Comments on: “Are You Sure This Is the Movie?”: The Utter Awfulness of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/06/are-you-sure-this-is-movie-utter.html Reading Pop Culture Like an English Teacher Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:35:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Subversion in Mindless, Silly Fun: Why Neutral Art is Impossible http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/06/are-you-sure-this-is-movie-utter.html/comment-page-1#comment-1406 Subversion in Mindless, Silly Fun: Why Neutral Art is Impossible Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:23:34 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/06/%e2%80%9care-you-sure-this-is-the-movie%e2%80%9d-the-utter-awfulness-of-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen.html#comment-1406 [...] Jenn pretty much sums up all of my feelings on Transformers 2 in her review, but let me go through my reasoning behind why the elements she discusses are detrimental and have no place in a movie that is just “mindless, silly fun.” While there are many stereotypes in the movie: men are scared of commitment, women’s utility is directly proportionate to how attractive it makes them, college professors are pompous windbags only out to sleep with barely legal co-eds, the one I’ll use as an example here are the two jive-talking robots (complete with gold teeth and articulated illiteracy!) in the movie passed off as comic relief. [...] [...] Jenn pretty much sums up all of my feelings on Transformers 2 in her review, but let me go through my reasoning behind why the elements she discusses are detrimental and have no place in a movie that is just “mindless, silly fun.” While there are many stereotypes in the movie: men are scared of commitment, women’s utility is directly proportionate to how attractive it makes them, college professors are pompous windbags only out to sleep with barely legal co-eds, the one I’ll use as an example here are the two jive-talking robots (complete with gold teeth and articulated illiteracy!) in the movie passed off as comic relief. [...]

]]> By: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – Review Part 2 – Movie Impressions http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/06/are-you-sure-this-is-movie-utter.html/comment-page-1#comment-541 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – Review Part 2 – Movie Impressions Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:33:41 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/06/%e2%80%9care-you-sure-this-is-the-movie%e2%80%9d-the-utter-awfulness-of-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen.html#comment-541 [...] recommend to everyone. It’s not quite as good as Star Trek for summer movie fare, but it blows Transformers 2 out of the water. Like what you just read? Why not get free email updates and never miss a [...] [...] recommend to everyone. It’s not quite as good as Star Trek for summer movie fare, but it blows Transformers 2 out of the water. Like what you just read? Why not get free email updates and never miss a [...]

]]> By: Tesh http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/06/are-you-sure-this-is-movie-utter.html/comment-page-1#comment-127 Tesh Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:49:47 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/06/%e2%80%9care-you-sure-this-is-the-movie%e2%80%9d-the-utter-awfulness-of-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen.html#comment-127 Mmm... looking forward to it. I'm obviously biased since I work in games and I'd like to think I'm doing something useful with my life, but I really do think that there's a lot more to them than mindless escapism, and that they have very real effects on people.<br /><br />All too often, for the worse.<br /><br />And as a cog in the machine, I really wish that the industry itself would be far more than it is. It's just no fun working in a gutter. Mmm… looking forward to it. I'm obviously biased since I work in games and I'd like to think I'm doing something useful with my life, but I really do think that there's a lot more to them than mindless escapism, and that they have very real effects on people.

All too often, for the worse.

And as a cog in the machine, I really wish that the industry itself would be far more than it is. It's just no fun working in a gutter.

]]> By: Beej http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/06/are-you-sure-this-is-movie-utter.html/comment-page-1#comment-123 Beej Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:00:53 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/06/%e2%80%9care-you-sure-this-is-the-movie%e2%80%9d-the-utter-awfulness-of-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen.html#comment-123 You will absolutely love the post I am working on right now, then, Tesh. It deals with that on a much deeper scale. You will absolutely love the post I am working on right now, then, Tesh. It deals with that on a much deeper scale.

]]> By: Tesh http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/06/are-you-sure-this-is-movie-utter.html/comment-page-1#comment-122 Tesh Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:53:47 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/06/%e2%80%9care-you-sure-this-is-the-movie%e2%80%9d-the-utter-awfulness-of-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen.html#comment-122 The "it's just a fun movie" washes no better in my home than "it's just a game" as an excuse for poor quality and offensive content. Garbage in, garbage out. The "it's just a fun movie" washes no better in my home than "it's just a game" as an excuse for poor quality and offensive content. Garbage in, garbage out.

