I didn't want to get excited about the upcoming live-action Transformers movie, especially when I heard Michael Bay was behind the wheel, but now that it's getting closer and the teaser is out, I find I can't help myself! I only recently rediscovered all the toys my sister packed away under my parent's house but could never remember exactly where, so I've got the fever. And I guess if a live-action version's going to be done, now's the time to do so as the technology is good enough to do it right. If only technology could enhance the script as well. I fear another Hollywood stinker crammed with delectable eye-candy, but come on Michael Bay, prove me wrong!
And speaking of technology being good enough to bring my childhood back to life, I was most excited to come across the new Ninja Turtle teaser! No goofy live-action lameness here; just wicked animation that looks like the original comics come to life. (Except for the differently coloured eye-masks, of course). Now, again, if only they can put the same effort into the script...
As an aside, isn’t it great the Boys in Marketing have seen this opportunity to exploit our nostalgic yearnings for the long, golden days of our childhood? Especially now we’ve started having children of our own, to whom we’ll eagerly peddle the heroes of our youth so we can bask in the sunshine one more time. We’ll be unofficial but highly enthusiastic sales staff, expounding the many virtues of a range of toys from a time (back when I were a lad) when they knew how to make REAL toys, not like this Bratz rubbish you’ve got today. Come over to the next aisle, Winter, and I’ll get you sorted. There’s even a wide range of female Transformers for you now, so how good is that? :-)
I wonder if we’re successful whether the cycle will kick off again in another 20 or so years?
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Gee I hope Winter gets into the same stuff you do Steve. Otherwise it's going to be an uphill battle for you to show her that she's just wrong ... I mean can you imagine if she comes out liking dogs, swimming at the beach on hot summer days and Comic Sans?
ReplyDeleteI don't want to scare you buddy, but it's worth preparing for these kinds of situations. I'm not sure 'good taste' is passed on through the genes.
Especially now we’ve started having children of our own who we’ll eagerly peddle the heroes of our youth to so we can bask in the sunshine one more time
ReplyDeleteYour homework for today is to look up:
1) The word "whom" and its uses, specifically the phrase "to whom".
2) The punctuation mark ",", and how it can be used to prevent hypoxia.
Comments on grammar and structure are, of course, always welcome; as are comments on the post’s actual content. :-)
ReplyDeleteRecycle... not an original idea coming out of those studios these days. I'm sorry Astro, but I am disappointed that these characters are being re done... time and time again. Its all rubbish. Everything.
ReplyDeleteAnd while I am at it... Smallville! Everyone knows that Clark does not know of a person called Lex Luther... OR Lois Lane until he goes to the big smoke. Why would they go against the grain of everything and make something so wrong. Don't like it!
Here is a novel idea... how about they come up with a novel idea to further explore our imagination and not disappoint and tarnish oour fond childhood memories... as you know Astro... both of the movies mentioned are really going to suck and fizzer out.
Not even winter in her innocence is going to look back findly on these bad boys.
Mum tells me a remake of Punky Brewster will be worth the wait. She says bad things about Barbie and My Little Pony, but won't shut up about swap cards and hula- hoops. What is she going on about???
ReplyDeleteRe: Smallville.
ReplyDeleteActually, Lex Luthor has made several appearances in Superboy stories, going back as far as the 1940s comics.
Which raises the real issue highlighted by Smallville - when did Clark Kent first put on the skin-tight red and blue suit and begin flying around? The original comics, the Christopher Reeve movies, Lois and Clark, and most other versions - including Smallville - all have him becoming Superman only after he leaves Smallville.
This established background wasn't very helpful when DC Comics wanted to create a "teenage" version of Superman, so it was merrily ignored when the Superboy comic was launched.
This, of course, massively increased the "Yeah, Right" factor of Superman's secret identity. It is (barely) believable that a famous person can put on glasses and change his hairstyle and not be recognisable as another, completely different, famous person. It is a little less believable when both famous people are known to have grown up in the same small town and then to have both moved to the same big city at around about the same time.
For this and other reasons, the idea of Superboy being a juvenile Clark Kent was junked as part of the reboot of the DC Universe in the 1980s. Just to confuse things, though, there was a TV series called Superboy in the 1990s featuring a costumed Clark Kent in Smallville.
Now, if you want a legitimate nit to pick with Smallville, a perusal of previous comics, movies, TV series et al will show you that Metropolis is located on the East Coast of America. Smallville locates it in Kansas, a part of the US sadly bereft of coastline.
For that matter, there aren't many mountains in Kansas; as opposed to - picking a completely random location - British Columbia, where Smallville is filmed.
can you imagine if she comes out liking dogs, swimming at the beach on hot summer days and Comic Sans?
ReplyDeleteIt could be worse, Nee: she could be a Windoze user! The horror.
