There's "Jurassic Park."
There's "Independence Day."
And then there's TRANSFORMERS.
If anything, this is the BIGGEST movie I have ever seen. Period. The word "epic" doesn't really do it justice. It actually doesn't feel epic at all, really. "Star Wars" is epic. "Braveheart" is epic. Transformers is just plain "spectacle." And you've never, ever, seen spectacle like this. I will promise you that.
A buddy of mine, who I'm co-writing a script with, works for Alex Kurtzman and Bob Orci, the guys who wrote "Transformers" (along with "Mission: Impossible III," "The Island" and "Alias" ). So I knew my buddy was going to get to attend the premiere and, needless to say, I was pretty jealous. My six-year-old self, however, would not have been able to even comprehend the idea of seeing a live-action Transformers movie, much less seeing it with the actual cast and crew who finally brought them to life.
But then, a couple weeks ago, I got an e-mail from my buddy. He said he had an extra ticket to the premiere from Bob & Alex.
Forget my six-year-old self. At 26, I nearly lost it.
Growing up, I was the biggest Transformers nerd there was. Like every other kid my age, I was obsessed with the toys, obsessed with the cartoon. I had them all and could pretty much transform every single one with my eyes closed. But 20 years later, when they announced the line-up of Transformers to be featured in this new movie, I found myself trying to remember who the heck Ratchet was. Or Ironhide. Or even Bumblebee. All I remembered was loving the Transformers. But I had forgotten almost everything else.
That was, until last night.
Seeing the actual, 25-foot movie-version of Bumblebee, towering over me as I walked past the red (it was actually blue) carpet, definitely jogged my memory. Not because it reminded me of the cartoon (seeing as though he's a Camaro in this one and not a VW Bug), but because it reminded me of how to literally be in awe of something like a giant robot. Of how to feel like a kid again. Plus it was pretty damn cool to be dwarfed by, and standing next to the actual machine they built for the movie.
After all the red (blue) carpet shenanigans, we finally made our way inside the theater. Not only was the movie free, but as you walk in, they have stacks and stacks of large popcorns and large sodas. Just sitting there, waiting to be taken. All free. So we take our free food, take our seats... and then wait... and wait... and wait. Waiting on one these things to start is one of the most ridiculous things you've ever seen. Half the people there are dressed to the nines, while the other half are hardly dressed at all. I've lived in LA for two years and the audacity and lameness of the Hollywood scene never ceases to amaze me.
Finally, at 8:05 PM (so much for the 7:30 start-time), the DreamWorks logo appeared, followed by the Paramount logo... each accompanied by some very cool, very loud, very Transformers-esque sound effects...
Now, before I get into the actual review, let me say that I simultaneously love and hate director Michael Bay. For those who don't know, this is the guy who directed "Bad Boys I & II", "The Rock," "Armageddon," "Pearl Harbor," and "The Island." All pretty much big, mindless, summer popcorn flicks made by a notorious jerk in the industry. One of my best friends out here used to be Bay's assistant, and believe me when I say that you wouldn't believe half the stories he's told me. Just know that Bay is a dick. Plain and simple. In fact, that same friend got me an interview at Bay's office a couple years ago as they were just gearing up to start Transformers (and no, I didn't interview with Bay, it was with one of his assistants). They needed an intern to help out with the movie. An obvious dream job of mine at the time. Yet, as I was sitting there in one of the coolest offices I've ever seen, surrounded by banners and posters from all of Bay's blockbusters, it was the Leatherface mask from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (produced by Bay) staring at me from a glass case that reminded me of all the horror stories I'd heard about him. I had the opportunity to possibly work on a dream movie, but I ended up turning it down because of everyone who warned me from experience what a dead-end it would be working for Bay (plus I needed to actually earn some money, and not be working for free). So yeah, THAT's how bad this guy can be. Bad enough to have kept me from working on something like Transformers.
But... I do love Bay's movies.
