Transformers: Age of Extinction - in theaters June 27, 2014

[GU-11]

On the TF forums, her name is getting more attention and discussion than the fact that she going to be in TF4.

And now you know why many non-Caucasians adopt "western" names when living overseas.

...But on the other hand, Primus help you if you're a foreigner named Chad or Richard living in Hong Kong. Those fluent in Cantonese will know what I'm talking about.

[peter]

I had a lady come into my office and her name family name was was Supaporn, true story

[GU-11]

I take it she's Thai, then?

[sidearmsalpha]

I had a lady come into my office and her name family name was was Supaporn, true story

Ha ha! An asian girl at work is named Pornphan! No joke!

[Uxi]

On the TF forums, her name is getting more attention and discussion than the fact that she going to be in TF4.

And now you know why many non-Caucasians adopt "western" names when living overseas.

...But on the other hand, Primus help you if you're a foreigner named Chad or Richard living in Hong Kong. Those fluent in Cantonese will know what I'm talking about.

Please elucidate for those of us who are not fluent in Cantonese.

[CoryHolmes]

A guy I used to work with is named Fuk U. It goes without saying that he goes by Frank

[GU-11]

Please elucidate for those of us who are not fluent in Cantonese.

Chad sounds similar to "chutt" which is a vulgar word for penis. Richard, when pronounced improperly, also sounds similar. Certain locals who aren't fluent in English tend to pronounce Richard as "lee-chut."

A guy I used to work with is named Fuk U. It goes without saying that he goes by Frank

You've got to be kidding...

Ironically, Fuk (or rather Fook) means prosperity in Cantonese. I've seen many Chinese try to get around it by avoiding the "F" by spelling it as "Phuque." Honestly, I think the parents of this guy must have hated him to have named him Fuk U. It's almost like a bad racist joke.

That said, the use of the word fell out of favor even among non-overseas Chinese who don't have to worry about being made fun of by foreigners. The main reason is because it's old-fashioned, kind of like the Chinese version of Herbert, Earl, or Norman.

[areaseven]

What was this thread about again?

[azrael]

Alright, enough. Either get back to b*tching about Michael Bay ruining your childhood or else.

[peter]

Alright, enough. Either get back to b*tching about Michael Bay ruining your childhood or else.

Haha, ok, you asked for it. This movie is going to suck the sweat off a dead man's balls either way. Mecha Godzilla would be better than Dinobots they plan for this movie. Just another tornado of metal shards spat out of a blender, woopee-do.

Edited May 23, 2013 by peter

[big F]

Haha, ok, you asked for it. This movie is going to suck the sweat off a dead man's balls either way. Mecha Godzilla would be better than Dinobots they plan for this movie. Just another tornado of metal shards spat out of a blender, woopee-do.

ROTFLMAO

Have you seen it already ?

[Phyrox]

If it's gonna take 100 million dollars for them to get me another Lockdown toy, I'm in. Certainly won't watch the movie though.

I hope there are more "odd" altmode figs though. Ransack the Albatros was a hoot. I'm hoping for something really unpredictable this time.

Edited May 23, 2013 by Phyrox

[danth]

Just preordered Masterpiece Prowl and SmokeScreen. First transformers purchase since Alternators.

First I want to say that I blame you guys. I already have enough collections of stuff, and I have no idea where I'm going to put these. They're just too cool to pass up though, and I have super heavy nostalgia for these two characters in particular from my childhood.

Now that I'm buying frakking Transformers (thanks guys), I hope for Masterpiece Jazz, Wheeljack, and Ironhide.

EDIT: Whoops. Meant to post this in the transformers toy thread.

Edited May 26, 2013 by danth

[derex3592]

I never liked the original series dinobots at all. Doubt I'll like them this go around either, but I'm not a total Bayformer hater, so we'll see.

Edited May 26, 2013 by derex3592

[Vepariga]

I hope the supposed Re-designs are more Transformer looking then the walking piles of scrap metal we have been seeing for the past three movies.

[anime52k8]

I hope the supposed Re-designs are more Transformer looking then the walking piles of scrap metal we have been seeing for the past three movies.

