Transformers 2

Adalla

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Transformers 2

« on: June 29, 2009, 02:28:35 AM »

Here's my review I posted on YourGeekNews.com

I got a little political at the end, and I usually dont bother sharing such things online, but hey, sometimes you must share your thoughts even if they may be controversial, and hope a civilized exchange follows.

Quote

I'd say overall it was a good movie, meaning the good parts outweighed the bad parts. However, I still think there were a LOT of bad aspects to this movie. Consider that I'm not familiar with Transformers except basic awareness of the cartoons.

The Superb:

The Visual Effects of this movie are just incredible. That's all there is to it.

The Great:

I loved MOST of the humor. There were some parts that seriously cracked me up as much as any good comedy, and the humor and "down to earth" parts are essential in a movie like this packed with so much action, because excess action can really numb you and tire you out.

I do like the underlying theme of nobility and leadership projected by the Autobots and embodied by Optimus Prime. Optimus Prime is a truly inspiring character and adds much needed depth to the story. It gives it a message.

The action was just really good. This is your typical great action movie.

The Bad:

Yes, an action movie, but that's about it. And what makes a great action movie great is the Visual Effects, and action-packed scenes.

The "roommate" character I thought was aweful and a very poor choice. He is an exact copy of the main male character (I dont even remember his name) that acts in a similar way, but does a worse job at it.

The story I thought was not terribly convincing, but acceptable.

One of the worst parts of the movie was the pretender girl who's a robot. Coming from a Battlestar Galactica background where the fact that robots take on human form has an incredible impact on the entire story was so easily introduced and as easily dismissed in this movie. I thought it was extremely fake and not acceptable.

Lastly, the thing that actually bothered me the most about this movie is that it was 100% classic "Hollywood" movie. By that I mean, way too much cheesiness that was unwarranted, the romance was overdone and the parts that were done should have been done much better. The slow-mo crying-shouting-running in the middle of the battle was hilarious, which is bad, when it's meant to project despair and drama.

And the other part of the "Hollywood" aspect is that this movie seemed like a US Army add that tries to desperately recruit people into an Army that is fast losing respect not just around the world, but also in the US itself. They showed off all the great gear, technology and capabilities of the world's greatest Army, the greatness of US soldiers protecting civilians at all costs, and of going and saving the world from the enemy and being the world's hero. I have always disliked this view of the US Army when in fact the wars that it has fought in the past decade have been the most controversial and criticized and unsupported of all time. I'd understand if this movie was made in 1946, right after the US saved the world from a clear world-wide enemy, but not in 2009. Also, why make the US look good at the expense of other nations and cultures? Why make the check-point arab officials look dumb, ugly, retarded, and incapable of doing their jobs? Why make the Jordanian army's helicopters hopelessly crash and have absolutely no success, no reinforcements etc.

I know this is just a fun blockbuster action movie that you're supposed to watch just to have fun, but in the end, such movies always have a message of ethics and about humanity. The message of Optimus Prime is very noble and very inspirational. However, when movies such as this distort reality and send the wrong message about today's nations, cultures, armies and conflicts then it becomes a big negative for the movie in my book.

It is time Hollywood met with real life, and real facts.

Adalla


« Last Edit: June 29, 2009, 02:34:52 AM by Adalla »	Logged

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Peace...not war!

Re: Transformers 2

« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2009, 08:04:34 AM »

*SIGH*

I am choosing my words quite wisely here because I think Adalla has some good points. If I may, I will indulge a few. I agree with the message of the movie Adalla, I just have to take small issue with the exact wording of your post. I hope you take this the right way.

I haven't seen the movie yet, however, I already know how over the top Michael Bay is. I can see how the true message of the movie can be lost. The true message of world peace to save us from ourselves is almost always lost in movies such as this. That is about all I can say about that.

As for the US Army advertisement feel to it all I can say is that I would ask everyone to take a moment of pause. The fact is the US Armed forces in any form are SENT by the US Government to any given point on the map...they don't just go as an entity looking to wreak havoc...even in the places they have no warranted reason to be in. So the only thing I can say is that the US Army (since that is the armed forces chosen for the movie AND the thread) should not be disrespected, rather the powers that send them where they go should be.

My fellow Americans in uniform certainly do not belong in certain situations, but they are bound by an oath that sends them where they go...they fight, they bleed and they die and therefore they command my respect for that. I believe the same about any force that stands and fights against terrorism and anti-democracy, no matter the race, color, creed or religion.

At any rate, Hollywood is antagonistic at best and there are many "stars" and directors/producers that I really wish would stop using their movies to exploit situations and real world issues that they know nothing about!


« Last Edit: June 29, 2009, 08:06:15 AM by A-Dog »	Logged

We seem to have reached the age where life stops giving us things and starts taking them away.

Adalla

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Re: Transformers 2

« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2009, 11:57:30 PM »

I'd rather die or be imprisoned (for treason, or rather...fight back against those trying to punish me for not wanting to kill another human being without my own consent) rather than be ordered by some politician who'd (never send their kids to war) take another human being's life without me fully agreeing with the cause.

People always have a choice on whether they want to take another person's life or not, oath or no oath. Is the oath to some politician who doesn't care about your life worth it?

That's why they call it a "fully voluntary" army. People volunteer to join, and they have full freedom on whether to pull on trigger on not. The choice, is ultimately theirs.

That's why I'm against the military-industrial complex by principle, though of course, when the war is the right war, I respect them. When the war is the wrong war, I do not.

Unfortunately, concepts like terrorism and democracy can be very subjective. Terrorism to one person is freedom fighting to another. Democracy can sometimes be overrated especially in countries ruled by ignorance where pseudo-democracies are the only way to help the nation evolve.

Strong words I know, it's just how I feel. I do hope I am not offending anyone, I'm trying my best not to.

Adalla


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A-Dog

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Peace...not war!

Re: Transformers 2

« Reply #3 on: June 30, 2009, 11:00:58 AM »

I had a friend that perished in the Towers thanks to "freedom fighters." Terrorists don't fight FOR freedom...they fight others because we have freedom. If they would fight openly and with honor where we could see them (instead of hiding in caves and warehouses around the globe and high jacking planes to kill thousands with) no one would be in countries they don't belong in, in the first place.

Adalla, I understand and totally respect your points but I wonder how you'd feel if these "freedom fighters" killed your family by blowing up a dirty bomb in center square Calgary?

God I hate it when politics shows up here... I'm done with this thread... I love all my BSG brothers and sisters too much to get going on this.

ANYWAYS....I saw Transformers and thought it was a good sequel with awesome jaw dropping effects. Of course, it was Michael Bay "over the top" as usual. I wish the world would adopt the same message that Optimus has to offer. *SIGH*


« Last Edit: June 30, 2009, 11:09:27 PM by A-Dog »	Logged

We seem to have reached the age where life stops giving us things and starts taking them away.

Adalla

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Re: Transformers 2

« Reply #4 on: June 30, 2009, 11:31:47 PM »

Adam, I never spoke of terrorists as a faction, only as a means of war. Terrorism is a weapon, just like any other weapon in war. It is the weapon used by those who do not have a 300 billion dollar annual military budget, since it's much cheaper and doesnt require much. Of course terrorism generally targets civilians, which is unacceptable, but then, cruise missiles and air-dropped bombs kill civilians too just as much.

I despise all acts of violence hence why I'm against the military AND terrorism and ALL forms of warfare by principles.

However, I like to try an objective view of world politics. This means, yes, I can imagine a bomb in the center square of my city killing my family from a terrorist. But I can also imagine a Tomahawk cruise missile launched from a naval ship, or a bomb launched from an aircraft killing my family that just happened to be living in the same neighborhood as terrorists. I'd hate the people responsible in both cases.

Everybody thinks they are always acting in the name of righteousness and justice, but often fail to realize these are almost always subjective and distorted based on the ignorance that we all share to one level or another, or our own perspective on things.

Either way, I realize this is a hot topic, and nobody is forced to participate. I just hope those of us that do can do so in a civilized manner, with an open mind.

This is after all a community that is fan of a show that was partially so good because of that fact that it tackled all these issues of terrorism etc.

Adalla