Transformers teaser arrives early
by Alan Rose 
{ Jun 30th 2006 at 11:35AM }
"It was the only warning we would ever get..." And without any warning, the Transformers movie teaser has arrived four days early. Paramount and Dreamworks have given us a pleasant surprise for the holiday weekend, but I wouldn't count on the multi-platform game launching ahead of schedule next Spring. It has been six months since Activision acquired publishing rights, and they still haven't announced a developer.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Derbeste @ Jun 30th 2006 11:57AM
Ok...so I just watched the trailer.
Thank goodness "meh" is now a word most people understand. I can't think of any other word that really fits.
First of all....what does Mars have to do with Transformers at all? My favorite childhood show is NOT a War of the Worlds knock off.
Secondly.....Did Michael Bay REALLY have to flash his name at the title like that? Holy undeserved ego! He MUST realize that most people expect him to ruin this story. So far.....most people's fears seem accurate.
Lastly....does anyone feel that .5 seconds worth of real Transformer "footage" is going to get anyone excited about the film? It certainly won't excite fans of the show considering he's already altering the story quite a bit with the Mars thing.
My childhood just puked.
P.S. Am I being overly negative? Maybe. But I will say....I really do hope I'm wrong and will be the first poster admitting I am wrong with JOY if this does turn out to be a good movie. Until then....I'm preparing now for the dissapointment.
el nico @ Jun 30th 2006 12:02PM
on one hand, steven speilberg is the executive producer, on the other hand, it's freaking michael bay. i hope speilberg's influence can successfully counteract mr. bay's affinity for loud explosions and zero plot.
"It certainly won't excite fans of the show considering he's already altering the story quite a bit with the Mars thing."
a direct translation of the source material from one medium to another usually leads to terrible results. a successfull director will understand the essence of the story and preserve the essence and adjust other elements to fit in the new medium. it's too early to tell if michael bay will do it.
JaSoN! @ Jun 30th 2006 12:04PM
i second that "meh".
like the way they got the chunky transforming style down in the credits bit at the end though. otherwise it was all a bit crap.
Scott @ Jun 30th 2006 12:07PM
As to the .5 seconds part...it is a "teaser" trailer. You don't normally give away the whole film in a "teaser" trailer.
Your part about Bay I completely agree with though.
Exeter @ Jun 30th 2006 12:07PM
Holy kneejerk reaction, man. It appears that you don't like to be teased.
Martin @ Jun 30th 2006 12:08PM
1'st of all, what does this have to do with videogames? I was so close to sending the Spiderman Trailer to you guys because it looks great, but I though, hmm, videogame website. nahh!!!
But now you post this?? OH WELL! Keep up the good work though !!
Jody Anthony @ Jun 30th 2006 12:09PM
WHERE IS MY CLASSIC TRANSFORMING SOUND?
Derbeste @ Jun 30th 2006 12:18PM
"Holy kneejerk reaction, man. It appears that you don't like to be teased."
Actually, I do like teasers. Most people don't like to sit by me in a theatre when a particularly exciting teasers comes on cuz I can get a little......hyper.
But there is good tease...and bad tease. This was bad tease (.5 seconds of a silouette on mars just isn'te what I call clever). But not just because of the content itself, but because of the knowledge I have of the movie leading up to this. I just have NO faith in Michael Bay. That clearly affects my view of the teaser.
Secondly, even though source material is often changed for movies, I don't believe ripping off War of the Worlds is a good change. Again....that's probably cuz I have no faith in the team doing this.
Lastly, as I said in my "P.S." in my first post, I HOPE I am wrong. This is my favorite childhood show. I WANT this to be good. I wanted the teaser to be good. I have every reason to be excited.....and I'm not.
Jarvi @ Jun 30th 2006 12:20PM
I am an optimist, so I am Hoping that the whole " They are on mars" thing is just the transformers skipping from planet to planet in search of life, happening to land of mars.
Well, here's to hoping.
Add: although if they threw out the whole " Ark" storyline, I am gonna be pissed. Oh, and if they make them evil, which is a possibility.
For the love of Primus, Michael bay - don't make this a bad movie!
