Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

Just came back from the movie. Loved it.

By the way, this is really true. Chauvinist pig.

[This, unfortunately, isn't.]

The new Transformers movie has an ass-ton of robots in it, even though they're more of the blink-and-you'll-miss type. I feel that The Fallen looked cooler in his promo pic (more red and Carnage-y); the Egyptian look threw me off a bit, as it's a bit of a cliché look for something that's been around for a long, LONG time.

One problem I had with the movie was the close-ups in the beginning. I was really looking forward to see the huge-ass robot with the wheel in the beginningDemolishor transform, but couldn't really because of the camera close-ups, but that only happens in the beginning of the movie. The camera-work in the scene with Sam and Mikaela before he goes off to college is annoying. Like, seriously, how many times are you gonna revolve the freakin' camera around the two? We get it, it was a pivotal moment.

I was getting a bit bored (which is weird, because I never get like this with action movies) till the part when we find out that Alice is a Decepticon. That totally turned my interest back on. Also, I would've prefered the fight between Optimus and The Fallen to be longer. A bit disappointed with that, even though the movie isn't short of robot fight scenes.

As expected, the robots look fantastic. Devastator was awesome, by the way, and I loved Jetfire. Surprisingly, I didn't find the Twins annoying. They remind me of Cletus from The Simpsons, plus street slang.

[And, Wikipedia tells me that Skids also lives in a pineapple under the sea.]

There is so, SO much more humor this time around. Some parts are just filler, though, and isn't really necessary; I feel they could've done without those and focussed on other things. Don't expect storyline, they're backseat material when it comes to Transformers 2. Fans of the original animated series will find one part very familiar, though. *wink*
Good performances from the fleshlings all around, especially Ramon Rodriguez.

So far, reviews on Transformers 2 are not good. I wonder what the critic consensus would be if the movie HAD storyline, and compromised by having less transforming robots.

8.5/10. Visuals are simply amazing. Just don't use your brain too much and you'll be fine :)

[Besides, I find Linkin Park's song this time around nicer than the previous one.]

Michael Bay to quit Transformers?

Say it isn't so!

In the Yahoo! News UK article, Bay says that he's sick of his detractors, and wants to do movies of the non-action type. More specifically, the genre which "...an art movie in a winery in the South of France" is categorized.

[Ugh.]

But seriously, I don't care that Michael Bay's movies lack the occasional storyline and has too many slow-mo scenes, or that he painted flames on Optimus Prime. He. Makes. Action movies. Who on earth would go to an action movie, expecting or even wanting to see character development and all that other stuff they put in heavy dramas, or even regular dramas for that matter?

[It's like expecting Watchmen to be the DC version of the X-Men movies.]

Sure, it'll be even better if those elements are there, but even if they're not, it's no friggin' biggie. An action movie's an action movie, and really, the general public wouldn't want to see anything else.

[That's why Watchmen technically bombed in the box office. One of my favourite comic book adaptations, by the way.]

Crash, Bang, BOOM!

New Transformers 2 trailer looks fantastic, by the way.




Oh, and highlight below for spoilers:
Megatron really IS back.

Guess who's back?

[Back again.]

Since I've neglected the blog for a week, here is a summary/round-up (sorry Cracked) of news items of note:

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

According to FirstShowing.net, multiple endings are in store, with each theatre showing a different one, similar to Clue, back in the '80's.

[I can't think of a more recent movie. Sue me.]

There's no mention of how many different endings there will be, although with the release of Wolverine to the general public less than a week away, we'll find out soon enough.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Duo character pics! See below:

Hopefully, this is confirmation that we will get more Quidditch this time around.

Up

Head on to FirstShowing.net (again, I know) to check out concept art of Carl, starting from when he was just a boy, to the now-grumpy old man we all know him for.

New Transformers 2 clip!

In which Sam (Shia LaBeouf) tells Bumblebee that he can't take him along to college. And where Bumblebee cries. Adorably. Like in a Japanese animé.

[HE'S TOO CUTE. Bumblebee, I mean.]

We also get to see some of the other Bots in the movie, although for the life of me, I can't really recognise any of them. Except for Optimus Prime, of course.

EDIT: The Vimeo vid apparently doesn't exist anymore, so the only one I could find on YouTube shares its slot with the Halloween 2 trailer. For the record, the Transformers 2 clip begins around the 2:29 mark.

