More then Meets the Eye!

[basildestiny]

So I've been doing some research on this movie now. I didn't want to spoil anything and hadn't really been watching the web for info. I only looked up the VA info the day before we were going to see it.

However, we did watch the old movie and even watched the first episode on YouTube.

Some interesting tidbits that I found out:

- Don Murphy brought in screenwriter Tom DeSanto to write the plot, impressed with the way DeSanto had managed the many characters and storylines in X-Men (2000). DeSanto, a big fan of the series since childhood, carried out extensive research on the Transformers; he held several meetings with comic book writer Simon Furman; and he invited fans to discuss the film on Murphy's online message board. His treatment explored the Transformers' existence and history, as well as the real possibilities and consequences of "their war on our world," similar to a disaster film, which was what Murphy wanted the film to resemble.

How cool is that?

- The Decepticon Frenzy was originally named Soundbyte. The writers had Soundwave in the original script, but decided to change the character to one of his cassettes from the original '84 series due to the size the robot has in the role. They plan to "do Soundwave correctly" in the sequel. The Decepticon Soundwave was originally in the script, but was replaced with Blackout (who had originally been named Vortex, and later Incinerator). He is to appear in the film's sequel.

OH! This one is my favorite one.

- The character of Arcee was included in the script, but poor fan reaction caused her to be cut out and replaced with Ironhide.

HAHAHA! Bye bye Arcee. I never liked you much anyway! I did like her VA, but she was just such a poorly developed character.

- As an in-joke for fans and a tribute to the original cartoon, a yellow Volkswagen Beetle, which Bumblebee originally was, can be seen at the car dealership where Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) buys the Chevrolet Camaro, that is later found out to be Bumblebee. Bernie Mac's character Bobby Bolivia, even attempts to sell Sam and his father, Ron (Kevin Dunn) the Beetle when they refuse to pay his asking price for the Camaro.

I totally noticed this fan nod. I was pointing it out to my hubby and trying not to SQUEEEE loudly. I was doing a bit of fangirling. Well a lot of fangirling. I LOVED Transformers growing up. But it was one of those things where it was really for boys... so QQ Prime was my fave!

Anyway, I loved that Bumblebee had a bee air freshener that said "Bee-Otch!" on it. So awesome. And Bumblebee was always a bit of a smart aleck who got himself into trouble sometimes but blurting stuff out. There was also a bit of a size issue for him since he was a younger Autobot.

- The US government supplied planes and assistance to the production.

HOW COOL IS THAT??!

- When the Autobots first crash to earth in meteor form, a man with a video camera exclaims "this is so much better than Armageddon" a possible allusion to Director Michael Bay's earlier 1998 film _Armageddon (1998).

I LOL'd at this. Of course no one else in the theatre got the reference. Oh wellz!

- When he confronts Megatron, Optimus Prime states that "One shall stand, one shall fall." He says this same line when he confronts Megatron in The Transformers: The Movie (1986).

I was SOOOO worried that they were going to go back to the original and kill Prime off. Way to go, Sam, for figuring out a different way it could go down.

OMG I was so waiting for Megatron to scream out "PRIME!" like he always did. I nearly fangirl squealed when he did.

- A nod to other Hasbro toys is seen in two scenes. The first is when the Autobots arrive, and Ironhide lands in the swimming pool the little girl that goes out to investigate has a "My Little Pony" stuffed toy.

The second was Furbys and not as cool. I liked the My Little Pony because they were around the same time that Transformers were around. I got to have MLP, my brother got Transformers. QQ But at least the little girl had a pony. Oh and this was another time where I was trying not to fangirl squeal at the Hasbro reference. No, folks, I'm not brand name stamped!

Well I guess I'm done squeeing for now. I had a great time at this movie. I was much more a fangirl than I thought I would be. I cannot wait for a sequel. This was just so well done and a lot of consideration was taking in making sure the fans got what they wanted.

Oh yeah and several comments by Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) were awesome! Like "You're more than meets the eye." And "I think they're from like Japan."


SQUEE!
-Jay

Comments

[kinggerth1.livejournal.com]

This movie really was awsome. I noticed most of the same things you did. My favorite though was Megatron telling StarScream that this was all his fault. Reminds me of so many times watching them growing up.

[basildestiny]

Oh yeah. I was soo waiting for that kind of interaction as well. 2nd on my list of things to hear Megatron say was anything that was yelling at Starscream. I really wish there had been more focus on that. More focus on how Starscream fails at being a leader.

Even still, such an awesome movie!