I'll agree with every single point on the retardedness of "Armageddon" or the crappiness of "Pearl Harbor." But none of it will stop me from getting teary-eyed at the end of the former or thinking the action in the later is some of the best I've seen. There's just something about that sun-kissed sheen of Bay's movies that I can't get enough of. At times it feels like a throwback to the look and feel of a "Top Gun" or "Beverly Hills Cop" (and yes, they're both directed by Tony Scott, but that's beside the point). And that's why, from the beginning, I knew Bay was a good choice for Transformers. Not only is he one of the best, if not THE best action director working today, but his ultra-patriotic/nostalgic, Norman Rockwell-esque vibe is a great fit for an iconic 80's classic like Transformers (not to mention, there's no one who can make a car look as sexy as he can). And it's not like it's the most thought-provoking property out there, either. It's an adaptation of a toy-line, not Shakespeare.
So, was I right? Was Bay a good fit?
No.
He wasn't just a good fit. Steven Spielberg was right... Michael Bay was born to direct this movie.
I know how much of a cliche that is to say - and this movie is actually filled with cliches. But none of it takes away from how amazing this thing is. I had heard it said a dozen times by people who had seen early screenings, or read it in interviews with the guys at ILM who did the effects, but they were right... this really is like seeing "Jurassic Park" for the first time. Not so much in being in awe of a new film technique/technology, but more in the fact that these aren't just giant robots on a movie screen - these are giant robots actually walking our planet, seamlessly interacting with the environment. The very best effects are the kind you don't recognize. And even when looking at these 30-foot-tall robots, you're not thinking, "Wow, how'd they do that?" You're thinking, "Wow, how'd they actually build something like that and then teach it to act?" There's just this magic about it that we haven't experienced in a long, long while. Seeing Optimus Prime for the first time on screen really did feel just as special as the first time we saw the T-Rex stomp through that wire gate.
But for those who are still wary of Bay, you can rest assured that Spielberg's stamp is all over this thing (as an executive producer). It was his idea to focus the heart of the story on what ultimately resonated most...
The story of a boy and his car.
It's like Marty and his DeLoreon mixed with elements of the relationship between Elliot and E. T. (though I'll admit, obviously not as good as either). Only Sam (Shia LeBeouf) is able to have a genuine friendship with his car, with Bumblebee. And like E. T., it's actually kind of heartbreaking at times. There's a surprising bond formed there that I had no idea could work so well, and also be so funny.
And this actually IS a really funny movie. Since the beginning, I was hoping they would approach the story with the seriousness of a "Terminator 2" or "Aliens." And even in that first trailer back in December, you kind of got that vibe. I wanted hard-core, ultra sci-fi Transformers. To make money, however, and to make a property like this appeal to a broader audience, it had to be a PG-13, family-friendly movie. And now, after finally seeing it, I'm glad they went they way they did and did it with humor. Don't get me wrong, this movie takes itself seriously and grounds itself in as much reality as humanly possible. But the humor just took it to another, much more enjoyable level. I read one of the earlier drafts for this thing about a year ago, and was actually put-off by the amount of humor and how it played on page. But the human-acting and comedic timing in the final product is just pitch-perfect. It works, and it works extremely well (for the most part, but I'll get to that in a minute).
And most of that credit goes to Shia LeBeouf. This kid is the next big thing. Mark my words, he'll be the Tom Hanks of the YouTube generation. I've never seen the second season of "Project Greenlight" (of which Shia stars), nor have I seen "Holes," "Bobby," or a single episode of Disney's "Even Stevens" (where Shia got his start). I even missed "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" and "Disturbia" recently in theaters. But I loved Shia for two reasons; his role in "Constantine," and an interview I once saw him do on "Late Night with Carson Daily." The kid is hilarious (Shia, NOT Carson). He's got this charismatic sense of comedic timing, even just in his natural, everyday speak. And one of the things that makes this movie so special is that you finally get to see him earn all the hype he's been getting recently - whether it be from his recent hosting of "Saturday Night Live," or his being cast as Indy's son in the next "Indiana Jones" (it's obvious Spielberg loves this kid too). Not to mention, girls absolutely FREAKED when he showed up on the carpet last night. It was kind of strange to see someone like that arrive, in more ways than one.
But like I mentioned earlier, Transformers IS filled with cliches. Sam's story is almost beat-for-beat the same as Peter Parker's in Rami's "Spider-Man":
- High school dork has crush on hottest girl in school.
- Dork is picked on by hot girl's hot-shot/jock boyfriend.
