Transformers Re-Watch

Frak Party Archives Classic Movies Frak Archive
#1

Considering how much fun we had seeing this fun flick in the theater, we’re on our way out the door to pick up a copy of the newly-released Transformers DVD today at lunch. And we’re going to rewatch it tonight!

When you get around to picking up (or renting) your copy, feel free to join us here for some discussion. I’d imagine we’ll have a lot to say about it – and we know from your reaction after the theatrical release that you do, too.

Update: If you came here from the GWC Blog directly, don’t miss our DTA podcast about Transformers:

http://www.galacticawatercooler.com/2007/10/17/gwc-direct-to-archive-2/

#2

This might actually be a good “special podcast” for the week… if you guys are up to it…

I know I would love to have the GWC spin on the DVD…

#3

We’re just waiting for some pizza to arrive, then we’re going to pop in the movie. Getting my personal message from the Primester really got me ready for the movie. I keep remembering great bits from when we saw it in the theater, and I can’t wait to start it.

#4

Umm…I’ve had a copy for awhile actually though I did order a “real” copy from Amazon this morning. Lucky me, my company has facilities in China that some of our local employees have to go visit every now and then. They sometimes bring fun things back…ahem. I put up a couple of screen grabs in the Flickr pool to show the nifty translations in the subtitles. :smiley:

#5

Your wish, etc., etc. We’re actually recording one right now.

#6

For the record , transformers just kicks ass… it kicks it… all over the fracking place!!!

In the cartoon series, Bumblebee was never really my favorite, I was always a fan of Hondo. I even bought an autobot sticker for my wife’s jeep…

But in the movie – bumblebee just steals the show.

I sincerely hope that hondo is out there in the stars hiding and decides to make an appearance in TF2…

Looking forward to the re-watch podcast for TF… and eventually I think you guys should market your movie podcast/commentary to the movie studios… it can become part of the special features… “I’d buy that for a dollar!”

#7

We just finished recording the 'cast – it’s in post now, and’ll come out tomorrow morning because I’m just too tired to stay up long enough to get it out tonight. We had a hell of a time watching the movie and podcasting about it.

A few things that struck me more this time 'round:

The transformers (Autobots especially) really emote in the movie. So often they steal scenes with just a look or a little movement, like when Bumblebee looks over his shoulder at Mikaela or when Optimus Prime looks at the destroyed Megatron at the end. These bots don’t just fight – they can act, too.

The balance of humor and serious story in this movie is absolutely perfect. It’s so fun to watch that it’s just infectious. Now that I own the DVD, I can tell that I’m going to watch it again and again.

Did I miss the line at the end where Optimus calls Megatron “brother,” or am I just tired? I could swear I heard it in the theater and didn’t on the DVD. It is late, though.

Anyway, there’s a lot more, but I’m gonna have to get some shut eye at some point. I’ve got a long day tomorrow before heading out to Maker Faire. But look for the Transformers DTA 'cast in the morning.

#8

The scene is there in the DVD…

My neice (who saw the movie tonight for the first time… must speak to her parents… ) asked me, why he said that since they were just fighting… LOL

So, whole history of the transformers was discussed … then we broke out the Transformers game again… :slight_smile:

#9

Yeah. Its in there. I always took it more like “brotha” and not “I share a mother with you.”

#10

Join us as we rewatch and discuss the live-action Transformers movie the same day it released to DVD and HD-DVD. Highlights: we review the history and various story lines of Transformers, geek out over slow-motion battles, question the meaning of life and the concept of DNA-based computers (and Furbys), love on Michael Bay, enjoy the embarrassment of Sam’s special time, speculate about sequel plots, and hear about Sean’s Transformer-inspired bike.

http://www.galacticawatercooler.com/2007/10/17/gwc-direct-to-archive-2/

#11

PS: Boxy, both you and your namesake are namedropped in this 'cast.

#12

Hey Darth, which one was Hondo? Was he the green jeep? Wasn’t his name Hound, or am I getting them confused? There are so many, I find I am getting names mixed up left, right and backwards. I was much better at this when I was 9. :wink:

#13

Hound… you’re right… that is what I get for posting while on a Transformers high… I think Hondo was a character from Mask… LOL

But yeah, he was the green jeep.

Thanks for the correction…

#14

Heh, the Dino-bots discussion reminded me of this (NSFW language):

//youtu.be/2-aTbHsZJ9g

There’s a few more by the same guy that have the same take on the Transformers.

#15

Great Podcast guys / gal…

Sean –
Your explanation of the Matrix, and how the separation of the Transformers / Decepticons was fantastic and I will be having my nephews listen to this podcast before we do our re-watch this Sunday.

