So...

I'm loving that the general overwhelming consensus is that BARRICADE IS FRIGGING AWESOME!

 

Oh I agree

But he wanted proof, so I provided it

 

Almost every other TF series has also done a better job at retaining a strong traditional aesthetic.  

But I think you're right. I doubt the filmmakers re-used the names for trademark reasons... I think they did it to forge a bond and association with classic characters from TF history... a bond that unfortunately evaporates once you get to the new visual style. It seems problematic that they tried to build this movie on a traditional foundation, then hedged their bets when it came to how the characters are depicted. Clearly, this has rubbed a lot of fans the wrong way.

Not to depict those who like the new designs as mindless yes-men though... but I think it might actually be fair to say that design choices that have created this much of a schism in the fandom, are probably poor design choices by definition.

Why alienate 50% of your fans while pleasing the other half, when it might be feasible to please 90% of your audience with an all-around more appealing style? A better design compromise might have won much more support from across the community. That's the problem with consciously moving in a radical direction... you may go too far.

zmog

 

What derogatory word COULD you use to describe the likers? Its just easier to think up of words to make fun of the traditionalists, so thats why there's more examples... I think.

I guess you could call us... "hippies" or something  

 

Those were used in cartoons and were meant to be kid friendly. Because the shows were targeted to kids. The only exception is Beast Wars and Beast Machines. But unlike A/E/C, those 2 shows were animated in Canada & not in Japan for the kiddy audience

I notice Neon Genesis Evangelion and Gundam being thrown around. Those shows are more "mature" thus the robots get a more mature look. Those shows are hardly kid friendly, it's more late/early teens or young adult friendly

 

That's total rubbish.

There have been alot of fans who simply don't care for the design and have stated as much. Still, for your convenience, you choose to ignore them entirely, downplaying their opinions. I mean, seriously, where are you pulling this 90% from? I mean, I'm sorry, but I get tired of constantly being lumped together with the GEEWUN superfanatic because you don't care to admit that there are people out there who don't share your opinion.

The fact is, your being as close-minded as some of the G1 fanboys you describe.

 

We need to stop criticizing each other. Plain and simple. Those who like the designs need to stop complaining about those who don't, and vice versa. Nobody should have to defend their opinions. Too many personal attacks going on. Probably time to close the thread, but of course that's not my call to make.

 

Fair enough... I did read that, but it seemed like kind of a weak disclaimer for some of what you said, so I called your bluff. Your thesis overall is what incensed me.  

I don't know what to say. I think that it's incredibly shakey to suggest that there isn't a pre-established context and style for Transformers beyond "alien robots that transform". That's incredibly... er... wrong.  

I'm not just talking about the context of the plot, but the context in our pop-culture. Transformers have almost always "looked" like Transformers. These designs do not. That is the context.

I'm sorry, but your example is a bit weak. Brave Series robots ARE stylistically linked to Transformers on an explicit level. They are not only aesthetic cousins, but practically "siblings". Or more accurately, Brave Series robots are the offspring of Transformers, with a little bit of 70's+80's gattai Super Robot thrown in for good measure. That's at the cartoonish edge of Transformers. At the other end of the spectrum, you have the somewhat more realistic Alternators aesthetic, which STILL bears almost no resemblance to the movie-formers.

Furthermore, to say that there "is no Transformers genre" is borderline absurd. Really.

Well, here we get into the murky domain of the TF canon... I never really expected the interior of a Transformer to look just like a real car, nor would I expect them to have a "new car smell". Some artists have depicted them this way, others have not. Also, it is patently obvious that TFs are not composed entirely of metal, but are, like cars, made up of various plastics, rubber-like materials, fluids, electronic components, and god-knows-what-else. Considering that this is an interesting but minor detail of often debated TF biology, I would say that it's quibbling compared to the larger issue of the complete aesthetic facelift given to the Movie-Formers, to the point that they are no longer recognizable as "Transformers" per se.

I disagree. It can be a transforming robot, but that doesn't make it a Transformer. Granted, a brand name "makes" it a Transformer, but beyond that, there has been a prevailing aesthetic associated with the line and the genre that has emerged around it. It's something that I think can be problematic, but is nonetheless largely self-evident. There have been Transformers in the past that have bucked the traditional style, and consequently "not fit in" well with the larger line. For the most part though, these were exceptions.

Well, I think Nirvash is pushing it, but Brave Robot and Dancougar are certainly in step with what is considered to be the TF aesthetic. I have no qualm with that. Considering the nature of the movie designs, I hope the irony of your statement about "blocky robot modes" is appreciated.  

I think a large proportion of the fandom actually would disagree with that. And the fact that half (give or take) of the fandom disagrees on the point of these movie designs, to me indicates that whether or not the designs are cool/new/different/realistic... they are neither iconic or effective enough to satisfy the traditional aesthetic. Wanting to see something new doesn't necessarily mean that something new needs to tread directly on an established type...

For example, I wouldn't want to see the live action Evangelion movie featuring blocky TF-like giant robots , just because it's "new". Conversely, I don't think a Transformers movie should feature spindly, pseudo-organic alien monsters. It may sound like a ridiculous comparison... but then, maybe you might now understand how some of us feel about the new movie style.

(not that EVA units are really robots anyway, but you get my point)

er... that IS the answer to the question, isn't it? It's amazing how you can state and restate "the point" while apparently refusing to acknowledge it.  

Traditional Transformers are determined by Tradition. That allows us to determine what is "normal" for Transformers and what is not. The movie designs are not normal for the established "genre" (or if you prefer... "tradition"), so it should come as no surprise that many consider them "inappropriate" (me for one).

You can be happy to see something "new" and "different"... but I think it's fair to say that it doesn't fit with the traditional style of Transformers... and for the highly anticipated first live-action TF movie... the most expensive giant robot movie ever... that's kind of a shame.  

zmog

 

I find it saddening that you don't think "kid friendly" can also be "adult friendly".

*trashes entire collection of GaoGaiGar episodes*

*trashes IRON GIANT dvd*

...

*looks around... trashes entire Transformers collection*

 

zmog

 

Very interesting this movie would be......

Still no toy robot mode of optimus & megatron huh!

 

You know, our rules apply to EVERY thread in this forum right? So why is it every time we get movie news, it degrades into a flame-fest about differences in opinions? READ THE RULES/INFO PAGE!

To all those involved, your privilege to post in this thread has been removed.

-TFW2005

 

Hopefully soon. Seems we're getting new news daily.

 

Aw, I missed it. Can someone PM me with the contents of the offending posts?

 

They're still there. We simply won't tolerate movie news degrading into debates about opinions.

 

When are we gonna see a TF with light-up eyes!?!

 

Well, I certainly hope this modration is more even-handed than past threads. There's another thread out there where the "naysayers" were removed, but the equally viral "supporters" continued to post.

 

Then I'd highly recommend anyone to use the "Report Bad Post" function instead of replying to those posts and making it worse.

 

Is that what has been going on? Someone says something that someone doesn't like, so they report it?

 

It certainly a resource that we use, yes. But we still pass the final judgement on whether or not we need to take action on a post.

So someone who reports a bad post simply brings it to our attention. If it's not bad, we let it ride. If it is a problem, we address it. We don't blindly edit out all posts simply because someone reported it.