Martin @ Jun 30th 2006 12:21PM
Didn't Pearl Harbor Occur on Mars according to Michael Bay???
phantom42 @ Jun 30th 2006 12:24PM
relax, derbeste. don murhpy, the producer has already gone on the record to say that nothing in the announcement (not a teaser, according to bay) is no actual footage from the movie.
the point of this bit was to announce that they're even doing a movie to the general public. wait till the real trailer (which is a ways off according to murphy) before you start making your decisions.
darko82 @ Jun 30th 2006 12:26PM
Martin, the Activision game based on the movie is referenced in the article, and it's noteworthy that there still isn't a developer attached to the project, which is lame on Activision's part.
Hopefully, the game won't be delayed.
phantom42 @ Jun 30th 2006 12:26PM
oops. forgot the link
http://www.d13satellite.com/donmurphy/showthread.php?s=c3df57e57dfc2936ad07a2925c395d4b&threadid=11723
Derbeste @ Jun 30th 2006 12:28PM
@ Phantom
Thank you....That's actually quite a relief. Clearly no news..really can be good news.
@ Martin
Best post I've read in weeks!
CLShortFuse @ Jun 30th 2006 12:31PM
not as meh as www.soulcaliburthemovie.com
DraXXXen @ Jun 30th 2006 12:32PM
Actually, the studios & Don Murphy have said this isn't even the final promotional teaser, but Rather this is simply an 'announcement' video and we should expect actual teasers and trailers in the future. None of this footage is going to appear in the movie, its just quick ad for the site. This is mearly confirmation that the project is moving along at a good rate, we should not be expecting to see anything else at this point
Phoenix42 @ Jun 30th 2006 12:33PM
Does anyone remember the early footage released for X3? The one where we saw Wolverine being thrown by Colossus at the Sentinel? Everyone automatically assumed that the Sentinel storyline would be part of X3, when in reality it just led us off the trail of the real plot. I think something similar could come into effect here.
To quote the Transformers Wiki: "The successive Transformers series focus on two factions of robots fighting out a civil war which spilled over to the planet Earth."
Maybe this means that the Decepticons were on Mars scouting or something. Who knows?
J @ Jun 30th 2006 12:40PM
Michael Bay sucks SOOOOOOOOOOOOO bad. Come on!
Intangible 360 @ Jun 30th 2006 12:47PM
It was terrible, and the premise is equally terrible.
Insomnia Bob @ Jun 30th 2006 12:57PM
Alrighty, let me drop these points:
The whole "mars probe" thing is lame. Yes. But, hey, if an alien race was exploring our solar system, they wouldn't nessicarily bee-line to rock 3, they might set up a listening post. Say, on another, uninhabited body, and conducted recon. And learned what trucks looked like.
So, whatever. And, another poster said that produce man (insert name here) said that none of this footage was from the movie, so, let's not all get too worked up.
Keep in mind, we are not the target audience for this trailer. We clicked on that link knowing what we were getting, and went in with expectations. This is going to be shown in movie theaters, to a crowd of unsuspecting patrons, the nerdier of which are going to practically wet themselves with delight when they see that title. And then, crap themselves when they see Micheal Bay's GIGANTIC ASS NAME there.
Seriously, man, put your name on there if you have to, but did you have to go for 42 point type? I mean, I know Word goes to 72, so it COULD have been bigger, but really...
mandarin @ Jun 30th 2006 1:03PM
It couldnt be that bad. The movie hasnt come out yet and everyone is making judgements already. Watch the movie and then make your opinion.
All talk and no balls.
Thryon @ Jun 30th 2006 1:16PM
Am I the only one that enjoyed The Rock, Armageddon, The Island, and Bad Boys? While I did not enjoy Perl Harbour, the movie did have some merits. I will come to the defense of Micheal Bay. While he may not be Peter Jackson, I do list him in the category of GOOD directors (compared to a boatload of bad ones).
I have hope for this movie.
ejflex @ Jun 30th 2006 1:19PM
I think there was... More than Meets the Eye... to that teaser trailer.
