I interpreted what you said as being that the average movie goer who watches Transformers only care about seeing vehicles that transform into robots and that they don't care much more beyond that superficial level, even to the point that they could've gotten away with ignoring basic mythos. re:

 

I think he gives the Transformers plenty of respect. When you consider the world wide audience' date=' outside of TF fans, all they care about as far as TFs is that there are vehicles the change into giant robots. The movie probably could have used any assortment of characters, classic or new, and most non-Tfan movie-goers wouldn't have mided at all. They probably could have made it without Autobots and Decepticons and instead just go with alien robots that can hide themselves invading Earth. [/quote']

 

But I would give the average movie goer more credit and say that they do care about seeing a good story. The special effects in Transformers, and especially in Revenge of the Fallen, are just spectacular. But as George Lucas has often said, special effects are nothing more than a story-telling tool. At the end of the day, a good story is what audiences want.

 

The movie could have been a lot worse in regard to its respect of the TF mythos.

Yes, but the movies, especially ROTF, could have been a lot better. It's not a really good stance to justify a lacklustre production by lowering your standards and saying, "in that regard it could have been worse." That's like looking at the G1 Firecons and saying that they're not necessarily crap toys because there are worse out there. Yes there are worse toys out there than the Firecons, but the Firecons still suck.

 

So I don't agree that Bay gives the Transformers "plenty of respect" - at least not with ROTF. If you wanted to give Transformers plenty of respect then you make your movie adaptation -- adapt it as much as necessary to have a mass audience appeal, but at the same time try to remain as faithful to the spirit of the original source as possible.

 

e.g.:

+ Movie Wolverine: he doesn't wear yellow spandex, but he otherwise captures the spirit of the Wolverine character quite well

+ The Lord of the Rings: despite notable differences, it's a reasonably good adaptation of the books. I'm personally glad they omitted Tom Bombadil... never liked him. :P

+ The Dark Knight: 'nuff sed!

...etc.

 

Remember that it is character development that drives a story (as the narrative is often carried through characterisation). Poor character development (or nil character development) = weak story. If Bay wanted to give Transformers the respect it deserves he would stop treating the Transformers as if they were set pieces and development them as actual "people."

All I can say is that I'm in no hurry to see Bay go. I don't think he bastardized anything, he did what he was asked to do. The first movie was across the board a success, like it or not you can't deny it. The second movie was still very well liked by people in general, and definitely not so much with critics, and about 50/50 give or take with the fans.

 

Now I can see why the 2nd movie turned out the way it did. I liked it, but can kinda get some of why others didn't. However, that movie was made under an extremely odd set of circumstances. So we need to approach the 3rd movie with fresh eyes and not expect more than it needs to be to make up for the 2nd. So long as people walk out by and large liking it more than the first 2, then that will be saying A LOT!

 

I think it can happen...we'll see.

 

However, with or without Bay, if the same timeline and characters are continued on by whoever takes over then what I'd like to see is quite simple. A nice 3 movie arc leading to the arrival of Unicron (seen at end of 2nd to tease for the 3rd movie). I only say this because at some point I think Hasbro will get itchy to work Unicron into the movieverse and I'd rather have it be well planned out and executed rather than something jammed into a single movie at Hasbro's request.

 

With established success and little worries of whether or not they will make another movie, they should take the time to really plan out a series of movies as a whole before proceeding.

There will be a TF4, If Harry Porter, Spider-man, and Pirates can do it, so can TFs. Bay is done after 3, but their won't be a reboot for a long long time. No matter how much anyone hates or loves the TF movies, they made a hell of a lot of money for all the right people. The best chance for a reboot is a new storyline and a new director, that's it. The Transformers will look pretty much the same TF 1-3. They have no reason to change everything when they were so hugely sucessful. Can't wait to see DOTM in the first Midnight showing in July 2011.

There will be a TF4, If Harry Porter, Spider-man, and Pirates can do it, so can TFs. Bay is done after 3, but their won't be a reboot for a long long time. No matter how much anyone hates or loves the TF movies, they made a hell of a lot of money for all the right people. The best chance for a reboot is a new storyline and a new director, that's it. The Transformers will look pretty much the same TF 1-3. They have no reason to change everything when they were so hugely sucessful. Can't wait to see DOTM in the first Midnight showing in July 2011.

 

 

For the record, I think Pirates 4 was not needed. Heck I do not even feel the third movie was needed. In all fairness, I like all things Pirate. I have a documentary from the Discovery Channel that I watched like 20 times, I have played Sid Meier's Pirates like crazy. But these movies just could not do it for me. Jack Sparrow reminded me of a Ferengi rather than a pirate and I just could not understand that at the end of part two they all decided to rescue him. It is not as if he would have done the same for them.

 

Do have part 3 (bought it to complete the series) but I never wachted it as as far as I am concerned the series ended with part two and the crew leaving Jack for dead (as they should in my opinion).

 

I do want a Transformers 4 but I think it should be a reboot which is adults only and sees the Decepticons destroying earth (as in All Hail Megatron) and only the Autobots (without human help) can stop them. The only role humans should play is as cannon fodder.