]]> By: J.Ayers http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/06/are-you-sure-this-is-movie-utter.html/comment-page-1#comment-105 J.Ayers Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:16:21 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/06/%e2%80%9care-you-sure-this-is-the-movie%e2%80%9d-the-utter-awfulness-of-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen.html#comment-105 Oh, and in regards to We Fly Spitfires:<br /><br />Soundwave was voiced by Frank Welker, a voice acting god! One of the main reasons I loved this movie so much. The voice he used is different than the one he used for the original Soundwave in the cartoon, but it is still one of his staple voices. Welker was actually the original Megatron in the cartoon.<br /><br />Currently he does Fred and Scooby for Scooby Doo :)<br /><br />Along with Peter Cullen as Optimus, and Hugo Weaving as Megatron, this was a voice acting nerd's (as in me) dream movie. Oh, and in regards to We Fly Spitfires:

Soundwave was voiced by Frank Welker, a voice acting god! One of the main reasons I loved this movie so much. The voice he used is different than the one he used for the original Soundwave in the cartoon, but it is still one of his staple voices. Welker was actually the original Megatron in the cartoon.

Currently he does Fred and Scooby for Scooby Doo :)

Along with Peter Cullen as Optimus, and Hugo Weaving as Megatron, this was a voice acting nerd's (as in me) dream movie.

]]> By: J.Ayers http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/06/are-you-sure-this-is-movie-utter.html/comment-page-1#comment-104 J.Ayers Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:58:04 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/06/%e2%80%9care-you-sure-this-is-the-movie%e2%80%9d-the-utter-awfulness-of-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen.html#comment-104 I think Jennifer and Beej hold completely valid points in regards to their ideals. If it is the excessive stereotypes that bothered them, then so be it. I, however, am one of those jerks that say "I don't enforce stereotypes, I just see them." Yeah, that tends to be one of those excuses people make to get away with prejudice jokes. Regardless, I won't lie about who I am, and I found tons of that stuff hilarious.<br /><br />However, the point I want to make, isn't that all of that stuff is bad (or good), but that I find it interesting that it was those characteristics in the movie that stuck with you. When my wife and I came out of the theater, she had tears in her eyes and I had a huge sense of loyalty and pride. She took away things like, even in a dangerous sci-fi oriented world, it can be hard just to say "I love you." While what I saw was Sam learning what it is like to truly hope and believe in something, and how awesome it was to see my childhood hero, Optimus, to NEVER back down, and be willing to pull the trigger when needed. Life lessons that I actually got from him in the cartoon when I was 5 years old.<br /><br />Kudos Jennifer on a well written review. For those who are like minded on your end of the spectrum, this is a very good read.<br /><br />And then from us Transformer geeks, hush up, it was a great movie! ;) <br /><br />Just kidding...<br /><br />No seriously, hush up, it was a good movie. Ha! I think Jennifer and Beej hold completely valid points in regards to their ideals. If it is the excessive stereotypes that bothered them, then so be it. I, however, am one of those jerks that say "I don't enforce stereotypes, I just see them." Yeah, that tends to be one of those excuses people make to get away with prejudice jokes. Regardless, I won't lie about who I am, and I found tons of that stuff hilarious.

However, the point I want to make, isn't that all of that stuff is bad (or good), but that I find it interesting that it was those characteristics in the movie that stuck with you. When my wife and I came out of the theater, she had tears in her eyes and I had a huge sense of loyalty and pride. She took away things like, even in a dangerous sci-fi oriented world, it can be hard just to say "I love you." While what I saw was Sam learning what it is like to truly hope and believe in something, and how awesome it was to see my childhood hero, Optimus, to NEVER back down, and be willing to pull the trigger when needed. Life lessons that I actually got from him in the cartoon when I was 5 years old.

Kudos Jennifer on a well written review. For those who are like minded on your end of the spectrum, this is a very good read.

And then from us Transformer geeks, hush up, it was a great movie! ;)

Just kidding…

No seriously, hush up, it was a good movie. Ha!

