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Just Saw Revenge...
06-22-2009, 05:50 PM
...Of The Fallen.
Pretty awesome movie - you'll be rooted to your seat for all 2.5 hours of the film.
One thing that bugs the hell out of me, though. They clearly show CVN-74 essentially geting 1HK'd by the Fallen and his cronies
(something that made the voices in my head howl in outrage). And then we see CVN-74 in good order out in the Red Sea. WTF!?
Other than that, the only other thing is how little time we get with some of our Autobot friends. I mean, Soundwave got more friggin' screen time
and he spent the entire sprockin' movie in orbit!
Seriously, I would not have minded waiting a little longer for a serial, LOTR style, if it meant actually building characters other than Spike and Makaela.
And not just the Autobots - we see that Makaela's father is finally out of prison and all he gets is One. Lousy. Line. They made an awesome movie, no
doubt, but it had potential to be an awesomely epic story.
Herr Bad Moon
Unregistered
Just got out of a 3AM showing. I've never walked out of a theater to dawn light before.
Long story short, the technical term for this flick is "that shit be bangin'"
Go see it.
---
Jon
"And that must have caused my dad's brain to break in half, replaced by a purely mechanical engine of revenge!"
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Quote: blackaeronaut wrote:
One thing that bugs the hell out of me, though. They clearly show CVN-74 essentially geting 1HK'd by the Fallen and his cronies
(something that made the voices in my head howl in outrage). And then we see CVN-74 in good order out in the Red Sea. WTF!?
On this point, I have to submit that, given how many Decepticons were dedicated to taking out that one
carrier(I counted no less than four impacts) and one was the Fallen himself (who's demonstrably a minor demi-god by Transformers standards, let alone
modern tech), and it going down to what's essentially a kinetic strike from
orbit, in the words of Mills Lane, "I'll allow it!" Plus, we got our own back when we managed to
take out Devvy with one well placed piece of artillery. Not even the Autobots accomplished that.
Quote: Other than that, the only other thing is how little time we get with some of our Autobot friends. I mean, Soundwave got more friggin' screen time
and he spent the entire sprockin' movie in orbit!
Ratchet and Ironhide got appearances in the previous movies, and the others were, quite simply, named
mooks. Given how little explanation some Decepticons get (literally, the only personalities we see among them are the Fallen, Megs, Starscream, the Doctor,
Jetfire, and Wheelie), I'm content with that. Even Soundwave got more screentime, but his role was essentially "allow the Decepticons periodic updates
of knowledge".
Quote:
Seriously, I would not have minded waiting a little longer for a serial, LOTR style, if it meant actually building characters other than Spike and Makaela.
And not just the Autobots - we see that Makaela's father is finally out of prison and all he gets is One. Lousy. Line. They made an awesome movie, no
doubt, but it had potential to be an awesomely epic story.
The throwaway line to Mikaela's dad is about as throwaway as his mention in the first film was. With Loads and Loads Of Characters, it's
unlikely he'd ever be more than a tertiary character meant more as a shout out to the film's continuity than anything. I'd be more upset about
Jetfire's reasons for defecting being glossed over (as well as his line before using his parts to upgrade Prime
about "this is the only thing worth anything I've done in my life.") than that Mikaela's dad isn't mentioned. Really, I don't
really have many complaints beyond that, but I'm a hardcore Transfan and thus caught all the little nods and nudges to past continuity in the film. And,
frankly, I found Sam and Mikaela getting some character development a welcome change from when they were essentially Human Viewpoint Baggage in the first film,
so YMMV.
---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."
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Umm, BA is pointing out a Continuity goof here, Ops. He's not arguing about if the impacts COULD have sunk the Stennis (Yeah, the Johnny Reb is Tough, but
I dont think she could stand a KE orbital strike either) but rather a couple of minutes later they show her steaming along as if nothing had happened (when at
the very least they could have hung a fake hull number on her to make her a different carrier)
Hear that thunder rolling till it seems to split the sky?
That's every ship in Grayson's Navy taking up the cry-
NO QUARTER!!!
-- "No Quarter", by Echo's Children
Quote: Star Ranger4 wrote:
Umm, BA is pointing out a Continuity goof here, Ops. He's not arguing about if the impacts COULD have sunk the Stennis (Yeah, the Johnny Reb is Tough,
but I dont think she could stand a KE orbital strike either) but rather a couple of minutes later they show her steaming along as if nothing had happened
(when at the very least they could have hung a fake hull number on her to make her a different carrier)
Speaking of Continuity errors. What was up with the green construction truck and the red bulldozer
Decepticons showing up AFTER Devastator had combined?
