Don't think it's controversial to say the movies are bad (That's a lie, yes it is.) But despite the unending flaws these movies got, I actually do think these movies had some pretty cool ideas. Note that the execution of said ideas don't matter much, just the idea itself.
Like these:

-The desert scenes from the first movie.
The idea of a horror like movie that follows a military group, lost and confused in the desert while being chased by a giant robotic scorpion. Frankly I think it was executed decently as well and made me wish Lennox was the MC human instead of Sam.

-NEST
The humans creating a military division for the Transformers and work together with the Autobots to hunt down Decepticons is cool. Shame they barely did anything besides the ROTF opening and were only in like one movie.

-Humans vs Transformers.
Having humans turn on the Autobots and tell them to piss off is a cool idea. However in the movies it made no sense as to why they did. Like ROTF and DOTM both proved the Decepticons aren't on Earth for the Autobots, and then after the Autobots saved Chicago these dudes were like "You know what fuck these robots get them outta here. And also let's make our own bots out of this dumb ass fictional material Transformium and then revive Megatron on accident."
Good writing, mate.
If I had to write a reason for humans to turn against the Autobots (without any previous context). I'd have Unicron sent out a message through the galaxy somehow and announce he will destroy anything related to Primus and anything that stands in his way, to which the humans decide to take up arms and tell Transformers to piss off.

-Crosshairs
Characters are easily one of the worst parts about these movies. Mainly because they either have no character or are just stereotypes. But I actually like Crosshairs. His wanting to roll solo and slight assholishness (That's not a word) was pretty fun. Just a shame they never did anything with him.

So what about all of you, what ideas did you like?

 

The human-like pretender concept. Pity it was wasted on a scene that was, essentially, an over-lengthy sex joke.

 

This is an unpopular opinion but Bumblebee losing his voice, but the thing is that it was only done properly in prime and the bumblebee movie

 

I'm honestly not surprised Michael Bay turned Transformers pretending to be humans into a Transformer pretending to be a model trying to kill the MC with her tongue.
Like the only way that could be more Michael Bay was if she shat out explosions and had a slo mo power.

 

Good topic!

I agree with Crosshairs and Cemetery Wind and the desert scene.

Also, Transformium and KSI (including the cube/pixel transformations!).

Devastator being a monstrosity who struggles to move in Earth's gravity. Not saying you couldn't do a Devastator that was less monstrous, but I like the idea of him struggling to move for sure.

Cartoon-eyed Stupid Drones and cyborg wolves!

Bad cop Barricade.

Cogman.

Daytrader.

Suicide Squad Decepticons.

Barbarian Dinobots with fictionalized dinosaur modes.

Reedman.

Appliancebots.

 

Too bad they were killed within less than a minute

 

Sentinel Prime. Probably the most complex character of the 5 films and he did not disappoint.

Man-made Transformers and real Transformers being hunted is also cool. I'm pretty vocal against AOE but it had the best concept and backstory of the 5 films.

It's probably for the best. Pretenders are overpowered as hell. One could assasinate the POTUS and take his place and basically wreck havoc from within. I'm pretty sure Masterforce Pretenders don't even have half that level of potential power.

 

Barricade was given justice in the DS game of all things. Made him like the perfect Decepticon. A leader, loyal to Megatron, saw his cons as collegues at best. It's great. Shame the movies forgot about him twice.

Also it turns Blackout into a well spoken sass machine.

 

I didn't like their quick death either, but that doesn't mean I don't like the idea behind them. A group of Decepticons released from a prison by Megatron negotiating with humans in a dystopian future? That's pretty dope.

 

One of my favorite aspects of the movies is the amount of non-vehicle alternate modes. Granted this isn't entirely exclusive to the movies, but I feel like many modern incarnations of Transformers have become "robots that turn into cars and planes". And I get why...it's easier to sell toys of vehicles than a flatscreen TV or something. But to me Transformers has always been about disguise in general, not exclusively automobiles. I like the idea of Transformers turning into TVs and vending machines and even humans. It makes the brand more interesting, and adds more creative potential.

 

I loved the idea that all our tech was reverse-engineered from Megatron. Shame the other movies basically forgot about that.

 

Sector 7

The Allspark (When it wasn't used as the go-to Macguffin for EVERY newest continuity)

Megatron's reversed engineered tech / The Allspark being the reason for the technological advancements in the 21st century

Interstellar travel Protoform modes

Sentinel Prime

 

Showing off megatron's cunning schemey mindset he's renowned for in other continuitues despite live action Megatron being an absolute fucking disgrace to the name he carries and he still remains my least favourite version of him, because he's just an absolute joke I remember reading a thread about the worst megatron and while I agree with alot of people saying tfp megatron due to the fact he made stupid rash decisions that ended costing him alot of, Victories or failed to cease opportunities infront of his face.

