Transformers: The Last Knight

[Q99]

So word of this movie seems to be in, and it's definitely a cinematic masterpiece that totally isn't repeating the mistakes of the prior films only perhaps more-so, and it's certainly not underperforming even in China leaving a studio in already poor shape worried for their finances, right?

[Bedlam]

Saw it today, it's a horrible mess. There are some rather impressive effects but there's very little explanation as to why anything actually happens. There's a huge cast none of who get any actual development or anything but the very vaguest of character. A whole team of Decepicons get introduced to a fanfare only to get killed without more than a single line of dialogue, well they probably get killed there are lots of explosions and running about and they don't seem to appear again, or maybe they do in the background somewhere, maybe.

[Iroscato]

Saw the last one for free at the cinema - you'd have to pay me to see this one.

[SolarpunkFan]

None of this is surprising to me.

You can only churn out so many mediocre-at-best movies as a franchise before people start shying away from them.

Though I also wish TA or Prime got an animated screen adaptation, so I might not be the best judge of quality here.

[JLTucker]

The issue is that Shia is gone and Marky Mark is the leading man. He has ZERO charisma. Essentially, he destroyed the franchise, as opposed to those who say Nay did. In my opinion, at least.

[Iroscato]

The issue is that Shia is gone and Marky Mark is the leading man. He has ZERO charisma. Essentially, he destroyed the franchise, as opposed to those who say Nay did. In my opinion, at least.

Yes. Mark Wahlberg is clearly the problem here.

[mr friendly guy]

So word of this movie seems to be in, and it's definitely a cinematic masterpiece that totally isn't repeating the mistakes of the prior films only perhaps more-so, and it's certainly not underperforming even in China leaving a studio in already poor shape worried for their finances, right?

Paramount is in poor financial shape?

[Sea Skimmer]

They've had several high budget bombs recently. Also they now rely heavily on Chinese funding, but China has all kinds of regulations in place to make that difficult to sustain, the Chinese government wants all the movie making to come to China.

If your only plot point, going from the trailers, is that the main hero is now evil, you're pretty openly admitting total creative bankruptcy. Not that that gimmick can't be used well or have a point, but they sure don't indicate one, or any other reason to see it.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

It's a horrible movie that missed the point of why people watch Transformers at all. It's like calling a show Transformers, but not getting enough Robot killing action to keep it going.

[Sea Skimmer]

Wow, I just read they already have two more movies in the works. Though honestly, they made so much money to date one failure might not be a reason to stop, this movie has crap for script and Bay has been doing it too long. That doesn't mean another one couldn't be fun if it took itself less seriously and came up with a decent enemy.

[Q99]

So word of this movie seems to be in, and it's definitely a cinematic masterpiece that totally isn't repeating the mistakes of the prior films only perhaps more-so, and it's certainly not underperforming even in China leaving a studio in already poor shape worried for their finances, right?

Paramount is in poor financial shape?

Yep. Forbes on why Paramount needs it. Not in danger of closing or anything, but definitely feeling the pinch.

So many of their movies of the last three years fell into either 'Bomb' (Monster Truck, Ben-Hur), or 'under performed' (Star Trek Beyond, TMNT 2), with only a handful of successes (Arrival).


On the bright side, the early-preview showings of it in China seemed *not* to be a predictor and it is doing well there after all, contrary to my initial post.

[Joun_Lord]

It seems insane to me that the studio that owns the rights to Star Trek, Ninja Turtles, and Transformers could be having money trouble. I mean just having Trek should be netting them alot of money. Though I suppose they haven't been fully exploiting the property, for better or worse. I'd love to really know why they are in such sorry shape, what sort of stupid decisions lead to it. And stupid decisions seem to be what they are doing with the previously noted bombs like Monster Truck and Ben-Hur as part of their roster. Those were movies people KNEW were going to bomb, movies people should have known were going to at best underperform sharply and were still green lit. Seems really freaking crazy.

