I WANT IT TO BE JULY 2nd so bad!

 

Re: Brawl/Devastator 'error'...
I asked Michael Bay at the press conference, 'which is it'? He said simply, to him it is Devastator and always meant to be, because it sounds more dangerous and destructive for a Decepticon. From his tone, and the way he described it, it is Devastator, and everything else is wrong.

My reviews, comments of the two day event, plus *a link* to a scene by scene synopsys of the movie (I took notes in the dark   ) and a semi-transcript of the press conference will be posted in about 11 hours time, as I am yet to return home to Brisbane.

Quickly though, while I have a few minutes waiting for a plane:

*** (WARNING - SPOILERS)***

- Met heaps of fans I know, some for the first time over the two days - (AU TF forum names) Krayt, Burn, dirge, Goktimus, Crank, Sharky, Catbus, Saintly, Kup, Rollerforce, and probably some others who I hopefully remember later (sorry if I didn't mention you).
- A large number of invited (business) people didn't show up, so they ended up giving away heaps of tickets to the public that showed up for the 'red' carpet (it was a camo green carpet). A lot of TF fans, CGI fans and general public were in the two cinemas, but about half looked to be media and theatre operators, so the atmosphere won't be anywhere near as great as the BotCon screening will be on the 27th.
- Bay was still surprised and confused at how the fans cheered and applauded when iconic characters showed up, like when THE TRUCK rolls in for the first time through the smoke, and a scene with Bumblebee (won't say what). These are icons to us fans, but Bay and the non-fans just didn't get it, and still don't.

Bonecrusher - the shortest screen time of all TFs. Total time less than 10 minutes, but as seen in the Trailers, does have a decent fight scene.
Megatron - Not really seen until halfway in the movie. Seen for a few minutes seen in a frozen state, then a fair bit of him is seen in the last 20-30 minutes.

They seem to defy gravity, or appear weightless when tranforming, and transformations involve a lot of CGI moving parts that look great, but probably wouldn't be physically possible in real life.

The ending screams, let there be a sequal. The dialogue at the end of one character sets up how a sequal could even begin.

I only heard it once, and was really trying to listen for it too. And I think it was Blackout early in the movie I heard it with. I didn't hear it on the Optimus transformation that the trailer had the sound with, which was weird. I was disappointed with that, because they worked it in well on the Optimus' transformation in the trailer, but then didn't use it prominantly (if at all) in the movie.

Music was good in places, building up tension (some classic Bay convoy scenes - read his trivia on imdb.com), and emphasising the token 'human element' scenes thrown in, but I don't think it was too epic like the Star Wars movies.

Anything in particular?

I was one of the few disappointed that the first thing Megatron does when he sees Starscream (who actually helps rescue him), is criticise him as a failure. Maybe it's something fromt he prequal, but I felt that if this was to reflect the iconic history between Megatron and Starscream characters, it didn't make sense me to have it in this one. Granted, it was the ONLY characterisation you get between any of the Decepticons (no, really), it wasn't too original or reflected anything that was so far known about those two in that Movie by that point.

One thing another fan questioned, was, how did Megatron know how to speak english if he was frozen all that time. Was he aware of everything around him all that time, or it was just done like that without reason because it just didn't convey the same anger in his tone to Starscream if it were subtitled from Cybertronian?

I gave it 8/10 as a fan, 7/10 if not a fan.

 

How many of the Decepticons actually talk in the movie? I know Megatron, Starscream, and Barricade say something, but how about the rest? I don't care if the dialogue is cybertronian or if they have one single line, i just want voices to accompany the characters.

 

Sounds to me like the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing...Inconsistancies like this could doom the flick...

A gentleman on another post seems to think this was intentional...as a way of controlling leaked info...I can't imagine Hasbro going for that...Why would they name one toy wrong for the sake of a leak...Im begining to worry alot about this film the more I hear..and I have been a strong supporter...Seems like they just over looked some details and figured no one would care being as they would get to caught up in the "WOW" factor...Ridiculous...

 

How was Hugo Weaving's Megatron voice?

 

They didn't name the toy wrong. The name was different in the script. Its like how the Batman Begins "working title" was "the Intimidation Game" and how this one's was "Prime Directive". It is meant to keep things more under wraps then they might otherwise be.

And no, it won't "Doom the flick" A minor character's name in the movie doesn't line up to his name in the toy line. Oh dear god, its the END OF THE WORLD!!! NOOOOO!!! HELP ME JESUS! HELP ME JEWISH GOD! SAVE ME TOM CRUISE!!! USE YOUR BLACK MAGIC AND SAVE ME!!!

