Paramount has just sent out an email reminding people of the Blu-Ray release on Monday of Transformers Dark of the Moon, Ultimate Edition.
You can get a sneak peak of the Blu-Ray on the Facebook Page here.
Transformers-themed pub could be Britain’s Best Home Bar
A Transformers-themed pub is in the running to be crowned Britain’s Best Home Bar, in a competition being run by Liberty Games. The winning bar, chosen… [more]
TFNation 2019 Transformers Convention Review
This last weekend saw yet another Transformers convention take over the Metropole Hilton, in Birmingham. These weekends have become a staple of my summer… [more]
Annual Transformers Forum Meet Tour
Every year, since 2011, the nerds from TheTF.Net forum (now a Facebook group, because running a forum proved too much like hard work) have met for a weekend… [more]
Our 2019 Forum Meet took place this weekend, in Cardiff
This weekend saw our annual forum meet being held in the Welsh capital of Cardiff. Each year we meet in a different town or city in the UK, alternating… [more]
Video Footage from Transforce in 2001
Almost 18 years ago (crikey, has it been that long?) we wrote a review of our visit to Transforce in August 2001. It was a seriously hot day, but a great… [more]
‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’ defies critics with Oscar nominations
‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’ has been a surprising film. While many of us may share a common hostility to the movie and its explosion loving director, there is no question that most people ignore our opinions. They don’t seem to share our appreciation of the toys or heed the reviews from film critics. It may stick in the throat, but we have to say that the production with the silly title has proved a good many of us wrong.
A learned film critic once pointed out that the ‘Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon’ might have been a better title. However, it would have led people to compare it (unfavourably) with the (more…)
Robert Redford doesn’t get Transformers
Veteran actor Robert Redford has had an incredible career, despite his tendency to speak his mind. He has played a wide range of roles down the years, in films such as ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ (1969), ‘The Sting’ (1973) and ‘All the President’s Men’ (1976). However, his off-screen opinions have not always been expressed as well as his lines. A recent jibe at Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney smacked of elitism.
While Transformers fans have mixed opinions in relation to the films, many of us don’t think potential admiration for them should be an obstacle to public office. Redford recently suggested that appreciating Transformers films rather than independent movies was indicative of stupidity. He then grudgingly allowed Romney to choose what he wanted to watch.
Transformers fans come from around the world and from all sides of the political spectrum. We don’t all enjoy the films because of their limited characterisation, among other shortcomings. Nonetheless, we do know that it is possible to enjoy a cultural mix. It is possible to enjoy an action movie in the afternoon and a classical concert at night. In other words, we are not snobbish by nature. Redford’s comments might suggest he is in danger of becoming a boring snob.
It’s commonplace among fans to flame each other on the Internet for liking the movies (particularly from the biggest detractors to the ‘Bayformers’) but to bring up a liking of Transformers in a political discussion? Come on Redford, they’re only movies. You sound more aggrieved than we do!
Transformers DOTM snubbed by the Cinema Audio Society – Can expert opinion be trusted?
In recent times, detailed research has pointed out that experts are not always as expert as we tend to believe. A new survey of musical experts found that most of them were unable to tell a Stradivarius from other violins, while fresh work on the decisions of ice-skating judges found them to be inconsistent. Although, as Transformers fans, we are not scientific researchers as such, we believe that we have unearthed another example of expert inadequacy, this time affecting Transformers.
The Cinema Audio Society has failed to acknowledge ‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’ in the sound mixing category. The preceding movies in the franchise were recognised for their superb sound mixing. We do not believe there is much wrong with our ears and we were somewhat surprised to hear about the Cinema Audio Society’s choices. A critic went even further than us and maintained that they had been shocked by the omission of ‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’ from the nomination list.
If ‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’ was excluded from a list of nominations for psychological insight or plot, we would not be surprised. Had it been snubbed for character development, then fair enough. However, for it to be overlooked for its sound mixing is downright odd. Perhaps the Cinema Audio Society has been tempted by the notion of getting their choices talked about. Many judges in different fields have felt that making unusual selections for prizes attracts a higher degree of publicity for their big nights than they would otherwise receive.
It would be foolish to criticise expert opinion in too sweeping terms. Nonetheless, the makers of Transformers films deserve recognition for the things they do get right, just as they deserve the criticism for the many things they get wrong.
More than meets the eye in Transformers box set?
It is clear that there are a great many views on what constitutes good taste. However, a new package for the boxed set of the Transformer films arguably takes the boundaries of taste in a fresh new direction. Some might claim that the most fervent fans of the films are not the most discriminating target audience in the world, but this cynicism will be tested in the balance sheets of the future.
To be fair, the package does have to contain a lot of stuff. Admirers of the movies who make the purchase will not just get seven discs of the films and additional material, they will also obtain a plaque with Michael Bay’s signature on it. Now who doesn’t want that? OK, so it’s likely that ONLY Michael Bay would actually want to own this, but then he has been making the films for himself anyway, rather than for the fans.
The packaging may look a little on the absurd side, but some critics have made similar comments about the films themselves.
The Transformers films have always inspired a degree of controversy. Hence it is no real surprise to see a boxed set of them causing similar fuss. The big question is perhaps whether or not all publicity is good publicity.
Countdown to the Visual Effects Society Awards 2012
On the evening of the 7th of February 2012, the Visual Effects Society will hand out its prestigious awards. Just being nominated is a great honour, as can be seen from the list of contenders for prizes. This event has been held for approaching a decade and it matters a lot to those in the industry. Films like ‘Avatar’ and ‘Inception’ have been previous winners; these films went on to further success at the Academy Awards.
