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!

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.

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.

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.