I hope they change it to something so unbelievably atrocious that people will finally have something new to bitch about instead of "ZOMG EVERYTHING IS TEH SHREDDED METAL BLARGHAGHAA!!!!111one1exclamationmark!" for another 6 god damn frakking years.

[David Hingtgen]

I'm thinking it's going to be like T-1000 liquid metal morphing, to completely eliminate any last resemblance to actual "transformations". We already saw a hint of it with the paper-thin guy that Ravage up-chucked in the early part of DOTM.

Or more likely---just like they've been, but with totally different bot-modes. "Yeah, look at the new Prime---now he's a totally rearranged pile of metal shards"

[Dobber]

I can live with the designs...not a huge fan of them but they grew on me a little. MY biggest problem was that they really weren't "Transformers"....I don't mean looks-wise....I mean there was no way those bots could transform into those vehicles. Like, what happened to the hood, windshield, and rear window on BB? Too much cheating/Morphing for me....but what-ev's, I was entertained so I won't complain too much, but that is what I hope they can change. Realistic transformations.

Chris

Edited May 27, 2013 by Dobber

[big F]

I can live with the designs...not a huge fan of them but they grew on me a little. MY biggest problem was that they really weren't "Transformers"....I don't mean looks-wise....I mean there was no way those bots could transform into those vehicles. Like, what happened to the hood, windshield, and rear window on BB? Too much cheating/Morphing for me....but what-ev's, I was entertained so I won't complain too much, but that is what I hope they can change. Realistic transformations.

Chris

If I recall there was a video or something I read from the first film that one of the designers or it may have been Mr Bay saying they wanted the TF's to be a total sum of their parts with no Anime magic as in the cartoons, believable that they could be that car or truck.

Try watching the DVD frame by frame and you can see that stuff doesn't just appear and disappear as it did so often in the cartoons.

My main bitch about it is that the characters are all very two dimensional except for Prime and Bumblebee and Megatron and Starscream.

At least in the cartoons they all had depth, even if they did just seem to come and go and suddenly just turned up with no explanation.

At least Bay has covered that by having the new characters come to Earth as protoforms receiving the signal Prime sent and likely the Decepticon equivalent, homing in on the others that are already here. Endless possibilities for new characters.

Edited May 27, 2013 by big F

[GU-11]

I'm thinking it's going to be like T-1000 liquid metal morphing, to completely eliminate any last resemblance to actual "transformations". We already saw a hint of it with the paper-thin guy that Ravage up-chucked in the early part of DOTM.

Or more likely---just like they've been, but with totally different bot-modes. "Yeah, look at the new Prime---now he's a totally rearranged pile of metal shards"

There's just one problem with that. Hasbro needs to make toys out of those designs, and that's only going to make it harder to make toys out of than the "junkyard look."

[David Hingtgen]

There's just one problem with that. Hasbro needs to make toys out of those designs, and that's only going to make it harder to make toys out of than the "junkyard look."

Yeah, but few industry people care about the "toy-ability" of a design. They make what they want to make as artists. Hasbro surely has a bit of influence (they HAVE to sell toys in the end, it's the real point of the franchise) but screen-accuracy has never been that big of a concern of theirs. Look at $100 ROTF Devastator---the centerpiece of the movie, but the toy had only a vague resemblance and generally sucked ass----Hasbro didn't care that it didn't look like it did on-screen, and the animators didn't care that it'd be impossible to make a working toy out of.

And hey--Beast Machines didn't transform, they morphed in a flash of light. And they made toys of those.

IMHO, "shards of metal" are inherently less toyetic, and is at the root of the general G1-fan-rage. If the body isn't composed primarily of recognizable chunks of the alt-mode, then it just doesn't seem like it could "really" transform into it. Too much stuff "disappears" and then it just seems fake. (as in, even more fake than giant alien robots already are). It's the opposite of a VF-1-----it CLEARLY is made of parts of its other mode, in every mode. You can totally "believe" that it transforms. Starscream however has little more than a pair of tailfins stuck in his collar bones.

