First TF3 review (AICN)

[Vympel]

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/49648

(by Capone)

So yeah, sounds positive. And no, the Twins are not in it.

[Anguirus]

Yeah, saw this. Good portents for this movie IMO.

[JME2]

Sounds better than I expected.

[Enigma]

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/49648

(by Capone)

So yeah, sounds positive. And no, the Twins are not in it.

They may not be in it but there are other small Autobots that will take their place. Sure they'll be toned down but nevertheless it'll still be there.

[Magellan]

It was gonna take a lot more than dramatic music and explosions to make forget about this aspect of the movie

Transformers: Dark of the Moon rated PG-13 for

intense prolonged sequences of sci-fi action violence, mayhem and destruction, and for language, some sexuality and innuendo.

[Magellan]

So I got to see the extended trailer when I went to go see Pirates 3D.

Um ... slow motion and 3D look really silly together and I'm pretty sure Bay's gonna show it off a lot, so ... yeah, that's not gonna turn out too well.

[SAMAS]

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/49648

(by Capone)

So yeah, sounds positive. And no, the Twins are not in it.

They may not be in it but there are other small Autobots that will take their place. Sure they'll be toned down but nevertheless it'll still be there.

That's not the problem. Transformers always has kid-appeal characters, at least one per universe (and it's usually Bumblebee).

The problem with Skids and Mudflap is that they were done badly.

[Shroom Man 777]

Kid-appeal characters talking about bitches and ass kicking and pussies? Where the hell did Micheal Bay spend his childhood? In the bayou?

[DarkSilver]

In the bayou?

hey.
Bay wouldn't have lasted in the bayou.

and we don't talk like that either.

[Marcus Aurelius]

Kid-appeal characters talking about bitches and ass kicking and pussies? Where the hell did Micheal Bay spend his childhood? In the bayou?

Judging from the way he makes his movies I would guess he lived right next to a business school and sneaked in to listen classes about marketing and focus groups.

[Magellan]

Kid-appeal characters talking about bitches and ass kicking and pussies? Where the hell did Micheal Bay spend his childhood? In the bayou?

Not that I'm defending them, but don't take it out of context.

He called someone a little bitch. They weren't going "oh, check out those bitches".
The ass kicking was a threat I guess.
As for pussies, "gain, calling someone a pussy.

[GeorgeOrr]

I'm once again in the minority here. I love Michael bay and will see anything he directs. I like his frenetic directing style because it forces people to pay attention. Somewhat, anyway. People still claim they can't make out what's going on in the action sequences in his Transformers films. It's not like the guy is Paul Greengrass. Bay used Cameron's 3D cameras for Dark of the Moon, I believe, so I don't think there will be much shaking with the cameras because they are heavy.

[LadyTevar]

I saw the extended trailer before Thor, and the real3D didn't make it look too annoying.

[GeorgeOrr]

I saw the extended trailer before Thor, and the real3D didn't make it look too annoying.

Well, when you know you're filming something in 3D, your shots should be framed to make use the technology. I've read reports that the 3D has real depth and you can tell that Bay made sure to do that.

[Vympel]

Well, in a first for myself, today I picked up Voyager-class Optimus, Voyager-class Starscream, Voyager-class Megatron (looks ... so .... cool) and Voyager-class Ironhide from the store ($10.00 off the RRP in the case of Optimus, Megs and Ironhide).

For some reason, Shockwave isn't out here. Yet, I hope. I'll pick up Bumblebee, Ratchet and Crankcase next month too (and basically any other TFormer that looks cool).

I say first because normally I buy the huge Leader-class only, but since Leader-class this year is only Ironhide, Sentinel Prime and Bumblebee, thought I could diversify - I've already got Bumblebee's original 'Battle Ops' Leader-class release so I'm not sure about getting him. I'm sure I can pick up Ironhide and Sentinel Prime half-price a few months down the line.

[Anguirus]

Shockwave is totally cool, as is Megatron. I didn't bother with Optimus, I already have his Leader and I'll be getting his Wal-Mart Deluxe for better vehicle-mode scale with Megatron. Ironhide is..poorly reviewed. I have a couple toys of his character already and I'll get his Leader.

Crankcase and Ratchet are OUTSTANDING. Ratchet's weapon is the most fun thing in the world (spinny spin spin). You may want to wait a bit on Crankcase if you can because his hands are getting remolded. The original hands apparently looked like they were flipping people off, so someone has literally taken nail clippers to ~80% of the Crankcases on the shelf. It doesn't ruin the figure, but I think it's a little trashy. Once the remold is confirmed on shelves, I'll probably by a couple because he seems to be a group of clones in the movie. I don't have BB because I prefer the Battle Blade version that came out a short time ago, but he seems all right.

