How many on here are tracking the Transformers film?

I understand that Michael Bay will be directing the film which stars, Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Jon Voight, Bernie Mac, Tyrese Gibson, Rachael Taylor, Amaury Nolasco and Kevin Dunn.

I think it will be a good film, I haven't been tracking it myself hence the reason for this thread. For any information anyone may have.

I've been keeping an eye on this one. Some pictures from the first week of filming can be found here(scroll down). The pictures include some shots of photos of a police car, tank and helicopter.

-Zavier

EDIT: Beast Wars was so much better than the original.  :P

There is a review of the script here. It gets top marks. Still, I think I've grown out of Transformers over the years LOL!

Transformers Teaser Site Launched here

-Zavier

I'm surprised there isn't more hype on the boards about this film. Afterall, it was one of the best kids shows of the 80's lol!

I'm surprise too, but it is still early days I guess

I'm not that hyped about this film. I've seen a few episodes of the original series and throught it was OK, but it really wasn't my thing.

Still, I'm looking forward to seeing this.

-Chris

Problem being that it was popular back in the 80's 90's and not as much today.

The Ninja Turtles CG film coming next year doesn't have much hype, only die hard fans know/care about it.

This will fit into the same category eventhough it's going to be a large budget live action film.

I think the Ninja Turtles film will bomb in the box office. I think this will do fairly well, but I don't know...

-Chris

I could never really believe in the Transformers, even as a kid. It just seemed like an excuse to see robots battling each other, with no purposeful story. It was always too far fetched for me. But when I read the script review for the film, it actually stirred my interest. Some of the imagery sounded cool, especially the part at the beginning with the robot pretruding through the ice. I will go and see this film when it comes out.

So is this film going to be targeting kids or adults... families or everyone? I'm guessing a big budget movie deserves the attention of anyone it can get. I may have to check this one out.

If I had to guess, I'd say this is targeted at 20-30 year old men.  I remember this show being around when I was about 10 or so, and it was huge.  I'd imagine they're looking to pull us back in.

I probably won't see this in the theater, but I'm pretty sure I'll see it at some point.

I'd much rather see a Thundercats movie.

I don't think they'll target it toward men, beause most of the time they try to make it so that old fans will like it and also draw in a younger and new group of fans...

Just what I think.

-Chris

True, but who's going to pay for those younger fans to go to the theater?

I'm sure they're trying to make it appeal to as many people as possible, I was just pointing out what I think is the "key" demographic.

I was really hoping to see something on that website, though.

I think the film will be targeted for everyone basically. Teenagers who enjoy seeing giant robots kicking each other's a**es, general action and sci-fi fans and, needless to say, fans of the TV show. It will probably do very well at the box office.

ComingSoon.net has some Transformers Set Photos & a Report, here

Quoted from Set Report Some of my co-workers were Army Medic extras and told me that Bumblebee looks AWESOME! They said that if he was to be stood staight up, he'd have to be at least 25-feet-tall. That's right, they have built a full sized Transformer! The crew member also informed us that this was the only Transformer that they have actually built, as the rest will surely be CGI.

-Zavier

I never did watch the TV show of this as a kid, and never really got into them anyways. But I thought this would be a good film. I have as yet to see the set pics, but I have read details and reviews of this so far and have come to liking it.

Aint It Cool News has the first pic of "An Autobot, Michael Bay Style". Check it out here

note:
"This is not a full body shot, but it’s clear enough to get a sense of the aesthtic and approach this new iteration of Transformers will sport."

-Zavier

Update: The image was removed at the studio's request.

-Zavier

The new Transformers announcement teaser trailer at the film's official website has been launched. At the site, just click "watch the exclusive announcement now" to view the clip in high-quality Flash format.

-Zavier

note: high traffic might make for a slow load.

update:  The server hosting the movie site is being slammed & people are being frozen out.

that actually looks pretty cool.  I didn't know that Speilberg was producing this, might actually be decent

The director of Transformers answers some questions asked about the teaser trailer HERE

-Chris

A leaked photograph of Optimus Prime appeared a few days ago. It was up at AICN for maybe an hour before Paramount lawyers caught wind of it. Once again, I doubt any studio spies are hanging around the rumor board, so I decided to post it.

I wonder if they are gonna have the same guys who did the voices in the cartoons do the voices in the movie, well at least the ones that are still alive.

and oh yeah, Optimus looks pretty Rad:D

Quoted from The boy who could fly I wonder if they are gonna have the same guys who did the voices in the cartoons do the voices in the movie.

It was annouced at Comic-Con that Peter Cullen (the original Optimus-Prime) will be returning for the new film.

-Zavier

Michael Bay has some footage on his blog from Access Hollywood who visited on set and caught some action. Shia LeBouf being attacked by part of a Transformer, and some pre-vis footage on a monitor over Bay's shoulder. Check it out here.