I suspect Michael Bay likes Devastator for a name more. That's it. It may get changed back to Brawl in the final release but who knows. It will depend on a lot of factors.

 

So I guess if they had a sequal (a big IF) we won't get the Constructicons or if we do they will be Bruticus...All I am saying is if I just spent the kind of dough on making a flick like this I would surely check, double check, and re-check for consistancy and continuity errors....but that's just me...I like quality......Im just saying if your gonna do something DO IT RIGHT!

Just like my sig!!! Damnit!!!!!!!!

 

Exactly my friend.

Alot of people are not liking this, but I do. It shows once more that the Decepticons are totally not giving ten shits about the people on Earth. I really think it's going to work out well.

 

Overreacting much?

All films make mistakes of varying degrees, and as film and television makers point out, its usually nerds on the internet who aren't making the films that crucify them for it.

 

I agree that mistakes are made..but when thouasands of toys, games and various other merchandise is sitting on shelves with the name Brawl based on a character in the movie...you would think that Brawl would be his name in the movie...seems logical to me...

It'd be like Bobba Fett sitting on the shelves with the name Dog "The Bounty Hunter".....

Meh...anyway they said they will "Try" to change it before it releases..
But I digress...

Where is "Scraggin"... 

 

I was at the press conference today in Sydney which had Michael Bay, Megan and Rachael (who looked even better than last night might i add!!!) and received a 131 page media booklet outlining amongst other things the main cast members and providing descriptions/profiles and pictures of each transformer featured. The pics are in robot and vehicle mode. Whilst Devastator is said in a subtitle during the movie this booklet says Brawl

The conference was awesome - i got to ask a question to which both Megan and Michael responded to me. Nice!

 

Sounds like it was an awesome night, wish I could have been there.

 

That was ME!!! Bay and Megan both signed my Leader Megatron... the Figue, not the box....

 

Oh damn that was on yesterday! I couldn't have gone anyway, but thank you so much for sharing the excitement with the rest of us  

 

Great to read positive reviews from the screening!

But now I don't know how I'll survive two more weeks without the movie!  

And wow ... Rachael Taylor looked amazing on the red carpet. Looked more "natural" than Megan, who's also f=##$#ng HOT.

-airfox

 

I have but one question:

DOES A FURBY TRUCK GO BOOM?

 

That's exactly what I wanna say!!!

Last night I showed the "May 17th" trailer to an old friend. He was unaware about the movie. The adjective he used says it all: SADISTIC!!!.

 

Hmm...where's the reviews? I'm sorry but Im flippin blind. All I see is just them talking about going to the movie

 

The Autobots get all the dialogue and characterisation/interaction. The only characterisation you get from the Decepticons is between Megatron and Starscream, and even that felt forced and unnecessary.
Megatron gets the most dialogue, but only in the latter half of the movie. Most of his dialogue is in english, but doesn't appear to have learnt it from anywhere, or would be the sort of character who would need to speak an 'alien' language. Frenzy has a lot of sounds and Cybertronian talking, and is basically Waspinator on a huge caffeine binge. Barricade has about 5 or 6 lines (some in english), Starscream has a couple of lines in english. Brawl and Bonecrusher have a line each, and I think only grunting/screaming sounds when fighting. Bonecrusher might have said something while fighting Optimus, but I can't remember. Scorponok just makes mechanical sounds.

Very beastly, demonic, evil. Which is what they wanted I guess. To be honest, I couldn't pick it was Weaving, which would defeat the purpose of paying big bucks for him, unless they just wanted his name on the credits. Mind you, most of Megatron's dialogue is during the climactic action scenes, so you're more focussed on the visuals and not the dialogue.

If the Devastator subtitle is changed to Brawl in the film prints, I'd be guessing that a 'Director's Cut' DVD will have it changed back to Devastator.  

I missed it, but one other person mentioned seeing it (we were talking about in-jokes and easter eggs, but very few seem to be in the movie).

I'm working on it. Just a lot of info to process and respond to, along with all the other non-movie stuff. We (fans and media) are not allowed to do a formal review until the 23rd, but I will do comments on the more noteable parts of the movie, which shouldn't constitute a review. Yeah, fans can post whatever they want and won't get in trouble, but I will if I don't follow the rules.

 

Furby going boom makes my day :]