Robert @ Jun 30th 2006 1:20PM
I really think they just should have remade "Transformers: The Movie" scene for scene with live-action and CGI. That would freakin' rock. Keep the soundtrack and the voiceovers and you've got an awesome movie.
And they won't be from mars. No question on that one.
James L @ Jun 30th 2006 1:30PM
One question? Michael Bay? or Uwe?
iconmaster @ Jun 30th 2006 1:46PM
Bay has already confirmed that Cybertron is in the movie. Mars is not the home planet by any stretch.
Sean @ Jun 30th 2006 1:55PM
The one thing that really bugged me about that trailer was the "Mars Landscape", it was terrible. It looked nothing like Mars, it was quite obviously an Earth shot. Now I'm not saying that they need real footage from Mars, but come on at least make it closer to the color of Mars!
vlangden @ Jun 30th 2006 2:00PM
Do you see what has happened? It's a teaser...a TEASER...and its supposed to do exactly what's happening in this comments board - it gets people talking. Theorize all you want about what Mars has to do with the Transformers and how bad Michael Bay is, but remember this - he did play one of the Frat Boys in Mystery Men.
GUIGUI @ Jun 30th 2006 2:20PM
Well, the Transformers Crashing on Mars instead of Earth seem like an interresting altenative for a new continuity.
bigmiz @ Jun 30th 2006 2:21PM
mars has clouds?
mocax @ Jun 30th 2006 2:22PM
It's a bloody teaser. Not a full-blown trailer.
Since when do teasers have any relation to the actual storyline?
We all know the beagle crashed. They just used this as a vehicle for "something's coming". Not "oh the Transformers are actually Martians out to conquer Earth"
GTgamer @ Jun 30th 2006 2:45PM
"One question? Michael Bay? or Uwe?"
I don't think I'd trust Uwe Boll to wipe Michael Bay's rear without it turning into a total crapfest.
At least Michael Bay has "The Rock" and "Bad Boys."
phantom42 @ Jun 30th 2006 2:46PM
bigmiz,
yes, mars does have clouds
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/marscld.htm
and yes, the sky does turn blue usually at around sunset.
Derick Eisenhardt @ Jun 30th 2006 2:54PM
Those little bastards! How could the only release this in Flash 8!? Anyone running something besides Windows or Mac OS, like Linux, is screwed right now... self included :(
I really hope someone figures out how to rip this off the site and put it in a decent video format :/
Jason @ Jun 30th 2006 3:06PM
I really liked The Island. I skipped Armaggedon and Pearl Harbor though since they looked like complete crap (but I wouldn't know). But yeah, I really liked The Island, and given that it's his most recent movie and given the fact that this is a light subject (unlike Pearl Harbor) I'd say Transformers has some serious possibilities.
Rent The Island some time if you haven't seen it.
phantom42 @ Jun 30th 2006 3:22PM
derick,
michael bay's blog has links to downloadable versions
http://www.michaelbay.com/blog/files/d1b400d87fe08917254e634ea78bd066-24.html
Ryan @ Jun 30th 2006 3:28PM
"One question? Michael Bay? or Uwe?"
Uwe isnt even a name, its a noise made in utter disgust.
also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers_%282007_film%29
some current rumors about the movie...not all that promising :(
Tim Sonderman @ Jun 30th 2006 3:44PM
The island is just a slightly altered rip of of Logans Run.
LaughingTarget @ Jun 30th 2006 4:03PM
Tim Sonderman -
You're the third person, me included, that has ever said that. Thank you!
As for the trailer. Eh, defeats the purpose of what trailers are for - to create positive buzz. True, you could nitpick about how Mars looks like Montana, but it IS a movie. It is also fair game to say the rovers don't transmit clear video nor do they move in such fluid motion due to the radio wave delays and solar interference, but going overboard on realism can be a real mood killer.
As for Bay. We may not like him on a movie afficionado level, but the man knows how to make profitable movies. With the exception of The Island, which truly was a joke, all of his movies banked big time. It is questionable this time around, though, since his budgets have only been growing bigger over time. Armageddon at $140 million in '98 was massive, and I can imagine this one really needing to be a winner to make money. I think Bay knows this, too. If he doesn't turn a decent profit on this one, unlike his $100 million loss on The Island, he may turn out to be the next Michael Cimino.