-Zavier

The teaser trailer to this movie is awesome. I can't wait to see it next year.

Here are some leaked Optimus Prime renders (tests) that have been censored.





-Zavier

p.s. These haven’t been confirmed as real but from what I've heard, they appear to be the real deal.

I thought the teaser trailer was pretty cool.
Having Peter Cullen voice Optimus Prime is great.  I was a Transformers fan when I was a kid and I'm going to pay 8 bucks to see this movie.  I just can't resist the temptation.

Update:

This picture was up for maybe ten minutes before being pulled. There were a few other pictures, but they were yanked so fast, I only had time to save one. Very impressive.


-Zavier

Michael Bay deserves some serious credit. This film could have easily turned into two hours of soulless computer-generated action. Luckily for us, he actually had his people build giant real-life transformers.

I wonder if we’ll see any of them on Ebay after production has wrapped?

-Zavier

I think this will turn out quite good.  I was a bit sceptical at first, but it looks like there is serious effort put into this.  I just hope the script is ok, I know it won't be great, but I hope that it is at least decent.

Quoted from Acroname I could never really believe in the Transformers, even as a kid. It just seemed like an excuse to see robots battling each other, with no purposeful story. It was always too far fetched for me. But when I read the script review for the film, it actually stirred my interest. Some of the imagery sounded cool, especially the part at the beginning with the robot pretruding through the ice. I will go and see this film when it comes out.

Were you born a 40-year-old?   ;D

Of course it's an excuse to see robots battling each other! Since when was that not an awesome premise for a film!

The only thing that could make this movie more badass would be zombies...

Autobots and Decepticons were revealed.  Here are the rosters:

Autobots: Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Jazz, Ratchet, and Ironhide.

Decepticons: Megatron, Starscream, Brawl, Bonecrusher, Skorpinok, Frenzy, Blackout, and Barricade.

I'm sad Soundwave won't be in this one.  I know a cassette player is really outdated, but that can be updated.

Bumblebee has got to be the worst Transformer ever.

Me want Grimlock!!!  Grimlock was freaking awesome.

Leaked designs for Megatron.





-Zavier

Zavier,

I hope that is a leaked rejected design for Megatron.  It looks like a Predator/Alien hybrid.  I expect to see something like that in the new AVP movie.

I like the classic look better.

Quoted from Rob S. I hope that is a leaked rejected design for Megatron.

Take a look at the third red box, the first words look like "final version". Anyway, in my opinion they look awesome. If Bay and his team strictly stuck to the original show, everything would be dull and repetitive.

-Zavier

Actually, when you look at the design and the red box, it does say "Final Version," but under that it says "Approved by: Michel Bay" and someone else and then has a box for them to check. There isn't a check mark, though, meaning it isn't approved.

Still, I think it looks sweat!

-Chris

how the heck does that turn into a gun, I can't really see it, but it does look pretty cool :D

WHOA! Hey guys, what the hell? The Tranformers script for this film was removed from SS!!

I always thought that was an early draft from the animated flick in the 80s but I read it and there was an I-Pod reference, so how's that possible? Is that why the script was removed? Because it had leaked?

If so, I will be very dissapointed with this film. Prime and Megatron only appeared towards the end and the rest of the autobots by the end of the 1st half of the film. I reckon this movie will probably suck badly...there was more dialogue with the humans than with the Robots.

I'm afraid this film will be bad.

I'm sure it was an early draft of the script for the film. It's probably gone through quite a few more drafts since then. I guess we can only hope that that was a rejected draft and that they rewrote it.

Still, I'm looking forward to this film no matter what.

-Chris

An early draft of Transformers has made another appearance on the 'net, again.  Written by John Rogers with revisions by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (in IMDB it has John Rogers as contributing only the story with Alex and Roberto as screenwriters).  Not sure how long it will be around, so grab it quick.  - Don

Hey, I heard the Soundwave in this script has been re-written into a Frenzy. Now, I don't really have much memory of Transformers, but wasn't Frenzy one those casettes that Transformed into little robots? If so, that'll suck, because he won't have eny of his smaller companions.

Besides, a recorder throwing CDs at people is just stupid. And then there's also a Tranformer iPod? Damn!

Also, why's Bumbelbee not able to talk? How does that contribute anything to the plot.

I really hope the script is going through some HEAVY re-writes right now.

Quoted from Nixon This picture was up for maybe ten minutes before being pulled. There were a few other pictures, but they were yanked so fast, I only had time to save one. Very impressive.

The first close-up look of a "real" Autobot or Decepticon.



-Zavier

Why are they making the robots real? Why aren't they using CGI to do it? Kinda strange.

