I'm not a big Transformers fan but I've always thought a big movie with transforming robots would be cool to watch. But the designs as I see it go against everything I like about giant transforming robots, the fun of seeing where the parts end up after changing shape, plus not to mention the robot designs themselves are hideous.
Then you add Michael Bay to the mix... man he's just a bad director that knows how to put good postcard shots into movies, but over all his movies are overwhelmingly cheesy. One postcard shot is good, but one after the other over a bad story makes my eyes want to explode. I think I threw up during Pearl Harbor, after the the third time I left.
And as far as G1 designs looking bad photorealistically, I wholeheartedly disagree...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngLOIOSqRvg