Movie reviews: The Transformers (2007) – Part 18
November 21, 2009 by Optimus Prime
Filed under The Decepticons
My husband and I took our two children to see The Transformers Movie and we absolutely loved it. It was a great film and probably the best all around movie we’ve seen together as a family in a long time. My husband and I were able to share our memories of watching the Transformer cartoons when we were younger with our children and now they love the Transformers. The movie had the best special effects I’ve seen in a long time. I can’t believe they actually filmed part of it in downtown Los Angeles. This movie had action, romance, cars, robots, aliens, and things being blown up – it really had something for everyone. Even if you aren’t familiar with the Transformers from the 80s, you could still thoroughly enjoy this movie as it didn’t need any prior knowledge of the characters to keep up with the story line. Now my kids run around pretending to be Optimus Prime and MegaTron – names they barely knew before and couldn’t relate to us about. I would give this movie a 5 out of 5. I can’t wait until it’s available on DVD – I’m going to buy it immediately.
Movie previews: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – Part 1
August 11, 2009 by Optimus Prime
Filed under Transformers Movies
Transformers was THE movie everyone was talking about in 2007. There was certainly a lot of hype around, but was the film any good?
ACTORS
The film chose an relatively unknowny actor called Shia LaBeouf to head up the cast. He ws chosen because of his boy-next-door looks, and cheeky personality, which perfectly fits the script. He appeals to the girls because he has charisma, and yet the boys can also identify with him because he’s not drop-dead gorgeous. In all the interviews he gave (and there were hundreds!) he came across as a thoroughly likeable chap.
He manages to fly through the film with his humour intact, giving us the impression that although it’s completely weird to have a car looking after you, and robots chasing you, it’s still something he can cope with. In fact, it’s really rather cool!
The female lead is Megan Fox, who manages to avoid the trap of being the unwanted femal who gets in the way. She joins in the action, and gives Shia’s character (Sam) as good as she gets when they start the verbal sparring.
Superstar John Voight also makes an appearing, raising the kudos of the movie higher.
STORY
The story is inspired by the original comic books and the 1980s toy series. The main Transformer characters are Optimus Prime (the Autobot goodie) and Megatron (the Decepticon baddie) who are continuing a centuries-old battle. Anyone who has ever played with a Transformers toy wll recognise the screenplay from their own imaginations, as huge robots, the size of sky-scraper, battle above shrieking humans. Masterful!
SPECIAL EFFECTS
The special effects are, of course, what everyone is talking about, and yes, they’re fantastic. A combination of computer generated material and normal FX, the scenes have all been edited seamlessly together. One of the main acheivements of the film is that you can suspend your disbeleif, and really lose yourself in the action. Because of the way the movie has been writen and directed (by Michael Bay), and the way the characters react to situations, the whole story becomes believable.
The movie won several awards for the special effects. The Visual Effects Society awarded it awards for the best visual effects in an “effects driven” film and the “best single visual effects sequence” (the Optimus-Bonecrusher battle), and it was nominated for three Academy Awards.
Looking at the statistics, Transformers is is the thirtieth most successful film ever released, and was the highest grossing non-sequel movie in 2007. The film is rated 13, for the sci-fi violence, and the brief sexual allusions. I think this is rather over-the-top, and feel a PG would have been better. It’s a good clean fun, family movie.
I loved the action, and loved the humour between the two main charactesr. I loved the relationship that built between Sam and his car, and I can’t wait for the ext Transformers film to be released in 2009!
Gm Hoping for Transformers to Boost Its Sales
January 27, 2009 by Optimus Prime
Filed under Transformers News
Transformers, the Hollywood movie about two clashing robotic clans namely the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, has started showing already. Above all the excitement on the movie is the anticipation from a car maker which has taken a huge part on the film.
It is no secret that the cars used in the movie are models from General Motors the producer of high quality Saab vehicles with durable Saab air filter. And because of this the Detroit-based automaker is hoping that the exposure of its vehicles in the Hollywood summer movie Transformers will bring in more sales for them. Some of the featured GM vehicles in Transformers were the Chevrolet Camaro concept and the Pontiac Solstice.
According to Dino Bernacchi, GM’s associate director of branded entertainment, “You’re going to see these cars as the heroes. You’re not going to see the other actors. These cars are the stars‚ literally‚ in the movie.”
The Transformers movie came just in time when the automaker is looking for an effective medium to reach younger car buyers. And the movie was just perfect. GM is hoping that through Transformers it may be able to attract car buyers ranging from 18 to 34 year of age. The company’s huge presence in the film not to mention the accompanying promotional toys and video games has really helped in increasing awareness for GM’s brand of vehicles.
For the movie, GM will be spending millions in promotion and in marketing its Transformers tie-ins but refrained from giving details on the exact figures.
In the movie, the word Camaro was mentioned many times by various characters plus there were also close-ups of the Chevy, GMC, Pontiac, and Hummer logos which has given these GM brands quite an exposure.
David Koehler, a clinical marketing professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago said, “Product placement has never been so blatant‚ and the potential for a global platform to build brand awareness could not have come at a better time for GM. The younger demographic most likely to flock to the theatres is exactly what GM needs.”
Erick Merkle, Vice-President of Forecasting for Grand Rapids-based auto consulting company IRN Inc. has a different opinion. He said that there is no assurance that those who would see the movie will end up buying GM vehicles that is despite the fact that they might be impressed with the rides. He further added, “Keep in mind that some of the vehicles they’re showing are vehicles the youth market won’t be able to afford. But they do have a tremendous influence over what people who can afford those vehicles go to buy. You shouldn’t underestimate the influence of the youth. I don’t know a baby boomer out there who doesn’t want to be cool.”
Mr. Merkle has also pointed out that those who will go and see the movie are not there because they are concerned about free-falling market shares or upcoming union negotiations and these according to him should be considered by GM.
The Autobot stars of Transformers the Movie
January 4, 2009 by Optimus Prime
Filed under The Autobots
The autobots from the Transformers Movie (2007) – rock on!
Transformers the Movie Scene
January 2, 2009 by Optimus Prime
Filed under Transformers News
A Great scene from Transformers the Movie to start this blog!