These are all great points, on both sides of the discussion, which is what I was aiming for when I posted this thread.

And it's all been fairly civil, except for one user, who was banned it seems. So good job, guys.

I honestly feel that both views of Movieverse Optimus Prime reasonablely valid. In some ways, he is a revenge fantasy, but he still proves to be a moving and engaging character, and his development from TF07 to AOE is great, imo. And when you really analyze his characterization beyond his violent nature, you find a broken and sorrowful yet heroic leader whom despite being screwed, betrayed, belittled, and beaten senseless time after time, will still ALWAYS get his shit together and save the day. In every sense of the word, Optimus Prime is a hero.

I love him, in all his violent and traumatized gory...erm...I mean glory. I have to, he's just that moving to me. Though I'd probably love him less if his lines weren't delivered by the legendary Peter Cullen.  

 

If it's not the intention, please say. I still see this in praise of Movie Optimus, and it makes me like him more.

With the Allspark gone, what more can you do to Cybertron? So choosing Earth is a good choice.

 

Definitely this. I agree totally. And it was us fans that got Peter Cullen back in the driver's seat of the role. Think about it: if the fans didn't make so much noise, would Mr. Cullen have been onboard for TFP, Rescue Bots and RiD2015? Sometimes blowing one door open blows open several more in the process.  

I love it when it's Mr. Cullen because I generally know it's an Optimus I will really want to listen to. It's not just the sound of his voice, but what he says and the gravity with which he says things.

He's kind of like that really nice dad you don't want to disappoint, ya'know?

 

I just hope we're not over-working him, not getting any younger.....

Gonna say this, without AOE Optimus wouldn't have a character arc.

 

I'm fifty fifty on this. "We're leaving you because such and such" - Did Optimus forget Sam and company, you know ? People who are his friends ?

Wouldn't that at least indicate that there are some OTHER humans out of the millions in the United States (like Cade) who aren't Anti-Autobot ?

Has Optimus and the Autobots ever tried socializing with the general public ? Cause after making a speech about protecting humans in 2007 and shifting gear in AOE, I'm more likely to yell at him for being a judgmental dick.

 

I doubt they were allowed to socialize.

 

I'm sure he would have been onboard for the first chance he gets.

 

I honestly wouldn't give these movies a chance without Peter Cullen.

 

Not gonna bother with my reasons cuz this topic is doomed to devolve into 2 or 3 people on pedestals justifying their opinions....

But he's my fave Prime too.

*Edit*

Oops, didn't bother to look at number of posts in thread before I posted this. Fans kind of ruin everything, don't they? Oh well, at least you guys are predictable.

 

same here. I almost didn't have an interest in the movie until I heard Peter Cullen had signed on to do the voice. That is the only reason I hung onto the movies this long.

 

Just rewatched AOE.... GOD Optimus Prime is so badass in this film.

 

Haha thats funny because I was watching some of AOE earlier and thinking the same thing.

 

Movieverse Optimus Prime is my favorite Optimus Prime, but if I had to be more specific, it's AOE all the way!  

 

I had to look at that signature pic a few times... it looked like Captain America was riding an iron man bike lol....

 

Whoops!  

 

He's my favorite too. He's a more realistic version of Optimus Prime.