While the Bay films have always been controversial, in recent times the main arguments seem to be less "X-Iteration of Transformers" vs. the movies and more "New films vs. OT." While none are perfect, the difference between the different movies is not as great as often believed in my opinion. With many aspects it's not existent. Having said that, what are some things the older films (2007-RotF-DotM) do better, and what are some things AoE-TLK do better? I don't want this to be a new films vs. old films debate so much as a discussion about the different strengths, major or minor, of both. With that said, here are some of my opinions. Older films are better when it comes to... - Consistency, both good and bad: The Shia films, whether one likes them are not, all feel fairly similar to each other. Whether it's LP's songs, the opening monologue from Prime, or the excessive military battles, they feel much more similar to each other than TLK and AoE due to each other. Granted I like different, but I do think a Transformers 5 that was more along the lines of Galvatron and the Creators rather than Quintessa and Megatron being back to Megatron would have better reinforced a new trilogy's direction. - Decepticon minions: Whether it's Scorponok in the sands of the Middle East, Ravage sneaking around Diego Garcia, or Laserbeak transforming into anything he pleases, I really like the use of Decepticon minions of Soundwave and Blackout in the first trilogy. Laserbeak especially was fun. - Seymour Simmons: Though he technically appears in The Last Knight as well, I find the presence of Simmons to be one of the funniest and most enjoyable parts of the first three films. - Decepticon Bases: This is true of RotF and DotM more than the 2007 film, but I really enjoy how the Decepticons have the Nemesis as an off-world base in RotF and a refugee camp of sorts in Africa in DotM. The former acts as a throne and nursery of sorts for the Fallen, and the latter shows the Decepticons as this damaged and fallen faction of sorts with hatchlings begging for scraps, Igor being the head of a Long Haul, and Megatron himself being physically damaged. - Starscream: Granted he is underused, but the presence of many fans' favorite Decepticon turncoat provides for some of the more fan banter in the films. Newer films are better when it comes to.... - Dystopia: I think that alien robots coming to Earth would change human society in so many way, so I really like the dystopian feel of the last two films. It's not quite post-Apocalyptic, but it's certainly not a walk in the park either. Humans antagonizing Transformers and using their own tech, sometimes inspired by the Transformers' incursions on Earth, is an interesting take on things. - Beyond Autobots, Beyond Decepticons, Beyond 2007's Wildest Imagination: Transformers is more than just Autobots, Decepticons, and humanity. The first trilogy was largely limited to those three groups. Now we have Lockdown, who despises both factions and thinks the war has damaged the universe. Now we have a range of alien beings: Creators, cyborg wolves, organic aliens, Infernocus, and even cartoon-eyed Stupid Drones. I think Transformers should take place in a larger universe. The universe is much more alien (Granted there's some discrepancies between TLk and AoE in this regard, but one can get my drift), and I find that more enjoyable. - Beastformer Protagonists: People complained how in the first trilogy some of the Decepticons were snarling monsters. Now the tables have turned. The Autobots get non-talking Dinobots who make dinosaurian noises and a giant, mechanical dragon on their side, and for the most part the Decepticons either talk (Galvatron and TLK's Decepticons) or are non-sentient drones who don't act or look like snarling monsters, some who actually do talk (the Trax who shoots down the part of the Knightship in HK). - Clearer Action: I find the action much clearer in many instances in the last two films. Things blur a lot less, and I enjoy that more. - The main Autobots: I prefer the new crew greatly to the previous Bot crews. Give me Hound, Drift, and Crosshairs any day over any of the other movie casts. I even like Bee and Prime more in many ways. Especially AoE Optimus, who I genuinely find fascinating. They're for the most part less traditional in their depictions, but I find them more fun and interesting on their own merits. What are yours?
Besides the excessive killing offs and unnecessary joke scenes, I don't have much of a problem with the past 4 films. My only pet peeve is how, recently, I realized how TLK could have connected the four films in a much more efficient way: Just have Cade and the crew look for clues in the past macguffins, particularly the Allsparks hieroglyphics , about why the TFs keep coming to earth with the help of former gov officials (i.e. simmons) and the dinobots.
Honestly, at this point, I'm so fatigued w/ the movieverse I pretend TF2007 was the only pure-canon film, and all the others are warped, damaged realities born from the death of Armada Unicron. It's the only way I can reconcile Starscream turning into a slobbering imbecile who got killed by a grappling hook and a glorified hand-grenade, as opposed to the dude with a sexy voice who solo'd Ironhide and Ratchet effortlessly in under 20 seconds. And. Y'know. Devastator. *shudders*
I absolutely loved the first movie. It was what got me back into collecting and watching all the past series. The rest of the films I felt were mindless drivel (although I haven't seek TLK yet).
The first Michael Bay TF movie was mindless drivel. The sequels always manage some improvements, while getting worse at the same time.
The old TF films are a lot better than the shitty Mark Wahlberg ones that make me fall asleep...because TF1-ROFT-DOTM had better action & story telling except the jokes that were forced in... a lot.
Idon't like AoE era designs with precious few exceptions so even if there are some things OK with AoE and TLK... The designs alone kill both movies for me.
Well, this thread was not meant to complain about one group of films or the others. In my opinion, the difference in quality between the first trilogy on one hand and AoE/TLK on the other is absolutely minimal, but going ahead...here are some bonus points for both. In the older films, I really like the idea of feral, Lilliputian Transformers created by the Allspark and causing havoc randomly, which is different than Decepticon minions like Frenzy, Scorponok, Ravage, Scalpel, and Laserbeak, or the alien minions of Lockdown like the Steeljaws and Stupid Drones, whom are all deliberate in their actions. In the newer films, I really like that we get Frank Welker as Galvatron/Megatron. He is much more passionate for the role than Weaving, and it shows.
Yea I do agree with the qualities of the four movie not having too much contrast to each other. The first trilogy does show honor to G1 with the constant bot vs con that builds up to the second trilogy introducing newer villians which is why I favor AOE a bit more. TLK, however, shown a lot of contrast to its predecessors so my idea for a more efficient TLK hit me like a train and I just had to put that out there
I actually like how buried some of the triple repetition themes are, the TLK one concerning adoption was quite the doozy once you realized it.