On topic, the Transformers movies atleast for me have been like the Pirates movies. Each movie, for me atleast, gets progressively worse and there is less reason for me to see it, I'm not looking forward to seeing them, they are more like a choir.

Not saying the first Transformer movie was all that great but it was enjoyable atleast. I knew what I was getting, explosions, Megan Fox, Shia, and random military guys. Oh and also giant robits. You aren't exactly watching Bayformers for the plot anymore then you look at porno mags for the articles. I'd argue the plot was some of what made the movies worse and worse. The plots went from dumb to super dumb to completely non-sensical. By time we got the Mark Walhburg replacing Shia so he can go get divided by internet trolls the plot was just completely stupid and seemed to be doing its best to overshadow robot fights and explosions.

I'll probably see this movie eventually but its certainly not a day one ass in seat type of deal.

[Tribble]

I'll admit the trailer was hilarious. Turns out that randomly flying into outer space with lil' rocket boots and no plan didn't turn out too well for Bay Prime. Who would have guessed?

Haven't seen it yet, but lemme guess the "plot" apart from the boobs, guns, cars and explosions:

Prime finds his maker, who turns him evilz. Well more like his maker finds him 'cause he's floating around near dead or something
Meanwhile back on Earth, humans are hunting down autobots. Again. Despite Autobots having saved their asses every movie. Because reasons.
Anthony Hopkins arrives to spot out some gibberish about knights, transformers being in the past etc. Said exposition doesn't amount to much
Cybertron? collides with Earth. Guess the portal from Transformers 3 set it on a collison course?
Galvatron? does some evilz.
Prime shows up and does some evilz
Evil maker reveals evil plot, probably something stupid like absorbing Earth into cybertron or something
When they show up the robot knights will naturally start off fighting the good guys because reasons. May or may not be evilz all along.
Some autobots / humans die. We still won't care.
Prime shakes off his voodoo curse or whatever alst minute and saves the day
Galvratron / Megatron gets driven off, Maker gets its ass kicked
Cybertron.... I dunno, kinda hard to undo two planets colliding. Either some transporter gets turned on ot they get stuck that way?
With any luck we see hints of Unicron, who will arrive next movie to devour them all

Well, am I close?

[Bedlam]

I'll admit the trailer was hilarious. Turns out that randomly flying into outer space with lil' rocket boots and no plan didn't turn out too well for Bay Prime. Who would have guessed?

Haven't seen it yet, but lemme guess the "plot" apart from the boobs, guns, cars and explosions:

Prime finds his maker, who turns him evilz. Well more like his maker finds him 'cause he's floating around near dead or something
Meanwhile back on Earth, humans are hunting down autobots. Again. Despite Autobots having saved their asses every movie. Because reasons.
Anthony Hopkins arrives to spot out some gibberish about knights, transformers being in the past etc. Said exposition doesn't amount to much
Cybertron? collides with Earth. Guess the portal from Transformers 3 set it on a collison course?
Galvatron? does some evilz.
Prime shows up and does some evilz
Evil maker reveals evil plot, probably something stupid like absorbing Earth into cybertron or something
When they show up the robot knights will naturally start off fighting the good guys because reasons. May or may not be evilz all along.
Some autobots / humans die. We still won't care.
Prime shakes off his voodoo curse or whatever alst minute and saves the day
Galvratron / Megatron gets driven off, Maker gets its ass kicked
Cybertron.... I dunno, kinda hard to undo two planets colliding. Either some transporter gets turned on ot they get stuck that way?
With any luck we see hints of Unicron, who will arrive next movie to devour them all

Well, am I close?

More or less spot on.
Spoiler

Unicron does make an appearance, in fact its revealed that he's actually appeared in all the previous films as well.

On and Cybertron does in fact get stuck about 40,000 feet above earth, for some reason the planets don't tear each other apart, although a load of people die, probably.

[Bedlam]

Spoiler

Unicron does make an appearance, in fact its revealed that he's actually appeared in all the previous films as well.

