The biggest puzzle when dealing with the critical fall out of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen involves the oft-repeated mantra that Michael Bay is only interested in his toys and gimmicks. It's allegedly all about fast cars, big guns, hot chicks, and explosions; all filmed in a saturated glow that makes everything look uber-shiny. Fair enough, but that isn't the big problem with either of the Transformers films. If Bay is only concerned with his fantasies and his toys (probably true), why must his films be filled with so much useless plot and failed character interaction? The fatal flaw with Transformers 2 wasn't the poor attempt at humor, the simplistic right-wing politics, the useless supporting characters, the poorly defined villain, or the often-incomprehensible action. The thing that killed the movie was the fact that there was an entire second act (post woods-fight scene and pre-Egypt) where absolutely nothing happens. The whole middle of the film is just plot and exposition.For a movie that's just supposed to be giant robots killing each other, the movie has more plot than The Dark Knight or State of Play. We have the story arc of Sam and Michela unwilling to tell each other that they love each other, we have the military vs. bureaucrats plot line, we have the origin of the Fallen, the expansion of Transformers mythology, we have the protracted globe-trotting attempts to basically rewrite a story mistake (whoops... we killed Optimus Prime, how can we bring him back?). And none of the plot and none of the character interplay is the least bit entertaining (just why does Sam's college roommate stick around for the entire film?). Maybe it was a writers strike issue. Maybe Bay was just overcompensating; overdosing on plot to pretend like the movie actually has a reason outside of the robots killing robots spectacle. The tragedy is there's probably a pretty entertaining piece of crap 105-minute movie stuck inside that 149 minute bloat.
That's the irony. Michael Bay gets both praised and criticized for basically making bigscreen guy's fantasy pictures. But it's the inexplicable need to stuff his films with pointless asides that kills them. I'm guessing that he still wants to be taken seriously as a filmmaker. I'm sure the (unfair) reception of The Island still stings, as it was a brutal rebuke that told him to just go back to making Maxim: The Movie. Some free advice (because Bay of course cares what is said about him on Mendelson's Memos): if you want to make a real movie, make a real movie. You've done it before with The Rock. But don't wreck popcorn trash like Transformers by filling it with misguided attempts at respectability.
Scott Mendelson
Wow. I don't even know where to begin. Why so much hate?
ReplyDeleteFirst, do some research. Optimus Prime's death and resurrection was not an "attempt to basically rewrite a story mistake." Prime dies in the G1 series and is brought back. Same thing here. Fans of the cartoon expected Prime to die in this one. In fact I had many conversations over the past 2 years where fans said they'd be surprised if Prime didn't die.
Second, did you complain about the ridiculous characterization of George W. Bush in the first film? Was that a form of simplistic left-wing politics? I take it you like Obama and therefore didn't like the way he was portrayed.
Third, and finally, I think "popcorn trash" is just taking it a little too far. You didn't like Transformers, we get it. I happened to enjoy it and in no way did I think it was "trash."
Now I guess I wait until you call me a fanboy or something.
Cool beans about the G1 stuff. Am not that hardcore a Transformers follower, but it's interesting trivia. It WAS a story mistake in that it left the whole final 2/3 of the film without the only Autobot worth giving a crud about. Bumblebee didn't speak and the others weren't developed, leaving only the 'Jive Twin's as our main robot companions for the rest of the film.
ReplyDeleteAs for your second inquiry, from my actual Transformers 2 review:
"Barack Obama is seemingly slandered as well, as he is name checked as the current president and the appointer of the wrongheaded bureaucrat who shows up, questions everyone, and then interferes whenever possible (yes, Bush was gently mocked in the first film, but he wasn't named and his underlings were shown as competent)."
Scott
Well stated.
ReplyDeleteWow. I don't even know where to begin. Why so much hate?
ReplyDeleteFirst, do some research. Optimus Prime's death and resurrection was not an "attempt to basically rewrite a story mistake." Prime dies in the G1 series and is brought back. Same thing here. Fans of the cartoon expected Prime to die in this one. In fact I had many conversations over the past 2 years where fans said they'd be surprised if Prime didn't die.
Second, did you complain about the ridiculous characterization of George W. Bush in the first film? Was that a form of simplistic left-wing politics? I take it you like Obama and therefore didn't like the way he was portrayed.
Third, and finally, I think "popcorn trash" is just taking it a little too far. You didn't like Transformers, we get it. I happened to enjoy it and in no way did I think it was "trash."
Now I guess I wait until you call me a fanboy or something.