I agree about Megatron, that was my ONLY disappointment that Megatron didn’t turn into a gun. However, he did have the gun, and used it against Optimus Prime just before he asked Sam to put the all spark in his chest.

Since you corrected me on Hound, I have to correct you on Ratchet. Ratchet was not a eurpoean sports car, he originally turned into an Ambulance… – Jazz was thee european sports car, a Porsche, not a Pontiac… I would dare say that Jazz is only one that traded down from the 80’s. Maybe that is why they killed him off.

Audra – the guys are right. In LA (which is where they were - look for the Wilshire Blvd street sign during one of the battles- , even though the army guy referred to it as Mission City) … NO ONE walks, and NO ONE takes public transportation since it the metro just BLOWS here… There is an average of three cars for every household in LA… My office is literally 300 feet from my house, and I still drive there everyday… If bumblebee had taken off, so would the girl… Sorry.

Chuck - You are so right… the autobots totally showed emotion in their faces… I almost lost it when bumblebee lost his leg and Sam had to take off with the All Spark. His face just gave the statement “I’m sorry I cant protect you anymore, you’re on your own”.

Thoughts on Tuturro being in the movie : When I first saw him in the movie at the theater, I really wanted him to step up to Optimus Prime and say “Nobody f*cks with the Jesus”…

Thoughts on Michael Bay… He makes action porn. Which is great, don’t get me wrong. But him and Jerry Bruckheimer, both just love to blow stuff up. I am sure that Spielberg definitely had to rein him in on this movie, so that it actually had a real story… LOL

Thoughts on Shia LaBeouf. This kid is amazing. The wit he displays and his adaptability on the screen is impressive. You can claim he has good writers, but good writing is only good when it is pulled off properly and he really played the Sam Witwickey character well. I have to give him some props.

Hacking and movies. As a computer security person, I usually get annoyed when they start hacking in movies, since it is never anything like reality. This movie wasn’t too bad… BUT… I have to wonder why the movie hackers never have any problems interfacing to alien technology… Even if he was able to hack into the signal and read the contents of the message, are we left to assume that he had some application on his computer that translated decepticon language? I would have felt better if they had taken a moment to indicate that the language was different but based on some mathematical equation that he would have been able to convert… but I digress…

Sean - I love the DVD cover for the SE version. I tell you this, since your the designer and appreciate those sorts of things. It is so clean, with Optimus and Megatron on either side… EXCELLENT…

This is by far the best movie of the summer 2007 series… and, IMO, the best “redone story” movie to date.

I am having a blast “indoctrinating” my nieces and nephews into the movie, and the previous stories, and letting them play with all my old transformers…

I feel like a kid again…

#16

Booo-urns. It’s not out here until december. Ah well at least I’ll be buying this edition in a cool metal box
http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3477870/Transformers-Play-com-Exclusive-Limited-Edition-Steelbook-w-Comic-Book/Product.html

#17

All the different DVD versions… UGH… so frustrating.

Standard.
Special Edition
Special Edition with Happy mealesq toys
Special Edition with box that transforms (might have to buy this one)
Special Edition with Prequel story included. (why is this not on all the versions?)
HD version (which I understand being separate. but it lets me make my point…)

#18

On corrections:

Darth you frakken rock! I totally messed that up, thanks for the straightening! Also after some research today, Chuck pointed out my error calling the motorcycle Cyclonis, that is incorrect, Cylconis was a plane - but then again there are hundreds of them out there. So a bit-o-confusion from guys (like ourselves) who were there during G1 is understandable right :wink:

On Megatron:

As I stated I agree with you on Megatron… I was a bit disapointed that he wasn’t a gun. However, I do think the way they changed it so he doesn’t have to cheat his size (go from huge robot to a weapon 100 times smaller) was a total stroke of genius. Nice Job guys!

A note on Michael Bay:

I will also admit to saying bad things about Michael Bay before the movie came out. Now I must eat some crow here. He did a superb job bringing my favorite childhood robots to life.

#19

Lol, I stand corrected. I grew up in Upstate New York, where it was cool to have a car as a teenager but most of us didn’t. I also could be totally in left field - I wasn’t exactly in the center of coolness in high school. :slight_smile:

But I STILL stand by my optimistic (pun intended) view that Mikaela cares about Sam because of who he is and wouldn’t skip town if the 'Formers left. (As Adam from Mythbusters would say, “I reject your reality and substitute my own!”)

#20

I have to say, if you’ve been holding out on going HD this is the movie that might make you change your mind. It looks incredible, sounds fantastic, and to top it off, even the Special Features are in High def (a rarity at this stage).

The only thing that bugs me about this movie is that if I think too much on it, I feel like I was duped into watching a full length military propaganda film.