- Hot girl is treated like crap by jock boyfriend.
- Dork is there to comfort hot girl around the same time dork attains super powers.
Except instead of attaining super powers himself, Sam attains a CAR with super powers. But what was missing from "Spider-man" is that quick-witted smart-assness that Shia exudes so well here in spades. THIS is how Spider-Man/Peter Parker should have been (minus the brainy-ness). And because Shia does it so well here, it almost has the reverse effect... "Spider-Man" is the story that now feels outdated. I think that's one of the best compliments I can give this movie. Between Bay, the writers, Shia, and to an extent, Bumblebee, they've taken a plot device we've seen a thousand times before and made it feel fresh again. And not only fresh, but pretty damn funny too.
But the humor does come with a precaution: Remember, this is a movie based on a cartoon. So go into this thing EXPECTING A CARTOON. It took me a while to get used to how... goofy... the Transformers are portrayed in this movie. The Autobots arrival on Earth is something that will give you chills. The music (which is fantastic throughout), the images, the introduction of Prime... it's just an AMAZING sequence. But after that, for a good while, it's some pretty slapstick stuff. And not so much in a bad way - they actually are pretty funny - it's just not quite what I was expecting. It was only toward the end that I finally realized, for the most part... this is how the Transformers were in the cartoon. They were robots that talk and act just a little TOO human, complete with cheesy one-liners. To an extent, it's true to the cartoon, but it's not really true to the "real world" atmosphere Bay tries to create. If anything, that (and John Turturro's over-the-top character) would be my only gripe. Jazz is the worst, I'd say (the first sentence out of his mouth has the word "*****" in it), followed by Frenzy, the little boom-box Decepticon who ended up injecting this movie with a definite Jar-Jar syndrome. I guess he was there for the kids, but man, he gets really annoying at times - they just focus on that freakin' Gremlin of a robot WAY too much.
Those gripes are small, though, compared to the sheer scope and amazement of the third act. The final downtown brawl is seriously one of the greatest, most ground-breaking (pun intended) finales I've seen in any action movie. Ever. Hands down, it's the best culmination of special effects we've ever seen. Not just because they're so photo-real, but because of how complicated these photo-real battles are. It's going to take many, many repeat viewing's on DVD to fully absorb the detail of this whole sequence. The first time you experience it, it's just too much to process. It's almost overwhelming. From Starscream's aerial dog-fight over the city (and I use the term "fight" literally), to the Optimus/Megatron showdown, it delivered beyond my expectations on so many fronts. Also, just wait 'til you hear the sound in this thing. If every claim I've made falls through for you, the ONE thing that no one will be able to argue is that this is the best sound design in the history of action cinema. Fact.
When it was all said and done, I had never been in a theater where people were THIS enthused and cheered THIS much throughout. Granted, it WAS the premiere, but still. Even a couple of girls we were talking to afterwards said they would see this thing again in a heartbeat. Everyone there was just on this collective buzz when it ended. And who knows, a lot of that may have been because it was the premiere, like I said. But I tried my best to view this one objectively, and for ME... I was absolutely blown away. It's not a perfect movie by any means. The goofiness of some of the Transformers, combined with the lull it hits about half-way through, may be just enough to disengage quite a few people. But tell me the last time there was THIS much buzz for a non-sequel summer blockbuster. And tell me the last time a blockbuster, sequel or no sequel, actually, truly delivered on that buzz. If it's been too long, or you can't think of an answer... you'll finally have one in TRANSFORMERS.
And as crazy as the movie was, the after-party was RIDICULOUS.
An entire block in Westwood. Unlimited alcohol. Unlimited food. Since Burger King is (barely) featured in the movie, they pretty much had their entire menu spread out all over the party. Not to the mention the assortments of pizzas, finger foods, ice creams, and just about anything else you could imagine. And every last bit of it was FREE. Each bar even surrounded each of the actual Autobot cars they used in the film. So it was fun to tell people things like, "Meet us over at Ratchet. We'll get a couple drinks, then head over to Prime, where the pizza is." They also had this ridiculous sound system that stretched the entire street. Every couple of minutes or so, over the music, they'd play an insanely loud transforming noise, or something like the sound of Starscream or Blackout flying over head - in surround sound, like it was traveling the length of the street. It was just a cool little touch that actually caused people to kind of duck and look up at the sky EVERY single time.