On and Cybertron does in fact get stuck about 40,000 feet above earth, for some reason the planets don't tear each other apart, although a load of people die, probably.

[TheFeniX]

Out of all the bullshit, Transformers "lost" me over one scene. I read an article about it and thought said article was a joke since it was so outlandish. But the movie was on the tube one day, so I gave it a go.

The idea that a movie about millennia old giant robots from outer space needs a scene discussing the merits of the "Romeo and Juliet" law in Texas. That was bad enough, but that a redneck Texan who's that protective of his daughter** didn't, upon seeing that her boyfriend was so big into chasing jailbait he carries a laminated card containing the verbage for said RandJ law, didn't end with a furious beating coming out of the Marky Mark side of the equation was fucking hilarious.

I just stopped the movie. I have my limits. Transformers pushed that limit numerous times. That scene fucking broke me. There's no going back.

** (that said daughter is less a character and more a point of conflict for two male leads is it's own problem)

[Q99]

It seems insane to me that the studio that owns the rights to Star Trek, Ninja Turtles, and Transformers could be having money trouble. I mean just having Trek should be netting them alot of money. Though I suppose they haven't been fully exploiting the property, for better or worse.

Beyond and Out of the Shadows didn't even make twice their budgets.

I do note they tend to hit the 'darker and edgier' note with all their franchises, and that just seems to not be working.

I'd love to really know why they are in such sorry shape, what sort of stupid decisions lead to it. And stupid decisions seem to be what they are doing with the previously noted bombs like Monster Truck and Ben-Hur as part of their roster. Those were movies people KNEW were going to bomb, movies people should have known were going to at best underperform sharply and were still green lit. Seems really freaking crazy.

Heck, Monster Truck would've been fine... as a low-budget kids movie, not a high budget whatever.

Biblical epics have done well recently, so I can get Ben-Hur, but apparently they totally flubbed the approach. Like, I hear they way turned down the homoeroticism, and why else do they think people loved Ben-Hur?

[Crazedwraith]

It seems insane to me that the studio that owns the rights to Star Trek, Ninja Turtles, and Transformers could be having money trouble. I mean just having Trek should be netting them alot of money. Though I suppose they haven't been fully exploiting the property, for better or worse.

Beyond and Out of the Shadows didn't even make twice their budgets.

I do note they tend to hit the 'darker and edgier' note with all their franchises, and that just seems to not be working.

Beyond was not darker and edgier than it's previous installments. Much less so that fucking 'Into Darkness' (clue is in the name in that one) and while I've not seen it given the first film, and the presence of Bebop and Rocksteady I really doubt out of the past was darker and edgier either.

I'm so sad Beyond underperformed. It was actually step up for the Reboot Trek, imo and I liked it. I wonder if it was on it's own merits, or backlash from Into Darkness.

[Q99]

Beyond was not darker and edgier than it's previous installments. Much less so that fucking 'Into Darkness' (clue is in the name in that one) and while I've not seen it given the first film, and the presence of Bebop and Rocksteady I really doubt out of the past was darker and edgier either.

I'm so sad Beyond underperformed. It was actually step up for the Reboot Trek, imo and I liked it. I wonder if it was on it's own merits, or backlash from Into Darkness.

Yea, granted. Still, both franchises had the previous movie go dark, then the next one light. I suspect what happened was Into Darkness/TMNT reduced the positivity crowd, then the sequels didn't draw them back while losing some of the dark crowd. I'll admit to not seeing Beyond because I was pretty done due to Into Darkness, for an anecdote.

Like, it wouldn't occur to me to take kids to a Paramount movie of any of these franchises.

[Joun_Lord]

Beyond and Out of the Shadows didn't even make twice their budgets.

I do note they tend to hit the 'darker and edgier' note with all their franchises, and that just seems to not be working.

I agree with everything but Beyond. Beyond was surprisingly light and fun, no real grim dark bullshit.

