Hi-Res images of the new Transformers, plus a little bitching from The Geek
Love it or hate it, the new Transformers movie is coming. I have mixed feelings about this movie and am trying to keep an open mind, but it's so friggin' hard lately to not be pessimistic.
Look, I am willing to let some things slide that I know a lot of you die-hard Transfans are pitching a hissy fit over. First of all, it's Michael Bay. Yeah, The Island was a stinker and The Rock wasn't fantastic, but they had some pretty good actiony blow-em-ups. Michael Bay can do actiony blow-em-ups and let's face it: Transformers needs good actiony blow-em-ups. It's not like it's supposed to be incredibly deep. TF is here to appeal to boys and sell toys. If you think otherwise, you're kidding yourself.
Second, they're saying it focuses a bit more on the humans than some people would care for. I can understand the worry, but if the movie was nothing than larger-than-life robots fighting all the time, it'd be more hokey than we already know it's going to be. Plus, it's got MF'n Shia LaBeouf, the absolute best child actor that has come out of anything having anything remotely to do with show business. I'll admit it, I'm a total fanboy for Shia. But damned if he doesn't deserve it. Go watch Holes or The Greatest Game Ever Played and tell me the kid isn't a phenomenal actor for his age. Those movies would probably be typical family-friendly pap if not for Shia. Instead, they are a crapton of fun to watch. But I digress.
Next, people are pissing and moaning about how the Robots In Disguise themselves don't look exactly like the original cartoon. For the love of Pete and Pete, nothing is going to please you people. Bumblebee isn't a VW bug? Not that big a deal. Optimus isn't a flat front cab? Where do you even see those any more? The flames are pushing it, but I can begrudgingly let that go too.
But that's where I draw the line. Have you seen the full-on character models for the robot modes? Sweet jeebus, they're ugly as hell. I get that they're not going to be exactly the same as the toon. Fine. I get it. But do they have to look so goddamned ugly? Giant transforming robots should look cool, not like something a Megazord ate, digested, and crapped out. Seriously, look at this:

I understand that they're trying to go for the "no change in mass" thing, but why even bother making a robot that changes from a truck if it doesn't even have the slightest hint that it used to be a truck? What's with all the unnecessarily intricate tiny pointy bits?
Go to this page and check them all out. Why is Bumblebee pitching a tent with his license plate? Look at Ironhide, the 4th one down. I bet you can't tell what he's supposed to be transformed from. You can see part of the GMC logo on him, so he's probably an SUV, but he could be a truck or a minivan. And look at that tangled mess of metal rods and sticks three below Ironhide. What the hell? That doens't even look like a damn robot. It looks like a bunch of paperclips bent out of shape. Is that what it's supposed to be? A paperclip Transformer?
I won't lie. I will go see this movie and try to be excited for it. I'm sure I'll enjoy the robot battles, but those goddamned ugly designs are gonna bug me the whole time.
BAH.




What say you?!