Transformers 2007 was the first movie in a series, though like any first movie, it's always best to end the story on a high note, while always leaving the door open for sequels. Transformers does this, the Decepticons are defeated, the Autobots and the humans won the battle, and Optimus ends with the line: "With the All Spark gone, we cannot return life to our planet. And fate has yielded its reward: a new world to call home. We live among its people now, hiding in plain sight, but watching over them in secret, waiting, protecting. I have witnessed their capacity for courage, and though we are worlds apart, like us, there's more to them than meets the eye. I am Optimus Prime, and I send this message to any surviving Autobots taking refuge among the stars. We are here. We are waiting."

The only thing that really sets up the sequel is the mid-credits scene of Starscream flying into space.

So what if 07 was the only movie in the series? No sequels (for a long time anyway) and it was one of a kind. Honestly I'd be happy, because it felt like a fitting conclusion for all the characters stories and plus no shitty movies. Of course Paramount would return to the series later, cause it was successful, but with most likely a new cast.

How would you feel about this?

 

It would fix a lot of continuity bullshit by being standalone.

 

Animated might've gotten its Season 4 if stores weren't trying to sell RoTF toys instead of Animated ones.

 

Hasbro could then focus more on making movies of other IPs of theirs, before doing their TF sequel.

 

I think we would look back on it way more favourably, as a product of its time on one hand, but also a movie that revolutionized VFX, took a first crack at adapting Transformers, got some things right and paved the way for better things, on the other. Sort of like Marvel's original Blade movie, maybe? So definitely not a "bullseye" at adapting Transformers, but I still think it got some things right and the VFX hold up impressively, regardless of what followed after its success. It was an honest effort. Dare I say, I admit moments of rare and genuine artistic merit, even. The sequels took everything it did wrong and amplified it progressively and exponentially, so, that reflects badly on it, too.

 

i think it would have stood stronger on its own over the years rather than be dragged down by the shortcomings of the sequels.

 

I can only speak for myself but if it was just one film I'd definitely be at least a bit more forgiving towards its shortcomings.

It's still a mess, but at least it'd be a more ... tolerable mess.

 

It cannot end while Starscream is alive. Either all Decepticons die they don't and die in sequels. If Transformers is gonna be a standalone movie, I would have to revamp the story significantly.

 

is it bad i still really want a tv series based on the first film. it had all the pieces of a great series; the autobots working under the radar, the cons either incognito or wrecking shit, S7 on the hunt for them all and sam and mikalea caught in the middle

 

It can easily be a standalone film, we can just ignore the rest as it has a simple story to tell.

 

For me it was a standalone film until Revenge Of The Fallen

 

We'd probably have a bunch of fans screaming for over a decade about why there's no sequel. Still, as a standalone, I imagine it'd hold a unique place for being one not due to financial performance.

 

yeah, it would have been cool to see that on TV.
But then again I'm not sure if they could have been able to replicate the CGI decently using the standard TV budget...

 

no i know thats not possible i just meant a animated series that was based on the film specifically

 

It would have been good as an experimental thing, seeing what worked and what didn’t. Clearly general audiences liked the action and visual effects, while many people were less happy with the messy designs, potty humor, and shaky camera. Long time fans of the brand also did not like the drastic changes to character designs and story elements. Paramount could have taken this “experiment” as a learning opportunity and either made a reboot or even just a sequel that would be more well received by both fans and general audiences, but instead they decided to not learn anything from their mistakes and actually double down on them. Four times.

 

I think that could have been very interesting, an animated series tie-in of sorts. I guess they tried something like that with Transformers Prime with Orci and Kurtzman (Obviously not the same as what you're talking about, but clearly inspired by the movies etc.)