Everything else does seem more dark and edgy. Out of the Shadows was less fun then the first movie and by all accounts they are going for the "hunted" heroes approach with The Last Knight.

Heck, Monster Truck would've been fine... as a low-budget kids movie, not a high budget whatever.

Biblical epics have done well recently, so I can get Ben-Hur, but apparently they totally flubbed the approach. Like, I hear they way turned down the homoeroticism, and why else do they think people loved Ben-Hur?

Monster Truck apparently was moved around a whole bunch, audiences didn't seem to hate it but critics savaged it and with it being released against better movies it could not win.

Ben-Hur seemed to only real do well with the Christian audience. While thats good for whatever low budget crap Kirk Cameron is crapping out but not so great for high budget movies.

[Tribble]

Spoiler

Unicron does make an appearance, in fact its revealed that he's actually appeared in all the previous films as well.

On and Cybertron does in fact get stuck about 40,000 feet above earth, for some reason the planets don't tear each other apart, although a load of people die, probably.

Wait, what? Did I miss something?
Spoiler

How the hell did Unicron appear in every movie and not be noticed until now? Kinda hard to miss a Saturn-sized Planet Eater floating around out there. Does he have a herald like the Silver Surfer or something? Which one is it, Megatron or Optimus? lol

Gah, the answer will prob make my head explode.

[Q99]

Tribble- Spoiler

Just like in Transformers Prime, Earth is Unicron

Gizmodo's spoiler FAQ to the movie

[ray245]

It seems insane to me that the studio that owns the rights to Star Trek, Ninja Turtles, and Transformers could be having money trouble. I mean just having Trek should be netting them alot of money. Though I suppose they haven't been fully exploiting the property, for better or worse. I'd love to really know why they are in such sorry shape, what sort of stupid decisions lead to it. And stupid decisions seem to be what they are doing with the previously noted bombs like Monster Truck and Ben-Hur as part of their roster. Those were movies people KNEW were going to bomb, movies people should have known were going to at best underperform sharply and were still green lit. Seems really freaking crazy.

On topic, the Transformers movies atleast for me have been like the Pirates movies. Each movie, for me atleast, gets progressively worse and there is less reason for me to see it, I'm not looking forward to seeing them, they are more like a choir.

Not saying the first Transformer movie was all that great but it was enjoyable atleast. I knew what I was getting, explosions, Megan Fox, Shia, and random military guys. Oh and also giant robits. You aren't exactly watching Bayformers for the plot anymore then you look at porno mags for the articles. I'd argue the plot was some of what made the movies worse and worse. The plots went from dumb to super dumb to completely non-sensical. By time we got the Mark Walhburg replacing Shia so he can go get divided by internet trolls the plot was just completely stupid and seemed to be doing its best to overshadow robot fights and explosions.

I'll probably see this movie eventually but its certainly not a day one ass in seat type of deal.

Paramount have tons of valuable property in their hands. The problem is their execs are fucking idiots that will gleefully sabotage their company in order to get their children famous.

Avatar bombed, with the main reason for white-washing is due to one studio execs wanting his daughter to play an Inuit-looking character. That daughter proceeds to act in Transformers despite showing no real talent for acting. The company has spent years destroying the value of their intellectual property because they think the audience is stupid enough to buy into Transformer-level quality for every of their movies.

It feels as if the company is still living in the early 2000s in terms of thinking.

[Q99]

Fittingly, in the early '03, they were sued by Activision for mismanaging the brand!

On the upcoming TF movies, I think the Bumblebee one has the biggest chance of rescuing things, since it by nature should have a tighter focus on a particular robot. Hard to say on the main-line ones.

And it's increasingly looking like it won't reach the 600m line. Ouch.

[SolarpunkFan]

It would appear that TF 5 is (Not) Alive's place at the box office has tumbled hard from the opening day and is getting its ass kicked by, of all things, Despicable Me 3.