I fully recommend Leader Sentinel Prime. No comment (no interest) on Leader BB.

As for the film...I'm totally spoiled for it. Don't make my mistake. However, if you have any interest at all, you're going to want to see the movie.

(Also the Cyberverse stuff is totally cool.)

[Vympel]

I'll be getting his Wal-Mart Deluxe for better vehicle-mode scale with Megatron

Is that the one with his trailer? Unfortunately, we don't have that here (yet?) either.

I read about the Crankcase thing, problem is, is there anyway to check? He comes in vehicle mode so I guess not.

I wonder why Ironhide is poorly reviewed? He looks sweet, and his spinning cannon is totally fun!

I'm also thinking about getting Skyhammer.

Anyways, re: the film I'm also completely spoiled. Couldn't resist looking at the leaked comic pages. Oh well. Plot sounds way better than TF2.

[Anguirus]

^ The novel spoilers are even better. All I'll say is I hope the Twins HAVEN'T been cut from the film.

Re: Crankcase: you could do a little research (I haven't followed it closely), apparently there are loose correlations between lot numbers and whether or not they've been clipped. The earlier (lower) number, the better.

Re: Ironhide: I haven't handled it myself, but I gather there is dislike of the arms, chest, and the fact that he still doesn't have two screen accurate arm-guns. The rough consensus is "better than the last Voyager, but not enough better."

Skyhammer is actually pretty popular and well-reviewed. Myself I don't like the head, plus he doesn't really look like a movie character IMO. (He's definitely not an on-screen character.) I also would have preferred a chopper mode that looked a little more realistic.

Re: Wal-Mart Deluxe Prime: no trailer, he's just a shorty-pants Prime. Less cheatsy than the movie 1 Voyager for what it's worth. Shoulders don't look right and he's got a backpack, but I think his truck mode is astonishingly good for a Deluxe of this design.

[Rahvin]

Well, in a first for myself, today I picked up Voyager-class Optimus, Voyager-class Starscream, Voyager-class Megatron (looks ... so .... cool) and Voyager-class Ironhide from the store ($10.00 off the RRP in the case of Optimus, Megs and Ironhide).

For some reason, Shockwave isn't out here. Yet, I hope. I'll pick up Bumblebee, Ratchet and Crankcase next month too (and basically any other TFormer that looks cool).

I say first because normally I buy the huge Leader-class only, but since Leader-class this year is only Ironhide, Sentinel Prime and Bumblebee, thought I could diversify - I've already got Bumblebee's original 'Battle Ops' Leader-class release so I'm not sure about getting him. I'm sure I can pick up Ironhide and Sentinel Prime half-price a few months down the line.

Two days ago I walked into a Walmart. They were overloaded with TF3 toys - the allotted shelf space and endcap were both overflowing with Voyagers. Plenty of Optimus, Ironhide, Skyhammer, and Megatron. They had Leader Sentinel Prime and Bumblebee aplenty.

There was one Shockwave. Needless to say, I grabbed it immediately.

I love the figure. The movie aesthetic in general is less appealing to me than something more reminiscent of G1, but Shockwave has a nearly perfect translation from his G1 form. He reminds me a lot of Energon's Shockblast (when Hasbro lost the rights to the name, no idea how they got it back) with his alt mode, and that figure was also a wonderful homage to G1. This time around they kept his power cable/hose thing, gave him a "backpack" that looks convincingly like some sort of power generator as opposed to just kibble, the transformation is simple but satisfying, the articulation is good for a Voyager, and the gun...that is a fucking cannon. The mold of the arm allows the hand to be folded away convincingly, letting Shockwave retain his cannon-for-a-hand look from G1, or go the Megatron big-gun-on-my-wrist route. The "blade" on his other arm helps make the character look less lopsided, but can also be attached towards the front of the cannon as a bayonet. He has lots of clip attachments (many figures, particularly the Generations line, have interchangeable weapons that attach to clips on the figures, allowing a single figure to be armed to the teeth with weapons from other figures) as well. Best $20 I've spent on a Transformer in a long, long time.

Shockwave is incredibly rare. He came with Wave 2 of the movie figures, and it looks like there must only be one per carton. Rumor has it that he'll be more represented in Wave 3, coming I believe in June. Cross your fingers.