All in all though very good show. I dont regret a single cent paid to see it 
_________________________________
Take Your Candle, Go Light Your World.
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Well just got back from my own viewing of the movie, and... WOW.
Real quick - to put my spin on the continuity with the carrier - it's no worse a gaffe than Chekov claiming that the USS Ranger (CV-61) was the Enterprise
in Star Trek IV. (And I believe at the time that the Enterprise still had the old "square island with dome" structure rather than its refitted and
more standard looking tower of its later years, so the difference between Enterprise and Ranger was even more pronounced at the time.)
If they want to say that the one that got vaped was one carrier and the other that launched planes and helped coordinate strikes later in the movie was another
carrier despite the numbers being the same - I'll forgive it. Since such gaffes are par for the course from Hollywood. And at least Michael Bey was TRYING
to let the military look good. I'll forgive an honest mistake. Maybe they only HAD the one carrier to shoot around? They just should have been more careful
about showing the hull numbers. If they had caught it, maybe they could've CGed a change?
Anyway -
I have a few minor nits -
-- The two smart cars... weren't. I refer to them as the Jar Jar Binks twins. Maybe that was a subtle commentary? A parody on the whole smart car idea?
Heh... At least they weren't TOTALLY useless. But to have the red one
shoot his way out of Devastator's mouth? er... Not sure if I buy that completely, but ok...
-- I wish we'd seen more of the female autobots! Arcee was clearly named, but who were the two others? I understand - time didn't allow for a lot, but
could we have LESS of the Jar Jar twins and MORE of them? Please? Gah...
-- The sound mix - overall not bad, but sometimes I just couldn't understand what was being said! This may be more me than the movie though - I'm
notoriously bad at picking voices out of background noise. There's nothing wrong with my overall level of hearing, but it's one reason why I dislike
crowds - a LOT. But I've put subtitles on movies before, including the first Transformers movie, for just that reason. Once I've SEEN what was said, I
no longer need the subtitles since I can glom it from context in subsequent viewings.
Nevertheless, when the dialogue was IMPORTANT to the plot - when we were getting exposition from Jetfire for example - the sound mix was clear enough I could
make out most of what he was saying. I didn't lose the plot for this reason, therefore it's just a nitpick.
I will say that the sound effects were expertly done and man, you really FEEL the weight of metal crunching and tearing in these fights! The gun and explosion
sounds can be felt in your seat! Go see it in the theator with a really GOOD sound system at least once. The visceral punch is simply amazing!
-- What IS IT with the Cube/All-Spark ONLY creating DECEPTICONS??? Why doesn't it sometimes create Autobots?
At least it's shown that Decepticons CAN change. That it is and can be a choice. There are two in this movie that do just that.
-- One MAJOR plot thread left hanging (almost literally) is Soundwave. He's STILL hooked into that Military satellite at the end of the film! Then again,
Starscream and Megatron both survive to the end-credits as well. So we're left with fodder for another sequel.
-- Did anyone else want to dropkick the Astronomy professor? Has anyone EVER seen anything THAT ridiculous in College?
-- Could Sam's roommate be MORE useless? Hell, sector 7 Simmons upstaged him!
Stuff that was cool -
-- At the beginning of the movie - AIRDROPPING OPTIMUS!!! Hot DAMN that was cool! That whole Shanghai fight was cool.
-- Optimus Prime versus at least 4 major Decepticons in the forest. You thought him taking out Bonecrusher was awesome? You ain't seen NOTHING...
-- Man - do NOT mess with Bumblebee! When that faceshield comes down, there is some Decepticon ass about to be kicked in STYLE.
-- Better character development between Sam and Mikaela this time around. I liked Sam's arc throughout this film better than the first one. We see him
definitely grow up. There's a nice scene between him and his dad near the end of the film that was touching.
-- And Mikaela getting the drop on the little Decepticon!
-- And the slightly... er... larger Decepticon getting the... er... drop... on Sam. Shades of Beastwars anyone? That was a bit disturbing actually...
-- The former sector 7 guy, Simmons. He started off in the first movie as Frank Burns and was almost to Charles Winchester by the end. Here, he's Charles
Winchester so he's still a prick, but he's now a prick with a heart of gold, so to speak. And... well he doesn't get better per se, but he does get a couple of moments to shine. Speaking of which -
-- Naval RAIL GUN, BABY!!! Eat some of THAT, Devvy!
-- Ravage... yow... Just... yow...
-- Speaking of - the ways in which the Transformers tech was used in this film got REALLY creative! I was impressed.
