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Published On: Thu, Jul 3rd, 2014

Five Biggest problems with the ‘Transformers’ franchise

Before discussing the biggest problems with the Transformers franchise, especially Age of Extinction, let me say that I’m not a Michael Bay hater and I actually enjoy the Transformers, but at the same, they are always such a let down. If you don’t want to be exposed to spoilers then please don’t read on and then complain.

I’m certain that I’m likely going to upset everyone here: fans of Bay, haters of Bay, Transformers die-hards and even the middle-aged men who don’t want these films to be made for kids.

1. As stated in my review of AOE: Ehren Kruger needs to go.

Here’s a recent quote by Kruger which will prove my point:

When you’re talking about aliens, robotic machines which disguise themselves as vehicles and animals, you start to make your peace with the idea that logical sense doesn’t have to be the be-all, end-all. It needs to be amazing fun for the audience. They need to be swept up, and be promised that they’re going to see things that make it worth spending money on a ticket. (Emphasis added, BBJ The Dispatch)

Transformers-age of extinction-Optimus-screamphotoYou can’t put the creatures and aliens in our modern day world and then pretend that natural laws don’t apply. In fact, the bigger issues here is that the franchise keeps breaking their own rules.

One minute you detail the vulnerability of Optimus Prime’s “spark” in his chest, but when he’s stabbed in the chest he’s fine. They need a spaceship to leave Earth, yet Prime just lifts off at the end of the film without even a hesitation. Autobots bicker like children more than once and House complains about being fat – great writing, ugh!

Kruger needs to go. He wrote the last two films as well and appears to just be a shill for the studio and/or Bay.

2. Are the films for kids or not? If so, let’s lose the profanity and sexual innuendos.

I made it clear in my review how stupid it seemed to have Hound as a foul-mouthed Autobot. Everyone knows Hasbro needs to sell action figures, so let’s use the Star Wars model and just keep releasing them.

That said, if you want parents to take their kids, possibly multiple times, then you need to know we don’t want have to hear about Sam’s adult magazines or masturbation anymore than the witness the exploitation of scantily dressed females as helpless damsels in distress.

3. The product placement is too obvious, distracting and just pathetic.

Which was worse the Beats speaker or the Bud Light bottles spilling onto the ground? Why did the film need to move around the globe to China – oh yeah, to appeal to the mass audiences of Asia.

Audiences aren’t stupid and you’re getting killed by the critics for this, which brings me to the next point.

4. Stop crying about the critics

“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.” – Bay to MTV. Then Producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura makes a fool of himself with this statement:

I think the problem with critics and the big movies in general is they don’t understand the format. So, they’re judging it against the kind of movie experience that it is not trying to do, nor should it. … What I mean is it’s like they’re locked into like, “OK, let’s compare this to a Marty Scorsese movie or a two-hour drama.

Boys – stop talking. There are plenty of popcorn films getting rave reviews from critics, kinda like that whole Marvel thing going on, so stop trying to deflect the blame. Make better movies and shut people up.

BTW, it’s not just the critics South Park is calling you out on it too – watch HERE

5. ‘If it ain’t broke’ vs. An hour-and-a-half would’ve been long enough

More comments by Lorenzo resulted in Slash Film to write:

Critics ravage it, yet audiences still turn out en masse. If they took all those ideas and just focused on one or two good ones, making the movie 90 minutes, people might get mad. Or, grosses could go up because of improved word of mouth and an extra showing per day could be squeezed in. It’s impossible to tell which result would happen. It’s hard to argue with a $200 million opening weekend worldwide though.

The final point is indeed the rub. Bay and Transformers keep churning out big numbers, so expecting a change is probably naive. A 100-minute action packed blockbusters with the Star Wars fan friendly tone seems like a more viable replacement in my opinion, but then again, that makes one of those critics Michael Bay loves to hate.

For my review of Transformers: Age of Extinction – click HERE

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About the Author

- Writer and Co-Founder of The Global Dispatch, Brandon has been covering news, offering commentary for years, beginning professionally in 2003 on Crazed Fanboy before expanding into other blogs and sites. Appearing on several radio shows, Brandon has hosted Dispatch Radio, written his first novel (The Rise of the Templar) and completed the three years Global University program in Ministerial Studies to be a pastor. To Contact Brandon email [email protected] ATTN: BRANDON

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