Comments on: Transformers: Dogging In Disguise https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise Lollards in the high church of low culture Tue, 31 Jul 2007 09:36:05 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 By: Pete https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise/comment-page-1#comment-299734 Tue, 31 Jul 2007 09:36:05 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise/#comment-299734 Yes I did write that sentence in all seriousness. It does have a smart script. I am not saying that any of the characters are smart, any of the plot or interactions make any particular sense. And I think if they did (ie if the script were smarter) it would go further to highlight how stupid the concept is. The film is fundamentally bad when it gets into the action sequences, ie the bits which aren’t heavily scripted and left to Bay to fuck up. The (for want of a better analogy) “American Pie” sequences I think were sharply scripted to appeal at the audience they were after.

Put it like this: Transformers as a property is old and held little for a current teenager. The direction is pretty poor and the action sequences leave a lot to be desired. Yes giant robots are cool, but the art direction means that these robots are a bit lacklustre to look at. The marketing has been pretty lacklustre. Something must be right about the film, and something made me feel good when I left the cinema. Main leads and script is all that’s left.

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By: My name is Kenny https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise/comment-page-1#comment-299562 Mon, 30 Jul 2007 19:55:30 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise/#comment-299562 *the film has a pretty smart script*

You have got to be fucking joking. You can’t be serious. You cannot possibly be serious. You did not write that sentence in seriousness. This is not your honest opinion.

I feel legitimate despair at that sentence.

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By: stevem https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise/comment-page-1#comment-297870 Tue, 24 Jul 2007 19:29:04 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise/#comment-297870 LeBeouf has already signed to do two more apparently.

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By: Pete https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise/comment-page-1#comment-297791 Tue, 24 Jul 2007 13:13:55 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise/#comment-297791 What sequel. The ending closed down all possible sequence that I could think of. No loose ends there at all.

(I reckon they won’t be able to afford Mr LaBeouf for the sequel though.)

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By: steve m https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise/comment-page-1#comment-297767 Tue, 24 Jul 2007 11:31:30 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise/#comment-297767 quite glad there was no ‘President addresses the world, shakes hands with Prime’ type stuff – tho it was weird to have no President involvement at all beyond “can you rustle me up some ding dongs?” or whatever it was.

there just wasn’t enough robot really – but this means there’s good room for improvement in the sequel.

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By: Pete https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise/comment-page-1#comment-297738 Tue, 24 Jul 2007 09:49:33 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise/#comment-297738 Yes, it is odd how the best bits are ridiculous comedy set-ups but that whole sequence at Sam’s parents house had the audience in stitches.

I had not thought about the Hoover Dam point but you are absolutely right!

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By: stevem https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise/comment-page-1#comment-297602 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 20:40:09 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise/#comment-297602 As I said elsewhere I’m not sure what to make of the decision to stage so much action at an enormous dam only for the dam to NOT blow up.

It’ll be fun watching the fight scenes via DVD pause/jog-frame at least.

Prime and co. trying to hide from Sam’s parents = ALL IS FORGIVEN

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By: Pete Baran https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise/comment-page-1#comment-297549 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:04:56 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise/#comment-297549 It isn’t a million miles away from Small Soldier, except the soldiers in this case aren’t small. But luckily for Bay the guys in casting did a bang up job. Perhaps Turturro’s gurning turn is a touch too far, but what could have been po-faced nonsense is actually quite good fun.

Admittedly the non-sequiters are the best bits. “We need to get the all spark safe – Lets go to the nearest city then” = Michael Bay wants to blow up a city. But I guess the uneven tone eventually works to its advantage. Independence Day is a good comparison (though it never gets as dark as that).

What it missed was a “Transformers” rap at the end using the old theme tune, the transformers noise and explaining the plot like all good movies have.

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By: jeff w https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise/comment-page-1#comment-297541 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:41:37 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/07/transformers-dogging-in-disguise/#comment-297541 I thought it wildly uneven in tone. The basic model is Independence Day: the human angle to alien invasion; everyday ‘merkin folks caught up in Big Events, battling alongside their politicians and a few members of the armed forces. Only with more kick-ass hardware. But then Bay throws in American Pie and [insert name of Keenan Ivory Wayans comedy here] references… And then when the Autobots have a non-fighting moment, we’re in Toy Story territory.

I still enjoyed it though.

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