Daredevil's Steven DeKnight on the Transformers Writers Room and Planning Ahead - IGN

This gives me confidence that this might lead to a Transformers that's actually a decent movie in the eyes of the critics.

 

So Akiva Goldsman and Jeff Pinkner are writing TF5,eh?

 

I'm unfamiliar with them. Are they any good, or should we start planning on TF5 being a continuation of the trainwreck that was TF4?

 

Ech, they're unremarkable at best. They're attached to some pretty shitty titles. The best thing either of them have done is write for Fringe. Pinkner did a screenplay for Amazing Spider-man 2 so, y'know, don't get your hopes up.

They're nowhere near "good" writers. If TF5 breaks the streak, it won't be because of them. I'd personally reserve interest for the spinoffs, which have better names attached.

 

That's disheartening. Oh well, I'll just hold out hope for a complete reboot somewhere down the line.

 

I'm just here for that hilarious and unlikely thread title. Kudos.

 

Dang...I just saw this on IGN. You should've titled it "Jeff Pinker to co-write Transformers 5"

 

Wow, not planning ahead has been the series' big problem so far! If only they'd somehow had Easter eggs hinting at RotF while Bumblebee pissed on someone, the quality of the entire series would have been elevated!

[/sarcasm]

Until they start talking about getting around to the core fundamentals of storytelling, IE cause and effect, a basic sense of tone, and a story driven by characters with clearly articulated motivations and goals, these promises mean nothing.

Even the one lady who said, "Don't worry, we're giving the Transformers character!" could easily be talking about more focus being dedicated to the Autobots' alternately repugnant or cartoonish (or both) "personalities".

EDIT: Oh and DeKnight's talking about an actually problematic trend in blockbuster filmmaking, but if the script itself is garbage, it doesn't matter how early it's locked in.

 

not all writters are "bad", we got good writters attached, from proejcts that were well received, we got the creator of the Walking Dead and the showrunner of Marvel's Daredevil (whom many consider to be the best thing to come out in the Marvel Cinematic Universe)

 

"I am standing directly beneath the robots testicles"

I'm gonna raise my hand and say "planning ahead" or lack thereof is not the root problem we got going on here.

 

Well, it's something, at least. As others have said, these films have much bigger problems than this.

Edit: Actually, planning ahead could help, assuming this planning is going really in depth (which it might not be). One big problem with these films is how it feels like every film has a new TF cast. Outside of Optimus, Bee and Megatron, the few TF who don't die or disappear between films end up in the background. Perhaps now they'll introduce characters with an idea of what they want them to do in future films.

 

This. I'm hopeful that the movies start thinking broader in terms of a TF Universe (much like MCU). Cautiously optimistic. Still, I'm not expecting too much more beyond being reasonably entertained.

 

Waitamintue...
The Transformers movies had writers?


In all seriousness, I really hope they manage to do GOOD things with the mythos. Finally.
As we all know, there is some really cool stuff that can be mined and cultivated.

 

I think they should make TF5 to finish the story started in TF4 then just reboot the series. They've killed off too many iconic characters. Start fresh and don't kill them off this time.

 

I know the language in the article/thread's title seems familiar to the movie forum, and I responded with the same assumption, but he's actually talking about having a script locked in before production. Which, to be fair, can make the difference between an Into Darkness style "Not very good," and a RotF level disaster. Although, to be fair, the director's had a large part in the differing qualities of those movies, but just on a scripted level.

 

"I am directly below... the enemy's scrotum"

If you're going to point out a quote as a flaw, at least get the quote right.

 

There are some good people attached, I'm optimistic.

 

As long as you realize these are only made to make money and sell toys, you'll do better in the long run.

These are nothing more than 2.5 hour commercials to sell shit. I expect nothing more from them and come away pleasantly surprised.

 

Fool me 4 times, shame on... well... everyone involved.

Really, the saving grace of the franchise is that it's now old enough that Paramount needs to keep the kids that saw the first movie when they were 12 interested in the new ones, and they probably aren't watching preteen crap anymore.

Maybe the franchise will be forced to "grow up" a now that it's main audience shades a bit older again.

And by grow up, I don't mean Michael Bay making rape jokes.

 

I do believe you just described every cartoon and most of the comics in the Transformers franchise, my friend.