Enjoy :)

Transformers 2 bots.

Courtesy of TFW2005.com, I come bearing this:


Plenty more where THAT came from. Rather than give an outright spoiler on who this is, I'll let you check it out yourself. Click here.

Robot bites dust in Transformers 2! (spoilerrific)

According to Buzznet.com, Arcee really IS making a cameo, because she's going to be killed off. They're not making her death plot-intrinsic or anything like that. As Michael Bay says, "This is just 'get it out and get it over with,' " because he didn't like her.

[Although at that point, that line was said like he DIDN'T want to spoil too much of her death and just wanted to go to the next question.]

Then why have her in the movie the bloody first place?!

Travesty or no? Check out the video below, the rest of the article here, and tell us what you think.

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

New Transformers 2 robot list & pics!

Yahoo! Movies has released new photos for Transformers 2, plus a list of all (if not, most) of the bots that will be appearing in the movie.

AUTOBOTS
# OPTIMUS PRIME: The Autobots' leader - alternate form: Peterbilt truck (pic'd below).
# IRONHIDE: Weapons specialist - GMC Topkick.
# RATCHET: Medic - Hummer H2.
# BUMBLEBEE: Friend and mode of transportation for Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) - 2010 Chevorlet Camaro.
# ARCEE: A female Autobot - motorcycle.
# JETFIRE: An older Decepticon who switches sides - SR71 Blackbird jet.
# JOLT: the original toy was a Decepticon, but in the movie he's a good guy - Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid.
# SKID & MUDFLAP: a.k.a. "The Twins" - Chevrolet Beat and Trax concept cars.

Rising from the ashes. Even though he never died. That's how awesome he is.

DECEPTICONS
# STARSCREAM: Formerly Megatron's second in command, he escaped at the end of the first movie; F-22 Raptor jet.
# SCORPONOK: The mechanical scorpion that attacked the American troops in the desert.
# THE FALLEN: One of the original Transformers, he's called "the most elemental bad guy" by the screenwriters.
# SIDEWAYS: The Audi R8 seen crashing through a building in the trailer.
# SOUNDWAVE: A cassette player in the original toys; his alternate mode will fly.
# RAVAGE: A four-legged, cat-like robot (pic'd below).
# THE DOCTOR: Alternate form has not been announced (pic'd as well).
# WHEELIE: A small, radio-controlled truck.
# DEMOLISHER: One of the Constructicons that transform into construction vehicles.
# DEVASTATOR: A giant robot formed by the Constructicons joining together; individually, they are: Scavenger, Scrapper, Hightower, Longhaul, Rampage, Overload and Mixmaster.

Apparently, Ravage will have an additional skill that the movie writers have decided to add in. As for the bots talking to each other, it's still a 'no'.

The Doctor. Reminds me of Frenzy from the first movie.

From the list, you can see that Megatron's name is NOT on it, and neither is Jazz's, even though Michael Bay have mentioned it, and a Pontiac Solstice was sighted on set. Maybe they'll cameo at the end of the movie.


[Jai Ho! xD]

Jai Ho?

[Picture courtesy India.com]

Possibly!

India.com is reporting that at the end of Transformers 2, Jazz is going to lead the Autobots (and maybe some Decepticons) to the PCD cover of Jai Ho. Apparently, Michael Bay is pissed that Transformers did not get a single win at the Academy Awards (nope, not even Best Visual Effects; that one went to The Golden Compass. No wonder he's pissed), so he'll be mocking the crap out of Slumdog Millionaire.

Personally, I quite like the PCD cover, and I think it'd be pretty rad to see robots dancing to whichever version of Jai Ho. Whatever it is, it's gonna be a fun time at the theatre :D

How do YOU guys feel about this development?

Transformers 3 release date set!

The release date for the movie is set to be July 1st, 2011, even though the movie isn't greenlit yet, there is no writer, and there's no confirmation that Michael Bay nor its main stars will return.

[But they probably will =)]

The article also mentions that Paramount may be facing difficulty in getting financial backing for the third movie, since General Motors (who's backed Transformers 1 and 2) is kinda in rough waters now, and may not be on board for the third movie unless things improve for them.

[Since, ya know, the economy IS in the crapper.]

Also mentioned in the article is the release date for Marvel's Thor, which has been moved up a month to May 20, 2011 (from June 17, 2011).