G1 Fanatic @ Jun 30th 2006 4:52PM
Bay is turning Bumblebee into a f'n Camaro. I've lost all respect for this movie. If you can't get the VW license then get something similar to mantain the spirit of the character... like a mini cooper. F'n Bay! Let's send this dog to puppy lake where it belongs.
obo @ Jun 30th 2006 5:03PM
Don't like it? Don't watch it. Don't buy one, don't play it, don't read it, /leave LookingForGroup, etc.
Ahms @ Jun 30th 2006 5:35PM
"40. Don't like it? Don't watch it. Don't buy one, don't play it, don't read it, /leave LookingForGroup, etc"
Yes, let's never critique or add feedback to anything again. Let's just get rid of Comments while we're at it
This a beloved franchise. It's quite natural to see folks nitpick about if they see their favored memories being touched upon. What's it matter? If it *is* bad, then hopefully they do change it. I would love a good Transformers movie vs. a bad one
obo @ Jun 30th 2006 6:03PM
Ahms: I agree, I'm just pre-empting everyone else who was going to do that, so we don't have to see it 20 times.
Ryuukuro @ Jun 30th 2006 6:10PM
I'd complain and say "But-this-is-a-gaming-blog-waah" but I didn't know about the teaser until now so I can't complain. Thanks, Stiq.
As for the trailer? Well, I don't like Michael Bay either but it was an interesting teaser. While this is not nearly enough to go on to make an opinion, it seems like the movie is going to try to be fairly adult-oriented (hopefully not too adult) and is going to distance itself a little from the cartoon and the merchandising we're familiar with. To that I say more power to them! I don't want to see this movie unless it can give me something new and different. As long as it respects the core ideas (transforming vehicle robots that talk and fight each other) and doesn't go into mental autopilot or Disney-Pixar mode then maybe we'll have a surprise on our hands. Maybe they'll even make it . . . smart?
CJMErl @ Jun 30th 2006 8:30PM
Wow, does no-one seem to know that both Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg are HUGE fans of Transformers, ESPECIALLY G1?
Trust me, with THAT level of fandom behind it, I have all faith that any changes done would be in good conscience and with VERY good reason, possibly to make the movie that much better.
Insomnia Bob @ Jun 30th 2006 9:25PM
@Fanatic, #39. Hm, well, that might not be all Bay. In a lot of the newer transformers cartoons, (some of which are kinda cool), Bumblebee doesn't make an appearence, seeming instead to be replaced by a character called "Hot Shot", who's a yellow car of some speedy type.
Keep in mind that bugs haven't really been cool since...well, a really long time. Lindsy Lohan isn't helping.
In my mind, anyway, Hot Shot = Bumblebee, only faster with better lines. (dialouge and aerodynamic. HA! that's a engineering joke there...get it? heh, heh...ehhh.)
Anyway, looks like they did change Bumblebee, but I don't think you can blame Bay for that one.
Scott @ Jun 30th 2006 9:51PM
How is this news related to video games?
Roland @ Jul 1st 2006 3:37AM
Are we watching the same teaser? I think the premise is sweet. The oposing Transformer factions going at it on Mars without our knowledge for centuries, then all of a sudden we intrude on their civil war, they realize if we can pull off interplanetary travel we may be a force to be reckoned with and have engineering capabilities that could turn the tide in their long fought civil war. Sign me up.
We need to stop pretending like our childhood movies and cartoons were such masterpieces. They were the same brand of crap thats out now. We were just kids then and had better imaginations. (I still dont like what they did to the Ninja Turtes cartoon. Yikes)
evil_m0nkey @ Jul 1st 2006 3:51AM
all those in favor of wrapping muchael bys genatalia arnd a barbed fence..
AYE
n8dogg @ Jul 1st 2006 11:25AM
I just had this whole "Alien vs. Predator" feeling about the teaser. These giant, universally evil robots will be duking it out, and the human race will be fucked "no matter WHO WINS".
I didn't watch the show nearly as much as I watched TMNT, but I thought the Autobots were supposed to protect humans or something...