
At the age of 13, her talent for dance introduced her to great opportunities to modeling world. Fox made her film debut in the 2001 film Holiday in the Sun as the spoiled heiress Brianna Wallace and rival of Alex Stewart (Ashley Olsen). In “Ocean Ave”, “What I like about you”, “Two and a Half Men”, and “The Help” from 2003 to 2004 are programs in which she appeared as Guest Actress. She was subsequently cast in her first recurring role in a television series on Hope & Faith, in which she portrayed Sydney Shanowski from 2004 until 2006.
She get the biggest appreciation when she performed the leading female role “Mikaela Banes” in the movie “Transformer”. “Transformer was the live-action based movie and her performance was amazing. Fox was cast in How to Lose Friends & Alienate People, starring alongside Jeff Bridges and Kirsten Dunst. Coincidentally, the character Fox will portray is that of a young Hollywood starlet getting her first taste of fame. The film will be released in late 2008.
Fox has appeared in a five page spread for the November 2005 issue of the popular men’s magazine FHM. She also posed for the March 2007 issue of FHM, the June 2007 issue of GQ, the July 2007 issue of Maxim, and the September 2007 issue of Arena. For more news and latest pictures visit http://www.megan-fox.mobi

Movie reviews: The Transformers (2007)

Transformers? No Thanks.

The Transformers were a line of toys that became popular in the early 1980’s onward, spawning a cartoon series, comics, and feature-length animated film in 1986. Known for their super-cool ability to transform into machines resembling Earth vehicles, the Transformers are an emblem of childhood happiness for many teen and adult males today.

My favorite Transformer was the almighty Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots (the good guys), who would transform into a red and blue semi-truck. Believe me, it was cool.

When I remember the Transformers, I smile with a bit of nostalgia and hear the catchphrase, “Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye”. Then a sharp pain stabs my heart as I remember my mom selling all the cool figures, including several Optimus Primes, at a garage sale for like a nickel each, when they could be now be worth hundreds of dollars. Thanks, Mom.

Now it’s 2007, and “Transformers”, helmed by blockbuster director, Michael Bay (“The Island”, “Armageddon”), is probably the most anticipated movie of the summer. Sadly, it sucks. It shall henceforth be remembered as one of the biggest letdowns of 2007.

Although, I’m not sure what I was expecting from a movie about giant, warring, shape-shifting, alien robots whose battleground happens to be our little planet, but I know I was expecting better.

The robots are really cool-looking and steal the show with their more-human-than-the-actual-hum an-actors behavior and conversations. And it’s fun to watch them destroy downtown Los Angeles in their confusing and chaotic battles, but a whole gaggle of quick-cut glimpses and interspersed cheesy one-liners cannot make up for a weak and pointless story.

At a too-long, two-and-a-half hours, “Transformers” drags along, wasting the comedic skills of Shia LaBeouf (“Disturbia”) and character acting of Jon Voight (“Pearl Harbor”) and John Turturro (“Mr. Deeds”) in boring scenes. And will someone tell me why Megan Fox is in this movie other than for being blatant eye-candy? Who’s Megan Fox, you ask? Exactly.

Unless you’re a Transformers-can-do-no-wrong kind of fan, you might want to offer a polite, “no, thanks.”

Transformers: more than meets the eye? I wish.

-

Rating: 2 stars out of 4

Grade: C+

Movie reviews: The Transformers (2007) – Part 3

The Transformers was, far and away, the best movie of 2007. In fact, The Transformers may very well be the best science fiction movie in the last decade. What is it that made Transformers so great? Simply put, it had the three elements that a science fiction movie needs to have in order to be great: high-quality special effects, a great script and amazing acting. Add to all of this the nostalgia factor, and you will wind up with a runaway blockbuster that is guaranteed to entertain for years to come.

Let’s take a look, first and foremost, at the special effects in The Transformers. The CGI in The Transformers is entirely believable. When you watch this movie, you don’t think you’re looking at an animated picture of a car that changes into a robot; you think you’re looking at the real thing. Take, for example, the scene where the Autobots are sneaking around out in the yard. You really believe that there is a three-story tall robot peeking into a window, and you really believe that the people inside aren’t going to notice him because he is being so stealthy. THAT is quality CGI at its best.

In terms of the script, The Transformers couldn’t have been any better. From the beginning, you actually care about the characters. You sympathize with them, and you want them to succeed. The plot holes in The Transformers are so small as to be insignificant. The action steadily builds until the end, when you’ve got a full-on, nonstop, in-your-face Autobot vs. Decepticon donnybrook.

Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox shine as protagonists. Fox manages to be sexy yet tasteful, and keeps the guys’ interest piqued through the film. The presence of veteran actors Jon Voight as Defense Secretary John Keller and John Turturro as Agent Simmons is a bonus to The Transformers, albeit an unnecessary one; LaBeouf and Fox (along with the voices of Peter Cullen and Hugo Weaving as Optimus Prime and Megatron respectively) carry this film along.

Topping things off are all of the references to the old Transformers cartoons. When LaBeouf says, “more than meets the eye,” the theater burst into cheers.

The Transformers earns 11 1/2 stars out of 10.

Transformers Extends Beyond Big Screen

General Motors Corp. is setting free four of its powerful cars to invade Paramount Picture’s upcoming summer action flick “Transformers.” The opportunity will be used by the automaker to promote its excellence in manufacturing notable product lines.

“We are the stars of this movie,” said Dino Bernacchi, the manager of branding and entertainment for GM in North America. “This put us right at the forefront and lets us showcase the leading designs we have out there now.” The largest American automaker partnered with Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures, the producers of the film of the popular Hasbro toy franchise, to have four of its cars as the film’s lead characters.

Chevrolet, Hummer, Pontiac, and GMC brands are prominently featured as ordinary vehicles that transform into gigantic two-legged, talking robots. They will be playing as heroes of the action flick. The Chevrolet Camaro plays Bumblebee, a main character in “Transformers,” which is set to arrive in theaters July 3.

The Camaro starts as a retro ’70s muscle car but transforms into the new model. The Camaro returns to Chevrolet’s lineup in 2008. The Camaro may not be having a Chevrolet Tahoe ignition coil, but it features lots of equipment to make it more than just desirable. Other GM lines with starring roles are the Pontiac Solstice, starring as the “autobot” Jazz; the Hummer H2 as Ratchet; and the GMC Topkick pickup as Ironhide.

The Detroit automaker has also offered a sale, through July 9, of select 2007 and 2006 models to the movie. The promotion, dubbed as “Transform Your Ride Sale,” is loaded with visuals from the action flick. The sale is supported by 30- and 60-second versions of an umbrella spot from Interpublic Group of Cos.’ McCann Erickson, Birmingham, Mich. The “Transformers” Director Michael Bay helmed the television promotion for the automaker. The promotion includes radio, print, gaming and online ads.

GM goes beyond the big screen to promote its product lines. With such a big role in the movie, Chevrolet, GM’s biggest vehicle division by unit sales, is taking the lead on co-promotions. The division is offering an online video game on Chevrolet.com that lets visitors create an autobot from several of its other models and then wage war against visitors.

Additionally, Chevrolet is heavily touting the effort with “transforming” banner ads on science-fiction and gaming sites, where the GM division does not traditionally advertise, said Phil Caruso, Chevrolet’s promotions manager. “This gets us engaged with an audience who normally wouldn’t engage with us.” Chevy is also backing the online game in 40 markets with an in-theater spot. The game will continue “through and beyond the movie,” said Bernacchi.

Pontiac based much of its “Transformers” link with Maxim magazine. Maxim.com is now showing toymaker Hasbro’s first generation and current Transformers from the movie. Hasbro toy designer Aaron Archer explained on the web site why the first-generation Jazz character got changed. “The G1 version of Jazz transformed into a Porsche race car, complete with number and sponsor decals. For the flick, we kept him sporty, but went with a Pontiac Solstice,” said Arches.

Also, Pontiac and the menn’s magazine have also teamed for an online promotion at Pontiac.com, offering entrants the chance to go to the movie premier in Los Angeles and meet cast member Megan Fox.

Neither Bernacchi nor Caruso would disclose how much GM is spending for the promotion venture. But Bernacchi said that GM did not pay for the product integration, but the automaker did provide Bay with a pair of exceptional Camaros for the movie, as the new production Camaro will not be produced for about a year.

Is it better to watch movies in theaters or DVDs at home?

The question posed upon us today is it better to watch movies in theaters or at Home on DVD. My question is definitely in the theater, because nothing beats the experience watching an exciting, scary, action packed or funny movie on the big screen. The sounds of the action blasting from the speakers in THX surround sound. The last movie I saw at the theater was Transformers, and even though it wasn’t a great movie, seeing it on a fifty foot screen in a nice movie theater and seeing the beautiful Megan Fox up close and personal made it rewarding.

There are drawbacks to going to a theater, and I have to admit I rent DVD’s far more often than going out to movies, but that is my choice, and doesn’t necessarily make for a better movie experience (just a cheaper one). Movies at the theater are far more expensive. The last one I went to in Cary, North Carolina was $9, plus the popcorn and coke was another $10. Plus you have to fight traffic to get there, and you have to sit through about an hour worth of previews to get to the main event.

