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'Transformers' had a human touch

argusleader.com — Alas, poor Optimus Prime. The children of the '80s knew you - a robot of infinite strength, and a most excellent big rig, too.

Who dugg this? Made popular Jul 5, 2007

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  • sixthplanet, on 10/11/2007, -3/+20Thanks for finding this. That was really a great, well-written article. It's true, Optimus Prime really was a kind of father-figure. This article has a very interesting analysis that I've never heard before. Good stuff.
  • cusoman, on 10/11/2007, -2/+18You got the touch! You got the power! Yeah!
  • pinkcherry, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11Jeez there has to be more girls out there like myself that loved the Transformers..I remember as a child playing around in the dirt reenacting robot wars.
  • blorc, on 10/11/2007, -3/+13It's a shame these characteristics didn't translate into the movie at all. Optimus was really the only Transformer that spoke at any sort of length. Everyone else had maybe 2-3 lines at most. I guess Megatron had a few more near the end when he was chasing Sam.

    I respect the opinions of those that enjoyed the film, but I just couldn't enjoy it. Normally I can write off a plot that has some holes or poor character development with it's packed with non-stop action, but we hardly saw any Transformers until 1hr+ into the film. When the action actually did take place, it was difficult to follow because of the quick cuts from the camera and the fact that it was difficult to tell who was who (aside from Optimus and Bumblebee) while in robot form.

    I think he should spent more time on the Transformers and Sam specifically rather than silly, pointless characters like the British hacker and black hacker, whose storyline I don't believe he even tied up. Even Mikaela was a bit of a pointless addition. Just far too many unecessary human characters and an overall focus on humans rather than Transformers.

    It could have been a lot better.
  • AzDraon, on 10/11/2007, -4/+13That was a long article, and I really don't understand what it was talking about more then the toy's themselves. But what the hell, I'm going to digg it for just talking about transformers anyway! To the frontpage with you!
  • 10001110101, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10I just bought the original movie a week ago. It has become my 2 year old's favorite movie. Although, there are more cuss words in it than I remember..
  • CurlyHayami, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9My eye did get heavy as Bumblebee was getting frozen..so yea I did develop an emotional connection on a human level to these bots.

    I held it together though-wasn't cry with the manly looking man next to me.
  • whatthefu, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7"Cartoon Network and Hasbro announce plans to develop a new cartoon for 2008 that imagines the "Transformers "more as superheroes and includes heavy doses of humor."

    That's going to fail I'll tell you right now.
  • skotski, on 10/11/2007, -1/+8Gee I loved the film. Then I went and read a bunch of criticism (here and elsewhere) and now I realize that in spite of my first impressions, it actually sucked.
    Seriously, I guess I wasn't looking for an airtight plot or character development. I went in hoping for a cool movie and saw a totally mind blowingly ***** cool movie. Not to mention that I went with my kids (7 and 15) who loved it too.
  • chrisbtig, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6Gotta love this quote by Steven Spielberg...

    "I was not a kid, and I loved them," Spielberg said when the movie was in pre-production. "I would buy "Transformers "toys for my kids, but then I would play with them in secret."
  • cloudyprison, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5I agree with what you are saying, but I still really enjoyed it.
    It could have been allot worse.
  • papachasa901, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4The infamous "Oh *****! What are we gonna do now?"
  • chubbybubba, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4The great thing about optimus prime was that he was a good guy.... and just that. Current Pop/movie culture today is so enamored with the "antihero" The tortured soul of the bad guy turned good etc.......You know what I mean... While I do admit I also am a fan of the "dark hero" it is nice to see the simplicity of hero's with white hats.
  • ronaldinho, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4It was better than expected. I really went for the CG (I never liked Transformers as a kid, and I never thought the animation was superb), but the storyline wasn't so bad either. A lot of places for laughs as well as the expected action. It's actually a movie that can appeal to a large audience. Not a bad movie for a date either. I guess I thought it was good enough because I had such low expectations for almost every aspect except the CG, which was stunning
  • lorisa, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5Optimus Prime sure wasn't a father figure to me - I had a raging crush on him, and I know other girls that did too. I think it was the voice...that and his leadership qualities. Hot!
  • franklinbluth, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I don't believe Prime swore at Bumblebee. The only "swearing" in the movie is an "Oh *****" line and a "damnit" by Ultra Magnus. Wait a second, nerd levels rising uncontrollably.... self destruct imminent.
  • djphatjive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I thought the movie was good. And for anyone saying they didn't have the right personality. Why bash Bay. He didn't write the movie you morons, he only directed it. Its like when people rag on Lucas because he can't write, Well he wrote all the movies and everyone loves the original ones better. But he still wrote them. Bay can direct, Lucas can write. They should get together.
  • inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3But unlike old Yorick, Optimus Prime is literally returning from the grave (after being killed off in the 1986 animated film) to entertain a new generation, courtesy... Another POSER writing about transformers. As we all know, Optimus was raised back to life after the movie.
  • jsballardx, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I would rather be boiled alive in piss than see Andy Milonakis anywhere near the Transformers.