Hanging with all the actors afterwards was pretty surreal at times, too. First of all, Jon Voight and Tyrese Gibson are two of the nicest celebs I've ever met. The entire after-party, Voight was just walking around alone, smiling and taking pictures with whoever would come up to him. He seemed like the most genuine, laid back guy ever. And Tyrese - say what you will about him - but when his car pulled up at the red (blue) carpet before-hand, instead of exiting toward the carpet and doing that whole thing, he literally walked the opposite way across the busy street, into a crowd of fans, and just started shaking people's hands. And not in a Tom Cruise let-me-grace-you-with-my-presence-and-smile kind of way, but in the most sincere way possible. Like he hadn't forgotten where he came from.
Other than those two... I had no idea Josh Duhamel was so dang tall or that Michael Clark Duncan wasn't really THAT huge. I also literally bumped in to Lance Bass (... and his "partner" ), saw Pacey from "Dawson's Creek" (and it was as embarrassing then to know that as it is now), and had a mini-freak-out when that hot mom who hooks with up with Riggins in "Friday Night Lights" was standing behind me (she's also Nikki from "Swingers" ) Oh and Brandon Routh, aka Superman was there with his fiance. That was a pretty cool one, though it was funny to think that exactly a year ago he was on top of the world, but now, in the shadow of Transformers, is pretty much yesterday's news.
I'd have to say, though, just hanging with Bob (one of the writers) was the coolest part of the party. For someone who just wrote and premiered what is sure to be one of the biggest blockbusters of the decade, he was seriously THE nicest, coolest, most down-to-earth guy ever. He was more concerned with jokingly trying to hook me up with some girl there than he was with all the hoopla around us. He's also a Texas (as in UT) grad, but I couldn't hold that against him. It was just too cool to be standing there having a conversation with the guy who provided the conversations for the movie I had just seen... and for a Transformers movie, no less.
My six-year-old self couldn't have been happier.
[This message has been edited by TCTTS (edited 6/28/2007 12:27p).]
There's "Independence Day."
And then there's TRANSFORMERS.
If anything, this is the BIGGEST movie I have ever seen. Period. The word "epic" doesn't really do it justice. It actually doesn't feel epic at all, really. "Star Wars" is epic. "Braveheart" is epic. Transformers is just plain "spectacle." And you've never, ever, seen spectacle like this. I will promise you that.
A buddy of mine, who I'm co-writing a script with, works for Alex Kurtzman and Bob Orci, the guys who wrote "Transformers" (along with "Mission: Impossible III," "The Island" and "Alias" ). So I knew my buddy was going to get to attend the premiere and, needless to say, I was pretty jealous. My six-year-old self, however, would not have been able to even comprehend the idea of seeing a live-action Transformers movie, much less seeing it with the actual cast and crew who finally brought them to life.
But then, a couple weeks ago, I got an e-mail from my buddy. He said he had an extra ticket to the premiere from Bob & Alex.
Forget my six-year-old self. At 26, I nearly lost it.
Growing up, I was the biggest Transformers nerd there was. Like every other kid my age, I was obsessed with the toys, obsessed with the cartoon. I had them all and could pretty much transform every single one with my eyes closed. But 20 years later, when they announced the line-up of Transformers to be featured in this new movie, I found myself trying to remember who the heck Ratchet was. Or Ironhide. Or even Bumblebee. All I remembered was loving the Transformers. But I had forgotten almost everything else.
That was, until last night.
Seeing the actual, 25-foot movie-version of Bumblebee, towering over me as I walked past the red (it was actually blue) carpet, definitely jogged my memory. Not because it reminded me of the cartoon (seeing as though he's a Camaro in this one and not a VW Bug), but because it reminded me of how to literally be in awe of something like a giant robot. Of how to feel like a kid again. Plus it was pretty damn cool to be dwarfed by, and standing next to the actual machine they built for the movie.
