Transformers The Movie
 

This is probably old news to most of you but for anyone who hasn't heard of this here it is.

The feature, based on the globally popular Transformers franchise, will be directed by Michael Bay (upcoming The Island, Armageddon). Steven Spielberg (War of the Worlds) is executive producing the film, with Lorenzo di Bonaventura (upcoming Four Brothers), Tom DeSanto (X-Men, X2: X-Men United) and Don Murphy (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) serving as co-executive producers.

DreamWorks head of distribution Jim Tharp stated, "Under the direction of Michael Bay, and with Steven Spielberg executive producing, we know that 'Transformers' is going to be the kind of explosive action movie that is perfect for the height of the summer movie season. By staking our claim on the 4th of July, 2007, we ensure that we not only have the time to make this movie the way it should be made, but also to build excitement and awareness leading up to its release."

"Fans around the world have wanted a Transformers live-action movie for a long time and we are thrilled to work with DreamWorks and Paramount to bring this legendary saga to life on the big screen," said Brian Goldner, President of Hasbro's U.S. Toy segment. "With some of the entertainment industry's best talent on board for this film, fans will experience Transformers in a way that is incredibly powerful."

DreamWorks will distribute the film domestically, while Paramount will handle the international release. Hasbro will work with the production team and DreamWorks on all aspects of the film's creative development, marketing and promotions, and will manage merchandising in conjunction with the release of the film.

This week, DreamWorks is launching the official Transformers movie website at Comic-Con International, being held from July 13 - 17 in San Diego, California. Transformers will also be making its presence at the convention known in a big way, with a huge 18-wheeler truck sporting the instantly recognizable Transformers logo dominating the area near the DreamWorks booth-and much of the convention floor-letting thousands of fans know that Transformers is coming to the big screen on 07-04-07.

Introduced in 1984, the Transformers brand took the world by storm with its compelling saga of the Autobots versus the Decepticons. The innovative "Robots in Disguise" resulted in a tremendously successful toy line from Hasbro and Takara, comic book series, television program and an animated feature film. More than 20 years later, a new generation has discovered the excitement of the Transformers brand and its legendary characters, including the two leaders of the opposing sides: Optimus Prime and Megatron. Today, the franchise features a popular toy line, an animated series on the Cartoon Network and a chart-topping comic book series from IDW Publishing.

Oh dear god no. Out of every director in the entire world, it just had to be Michael freaking Bay, didn't it? There goes another nail in the coffin of my childhood.

I'm ready for this movie, I think it will be great to see Optimus Prime and Megatron go head to head!

Robots that turn into other shit. Who cares who's directing? Some ideas just suck.

Them's fightin' words. Don't you see that Transformers is actually a complex allegory on the continuing mechanization of human society?

Actually, it's just lots of cool robot combat. I may be blinded with nostalgia on this particular topic, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

It'll LOOK damn good if nothing else. Its a safe bet that the effects will be phenominal, even though the movie might not be great.

Yeah, I can't argue with that. My buddy emailed me a commercial, I think it was Scion. A beat starts to play and the car turns into a kick-ass robot and dances. It looked damn cool! But the idea of it being an actual character.... eh.
Noctuary, I see what you mean about the social commentary, but it's always seemed cheesy to me, Transformers. Terminator is much more on the mark in that regard. I mostly stuck with GI Joe as a kid, and Star Wars and Indiana Jones. I don't think I ever had a transformer:D

Hee hee. It was just a joke, man. As an English major, I've been trained to find hidden meaning in even the most frivolous nonsense. If that seemed believable, I guess I'm doing a good job. :D

The funny thing is, I probably could write a paper on just that subject, even though Transformers is (of course) just a cheesy kid's cartoon, as you said.

My opinion on this is that the live-action Transformers movie will either be really great or be complete dog shit. Unfortunately i have to go with the dog shit. First off, and this is only based on what i've heard, but that the guy who did the voice for Optimus Prime, will not be doing the voice for the movie. I mean come on its Optimus Prime, you can't go and change his voice! also he better be a Semi-truck not a firetruck and if Megatron transformers into a stupid purple and black 3headed dragon, i'll be extremley pissed!

Wow, you've combined like 3 different genreations into one.
First off, the guy who is playing the voice of Prime in the Anime stuff sounds a lot like the original voice in my opinion. Besides you really think that the guy who did the voice would: a) Be alive to do the voice, b) Want to do the voice, c) Be able to do the voice without sounding his age which is probably kinda old by now.
Second, the firetruck is from one of the early Anime versions of Transformers, and this film has said that they will be following the original Generation One series. So Prime will be a Semi-truck.
Third, Megatron turning into a dragon was from Beast Wars. And as I said already this movie is about Generation One. So the worst we would put up with is the fact that Megatron turns into a little gun that Starscream always used.

But seriously people should not go into this movie expecting some great complex story or total faithfulness to the original series. Its just like a standard slasher flick, you go into the movie to see a killer hacking everyone to bits. With a Transformers movie you should be just expecting to see big robots fighting each other.

Megatron also turned into the dragon in the Transformers Andromeda series. You're right about the guy who did the voice, he's probably really old if he's still alive. I grew up in the 80's when Generation one came on television so it's hard for me to imagine some other voice for Optimus Prime. You obviously know way more about the the series and the different versions than i do. Either way, i will definitely see this film in the theaters. I'm glad to hear that they're sticking to the version i remember as a kid.

thanks

KITT
 

speaking of shows i grew up with as a kid, has anyone else noticed that the guy who played Mr Feeney on 'Boy Meets World' was the guy who did the voice of KITT on KnightRider?

I noticed it one day when i was watching 'Boy Meets World' i was like wow that guys voice sounds familiar where have i heard that before?, and then it hit me HOLY SHIT it's KITT!

Well I don't know everything, I forgot that in the Armada line Megatron was a dragon, wasn't it when he became Galvatron though? I'm not sure I watched the anime stuff every now and then I don't really like it that well. I also grew-up in the 80's, and my 3 favorite shows were GI Joe, Ghostbusters, and Transformers. I wish i would have kept all of my toys, I bet they would be worth something now. I've stared trying to pick-up the Rhino DVD's of Generation One, but since Rhino lost the rights I've had to search at eBay.

Exclusive Video Interviews: Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman on Zorro and The Transformers

http://www.iesb.net/sony2005/101705.php

For those of us who would like to hear the original voices, the writers talk about this topic.

Re: KITT
 

Just showing my age, I was surprised the guy from St Elsewhere did the voice of KITT (Same actor as Mr Feeney).

As for Optimus Prime, I would swear I heard that voice in a car commercial not too long ago. Voice Over talent can work for a long time. Professional voice talent takes a long time before you can determine age, believe me.

The new transformers may look like this

xania.org/article.php/citroen


or maybe not! :)

That looks preety good but I think that they will improve on it because the robot itself looked too skinny compared to the Transformers.

trailer out??
 

hope theres a trailer (pun intended) out for it :cool:

Re: trailer out??
 

The movie won't be out till '07 so we probably won't see a trailer for awhile.

Transformers Starts Filming in Spring?
Source: Hollywood North Report December 16, 2005

Hollywood North Report has learned that production on Transformers is getting ready to start:

HNR can now confirm that Michael Bay (Armageddon, The Rock) is set to roll into town to shoot his next mega flick, the live action version of Transformers! Set construction in North Vancouver is set to begin in February 2006 with a Spring start tipped.

since i own the first (and only) movie, i cant wait for the new one!!