Transformers Movies, why are they popular?

[Romulan_spy]

True, which is why this thread exists: why are these terrible movies, these movies without characters, without plot, without acting, without charm or wit, why are these monstrously inept movies popular?

Because people want to see huge, cheesy, action-packed blockbusters during the summer, and Michael Bay has proven that he can deliver that.

Plus: kids love Transformers.

Exactly. The fact is that there are millions of movie goers who just want mindless entertainment. They don't care if the acting or the photography is worthy of an Oscar. They want action and sex. Transformers is popular the same reason WWE wrestling is popular!

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Exactly. The fact is that there are millions of movie goers who just want mindless entertainment. They don't care if the acting or the photography is worthy of an Oscar. They want action and sex. Transformers is popular the same reason WWE wrestling is popular!

But if that were that simple, that kind of success could be replicated by anyone.

 

[Admiral2]

Why do you think the Transformers movies are popular? In my opinion, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen was one of the worst movies I ever saw, it was racist, sexist and profoundly stupid. Also it was 2 and half hours long and not coherent at all.

Again, I speak for myself.

There are giant robots that turn in to sportscars, monster trucks and F-22's and hot babes. And all of them shoot at each other.

My question is why isn't Michael Bay president yet?

 

[ALF]

Why do you think the Transformers movies are popular? In my opinion, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen was one of the worst movies I ever saw, it was racist, sexist and profoundly stupid. Also it was 2 and half hours long and not coherent at all.

While your observations are not incorrect, for me it was a hoot to see all my favorite childhood toys come to life.

I did feel bad for whoever else in the theater wasn't a rabid fan of Transformers as a kid. I went with my little cousin, uncle and wife. Afterwards my uncle turned to me and said, "I have no idea what the hell was happening for the past 2.5 hours."

 

[Avon]

i think i the concept of transformers is fine, the problem is michael bay. think what a good director could do with that franchise

 

[Gaith]

Exactly. The fact is that there are millions of movie goers who just want mindless entertainment. They don't care if the acting or the photography is worthy of an Oscar.

Almost correct. I think the TF movies are so popular in large part because they are so bad. Allow me to quote Roger Ebert's review of New York Minute:

They say baseball is popular because everyone thinks they can play it. Similar reasoning may explain the popularity of the Olsen twins: Teenage girls love them because they believe they could be them. What, after all, do Mary-Kate and Ashley do in "New York Minute" that could not be done by any reasonably presentable female adolescent? Their careers are founded not on what they do, but on the vicarious identification of their fans, who enjoy seeing two girls making millions for doing what just about anybody could do.
​

I think a similar effect is at work here: the great unwashed hordes love the TF movies precisely because the material is so stupid, anyone could write it. And very few really competent directors in Hollywood are as eager to make brainless dreck as Bay.

TF is the Nascar/WWE/George W. Bush/Burger King of film.

 

[jayceee]

TF is the Nascar/WWE/George W. Bush/Burger King of film.

The same can probably be said of many other action movies and tv shows.

 

[Romulan_spy]

Exactly. The fact is that there are millions of movie goers who just want mindless entertainment. They don't care if the acting or the photography is worthy of an Oscar. They want action and sex. Transformers is popular the same reason WWE wrestling is popular!

But if that were that simple, that kind of success could be replicated by anyone.

And in some ways, it is replicated. There are ton of action movies every summer that do quite well.

 

[FPAlpha]

Exactly. The fact is that there are millions of movie goers who just want mindless entertainment. They don't care if the acting or the photography is worthy of an Oscar.

Almost correct. I think the TF movies are so popular in large part because they are so bad. Allow me to quote Roger Ebert's review of New York Minute:

They say baseball is popular because everyone thinks they can play it. Similar reasoning may explain the popularity of the Olsen twins: Teenage girls love them because they believe they could be them. What, after all, do Mary-Kate and Ashley do in "New York Minute" that could not be done by any reasonably presentable female adolescent? Their careers are founded not on what they do, but on the vicarious identification of their fans, who enjoy seeing two girls making millions for doing what just about anybody could do.
​

I think a similar effect is at work here: the great unwashed hordes love the TF movies precisely because the material is so stupid, anyone could write it. And very few really competent directors in Hollywood are as eager to make brainless dreck as Bay.

TF is the Nascar/WWE/George W. Bush/Burger King of film.

Hey! I like Burger King!

But you are right.. it's brainless fun and often enough people want/need that (including me).

I enjoyed TF1, hated 2 and liked 3 but they're not on my hotlist of movies to own. It looks gorgeous on HD and apart from certain bad, Bay-esque filming styles i was entertained and sometimes that's the only thing i demand from a movie.

 

[Trekker4747]

The problem with the Transformers movies is that the Transformers were secondary characters and mostly comic relief in their own damn movie. The movie was more focused on Shia LeBouff's stammering antics, Megan Fox's ass and pursed, breathy, lips; comic relief characters and nearly offensive racial stereotypes.

 

[Mr Light]

Human actors are much cheaper to film than CGI robots with 10,000 moving pieces

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

And in some ways, it is replicated. There are ton of action movies every summer that do quite well.

True, but most of them are not as aggressively dumb as the Transformers movies.

 

[A beaker full of death]

Why do you think the Transformers movies are popular? In my opinion, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen was one of the worst movies I ever saw, it was racist, sexist and profoundly stupid. Also it was 2 and half hours long and not coherent at all.

Jeez. You're talking about a movie series based on a cartoon series based on a bunch of silly Japanese toys meant to make money. Why anyone takes these things seriously is beyond me.
Same goes for He-Man, Power Rangers, Shogun Warriors, pokeyman...

 

[Pingfah]

While your observations are not incorrect, for me it was a hoot to see all my favorite childhood toys come to life.

I did feel bad for whoever else in the theater wasn't a rabid fan of Transformers as a kid. I went with my little cousin, uncle and wife. Afterwards my uncle turned to me and said, "I have no idea what the hell was happening for the past 2.5 hours."

Did you not find it disappointing as a rabid childhood fan? I was too, but the movie was so far removed from the tone and look of the original, it didn't feel like Transformers to me.

 

[Shazam!]

Jeez. You're talking about a movie series based on a cartoon series based on a bunch of silly Japanese toys meant to make money. Why anyone takes these things seriously is beyond me.

What should we be taking seriously?

 

[Roshi]

DC Comics, of course! They're not sellouts!

 

[Blamo]

The movies worked for three reasons:-
1. Known brand name.
2. Nostalgia
3. A lot of people are just entertained by lots of motion and explosions on a screen.

 

[starburst]

Its like why either of the Expendables movies or the Transporter films after the Transporter are popular...simple story and lots of things going boom.

Personally I think they arent bad movies, not great but at least for me enjoyable to watch again.

The problems with them were centering each one around Sam and his love problems, after the first one it just got old!

Hopefully their will be none of that in the 4th and instead more Autobots vs Decepticons, the only humans involved should be NEST to provide distraction / collateral damage while the robots in disguise are fighting it out.

 

[Starbreaker]

It's sad, because there are some incredibly cool scenes in 2 & 3. Jetfire and the moon landing scenes were intense, but I rarely remember any other parts of the movies.

 

[The Doctor]

Because Peter Cullen is the voice of my childhood. Hearing him do Optimus again, twenty years later, was a powerful burst of nostalgia that did impressive work in covering for the otherwise inept moments of the three films.