transformers discussion

Transformers discussion

Transformers is the type of movie that really hit it's stride in telling a story. Transforming robots is a tough theme to fill 2.5 hours, so why is this the quickest 2 and a half hours ever? I think it has something to do with the rapid fire style of storytelling combined with 3 sets of really likable characters.
#1- Shia and the hot chick. The reason this works is because the director happened to get Shia right in his prime, before we got tired of him. so Shia- good. hot chick-is a wicked hot chick. nothing wrong with that. These two are a good combo because Shia has enough jokes especially about or involving the hot chick. classic.

#2- the army guy and his unit (hehe unit). Good combo here too. Army guy has a cute family which is barely introduced but draws in the sympathy vote. The group of army guys has some classic jokes while also providing a manly band of brothers type situation.

#3- hot scientist lady and the nerds. Nerds can go either way in a movie, they can be hysterical ala porkey's, revenge of the nerds, goonies, ben affleck, superbad and i think micheal bay knows this. so who does he get to be his main nerd? Anthony fucking Anderson. Brilliant.
Now here's the best part of this movie, any of these story lines could have fllled an entire 2 hour movie with maybe some filler. Instead we take all three story lines and mix them together with giant transforming alien robots. Even if you dont one set of these characters, you're bound to like at least 2 of them. and even if you dont, there is still the piece de resistance; the robots. They are what make the movie unique. They could have really gone either way. If the robots had bad dialouge and done lame shit, this movie would have sucked big time. Bay uses the fact that people were going to be very skeptical about how the robots look and act by building up a suspense to see them. He knows we spent 10$ to see his robots yet he waits to introduce them. Besides the first few scenes with the decepticons and a few quick shots of bumblebee, we dont get to see the robots up close and personal until an hour and 15 minutes into the movie. thats half way into the flick! It's brilliant because we're desperate to see them at that point, yet he satisfies the craving and then some with a full hour of pure robot action. The build up to seeing the robots really builds an attachment so that when you finally do see them, its amazing. For annisquam 2 we can use this same element with the ghost pirates. Not only can we use suspense for comedic effect, but we can also use it to get people drawn into the ghost pirates. We could use a signs type approach of just a few quick glances and sounds off our creatures. Transformers shows us that action/adventure can still be hilarious and in some ways much more comedicly satisfying than the garden variety comedy where you expect to laugh.