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Saturday, July 19, 2014

Transformers: Age of Extinction



I suddenly remembered why I hated Transformers: Dark of the Moon after watching Transformers: Age of Extinction a couple of weeks back. In my advancing age I guess am starting to become prone to forgetfulness already. I usually don't like posting negative reviews on this site for not wanting to say anything bad about anything. But for Michael Bay's Transformers series I will make an exception.

Prior to writing this I wanted to see if I was the only one who shared this sentiment. Turns out I wasn't. A lot had been said already about how bad the film is in terms of the cliche story line, excessive-nonessential-to-the-plot-violence and the formulaic explosions that are trademark Michael Bay. Let me add to the noise my own opinion as to what I hated about the film.

I grew up watching the original Transformers in cartoons and the characters endeared themselves to me. Watching Michael Bay butcher them in front of my eyes was like being punched in the gut. The death of Ironhide in Dark of the Moon was one of the sickest scenes I've ever seen. But the brutal and horrific death of Ratchet (and how his body was disposed of) in the current movie was the straw that broke the camel's back as upon seeing it I wanted to walk out already. Then Autobots fighting humans? What???, I don't remember seeing that in the cartoons.

I held on to the sequels hoping that they would finally write in bringing the dead Autobots back to life. That started in the first movie when Megatron split Jazz in half. They have the bloody Matrix of Leadership for cripes sake! Which was said in the Dark of the Moon of having the ability to revive Autobots. But I guess judging from the events of this movie, that just isn't so.

This latest movie just exposes the producers of this movie for the sick sadistic bastards that they really are. What else can you call somebody who has no apathy for the characters in the franchise that was made iconic by the fanatical appreciation of the kids who grew up watching them? What's sad is Michael Bay's own condescending behavior to the criticism's against the film.

They love to hate, and I don’t care; let them hate. They’re still going to see the movie! I think it’s good to get a little tension. Very good [source].


My reaction to that is a paraphrasing of a quote I once read (sorry but I don't remember where I read it from). Right now there's too much negativity in this world already. Therefore, if one can be a force for change in this world, then why not be a force for good?

I go to the movies to be entertained and so that for a few hours I can forget all the pain, problems and drudgery that this world makes me bear. And with the hope that once I step outside, what I have been a witness to can help uplift my spirit, comfort my soul and give me hope that I can overcome this thing called life. If all I see inside the theater is the same thing that I see outside, then I guess there really is no point in going to the movies to be "entertained." Don't you just wish for the old days, when movies always had a "perfect" happy ending?

Sometimes I just wish that there was somebody like a Josh Whedon at the helm of the franchise. Somebody who really cared about the characters and understood the essence of the Transformers saga. Somebody who could not only bring them to life, but give them the dimension that will endear them to the next generation of fans out there. Somebody who can expand the current Transformers universe and not blow it apart. In short, a long time fan him/herself of the Transformers.

In any case, I wish Michael Bay never comes back for another Transformers movie. The depressing thing is that with the movie's great box office results, that might not be the case. So I am expecting to be treated to the same senseless violence and deaths of the beloved Autobot characters that I grew up with. Sad really.

Transformers: Age of Extinction


Update: Just finished reading this review and I have to say that I agree with it.