[GU-11]

Yeah, but few industry people care about the "toy-ability" of a design. They make what they want to make as artists. Hasbro surely has a bit of influence (they HAVE to sell toys in the end, it's the real point of the franchise) but screen-accuracy has never been that big of a concern of theirs. Look at $100 ROTF Devastator---the centerpiece of the movie, but the toy had only a vague resemblance and generally sucked ass----Hasbro didn't care that it didn't look like it did on-screen, and the animators didn't care that it'd be impossible to make a working toy out of.

And hey--Beast Machines didn't transform, they morphed in a flash of light. And they made toys of those.

IMHO, "shards of metal" are inherently less toyetic, and is at the root of the general G1-fan-rage. If the body isn't composed primarily of recognizable chunks of the alt-mode, then it just doesn't seem like it could "really" transform into it. Too much stuff "disappears" and then it just seems fake. (as in, even more fake than giant alien robots already are). It's the opposite of a VF-1-----it CLEARLY is made of parts of its other mode, in every mode. You can totally "believe" that it transforms. Starscream however has little more than a pair of tailfins stuck in his collar bones.

Good point, especially the part about Beast Machines. You basically just stood the toys upright, and that was the whole transformation sequence.

When I first heard that Bay was going to redo the designs and that Hasbro was going to simplify the designs of the toys, my first thought was that Hasbro wants simpler designs to make toys of, and that they'll be going the WFC/FOC route with more "traditional" designs. But now that you mentioned Beast Machines, things might go horribly bad for the TF4 toys.

As for ROTF Devastator, I think after the massive success of the first movie, Hasbro basically went into overdrive with the toys and souvenirs. They probably thought that the movie franchise was so strong that people will lap up just about anything that has to do with TF's.

With that said, I think they'll limit things to subtle redesigns; I mean, the producers' statements keep pointing to them not wanting to rock the boat. Only time will tell, but I'm cautiously optimistic that Hasbro won't be going back to their Beast Machines days.

[CoryHolmes]

Once again, I must be the contrarian and say that I like the Bayformer designs. Sure, they don't have the G1 nostalgia, but they have a charm all their own.

Except for Optimus' mouth. That @)*! has to GO.

[peter]

If I recall there was a video or something I read from the first film that one of the designers or it may have been Mr Bay saying they wanted the TF's to be a total sum of their parts with no Anime magic as in the cartoons, believable that they could be that car or truck.

Try watching the DVD frame by frame and you can see that stuff doesn't just appear and disappear as it did so often in the cartoons.

My main bitch about it is that the characters are all very two dimensional except for Prime and Bumblebee and Megatron and Starscream.

At least in the cartoons they all had depth, even if they did just seem to come and go and suddenly just turned up with no explanation.

At least Bay has covered that by having the new characters come to Earth as protoforms receiving the signal Prime sent and likely the Decepticon equivalent, homing in on the others that are already here. Endless possibilities for new characters.

The reason the characters are all very two dimensional is because they waste too much time with the human characters, of which most of them are useless and unecessary.

[big F]

The reason the characters are all very two dimensional is because they waste too much time with the human characters, of which most of them are useless and unecessary.

So true. Less squishy time more metal time I say!

I still kinda like the Bayformers but I also love the G1 / 2 TF's so I'm very split on the whole subject.

[CoryHolmes]

Isn't Stephen Spielberg the one whom insisted that there be emphasis on the humans and Sam's relationship with Bumblebee?

[s001]

Ha ha! An asian girl at work is named Pornphan! No joke!

Whoa! I woudn't mind to get to know her.

Isn't Stephen Spielberg the one whom insisted that there be emphasis on the humans and Sam's relationship with Bumblebee?

Yeah. That totally stinks of Spielberg.

[GU-11]

Yeah. That totally stinks of Spielberg.

Yup, it's him. Our friend Steve here wanted his little ET reboot with the whole "boy meets alien" thing, and pretty much overrode what Bay and the writers were initially planning (whatever that might be, though Bay hinted at something less urban and more military). And since he's the producer and one of Hollywood's big kahunas, Bay and Orci/Kurtzman had nothing but praises for his idea...in public, at least.