After all the red (blue) carpet shenanigans, we finally made our way inside the theater. Not only was the movie free, but as you walk in, they have stacks and stacks of large popcorns and large sodas. Just sitting there, waiting to be taken. All free. So we take our free food, take our seats... and then wait... and wait... and wait. Waiting on one these things to start is one of the most ridiculous things you've ever seen. Half the people there are dressed to the nines, while the other half are hardly dressed at all. I've lived in LA for two years and the audacity and lameness of the Hollywood scene never ceases to amaze me.
Finally, at 8:05 PM (so much for the 7:30 start-time), the DreamWorks logo appeared, followed by the Paramount logo... each accompanied by some very cool, very loud, very Transformers-esque sound effects...
Now, before I get into the actual review, let me say that I simultaneously love and hate director Michael Bay. For those who don't know, this is the guy who directed "Bad Boys I & II", "The Rock," "Armageddon," "Pearl Harbor," and "The Island." All pretty much big, mindless, summer popcorn flicks made by a notorious jerk in the industry. One of my best friends out here used to be Bay's assistant, and believe me when I say that you wouldn't believe half the stories he's told me. Just know that Bay is a dick. Plain and simple. In fact, that same friend got me an interview at Bay's office a couple years ago as they were just gearing up to start Transformers (and no, I didn't interview with Bay, it was with one of his assistants). They needed an intern to help out with the movie. An obvious dream job of mine at the time. Yet, as I was sitting there in one of the coolest offices I've ever seen, surrounded by banners and posters from all of Bay's blockbusters, it was the Leatherface mask from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (produced by Bay) staring at me from a glass case that reminded me of all the horror stories I'd heard about him. I had the opportunity to possibly work on a dream movie, but I ended up turning it down because of everyone who warned me from experience what a dead-end it would be working for Bay (plus I needed to actually earn some money, and not be working for free). So yeah, THAT's how bad this guy can be. Bad enough to have kept me from working on something like Transformers.
But... I do love Bay's movies.
I'll agree with every single point on the retardedness of "Armageddon" or the crappiness of "Pearl Harbor." But none of it will stop me from getting teary-eyed at the end of the former or thinking the action in the later is some of the best I've seen. There's just something about that sun-kissed sheen of Bay's movies that I can't get enough of. At times it feels like a throwback to the look and feel of a "Top Gun" or "Beverly Hills Cop" (and yes, they're both directed by Tony Scott, but that's beside the point). And that's why, from the beginning, I knew Bay was a good choice for Transformers. Not only is he one of the best, if not THE best action director working today, but his ultra-patriotic/nostalgic, Norman Rockwell-esque vibe is a great fit for an iconic 80's classic like Transformers (not to mention, there's no one who can make a car look as sexy as he can). And it's not like it's the most thought-provoking property out there, either. It's an adaptation of a toy-line, not Shakespeare.
So, was I right? Was Bay a good fit?
No.
He wasn't just a good fit. Steven Spielberg was right... Michael Bay was born to direct this movie.
I know how much of a cliche that is to say - and this movie is actually filled with cliches. But none of it takes away from how amazing this thing is. I had heard it said a dozen times by people who had seen early screenings, or read it in interviews with the guys at ILM who did the effects, but they were right... this really is like seeing "Jurassic Park" for the first time. Not so much in being in awe of a new film technique/technology, but more in the fact that these aren't just giant robots on a movie screen - these are giant robots actually walking our planet, seamlessly interacting with the environment. The very best effects are the kind you don't recognize. And even when looking at these 30-foot-tall robots, you're not thinking, "Wow, how'd they do that?" You're thinking, "Wow, how'd they actually build something like that and then teach it to act?" There's just this magic about it that we haven't experienced in a long, long while. Seeing Optimus Prime for the first time on screen really did feel just as special as the first time we saw the T-Rex stomp through that wire gate.
But for those who are still wary of Bay, you can rest assured that Spielberg's stamp is all over this thing (as an executive producer). It was his idea to focus the heart of the story on what ultimately resonated most...
The story of a boy and his car.
It's like Marty and his DeLoreon mixed with elements of the relationship between Elliot and E. T. (though I'll admit, obviously not as good as either). Only Sam (Shia LeBeouf) is able to have a genuine friendship with his car, with Bumblebee. And like E. T., it's actually kind of heartbreaking at times. There's a surprising bond formed there that I had no idea could work so well, and also be so funny.