I would go to more movies at the theater if the quality was better. It seems like they don’t make movies like they used to. Maybe I am getting old, but the movies of my youth stand out as the best. I can remember waiting in line for an hour in the Summer of 1977 to see Star Wars in Norfolk, Virginia. The theater of course was jam packed, and the audience was totally blown away by the story, the special effects and the sounds blasting from the sides of the theater. I have many great theater experiences since then, seeing classics such as Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Titanic, The Matrix and many others. These movies would be fun at home too, but you do not get the “experience” that is seeing these awesome flicks in a packed theater.

Movie reviews: The Transformers (2007) – Part 2

This movie was definitely “more than meets the eye!” Sorry, I had to do that. In all seriousness, I was not overly enthused about seeing Transformers, but I am glad that I did. The movie was incredible, and I was very much into it.

The Acting:

Shia LaBeouf was great as Sam Witwicky, the loveable, nerdy guy who gets sucked into the Transformers’ world. Although he plays a nerdy character, he is cute enough that you want him to get the girl, Mikaela Banes (played by Megan Fox). It was refreshing to see a strong female lead. Megan Fox’s character was well developed. She knew about cars and could kick behind. I’d bet on her in any fight. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to act that convincingly when all you have is a blue screen to go by, but these two actors did amazingly well.

The Special Effects:

The special effects were incredible: lots of explosions and action. It was amazing what vehicles the Transformers mimicked: Porshes, Hummers, Helicopters…and wait until you see the main Transformer as a sweet Camaro. I can’t imagine any guy who wont love this movie, just based on the special effects.

Miscellaneous:

The soundtrack was all hard rock and fit well with the action scenes. The personalities of the Transformers themselves were well-developed. The Decepticons were so evil, they almost gave me goosebumps, and I felt as strongly connected to the Autobots as the human characters. The plot was very good, and the movie left no questions unanswered (but also left itself very open to a sequel, especially if you watch through all the credits). My only criticism would be that a few scenes could be edited. It went a little long.

Bottom line: Go see it, if you haven’t already!

Transformers 2 Why Spoil the Fun?

Transformers was the highest grossing movie of Summer 2007, third grossing movie for year 2007 and one of the best movies I’ve ever watched.

A highly expected sequel has been in production since May 2008 and is still on going. Supposed spoilers, pictures of movie sets and rumors surrounding the movie keep increasing. Everybody wants to know what is going to happen, what’s the plot about, etc.

What I wonder is: doesn’t watching leaked pictures, behind the scene footages and reading spoilers ruin the fun?

The thing is, if you already are aware of the best parts, you’ll have nothing left when the movie finally gets released! You wouldn’t be able to feel the excitement, surprise and intrigue because you’ll already know what’s going to happen. And if you’re the type that likes to share, you might end up telling people who rather wait for the official trailer to build the tension then watch the movie to finally satisfy their curiosity and totally enjoy it.

For those of you who would like to know the general setting, here is some info.

Transformers 2: Revenge Of The Fallen will be release June 26th 2009. Set your calendars Michael Bay is still the director and Steven Spielberg the executive producer; it will have a bigger budget than the first one ( >$151 million) which will enable Michael Bay to introduce characters and scenes which were rejected in the first one and better special effects and animation.

The two main characters made some buzz in the past few weeks:

Shia LaBoeuf, who plays the role of Sam Witwicky, was in a car accident on July 22nd in which he had two of his fingers crashed. He had to undergo a two hours surgery. Some say that Shia was driving under the influence, official report say that the other driver was to blame for not stopping at a red light. Luckily, no one was seriously harmed. The screenplay had to be re-written to accommodate his condition and avoid making it worse.

Megan Fox told GQ Magazine that she had a lesbian affair with a Russian stripper called Nikita when she was 18. But she insists that she’s straight. Just like in Transformers 1 she had to gain weight for the sequel.

Characters who will come back are: Captain Lennox played by Josh Duhamel, Sergeant Epps played by Tyrese Gibson, Agent Simmons played by John Turturro, Ron and Judy Witwicky (Sam’s parents and my favorites) played by Kevin Dunn and Julie White

New ones are Alice (Sam’s college friend) played by Isabel Lucas – She was the passenger in Laboeuf’s car accident but came out unarmed.  Graham (member of the United Kingdom Special Forces) played by Matthew Marsden.

Steve Tom and Nina Dobrey might also be part of the cast.

Bernie Mac had a cameo appearance in Transformers 1 as a used car dealer from whom Sam purchases Bumblebee. Sadly this great actor/comedian died on August 09th 2008 at age 50 from complications of pneumonia. I wonder if he would have been in the sequel had he been alive.

The plot is still unclear but there are numerous crawling the web. In other to keep the story undisclosed, it’s said that director Michael Bay would be releasing unreal ones to keep people off track.

Guess there’s only one thing left to do: wait. It’ll be worth it.

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