]]> By: Longasc http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/06/are-you-sure-this-is-movie-utter.html/comment-page-1#comment-98 Longasc Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:08:44 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/06/%e2%80%9care-you-sure-this-is-the-movie%e2%80%9d-the-utter-awfulness-of-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen.html#comment-98 I thought it was funny, but is it not pretty sad that this movie was all about presenting a very sexy Megan Fox, who really looked dumb as she was deliberately reduced to pure looks and being a sex object?<br /><br />Who above the age of 6-7 actually cares about the robots, this movie was probably made for 10-14 year olds, and for everyone above that age the only thing that was left was looking at Megan Fox.<br /><br />I loved the first Pirates of the Caribbean, the next two were not nearly as good. This movie did not have a great story or plot either, but it had wit and charm, mainly due to Johnny Depp's performance.<br /><br />Who cares about CGI effects nowadays? Modern movies are often cut so hyperfast that I can barely see them or follow the movie at all.<br /><br />I would not blame Transformers 2 for being shallow, though. Nobody expected more than that. I wonder that you were shocked by the sheer amount of triviality shown. :)<br /><br />But I also wonder why Hollywood totally forgets about people who want a bit more than this. Then they would lure not only a very young male audience and their girl friends into the cinemas.<br /><br />I might have gone to the cinema tonight, but they offer nothing worthwhile to me and my friends at the moment. Transformers 2 was quite okay, but one really feels a bit ashamed for watching this. Just too juvenile. I thought it was funny, but is it not pretty sad that this movie was all about presenting a very sexy Megan Fox, who really looked dumb as she was deliberately reduced to pure looks and being a sex object?

Who above the age of 6-7 actually cares about the robots, this movie was probably made for 10-14 year olds, and for everyone above that age the only thing that was left was looking at Megan Fox.

I loved the first Pirates of the Caribbean, the next two were not nearly as good. This movie did not have a great story or plot either, but it had wit and charm, mainly due to Johnny Depp's performance.

Who cares about CGI effects nowadays? Modern movies are often cut so hyperfast that I can barely see them or follow the movie at all.

I would not blame Transformers 2 for being shallow, though. Nobody expected more than that. I wonder that you were shocked by the sheer amount of triviality shown. :)

But I also wonder why Hollywood totally forgets about people who want a bit more than this. Then they would lure not only a very young male audience and their girl friends into the cinemas.

I might have gone to the cinema tonight, but they offer nothing worthwhile to me and my friends at the moment. Transformers 2 was quite okay, but one really feels a bit ashamed for watching this. Just too juvenile.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/06/are-you-sure-this-is-movie-utter.html/comment-page-1#comment-95 Jennifer Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:56:47 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/06/%e2%80%9care-you-sure-this-is-the-movie%e2%80%9d-the-utter-awfulness-of-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen.html#comment-95 You may notice that in an earlier comment I said, "I wasn't expecting a sophisticated, world-changing film. I do expect filmmakers to at least try to make movies that are good examples of their chosen genre."<br /><br />It's fine that you thought the movie was fun. I, however, didn't find it fun and wanted to write out why I felt so disconnected from it. You may notice that in an earlier comment I said, "I wasn't expecting a sophisticated, world-changing film. I do expect filmmakers to at least try to make movies that are good examples of their chosen genre."

It's fine that you thought the movie was fun. I, however, didn't find it fun and wanted to write out why I felt so disconnected from it.

]]> By: Beej http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/06/are-you-sure-this-is-movie-utter.html/comment-page-1#comment-94 Beej Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:54:57 +0000 http://professorbeej.com/2009/06/%e2%80%9care-you-sure-this-is-the-movie%e2%80%9d-the-utter-awfulness-of-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen.html#comment-94 The problem is that the movie was not "PURE ENTERTAINMENT." It wasn't a fun movie to watch, and the "non stop action" was not nearly high quality enough to gloss over the fact that there was no kind of actual depth. Were this a movie like "Crank" or "Shoot 'Em Up" where it bills itself as being nothing but garbage action, then I'd be okay. My problem comes in that this movie half-way tried to have a heart, but had no idea how to do it without falling into gender and racial stereotypes and seeking out the lowest common denominator.<br /><br />When a movie tries to be something (a good, fun, simple action movie, in this case) and fails (because it was boring, cliche, and offensive), then yes, it means it's bad. The problem is that the movie was not "PURE ENTERTAINMENT." It wasn't a fun movie to watch, and the "non stop action" was not nearly high quality enough to gloss over the fact that there was no kind of actual depth. Were this a movie like "Crank" or "Shoot 'Em Up" where it bills itself as being nothing but garbage action, then I'd be okay. My problem comes in that this movie half-way tried to have a heart, but had no idea how to do it without falling into gender and racial stereotypes and seeking out the lowest common denominator.

When a movie tries to be something (a good, fun, simple action movie, in this case) and fails (because it was boring, cliche, and offensive), then yes, it means it's bad.

]]>