Care to explaing this? the Original Transformers G1 Marvel comics issue 1. wich predates all other forms of TF media.

Also, this is Prime very first incarnation outside his origin as a japanese toy. Even this guy doesn't hesitate when it comes to take out the entire Autobot and Decepticon fleets if it needs to be done, also note his line "even if we die, at least our enemies will die with us".

So much for the guy not willing to kill, are you ready to admit the only reason they weren't explicit deaths at the hands of Prime in the cartoon is because it was a kid's cartoon after all? I don't think you will, but discuss anyway.

 

No, they won't, because the idiot version of Optimus is in line with their ideology, even though both parties completely absolve themselves of the consequences of their actions.

 

I just don't like him exectuting enemies that are already badly injured and defeated.

 

Same for me.

 

I'm fine with the two attitudes, one is the unrealistic "superhero" attitude [It's unrealistic and gives a new meaning to the word "stupidity" sometimes, but I'm used to it, half of the superheroes act that way], other is the more realistic and "soldier" attitude [which I find way more interesting].

It's more a fact of being realistic or not in my opinion, his original attitude was too merciful for someone who's fighting a goddamn war [it's fitting for a superhero, though], but I can go with it because I'm used to it, his attitude in the movies is way more realistic.

 

I hear you, Balder. Like you said, the first attitude is completely stupid: it ignores the self-destructive consequences of letting the bad guy live in favor of self-righteous moral posturing, all while callously disregarding the innocent people the bad guy has hurt.

 

It's not about whether Optimus has killed before(of course he has), it's more about his attitude towards killing, and whether he goes about it in an honourable or a bloodthirsty manner.

"Give me your face" "We will kill them all" "You die" etc.

 

fans complain when Optimus doesn't fight, then they complain he fights too much...bunch of whiners needs to go find $.50, and call someone that cares...

rather have Optimus be ass-kicking than get ass-kicked...

 

damn this, I love the "soldier" OP of movies, he's more... "serious"
first movie = peaceful; ROTF = angry, but not brutal yet; DOTM = outrageous, he needed some vengeance; TF4 = corrupted = Nemesis Prime... ok, the last one no xD

 

I'm with you.

Which, in warfare, is totally justified- especially if your side faced extinction.

 

I think the Give me your face, and Kill them all lines are just, well lines to get people excited or forewarning that a decepticon ass kicking is about to begin. I honestly love the excess violence because its not real.

The realism lies in that people or in this case robots die, just like in a real war no mercy. However, unrealisticly they happen to die in a brutal manner. On the bright side at least the Optimus and the autobots are more powerful than decepticons for a change. Here numbers don't count for anything apparently

 

I'm always good for a kill but in the movies you can tell that Optimus is at a stage in the war when he's just had enough. He's sick of fighting and just wants to live in peace and after all he's lost more than one brother-in-combat which is more than enough to piss off a squad leader like him.

I think he feels that he's Optimus PRIME he's their leader, he's supposed to keep the peace and keep his soldiers alive and it just got to a point with him that he just had enough.

*SPOILERS* Besides, the Autobots' false agreement to leave the planet to scare the shit out of the humans was something that was building up since the first movie. *SPOILERS*

He's been trying, God knows how long (Sorry I'm not good at remembering numbers) To end the civil war and on top of having lost his planet, soldiers, and now being betrayed and lied to by these insects he's simply taken enough crap. (No I'm not Pro-Decepticon I just agree when someone's a bastard, then they are a bastard coated bastard with bastard filling.)

P.S. Sorry if I seem a tad repetitive.

 

So you people want this prime: " oh i'm gonna let my enemies, wich have mercilessly murdered my planet and closest friends, go, and despite the fact that if i let them go, they will kill more of the ones i love. "
Over this prime "i finaly have the chance to end the great war, it hurts that i cant do anything to change my enemies mind about doing all this, but to save the universe and protect life, i must. Theres no other way."
The violent prime is wiser than the other one, despite them being the same character.

 

Soldiers kill, superheroes do not. Isn't that true?

Should be noticed that I have absolutely no problem with that attitude what-so-ever, but then again, I've been called a sociopath before.

Different matters entirely [no direspect meant here in the following words], you're a soldier [as far as I know] Optimus is the political and military leader of the Autobots, in-law-speaking, he has the authority to decide what punishment his war-prisioners should have.

It's basically a martial court.

As I said, we can't compare things.
Besides, Optimus doesn't gun down soldiers who surrender that oftenly either.

 

Optimus killing the Decepticons was never an issue for me, but some his dialogue is just.....not what I'd expect from an Optimus Prime character.

His best kills are the ones where he's just cool and detatched: Bonecrusher in movie 1 and the six or seven he cuts down in Dark of the Moon before nailing Shockwave. Sublime, fantastic stuff.

 

@fatal, this isnt an ordinary war based on law & politics ect. , its personal.

 

Idealism vs. Pragmatism

 

I find those lines humorous rather than offensive. It's not something I complain about.

But there is something kinda off kilter about it where here's this character who's supposed to be the very embodiment of all things noble and virtuous... and here he is ripping faces apart with rusty hooks. One moment he's delivering some high-minded lecture about freedom and justice, the next he's tearing out spinal cords in gruesome fashion.

This isn't something that ruins the films for me. Again, I find it more amusing than objectionable. It's kinda cool in some respects. But I certainly see the point of those that do have a problem with it. Try to imagine what it would look like if they showed a human hero ripping apart human enemies in such a gratuitous manner.

 

Rambo 4 springs to mind

 

So, a compassionate Prime who values peace over everything is "stupid"? My ideals line up with my favorite portrayals of Optimus; he just wants peace for his race, but he knows that under certain circumstances, fighting is the only answer. I don't relate to a vengeful killing machine at all, so I guess that's why I don't like his Movieverse portrayal. But hey, that's just my opinion; if you prefer a more violent Optimus, that's fine, I just wish people wouldn't act like that portrayal is absolutely the right portrayal, and if you don't think so you're clearly an idealistic idiot.