    What the hell is wrong with you?
  • blorc, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2*EDIT* Aussie hacker. Sorry, got my accents confused.
  • Majora26, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I liked the movie. And after reading this article, i do understand it a bit more. There really is more than meets the eye...
  • inactive, on 10/11/2007, -4/+6I thought the movie was great.

    I was a child of the 80s/90s. I watched the cartoons, read the comics, had the toys, learned to draw them, etc.

    But I don't have the same qualms as the "purists" because I understand the medium. When things do not translate well in Live Action w/CG then you need to make adjustments.

    I'm glad that the movie didn't lose it's humor behind the massive effects scenes.

    Casting was great with the exception of Anthony Anderson. I just couldn't see him as a "l337 h4x0r". I would have rather seen a child prodigy code-kid a la Andy Milonakis (comic relief) to deliver the same lines and keep it's believability. Same with the blonde aussie girl. Overall each played a perfect role for what they were casted.

    Great film!!
  • iceperson, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I could see your argument if you weren't aware who the characters were already, but I didn't need much "character development" because I already knew who they were (at least the ones that matter.)
  • pinkcherry, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Who wouldn't have salacious fantasies about Optimus Prime....
  • Misanthrope, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I can't imagine you'll ever enjoy a movie...

    ...ever.

    I mean, Christ...just try to relax and have fun once in your life.
  • pmsyyz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I had no idea that Jim Shooter thought up some of the Transformers backstory. No wonder it is good. His Valiant line was the best before he was ousted.
  • Javlington, on 10/11/2007, -0/+130 seconds in the credits, you see Starscream fly off through Earth's atmosphere.
  • blorc, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Oh God, please no.
  • WSTONEMAN, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3But he did "returned from the grave" in the 3rd season, with a 2 part episode called the return of Optimus Prime.
  • franklinbluth, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1A Bay and Lucas love child movie? I'm scared...
  • saranya21, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1great article. i enjoyed the movie buy yeah some more character "personality" from the transformers would have been nice
  • cusoman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1There are support groups for people like you. Lighten up, it's human nature to find meaning in everything we do and this article is no different.
  • blorc, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1They may have played perfectly for what they were cast, but my question would be whether or not they needed to be cast at all. It seems to me it would be preferable to exclude those characters and devote more time to Sam and the Transformers. I agree that making some adjustments might be necessary, but I disagree with how/what he made them.
  • etx313, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Owned by the non-notification notification department.
  • ill0gical, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Amen brother. And sequels will be had.
  • mrkmrk, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2ASL PLZ
  • ill0gical, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1No, actually. You're the only one.
  • veeshy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1wtf? he referred to prime being killed off in the movie, but he was revived later on in the g1 series
  • daveisfera, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Ya, I remember how big of a controversy it was because of Optimus Prime swearing at BumbleBee and such.
  • pinkcherry, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Ha..26 F LA , so sorry but I am married ;)
  • mos6507, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1There wasn't much Batman in Batman Begins either. It's really more of a setup for the sequels.
  • hurben, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1A giant wookie civil war!
  • in2deep, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1He did have that voice of guidance....more than a father but a flippin General!!
  • inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Haha perhaps. Obviously we would be "acting" lines from the same script rather than "being his normal retarded self"
  • hurben, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Why did everything the cube gave life to, have to be evil?
  • Dustin00, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1All I know is I have no idea what happened in that film. The directing was so bad -- the closeups, blurry-speed, and when in robot form you can't tell the two sides apart all add up to "I have no clue how this movie ended."

    Jet fighters shot Star Scream (I think), he transformed back into a jet, and then was never seen/heard from again. I'm at a much bigger loss as to what happened to the other Decepticons.

    It's really sad, because the script was good. The plot was good. The characters were good. But I just have no clue what happened. :-(
  • essayu, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0I liked Bay's film ok but no transformers film will ever be as great as the original animated masterpiece from 1986. Check out these action sequences: http://sethunger.blogspot.com/2007/06/transformers-movie-1986-top-5-sequences.html
  • Sledge420, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0I really wish pop articles would check their crap. I distinctly remember watching the old movie and seeing Optimus Prime die...I also distinctly remember that in subsequent episodes after the movie was released, he was resurrected from the dead, repaired by a Quintison of all things and took up the Autobot Matrix of Power from Hotrod (then Rodimus Prime) to combat a computer virus that caused all of the Transformers infected to act in pure chaos.... It was a good episode. Nice article, but it's too obvious that the author doesn't know what he's talking about.
  • inactive, on 10/11/2007, -4/+3This movie should have been named "Plot Holes: The Unfinished Adventure." I wanted to like this film but the last half of the movie was pure junk and completely unintelligible. I just kept asking myself who was that, how did they know that would work, why run up there, why were those characters needed, ...ect.
  • Kristoffc, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0i posted this movie on Tuesday ("tuesday night movie") on my blog http://www.theindietribune.com (only for a few hours for obvious reasons!).It's really a good movie.
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