You might guess that a Transformers movie is a contender this time. Transformers: Dark of Moon finds itself going head to head with a range of visually impressive feature films. To be specific, the stiff competition in the category of ‘Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Motion Picture’ (catchy category eh?) includes ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two’, ‘Captain America: the First Avenger’ and ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’.
If Transformers: Dark of Moon does not win this award it could still pick up a gong in other categories. For example, it might beat off challengers to win ‘Outstanding Compositing in a Feature Motion Picture’, ‘Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture,’ ‘Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture’ or ‘Outstanding Models in a Feature Motion Picture.’
While it may be unrealistic to suggest that Transformers: Dark of Moon will win very heavily on the night, the chances of it picking something up appear to be positive. While not everyone loved the film (critics and fans alike), it would be great if those responsible for the final skyscraper scenes got the recognition they deserve.
Michael Bay loves boom-boom!
Some film directors like to tell stories, whilst others are content with how much they can blow up during their career. Transformers director Michael Bay clearly lies in the latter category.
Someone took it upon themselves to count the explosions in Bay’s movies, which probably left them with a week’s long headache (but they evidently had nothing better to do, so tough).
Bay has, for a long time, had a reputation for being completely over the top when it comes to shooting action sequences, certainly when it comes to pyrotechnics and special effects.
We should also bear in mind that we are talking about how many times things blow up in his movies, and not how many times he personally blows up on set. Counting the Michael Bay explosions would be an even bigger task.
According to FrankenSpace.com, here are the numbers:
Let’s begin with the movie franchise he is most famous for, Transformers. There were 128 explosions in the first movie, 211 in the second, and 283 in the third. I can’t wait to find out how many there will be in the rumoured fourth movie, but it’s a fair bet he’ll increase his explosion count again.
His other movies don’t feature quite so many, but there is still a large amount, with the dire Pearl Harbour leading the way. There were 162 explosions in that movie (yet it was still incredibly dull). Armageddon had 121 and then, much further down the list, there is The Rock with 22 and Bad Boys 1 and 2 with 18 and 31 respectively.
We will unlikely see as many in Bay’s next project, Pain and Gain, a smaller, more serious movie than what we’re used to seeing from him. But I suspect we will see a return to form sooner rather than later.
Digital art challenge for Transformers Dark of the Moon
Whether you were enthralled by Transformers: Dark of the Moon with its stunning visuals and exciting action sequences, or whether you tutted your way through it at the misuse of Shockwave and the erratic pacing, there was a more interesting element to the movie, at least from a behind-the-scenes perspective.
For example, the work done on the movie by Industrial Light and Magic’s team of 156 digital artists saw close to half of the shots being filmed in Singapore. The special effect’s company’s lone satellite office is located in Singapore, despite the company itself being based in San Francisco.
Visual effects expert Brennan Doyle, who led the team in Sinagpore, says that expectations for visual effects and digital art are increasing all the time.
“Motion picture production is becoming an increasingly complex art and it is valid to say that almost every movie produced these days would have some form of visual effect. Digital artists must deliver increasingly immersive entertainment experiences for moviegoers, and this means creating more sophisticated and realistic visual sequences. For Dark Of The Moon, our artists created 19 out of the 36 sequences, which comes up to 24 minutes screen time”.
Doyle worked with the supervisors at ILM to make sure that the work was in line with the specifications set by megalomaniac Michael Bay. He began by reading the script and then breaking down the required effects.
The digital wizard says that the team had quite an experience working on the movie with the biggest challenge coming from working on stereoscopic 3D. Only 50 percent was shot on film, with the other 50 per cent being shot with digital stereoscopic camera equipment.
Transformers star Tyrese Gibson is a big fan
Transformers star Tyrese Gibson has stated that he is a fan of the Transformers franchise and has even gone as far as to say that he watches it in his underwear whilst eating a bowl of lucky charms. A little too much information possibly, but it’s nice to hear that he’s a fan. Apparently, he even has a tattoo of an Autobot symbol on his right arm. That may just enter him into the realm of super fan – although I have one on my left arm!
The next movie in the series, as far as we know, will be made without director Michael Bay as well as its main star, Shia LaBeouf. Gibson isn’t looking to be the focal point of everything which takes place in this next instalment as he is just happy to be involved in a project based on one of his favourite childhood cartoons.
Gibson speaks highly of the first three movies, praising the writers who are also involved in this project. He says that the writing team will be working to reboot the franchise and feels confident that they are up to the challenge. Gibson, of course, has been making a name for himself in the movie world having been involved in Dark of the Moon as well as Fast Five. He is also reminding people of his vocal talents with his upcoming, fifth studio album, ‘Open Invitation’.
Gibson says of his new album that it’s real singing as opposed to sounding like (wait for it) a robot. Transformers fans may now come across his music and new album and gain Gibson some more fans, especially if he impresses in a challenging role without the former director and leading star.
FREE Transformers toys every day in the Daily Mirror
Every day this week in the Daily Mirror newspaper you’ll find a voucher for a free Transformers toy. Today’s toy is Optimus Prime, tomorrow’s is Bumblebee and details of the rest can be seen in the photo below.
Collect then before they run out, as each toy has to be picked up from Sainsbury’s on the day of the voucher.