-Chris

Quoted from FilmMaker06 Why are they making the robots real? Why aren't they using CGI to do it? Kinda strange. -Chris

Actually, Bay and his people only made one real-life transformer, Bumblebee (the one that is pictured). The rest of the transformers will be CGI. If you had a chance to read the leaked script, it sort of makes sense that they made Bumblebee.

-Zavier

A leaked pic, in fact, this is the first leaked film image. That transformer is Skorponok, leaping out of the Iraq sands after Tyrese, Josh Duhamel and the rest of their squad.


-Zavier

http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/transformers/

The new teaser is AWESOME. Those graphics look great.

Awesome trailer. Here is the link to see those gaint robots in Hi-Def.

-Zavier

Well the movie LOOKS good. Of course, it's Michael Bay so it has a 1 in 100 000 000 chance of actually BEING good. I read a couple of pages of the early draft up here and I wasn't very impressed with the corny dialog. We'll wait and see how it goes but at least we're guaranteed some kick ass action sequences and effects. Too bad about the almost inevitable lack of substance or heart.


Cheers, Chismeister.

USA Today has the first one-sheets. Optimus Prime and Megatron. Oh yeah, it was recently revealed that The Matrix's Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith) will voice Megatron. Enjoy.

Transformers look pretty cool. Some of the most complicated CG that ILM has ever done according to Michael Bay. Took like 38 hours to render one frame or something like that.


Cheers, Chismeister.

Quoted from FilmMaker06 I think the Ninja Turtles film will bomb in the box office. I think this will do fairly well, but I don't know... -Chris

heh ironically the film was #1 at the box office.... i've learned not to underestimate kids/family movies.

the trailer for transformers looks cool... but i have a feeling this is going to be like Armageddon...

a nicey shiney looking box on the outside that's completely hollow and empty on the inside.

That's every Michael Bay film.

I have hope for Bay though.  I thought "The Island" was better than most of his other works.  It was sort of like Logan's Run.  

And he's supposed to be directing Whitley Streiber's "2012: The War for Souls".
So maybe he'll start dishing out some better quality stuff now.  I hope!

Quoted from Just_Initials I have hope for Bay though.  I thought "The Island" was better than most of his other works.  It was sort of like Logan's Run.

Ironically, it's like the only Michael Bay film to flop at the box office. He makes a whole bunch of crappy movies and everyone sees them. He finally makes something decent and no one is interested. Now that really is irony.


Cheers, Chismeister.

big budget summer action movies (especially those with big stars) make lots of money regaurdless.... Tranformers may or may not turn out to be complete trash....

but it's still going to make a zillion dollars on opening weekend...and probably generate countless sequals.

Yahoo! Movies released these pics today.

Looks pretty damn good to me.

Some expensive special effects there I'd imagine. Anyone know the budget for this thing?


Cheers, Chismeister.

Transformers was original supposed to open on July 4th (a Wednesday) but has been bumpe up and will now be released on July 3rd. However, on the directors blog it says that there will be special night time screenings of Transformers on July 2nd.

Since when do studios release their films on any given day of the week? I thought it was like a rule tht you had to either release it on a Friday or a Wednesday.

-Rubix

They're nervous about Harry Potter. Let's face it, there is a lot of crossover between the two films, fanbase wise so they're kind of nervous. I'd be nervous if my movie were opening up against Harry Potter. DreamWorks just wants to get as many views for Transformers as they can before Harry Potter opens and it completely trounces them.

Transformers will still do well, but Harry Potter is Harry Potter.


Matt.

Quoted from chism Some expensive special effects there I'd imagine. Anyone know the budget for this thing? Cheers, Chismeister.

The production budget for this film is $150 million, which means that the advertising budget is gonna end up around 35 to 40 million dollars.

So this film will have to bring in around $290 million before it ever breaks even, because theaters take in about half of the gross.

-Rubix

Bonecrusher Vs. Optimus footage. Michael Bay has put up about twenty seconds of robot fighting on his personal website. Not the best quality but it still gives you an idea of what to expect.  

That looks pretty neat. It didn't blow me away, but it looks pretty neat.

Anybody get a look at the new camaro?  Looks like all the companies are starting to bring back the retro styling now, and I can imagine the cash brought in by using a car that's not supposed to come out till 2009.

Oh yeah, the fight looked pretty cool as well, but I'm still disappointed with Megatron.

What don't you like about Megatron?

I just wish they would have stayed closer to the source like they did with the rest of them instead of making it look like a giant can opener.

Wow, this movie looks great, but just like everyone else on this thread has stated. It's Michael Bay... Hopefully he doesn't trash it, but from the looks of that twenty second piece. Things are going fairly well.

I will hand over a few bucks to see this one in theaters.

-Ortega

My biggest problem is with Megatron, I always viewed him as a gun not an alien fighter plane.

I would have even been happy of they combined Megatron with Galvatron (yes I know they are technically the same person) and made Megs in to a huge plasma cannon