"We realized our past TF movies were 2 hours of crappy humour and 1 hour of bot action. We decided to shorten it to 2 hours of crappy humour and 7 minutes of bot action. We are certain that the fans will be very happy with this decision. Also, suck our c*&ks while you're at it."

 

I was thinking this myself. I'd much rather a film end up at a final running time naturally based on how the story turns out than deciding it's going to be around a set time beforehand. I mean I know some films after all the footage is in are trimmed down to fit within a certain running time, but this isn't really that kind of film and Bay is unlikely to let himself be so constrained should it come down to it.
No doubt a lot of TF4 will have already been timed out using the script and pre-vis and so on as a general guide, but I hope in the end the final running time is determined by what's good for the story and overall movie rather than anything else. If Bay did end up with a fantastic cut of TF4 and it clocked in at two and a half hours, I'd be disappointed if he then started trimming stuff out just to fit into a running time he'd announced beforehand. That's all an unlikely scenario, but yunno.

After all is said and done though, I'm all for a shorter running time. The first three movies really dragged in places. I just hope to get to that running time Bay doesn't omit valuable robot stuff in favour of pointless comedic human stuff.

 

Sounds great. As much as I love these films, they drag like crazy,(none more so than Dark Of The Moon, however).

 

I remember when the 2H+ movie length was reserved for epic STORIES and I stress story not 'splotions. Now a days every movie is over 2 hours and you can easily cut 30min+ off of most of them.

Seeing TF4 clock is close to 2H is actually good news. Considering that they are changing up the story and I assume the bots are going to look way different with a completely new aesthetic (Hasbro needs to sell toys). I actually have hope for this trilogy.

 

This. It'll probably be extended when filming actually starts.

 

Good times...

 

mr bay is crazy

 

If Bay isn't being pressured to shoot this in 3D, I could see how it could be shorter:

Since he doesn't need to slo-mo a number of effects shots, a lot of those scenes will just whiz by.

 

I think shorter is a good way to go. It seems like the previous films sometimes lost their focus with side trip that went nowhere, there were also scenes that instead of contributing to story felt like they were filler to pad out the run length. Yes there are some movies where a long film works, but for action films shorter just seems better.

Although over 2 hours still seems too long but at least it's a step in the right direction. Save all the extra stuff for the home release of the movie.

 

This can be good or bad.
Hopefully it means more 'bot screentime and plot focus.

 

Pretty much this.

 

Michael Bay is full of shit. He will find a way to tack on extra half hour of actors doing shit no one cares about. Or comedy scenes aimed at the trash in the audience.

 

Hallelujah!

So sick of the super long run times of these films.

Ps. Just watched the 86 movie and it's shorter run time.

 

true enough. They probably timed out the script at two hours, but when it comes to the shoot Bay'll probably have the actors improvise a lot of nonsense that he thinks is hilarious.

 

The length of the film doesn't matter as much as the quality of the material put into it. You can have a great 1hr 40 minute movie, or a 1hr 40 minute turd.

 

I think even a great movie can reach a natural viewing limit and going over only hurts it.

 

I don't mind.

As long as we see lots of new robots.

I'm predicting there will be at least 5 Autobots returning.

 

I don't think Bay could do it, I can't see it happening.

He stretches the movie out with human nonsense, but if he can I'll be very happy.

 

Cool.

 

I'm sure what we'll be loosing out of this short run time will be either the plot or a decent conclusion to the final battle.