As "corny" as the animated 1986 Transformers movie is...

[Holdfast]

Of course, the fact that the original script had more violent undertones led to some urban legends that there exists a cut of the movie with such scenes, or one where Prime's body crumbles into dust. But AFAIK, they're just that - amusing legends. Magnus was supposed to have a more elaborate death scene on Junkion, and a brief part of it was left in. He was to be drawn and quartered by the Sweeps, but this was decided to be too graphic. If you watch when they open fire on him, their beams are still solid. Shockwave's death was also referenced, but not mentioned directly in the movie.

The drawing & quartering appeared in the comic adaptation of the movie (I should know; I read it a zillion times before finally getting to see the movie!)

There are always rumours of other violent deaths as well. I definitely heard somewhere that the reason that Prime appears to awkwardly stand up from a crouched position as he challenges Megatron one on one is because he'd just finished off a Conehead (I forget which one) in a particularly savage battle. I don't think there's any truth in it though.

http://www.wombatking.com/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=4&page=3

The storyboards on this page show Prime fighting triple changers before Megatron - losing his gun and fighting Blitzwing hand to hand, so I guess that's the missing scene.

Fantastic link! Thank you!

 

[Magisterfrodo]

I was 13 when the animated one came out, and I loved it. I still enjoy watching it with my son ocassionally. It thought the live action version was just horrible. It was ultra-campy, like a kids movie, but with a lot of inappropriate material for kids. The transfomers, aside from Optimus and Bumblebee were too hard to tell apart.

 

[darkwing_duck1]

Maybe...but it's a consistent problem thoughout the ENTIRE battle sequence...this is supposed to be the Big Bot Fight, and we keep cutting away to Shia, to Meggan, to the soldiers, to some idiot in an SUV...everybody BUT the Autobots and Decepticons...

The last battle scene is consistent with the film at large. With the exception of Bumblebee, the movie's central characters are the humans -- not the Transformers -- and this is by design.

And I find that to be a serious flaw in the film.

 

[FordSVT]

The transfomers, aside from Optimus and Bumblebee were too hard to tell apart.

I've never understood that, I had no problem telling them apart. Again, I'm not making a judgement, I just don't get it.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Of course the weird thing about the original movie was the presence of the female Transformer, Arcee. Yet she also managed to be the only interesting new personality.

 

[Captain Craig]

The transfomers, aside from Optimus and Bumblebee were too hard to tell apart.

I've never understood that, I had no problem telling them apart. Again, I'm not making a judgement, I just don't get it.

I'm with you there Ford.
I don't understand the confusion. Especially on the Autobot side
Prime=flames
B'bee=yellow
Ratchet=green
Jazz=silver
Ironhide=black

Colors aside, how would you even mix up the like colored 'cons?
Megatron=silver
Starscream=tan
Barricade=black
Frenzy=silver
Bonecrusher=tan
Blackout=black
Scorponok=tan

The size and distinct look of them would be enough for me even if all of one color scheme were in the same scene.

 

[Bishbot]

The transfomers, aside from Optimus and Bumblebee were too hard to tell apart.

I've never understood that, I had no problem telling them apart. Again, I'm not making a judgement, I just don't get it.

I'm with you there Ford.
I don't understand the confusion. Especially on the Autobot side
Prime=flames
B'bee=yellow
Ratchet=green
Jazz=silver
Ironhide=black

Colors aside, how would you even mix up the like colored 'cons?
Megatron=silver
Starscream=tan
Barricade=black
Frenzy=silver
Bonecrusher=tan
Blackout=black
Scorponok=tan

The size and distinct look of them would be enough for me even if all of one color scheme were in the same scene.

I would agree, but I have to admit, I spent so long studying them before the movie came out that I'm not sure I can judge it effectively.

 

[T'Baio]

But don't let facts get in the way of your opinion of the movie, it's all so subjective.

I cannot look at that without thinking how ridiculously stupid that scene is.

I was wrong. I was being hyperbolic. Still, lean several tons of metal against your house, I still say it's gonna collapse. Still, apparently hydraulically operated, 20ft tall, mega ton robots cannot sneak around. It's a moronic scene. Even most people I know who love the film admit that scene is ridiculous.

As for being objective or subjective, my usually negative opinion of Bay is not on display here. If you could look back, you'd see that I actually defended the choice of Bay as the director of a Transformers movie, I thought it was perfect. If you could have seen my face at the beginning of that movie unspooling in my local theater, you would have seen me giddy as hell when that Decepticon started laying waste to that army base.

Then the used car lot scene happened and it was all down hill from there. The film got...silly. It was a moronic script. It actually had little to do with Bay's direction per se'.

I mean, come on...anyone can tell those aren't proper keep left signs.

 

[Bishbot]

It is kind of a dumb scene - no doubt about it - there's some really stupid stuff in the film, but I think its possible to just let it wash over you, and enjoy the core of the thing, which is for the most part pretty good. Everytime I see the really unfunny police scene "Are you on drugs?" I roll my eyes, and the backyard scene strains plausibility to breaking point - although I do find it funny.

When I saw the movie first I was in no place to judge it objectively, and I still like it a lot more than it deserves. If I wasn't a Transformers fan, I imagine, from other movies that I like, that I would have enjoyed the film, but then forgot about it straight away, as many of my friends did, but nevertheless, I think a lot of the criticisms levelled at it are very over the top.

 

[Manticore]

The transfomers, aside from Optimus and Bumblebee were too hard to tell apart.

I've never understood that, I had no problem telling them apart. Again, I'm not making a judgement, I just don't get it.

I'm with you there Ford.
I don't understand the confusion. Especially on the Autobot side
Prime=flames
B'bee=yellow
Ratchet=green
Jazz=silver
Ironhide=black

Colors aside, how would you even mix up the like colored 'cons?
Megatron=silver
Starscream=tan
Barricade=black
Frenzy=silver
Bonecrusher=tan
Blackout=black
Scorponok=tan

The size and distinct look of them would be enough for me even if all of one color scheme were in the same scene.

For the most part, I didn't have too much trouble, though I feel that the designs are far too busy. However, one scene stands out in particular: when Megatron is holding Jazz and rips him apart. They're both so similar in color, and so busy, that it's hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I think the scene at the house is great. It really exemplifies the point of the first few issues of the comic book, that the Autobots really are alien to our culture. The best moment is when they all transform to the vehicle moode in an attempt to hide, but it just doesn't work, and Sam says that his backyard isnt a truckstop. It's exactly what an alien might think to do in that situation, though. Plus, since some kids will be seeing the film, it provides a good, memorable scene for them. Remember, movies are not jsut made for you (that goes for everyone)