So, I've been kicking this around in my head since the '07 movie. Many of you know I'm not a fan, but I myself never quite could put my finger on why. I wanted desperately to like it, and right now I sort of feel the same about next month's release.

 

I KNOW for a fact that the story and plot don't do it for me, but I came up with something else that I've finally been able to articulate recently that explains it for me in light of the marauding toasters, knife wielding minibots and spider-dozers. . .

 

TF1 is a horror film---it relies on grotesqueness, body horror and indistinct chaotic visuals to upset the viewer and create a sense of unease and "excitement"---but in my opinion, not in a good way. I never have cared for the horror genre, from way back. And based on what I've read, seen and heard so far about TF2, it's following in the footsteps of it's predecessor.

 

I know the franchise is making tons of money----I get it, it's financially successful. But I think it would have been successful regardless of whether or not it had gone down this horror pic road. I'm kind of surprised this has never been discussed before---maybe it has, and I just missed it. I used to think that the writers just were that bad, until I saw Star Trek a week ago---I know they can write now. I will most likely see ROTF in the theater, but I might be hiding behind my Junior Mints. Okay, let the bashing begin. . .

No offense but... wot?

No offense but... wot?

 

Just felt like musing a little this afternoon. So do you agree or not?

Im not sure I understand what your saying. TF1 is a horror movie? I thought it was just poorly designed characters with exceptional CGI and a mediocre story.

Im not sure I understand what your saying. TF1 is a horror movie? I thought it was just poorly designed characters with exceptional CGI and a mediocre story.

 

I totally agree with you on the surface. It's just that I've been constantly troubled by that $700 million cha-ching we've heard about over the last 2 years. Why do tons of people love "poorly designed characters with exceptional CGI and a mediocre story", and yet I (we) don't? I didn't and don't want the franchise to die because of the film or anything. I just wish it was enough for me.

 

I know I'm being too subtle in the title of the thread---what I'm getting at is all the things that are ready to jump out and take a chunk out of whoever on screen---toasters, cd players, gremlin-faced screw-up car twins. It just isn't for me, and I think it lines up pretty well with the horror genre because of a lot of that stuff.

 

I gotta confess that a lot of my waxing rhapsodic comes from the field I'm in---but without the 20 years of TF proceeding the film, I would never have gone to see it. I don't hate those who have or will---I just don't get it yet, kind of like a good portion of the bebop I've listened and played in my career.

 

Sorry about the wordy posts. . .

I'll actually agree on the horror part. :tflaugh It's why I love the film.

 

Granted, it's not horror like the Nightmare films, and whatnot, but by the end of the film, I was in the paranoid/suspenseful mindset of "don't go in there, stupid!"

 

Despite knowing who the robot cast is, I couldn't help but watch the Mission City battle and think at certain points, "Don't go near that vehicle, stupid! It's really an alien robot!" (and each time it'd promptly explode, but oh well.)

I've seen alot of Horror movies, and TF1 isn't one of them.

 

Your welcome to your own take, but I just don't agree.

Im not sure I understand what your saying. TF1 is a horror movie? I thought it was just poorly designed characters with exceptional CGI and a mediocre story.

 

I totally agree with you on the surface. It's just that I've been constantly troubled by that $700 million cha-ching we've heard about over the last 2 years. Why do tons of people love "poorly designed characters with exceptional CGI and a mediocre story", and yet I (we) don't? I didn't and don't want the franchise to die because of the film or anything. I just wish it was enough for me.

 

I know I'm being too subtle in the title of the thread---what I'm getting at is all the things that are ready to jump out and take a chunk out of whoever on screen---toasters, cd players, gremlin-faced screw-up car twins. It just isn't for me, and I think it lines up pretty well with the horror genre because of a lot of that stuff.

 

I gotta confess that a lot of my waxing rhapsodic comes from the field I'm in---but without the 20 years of TF proceeding the film, I would never have gone to see it. I don't hate those who have or will---I just don't get it yet, kind of like a good portion of the bebop I've listened and played in my career.

 

Sorry about the wordy posts. . .

 

I can see where your coming from now. I dont necessarily agree with the whole horror thing except in the case of the Decepticons. They just ozze of monster madness. If I lived on Cybertron before the Great War I think I would have enough smarts to know who would turn out bad.

I can see where your coming from now. I dont necessarily agree with the whole horror thing except in the case of the Decepticons. They just ozze of monster madness. If I lived on Cybertron before the Great War I think I would have enough smarts to know who would turn out bad.

 

Well I find it strange then, because I usually go ga-ga for horror, especially when the horror is properly executed. However, the awkward camera angles, framing meant to capture the human characters than the gigantic robots, and character design that tended more towards bestial just made me feel nauseous when you had all those walking piles of scrap wailing on other piles of scrap. Hell, I couldn't even tell that OP beheaded Bonecrusher until much later, and when Megs was throwing Jazz about, I thought it was just part of his arm.

I can see where your coming from now. I dont necessarily agree with the whole horror thing except in the case of the Decepticons. They just ozze of monster madness. If I lived on Cybertron before the Great War I think I would have enough smarts to know who would turn out bad.

 

Well I find it strange then, because I usually go ga-ga for horror, especially when the horror is properly executed. However, the awkward camera angles, framing meant to capture the human characters than the gigantic robots, and character design that tended more towards bestial just made me feel nauseous when you had all those walking piles of scrap wailing on other piles of scrap. Hell, I couldn't even tell that OP beheaded Bonecrusher until much later, and when Megs was throwing Jazz about, I thought it was just part of his arm.

 

Common complaint. The robot designs are so overly intricate that it all looks muddled anyway ya put it. Ironhide and Ratchet seem to be an exception (or maybe we just dont see enough of them to see all their itty bitty spinny gears all the time).

 

All the robots have too much minute detail which isnt a problem unless that detail looks like crap. Case in point, Starscream, Jazz and Megatron. Their silver armor mixed with their silver underparts makes them look like scrap. Sometimes Blackout too.