And this actually IS a really funny movie. Since the beginning, I was hoping they would approach the story with the seriousness of a "Terminator 2" or "Aliens." And even in that first trailer back in December, you kind of got that vibe. I wanted hard-core, ultra sci-fi Transformers. To make money, however, and to make a property like this appeal to a broader audience, it had to be a PG-13, family-friendly movie. And now, after finally seeing it, I'm glad they went they way they did and did it with humor. Don't get me wrong, this movie takes itself seriously and grounds itself in as much reality as humanly possible. But the humor just took it to another, much more enjoyable level. I read one of the earlier drafts for this thing about a year ago, and was actually put-off by the amount of humor and how it played on page. But the human-acting and comedic timing in the final product is just pitch-perfect. It works, and it works extremely well (for the most part, but I'll get to that in a minute).
And most of that credit goes to Shia LeBeouf. This kid is the next big thing. Mark my words, he'll be the Tom Hanks of the YouTube generation. I've never seen the second season of "Project Greenlight" (of which Shia stars), nor have I seen "Holes," "Bobby," or a single episode of Disney's "Even Stevens" (where Shia got his start). I even missed "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" and "Disturbia" recently in theaters. But I loved Shia for two reasons; his role in "Constantine," and an interview I once saw him do on "Late Night with Carson Daily." The kid is hilarious (Shia, NOT Carson). He's got this charismatic sense of comedic timing, even just in his natural, everyday speak. And one of the things that makes this movie so special is that you finally get to see him earn all the hype he's been getting recently - whether it be from his recent hosting of "Saturday Night Live," or his being cast as Indy's son in the next "Indiana Jones" (it's obvious Spielberg loves this kid too). Not to mention, girls absolutely FREAKED when he showed up on the carpet last night. It was kind of strange to see someone like that arrive, in more ways than one.
But like I mentioned earlier, Transformers IS filled with cliches. Sam's story is almost beat-for-beat the same as Peter Parker's in Rami's "Spider-Man":
- High school dork has crush on hottest girl in school.
- Dork is picked on by hot girl's hot-shot/jock boyfriend.
- Hot girl is treated like crap by jock boyfriend.
- Dork is there to comfort hot girl around the same time dork attains super powers.
Except instead of attaining super powers himself, Sam attains a CAR with super powers. But what was missing from "Spider-man" is that quick-witted smart-assness that Shia exudes so well here in spades. THIS is how Spider-Man/Peter Parker should have been (minus the brainy-ness). And because Shia does it so well here, it almost has the reverse effect... "Spider-Man" is the story that now feels outdated. I think that's one of the best compliments I can give this movie. Between Bay, the writers, Shia, and to an extent, Bumblebee, they've taken a plot device we've seen a thousand times before and made it feel fresh again. And not only fresh, but pretty damn funny too.
But the humor does come with a precaution: Remember, this is a movie based on a cartoon. So go into this thing EXPECTING A CARTOON. It took me a while to get used to how... goofy... the Transformers are portrayed in this movie. The Autobots arrival on Earth is something that will give you chills. The music (which is fantastic throughout), the images, the introduction of Prime... it's just an AMAZING sequence. But after that, for a good while, it's some pretty slapstick stuff. And not so much in a bad way - they actually are pretty funny - it's just not quite what I was expecting. It was only toward the end that I finally realized, for the most part... this is how the Transformers were in the cartoon. They were robots that talk and act just a little TOO human, complete with cheesy one-liners. To an extent, it's true to the cartoon, but it's not really true to the "real world" atmosphere Bay tries to create. If anything, that (and John Turturro's over-the-top character) would be my only gripe. Jazz is the worst, I'd say (the first sentence out of his mouth has the word "*****" in it), followed by Frenzy, the little boom-box Decepticon who ended up injecting this movie with a definite Jar-Jar syndrome. I guess he was there for the kids, but man, he gets really annoying at times - they just focus on that freakin' Gremlin of a robot WAY too much.