Atleast he wasn't the universe's biggest pussy Live action bay megatron was just dreadful and sad to watch 07 there was virtually nothing to like about him, aside from the voice of weaving and his design was pretty radical other than that he was always a bootlicker to the new big bad or a feather who'd cry like a bitch when shit got, firey. Hell atleast TFP Megatron wasn't a pushover I can respect him for going to extreme lengths just to Kill optimus and have enough willpower to resist a multiversal cosmic being.

IDW bayverse Megatron was everything his live action counterpart should've been, that guy is in my top 5 he was an absolute all star.

 

- Sentinel Prime: He was a good antagonist and I enjoyed his dynamic with Optimus Prime. Plus, his design is probably the best to come out of the movies.
- NEST: I liked seeing the human military working alongside the Autobots. While I think there was a bit too much of a military presence in the climax of RotF, I enjoyed the concept of seeing these two species interacting and assisting one another. It's one of the aspects that makes Transformers such an interesting concept.
- Reverse engineering technology from Megatron: As others have stated, I think this was a very interesting concept that was quietly abandoned in the sequels.
- Unique Alternate forms: Kitchen appliances, vending machines, Televisions, and even human beings. As @TheSoundwave put it, it's nice to see different forms of disguise being used.
- The Wreckers: While they're definitely not what I think of when the team name is brought up, I actually liked what little we saw of them. Heavily armed race cars is a fun idea and I would have liked to see more of them.

 

2007:
Decepticon disguised as military vehicles, makes it easier for them to infiltrate and blend within the government.
Having an alien invasion feel during the first half of the movie, makes the human scenes more engaging as they try to uncover these mysterious attacks.
Flames on Optimus, I like it.

ROTF:
NEST, interesting idea to have the Autobots work with humans after the events of the first movie.
Satellite Soundwave, I like the look and it allows him to hack communications from space.
More alien designs like the Constructicons, I adore these designs, they look so unique and cool. Long Haul is my all time favorite design from these movies.
Ravage ejecting/carrying his own minions like Reedman and Scalpel.

DOTM:
A mentor figure turns out to be the villain.
Laserbeak speaking and being more independent like Ravage.
Soundwave disguising as Carly's car, a smart way to have him infiltrating the human cast without mass shifting.
Shockwave as a hunter is a unique idea that I wish was expanded more, he needs to have different roles now and then.
Megatron in his lowest might be interesting if there were more of it.

AOE:
Autobots on the run.
Cemetery Wind is a cool idea, some people aren't just going to like the Cybertronians after what happened in Chicago.
Optimus as a beat up truck.
Giving Optimus a human companion.
That barn seen where Cade was covering for Optimus from Cemetery Wind.
This is subjective, replacing the Autobots from the first trilogy with the AOE Autobots (hey, they did it in the 86 movie too).
Lockdown looking down on the Autobot & Decepticon because he works for his creators.
Everything about Galvatron is a good idea in my opinion.
The character of Joshua was interesting and entertaining which I wasn't expecting to like.
Stinger, good idea but needs to be expanded.
Dinobots with knight motif makes them look awesome.

TLK:
Merlin and the knights, enjoyable scene.
Cogman.
Hot Rod.
Autobots hiding in junkyard in "protected land" far from the city.
Isabella, too bad she wasn't explored more.
Lennox on opposing side of the Autobots would've been great but they didn't do too much with it.
Optimus becoming Nemesis, good idea but again...wasn't explored more.
The final fight taking place on a falling structure was great! "I'm going weightless "
I guess it was a good idea they ended TLK with the Autobots flying to Cybertron since there won't be another continuation, this was at least satisfactory.

 

Sentinel Prime. Best thing to come out of those movies and arguably one of the best written Transformers in the entire Bayverse continuity.

 

Then again that's not really an achievement is it.

 

Definitely not considering how low the bar was set after the first two films.

 

I think it makes sense. The Autobots claim they want to defend and help the humans, but almost everytime they try to save them from the Decepticons, people die and property gets destroyed. So most humans would assume these large giant robots have brought their war here, and seem more intent on destruction than just 'going away.'

Seems a basic of humanity. We see that these days with people protesting to make things better, but we still have people that claim protestors just want to burn and loot things.

 

But in every movie the Decepticons are on Earth not for the Autobots, but for something else.
First one: Allspark
ROTF: Pyramid thing
DOTM: Those pillar things
AOE: The Seed
TLK: Staff thing or something
DOTM literally completely proved the fact that the Autobots aren't the problem with the destruction of Chicago, which was saved by the Autobots. I mean all you gotta do as an Autobot is be like "Hey humans look, this is what the Decepticons are here for. We 'aint the problem."
Do the Autobots not give a shit about collateral damage? Absolutely, but as far as I know that was never actually a reason as to why humans started killing them.