FYI, he's also partly to blame for the stupid comedy in the movies. He kept encouraging Bay (who basically needs no encouragement when it comes to idiotic humor) to keep making those jokes. Bay kept saying Spielberg gave him high-fives whenever a joke appeared on screen, whenever he brought new footage to the man's house during production of the first movie.

In the ROTF commentary, Orci and Kurtzman were also on record saying that it's the jokes that bind the difference age groups together.

[big F]

In the ROTF commentary, Orci and Kurtzman were also on record saying that it's the jokes that bind the difference age groups together.

I had forgotten that and also disagree with it my friends 6 year old, well he was when the first film came out though the peeing humor was dumb.

So the age thing is mute AFAIK. They just needed something to justify the lack of intelligent humor.

[azrael]

Alright, time to get the rage on.

Autobots:

http://michaelbay.com/2013/05/28/transformer-4-cars/

http://michaelbay.com/2013/05/28/transformers-4-cars-c7-corvette-stingray/

http://michaelbay.com/2013/05/29/optimus-prime/

These are the names so far. This may change by the time this hits theaters.

2013 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse is Drift

2014 C7 Corvette Stingray is Slingshot.

[David Hingtgen]

IMHO, the Spielberg-influenced parts of the 07 movie are actually some of the best parts. Because it actually gives BB and Sam some character. And development. Would their friendship have meant anything or even existed if Bay had done it 100%? He'd just have replaced it with 45 minutes of un-named soldiers shooting at shards of metal.

As for Prime---a Western Star? Gag. That's like taking Tracks from a 'vette to a Malibu....

Also, I think keeping the exact same paint job is a waste. They had an opportunity to make it either more G1, or simply "yet another new take on red+blue". Either would have been preferable. I think the original paint was better---had the orange accents, and I swear the flames looked "flamier".

And yeah---an

Aerialbot

as a Corvette, after Sideswipe was a Corvette. And not Tracks as a Corvette. That totally makes sense. I'm guessing Bay just has a big alphabetical list of names of every TF ever, and picks the ones he likes best with no regards to historical alt-modes.

[big F]

So Bugatti which is owned by Volks Wagen is allowed to be used, but VW flat out refuse to use any of their products to depict transformers as they are machines of war. Still clutching onto that one then VW ? Get over it the war was 70 years ago and the VW from then isn't even the same company that started production after the war. You supply trucks to the German and Dutch armies and they may actually use them for war one day.

The prime reformat looks ok.

The green Corvette is nice.

Not sure about the Bugatti though it looks a little radio controlled car body shell to me, buy that I mean amateur paint job, not something you'd pay big bucks for.

The Veyron IIRC cost well over a mill to make and VW essentially make a loss on everyone they sell.

Did anyone look at the forum and twitter feed to Mr Bays web site. Talk about kiss asses. No wonder the guy thinks he is the most amazing thing since the invention of oxygen.

Edited May 29, 2013 by big F

[Kelsain]

Sheesh, nothing like "disguising" yourself as gaudy car show cars that'll attract everyone's attention...

[mecha2241]

Sheesh, nothing like "disguising" yourself as gaudy car show cars that'll attract everyone's attention...

Sure, because using Toyota Corolas and Honda Accords would be so much better...

[GU-11]

Honestly, I'm more concerned with the bot designs themselves. Pretty indifferent to the car modes; they've all been flashy and eye-catching since the first movie, so it's nothing new.

They just needed something to justify the lack of intelligent humor.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

IMHO, the Spielberg-influenced parts of the 07 movie are actually some of the best parts. Because it actually gives BB and Sam some character. And development. Would their friendship have meant anything or even existed if Bay had done it 100%? He'd just have replaced it with 45 minutes of un-named soldiers shooting at shards of metal.

Well, the Sam character would likely not have existed at all, since Bay doesn't do urban (none of his movies in the past have featured any "non-hero" type protagonists). Lennox and Epps would probably be the stars of the show.

Big F wrote: Did anyone look at the forum and twitter feed to Mr Bays web site. Talk about kiss asses. No wonder the guy thinks he is the most amazing thing since the invention of oxygen.

In all likelihood, those tweets came from his staff, or even "hired fans." It's typical propaganda; can't have people dissing you on your own website.