Those gripes are small, though, compared to the sheer scope and amazement of the third act. The final downtown brawl is seriously one of the greatest, most ground-breaking (pun intended) finales I've seen in any action movie. Ever. Hands down, it's the best culmination of special effects we've ever seen. Not just because they're so photo-real, but because of how complicated these photo-real battles are. It's going to take many, many repeat viewing's on DVD to fully absorb the detail of this whole sequence. The first time you experience it, it's just too much to process. It's almost overwhelming. From Starscream's aerial dog-fight over the city (and I use the term "fight" literally), to the Optimus/Megatron showdown, it delivered beyond my expectations on so many fronts. Also, just wait 'til you hear the sound in this thing. If every claim I've made falls through for you, the ONE thing that no one will be able to argue is that this is the best sound design in the history of action cinema. Fact.
When it was all said and done, I had never been in a theater where people were THIS enthused and cheered THIS much throughout. Granted, it WAS the premiere, but still. Even a couple of girls we were talking to afterwards said they would see this thing again in a heartbeat. Everyone there was just on this collective buzz when it ended. And who knows, a lot of that may have been because it was the premiere, like I said. But I tried my best to view this one objectively, and for ME... I was absolutely blown away. It's not a perfect movie by any means. The goofiness of some of the Transformers, combined with the lull it hits about half-way through, may be just enough to disengage quite a few people. But tell me the last time there was THIS much buzz for a non-sequel summer blockbuster. And tell me the last time a blockbuster, sequel or no sequel, actually, truly delivered on that buzz. If it's been too long, or you can't think of an answer... you'll finally have one in TRANSFORMERS.
And as crazy as the movie was, the after-party was RIDICULOUS.
An entire block in Westwood. Unlimited alcohol. Unlimited food. Since Burger King is (barely) featured in the movie, they pretty much had their entire menu spread out all over the party. Not to the mention the assortments of pizzas, finger foods, ice creams, and just about anything else you could imagine. And every last bit of it was FREE. Each bar even surrounded each of the actual Autobot cars they used in the film. So it was fun to tell people things like, "Meet us over at Ratchet. We'll get a couple drinks, then head over to Prime, where the pizza is." They also had this ridiculous sound system that stretched the entire street. Every couple of minutes or so, over the music, they'd play an insanely loud transforming noise, or something like the sound of Starscream or Blackout flying over head - in surround sound, like it was traveling the length of the street. It was just a cool little touch that actually caused people to kind of duck and look up at the sky EVERY single time.
Hanging with all the actors afterwards was pretty surreal at times, too. First of all, Jon Voight and Tyrese Gibson are two of the nicest celebs I've ever met. The entire after-party, Voight was just walking around alone, smiling and taking pictures with whoever would come up to him. He seemed like the most genuine, laid back guy ever. And Tyrese - say what you will about him - but when his car pulled up at the red (blue) carpet before-hand, instead of exiting toward the carpet and doing that whole thing, he literally walked the opposite way across the busy street, into a crowd of fans, and just started shaking people's hands. And not in a Tom Cruise let-me-grace-you-with-my-presence-and-smile kind of way, but in the most sincere way possible. Like he hadn't forgotten where he came from.
Other than those two... I had no idea Josh Duhamel was so dang tall or that Michael Clark Duncan wasn't really THAT huge. I also literally bumped in to Lance Bass (... and his "partner" ), saw Pacey from "Dawson's Creek" (and it was as embarrassing then to know that as it is now), and had a mini-freak-out when that hot mom who hooks with up with Riggins in "Friday Night Lights" was standing behind me (she's also Nikki from "Swingers" ) Oh and Brandon Routh, aka Superman was there with his fiance. That was a pretty cool one, though it was funny to think that exactly a year ago he was on top of the world, but now, in the shadow of Transformers, is pretty much yesterday's news.
I'd have to say, though, just hanging with Bob (one of the writers) was the coolest part of the party. For someone who just wrote and premiered what is sure to be one of the biggest blockbusters of the decade, he was seriously THE nicest, coolest, most down-to-earth guy ever. He was more concerned with jokingly trying to hook me up with some girl there than he was with all the hoopla around us. He's also a Texas (as in UT) grad, but I couldn't hold that against him. It was just too cool to be standing there having a conversation with the guy who provided the conversations for the movie I had just seen... and for a Transformers movie, no less.
My six-year-old self couldn't have been happier.
[This message has been edited by TCTTS (edited 6/28/2007 12:27p).]