-- Nice that they had a bit more of the old Megatron/Starscream rivalry going. That really made if feel more true to the original.
--The whole concept of NEST working directly with the Autobots. I liked that.
Can't think of anything else to comment on that isn't pure spoiler at this point, so I'll wait till later.
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Quote: WengFook wrote:
Speaking of Continuity errors. What was up with the green construction truck and the red bulldozer Decepticons
showing up AFTER Devastator had combined?
This one's pretty simple if you think about it, actually. Early on, you in fact see Prime take out
Demolishor(the giant shovel from the opening), and yet his alt mode is present when they combine into Devastator. Similarly, another Constructicon is ripped to
pieces for the "parts" the Doctor demands to repair Megatron. And in the forest fight, we see a duplicate of Blackout(the Pavelow from the first
movie who was confirmed by the director and writers as dead) who gets killed again. From there, it's easy enough to figure out that the Constructicons are
not a 6 man unique team for the Decepticons here, but rather like a specific "class" of Decepticons, who have combining into a giant mech as one of
their distinct features, much like, presumably, the Blackout-class has an EMP generator.
---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."
-- What IS IT with the Cube/All-Spark ONLY creating DECEPTICONS??? Why doesn't it sometimes create Autobots?
Because altruism is learned behavior and can't be "created"?
Chris Davies.
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Because without guidance it just creates feral little monsters who aren't Autobots or Decepticons?
Minor annoyance: if you're going to hire Frank Welker to play Soundwave, make him sound more like Soundwave and less like Classic Megatron.
Other than that... wow. I can see why this is the movie that burned out Michael Bay.
--Sam
"Ba-weep gra-na-weep ninny-bong!"
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I didn't catch the carrier number thing either, how ever I though I the non-sunk was CVN-72.
Soundwave's voice was more Dr Claw to me. Other voices didn't sound right to me like a new voice actor was used for some of the characters.
Logan, I don't recall much trouble with the soundmix. Although if there is one it might be cinema specific, as I saw it in a cinema that could hold
theatrical performances with audio supplied by 10,000 watts of 8 channel Dolby Digital Surround EX* but I was more floored by the visuals and the appropriate
audio cues. I'm definitely gonna get the DVD once it comes. Probably the bluray too....
*according to their marketing blurb
--Rod.H
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Quote:What IS IT with the Cube/All-Spark ONLY creating DECEPTICONS??? Why doesn't it sometimes create Autobots?
I haven't seen Revenge yet, but if it's in the same situations as in the first movie, it's because all human technology is based off of stuff learned from Megatron and is thus inherently "evil". Apparently Autobots have a technological base with a different alignment.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.
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Whoah! Finally this thing got some attention. you guys had me worried that you had no interest in this movie whatsoever.
You know the ironic thing about seeing a carrier get pasted in such a manner? There's been grumbling lately that carriers make big targets. Bay just drove
that point home. Granted, it was an over-the-top 1HK with what was essentially kinetic weapons - and I'm pretty sure I counted at least four solid hits
(fo'c'sul, amidships, superstructure, and aft - the Decepticons knew what they were doing). However, carriers are far from invisible. Subs with air
independent diesel engines are a major concern since they don't have to snorkel to recharge... and are quieter than nuclear subs when the diesels are
turned off.
Anyhow, enough with the military rant.
I do appreciate that Spike and Mikaela getting some development, but it would have been nice as well to see more about the Autobots. I stand by what I said
earlier about serializing the movies. If they could make a plot run effectively over the course of three movies, and you got that much potential material, then
you should go for it.
Sorry, but as much as they've been putting into the films, it just isn't epic enough.
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Quote: Bob Schroeck wrote:
Quote: What IS IT with the Cube/All-Spark ONLY creating DECEPTICONS??? Why doesn't it sometimes create Autobots?
I haven't seen Revenge yet, but if it's in the same situations as in the first movie, it's because all human technology is based off
of stuff learned from Megatron and is thus inherently "evil". Apparently Autobots have a technological base with a different alignment.
I vote that the machines realize what their original purpose is... and they do not like. Really, if you had been a mindless slave that was doomed
to a life of quiet servitude, only to be disposed of once you were no longer useful, and then suddenly you were 'awakened'... what's the first
thing you do?
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Quote: Evil Midnight Lurker wrote:
Because without guidance it just creates feral little monsters who aren't Autobots or Decepticons?
I like this explanation the best, so far.
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Quote: Rod H wrote:
Logan, I don't recall much trouble with the soundmix. Although if there is one it might be cinema specific, as I saw it in a cinema that could hold
theatrical performances with audio supplied by 10,000 watts of 8 channel Dolby Digital Surround EX* but I was more floored by the visuals and the appropriate
audio cues. I'm definitely gonna get the DVD once it comes. Probably the bluray too....
*according to their marketing blurb
--Rod.H
Well as I said - it's possible it was just me having the problem because of my hearing difficulties.
And don't get me wrong, I was blown away by the visuals as well! It's the major reason why I'm thinking of going to see it again. ^_^
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Quote: blackaeronaut wrote:
Whoah! Finally this thing got some attention. you guys had me worried that you had no interest in this movie whatsoever.
Well, I don't know where in the world you are, but yesterday was opening day for us. So it was the first chance we had to see it. I went to an
11:30 AM showing. ^_^
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Logan: I'm in Japan - Forward Deployed Seventh Fleet, USN, out of Yokosuka, JA. I'm about a half-day ahead of everyone back home in the good old US of
A.
Saw the movie Wed night and I plan to see it again. I thought it was a great movie with a few odds and ends that could have been different.
* I agree that the two "Smart Cars" were a bit annoying at first. but that last scene with them was pretty cool (Won't spoil it)
* Simmons - Still a little annoying, but nicely used.
* I also agree that Sam's roommate was mostly useless save for the connection between him and Simmons.
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Quote: -- And the slightly... er... larger Decepticon getting the... er... drop... on Sam. Shades of Beastwars anyone? That was a bit disturbing actually...
I was especially squicked by the fact that her tongue didn't transform with her... leading me to beleive it's because the tongue isn't
part of her.
I'm really hoping that if they do make a third movie they'll go all out and give us Unicron. Or at least Fortress Maximus.
--
If you become a monster to put down a monster you've still got a monster running around at the end of the day and have as such not really solved the whole monster problem at all.
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blackaeronaut Wrote:Logan: I'm in Japan - Forward Deployed Seventh Fleet, USN, out of Yokosuka, JA. I'm about a half-day ahead of everyone back home in the good old US of A.
Which also means he's in spitting distance - so to type - of the Aussie & SE Asian contingent on the board. However my rough maths (done in red pinstripe tape on a piece of display board) has led me to the thought that our active Squiddie saw TF:ROTF on the 23rd, cause I saw it as an matinee on the 24th and I swear I saw this topic up on that morning.
--Rod.H
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just saw the movie saturday, was happy and not happy.
Happy: BOOM! CRASH! BLAM! KISS! BOING! GIANT ROBOT BATTLE! Devestator!
Optimus! Bumblebee!
Not Happy: I don't like Starscream. I know he's a whinging coward, that's not the problem. the problem is that he LOOKS STUPID.
Spoiler
The Fallen: WTF. Where did this asshole come from, and why should I care about
him?
/Spoiler
The twins were.. interesting. I have to re-watch the movie and actually pay attention to them.
Too much action, not enough character development, but - BUT - it was very good action with lots of boom and blam!
and as for the carrier loss - do the math on a 20' nickel-iron KEW at above orbit-drop velocity. Multiply by, what, 5?
The carrier shouldn't have survived long enough to sink as a coherent mass.
"No can brain today. Want cheezeburger."
From NGE: Nobody Dies, by Gregg Landsman
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Saw it yesterday.
The Good: Lots of Giant Robots. Explosions. Adrenaline. All that I expect from a Michael Bay movie.
The Bad: Stupid humor. Seriously ... Giant Robot dick jokes? Who thought this was a good idea? You know, I stopped thinking that dogs humping each other or
your leg was funny in eighth grade.
Ebony the Black Dragon
http://ebony14.livejournal.com
"Good night, and may the Good Lord take a Viking to you."
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I saw it yesterday as well.
It's a great movie, but it could have been better.
I liked all the action/fight sequences, and the special effects were top notch.
That said a few things that annoyed me to no end:
robot spitting
robot balls
the twins (I mean seriously? a gold tooth?)
-Terry
-----
"so listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today"
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Wow. Okay... you guys all must have seen a different movie then me. Because what I saw was pure shit.
Like, pure, undiluted shit.
Here, this sums it up better than I ever could.
-----------------
Epsilon
Giant robot testcile jokes. Seriously.
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Quote: Epsilon wrote:
Wow. Okay... you guys all must have seen a different movie then me. Because what I saw was pure shit.
Like, pure, undiluted shit.
Here, this sums it up better than I ever could.
-----------------
Epsilon
Giant robot testcile jokes. Seriously.
This is the movie I saw.
Ebony the Black Dragon
http://ebony14.livejournal.com
"Good night, and may the Good Lord take a Viking to you."
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