I'm tempted by Sentinel Prime, but as it stands nothing else (maybe Skyhammer) in the TF3 movie line. Even the new with-trailer Optimus doesn't appeal to me - the Revenge of the Fallen Leader Optimus was honestly perfect (the only improvement would be if I have managed to find a Japanese-import Buster Prime, which adds chrome instead of gray plastic, and allows his fuel tanks to convert into his gun). The TF3 version has a disappointingly large amount of kibble, particularly on the arms. I can see no reason to pick up another movie Optimus when I have such an excellent representation of the character already. Megatron is perhaps a bit better in his TF3 incarnation than the previous two, but honestly that's not hard since the other versions of Megatron have been pathetic (Movie 1's basic design for the character was okay, but the toy was an unforgivable mess I wish I hadn't purchased, and if anything the RotF version was worse). Leader Ironhide has received decent reviews from the few who've seen him, but I'll reserve judgment for myself until I see him on a shelf.

They need to make a Leader version of Shockwave. If they do, I'll buy him in a heartbeat. I'd rather have a Masterpiece version (or both, why not), but it doesn't look like Hasbro/Takara intend to do that any time soon.

[Anguirus]

^ I'm hoping for Leader Megatron. Leader (which often gets repurposed in Takara's Movie Masterpiece line) Shockwave would be a bonus for me, honestly. I ADORE Shockwave, but Leader toys are usually a lot better when they have Earth modes. (Movie 2) Optimus, Sentinel, Megatron = Three giant trucks of DOOM.

[Rahvin]

^ I'm hoping for Leader Megatron. Leader (which often gets repurposed in Takara's Movie Masterpiece line) Shockwave would be a bonus for me, honestly. I ADORE Shockwave, but Leader toys are usually a lot better when they have Earth modes. (Movie 2) Optimus, Sentinel, Megatron = Three giant trucks of DOOM.

I couldn't quite bear to shell out the money for the Movie Masterpiece Leader Starscream, but I did pick up the normal Leader version for like $30. The MP-M01 version was the exact same mold with a better paint job, and it just wasn't worth it. The mold is pretty fantastic though. I hated Movie Starscream's design, but the Leader figure was packed so full of awesome little things like pop-our arm weapons that it softened my view. I had the Voyager from Movie 1, and the proportions were so horrendous I swore at the time I'd never buy another Starscream, and the Leader version was MUCH better.

How is Sentinel? I'm torn on him, he looks cool, but at the same time he seems a bit top-heavy and looks like he has a lot of kibble.

I know a lot of people wish we had a Leader Blackout. I'd like one too, and Ive seen some pretty good up-scaled custom jobs, but only if they can reduce the kibble compared to the original Movie 1 Voyager.

And if they never release a MP Shockwave, I swear I'm going to commission a custom one.

[Sidewinder]

Kid-appeal characters talking about bitches and ass kicking and pussies? Where the hell did Micheal Bay spend his childhood? In the bayou?

Not that I'm defending them, but don't take it out of context.

He called someone a little bitch. They weren't going "oh, check out those bitches".
The ass kicking was a threat I guess.
As for pussies, "gain, calling someone a pussy.

That's ridiculous, because the Transformers are NOT biological organisms, and Cybertron ceased to have biological life on it MILLENIA AGO. The insult "pussy" is meaningless to them because there are no cats on Cybertron (the closest equivalent is Ravage, a panther), and no vaginas, either.

Whoever wrote the script should've looked at this article, and adjusted accordingly, e.g., use "exhaust pipe" instead of "ass" (Transformers have no buttcheeks and no anus), etc.

[Srelex]

Then again, they apparently absorbed human language through the internet, so it's not beyond the realms of impossibility for them to adopt some local colloquialisms.

Anyway, if people have seen the comic/novel, how wanked does the military get in this one?

[Vympel]

I love Starscream's design in the films, so I found the absence of a Leader-class figure until last year almost criminal. I snapped him up immediately when he came out. He's so damn cool.

I'd love a Leader-class Megatron and Shockwave for TF3. Fingers crossed. I agree that another Leader-class Optimus is a waste of money, the RotF version(s) are perfect. There was a double box with 'Buster' Leader Prime and Leader Jetfire out in a store here (clearly a Japanese import) for a while, but I couldn't justify the purchase just for a version of Optimus with a gun.

And I'm so glad they do the Spoiler

Megatron and Optimus teamup in TF3. That'll make me squee

[Anguirus]

How is Sentinel? I'm torn on him, he looks cool, but at the same time he seems a bit top-heavy and looks like he has a lot of kibble.

Outstanding in both modes, with a couple of really cool electronic widgets. (If you plug a MechTech into his right shoulder port, his phrases change.) The transformation is difficult, but parts of it are a great amount of fun. He poses fine, even loaded up with extra weapons. Just be aware if you leave the batteries in that they make his back heavy.

Also, be careful of his shoulders when you transform. If you are, you'll be fine, but I almost broke one.

Kibble/schmibble, his kibble turns into a bad-ass metallic cape. Feature, not bug.