I actually think I’m being quite realistic about this, and I’m quite prepared for her to share none of my interests. In fact, I’m approaching it in a way more typical of Kate than myself, where I assuming the absolute, worse bloody case scenario (dog-loving, book-burning, demon-worshipping, Mac-hating, contemporary R&B listening, vegan, crack whore) and anything short of those is a pleasant surprise!
I’ll just keep on doing what a parent is supposed to do: quietly modeling sensible behaviour and refined tastes, and who knows, maybe one day Winter will come running up to say, “Dad, I never realised how incredible Thelonious Monk is! You’ve been right all along!” And if she doesn’t, that’s cool; I’ll just revel in how this life I helped to create is making choices of her own and developing into her own unique personality; which is pretty exciting and amazing all by itself. (Even if she does want Paris Hilton’s new CD for Christmas).
Here is a novel idea... how about they come up with a novel idea to further explore our imagination...
ReplyDeleteThat's what George Lucas did with Star Wars, Bomber!
...and not disappoint and tarnish oour fond childhood memories...
That's what George Lucas did with Star Wars, Bomber! What a bugger.
Hello there Winter! ... Is this your inaugural foray on your fathers' blogg?
ReplyDeleteMax - Winter's commented a couple of times elsewhere already. Alarmingly precocious child. And you might want to watch your apostrophes, particularly when it comes to the word 'father'. I hope you're not trying to imply she has something in common with Freddy Krueger. I only ask because I know you're always right, and I got confused...
Winter - It's fine for your Mum to talk to you about swap cards and hula hoops; it's only if she starts talking about shadow boxes and small ceramic figurines that you need to be alarmed!
And my, Punky Brewster. There's a memory for you. What was her name again? Solar French Fry, or something? No wait, Soleil Moon Frye, and oh great, she voices one of the Bratz. Who would have thought things could get worse than Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings?
And Bomber, not all revival stuff sucks. Have a look at this 'Classics' line of Transformers from Hasbro. Ok sure, Megatron looks like a Supersoaker, but how good is that Starscream? Sigh. If only it was Skywarp.
ReplyDeleteHey, wait a second! I just typed in supersoaker.com, with the intention of finding a pic to illustrate my point, and discovered that Supersoakers are made by Hasbro as well! So maybe just possibly the similarity is no coincidence after all! Sneaky buggers.
My Little Pony - what's wrong with a few My little Ponies?? I for one am a big fan of those minature horses - no negative body images being promoted, no fixation on fashion - just a pure love of tiny little horses. Winter - My Little Ponies are ok - don't listen to your parents.
ReplyDeleteHey, I never had a go at My Little Pony! I didn't defend them, sure, but I didn't attack them either. Now, Care Bears on the other hand...
ReplyDeleteCare Bears - come on - they CARE - very positive - and they come in such a great range of colours with cute little icons on their bellies - I always wanted one... but alas I had to be content with a couple of Cabbage Patch kids and a My Child - I was such a disadvantaged child.
ReplyDeleteI also had a Pound Puppy - now I'm sure that one will have you up in arms!
ReplyDeleteIn case you're confused Troph, "Pound Puppy" is the name of the toy, not the instructions for use.
ReplyDeleteHehe, BUT...
ReplyDeleteSays the guy who never misses an opportunity to club my baby harp seal soft-toy to DEATH. Poor old Gus. My oldest surviving toy who sits in Comma's old spot on the couch, doing no-one any harm; you'd think he'd be afforded a bit of respect. But every time JJJ lumbers into the room in his size 12s, old Gus receives a frenzied beating! I think you've shown that Pound Puppies everywhere have more to fear from you, my friend. :-)
I have missed many opportunities to inflict death upon Gus. Since this is clearly not appreciated, I shall in future reserve my restraint for other occasions.
ReplyDeleteBack to the topic of the post, this film will suck big time. I say this not because of the subject matter - although my opinions on the (lack of) entertainment value of The Transformers are on record - but because the film is directed by Michael Bay and is not named "The <Geographical Feature>".
(The "The" is very important. "Pearl Harbour" was named for a geographical feature, but the lack of a "The" spelt doom.)
Triple J, I notice you say that you have missed many opportunities, and not that you have opted to let them pass. Very interesting. :-)
ReplyDelete...my opinions on the (lack of) entertainment value of The Transformers are on record...
As the new film will feature neither the Spinning Matrix of Utter Distraction, nor (surprisingly) the hosts of The Early Bird Show, it would seem your only problem with the Transformers is the issue of disproportionate scales. And if so, I think you’re being a bit sour-puss, grumpy-face. It’s not a science documentary, after all; it’s an intergalactic tale of good versus evil, featuring a race of transforming robots who (and you won’t believe this) speak English! If you’re determined to wipe the franchise off because its physics aren’t wholly consistent, I think you're taking it a shade too seriously.
And I do like your theory, but it doesn't work because (and I'm not sure if you've seen it, but) "The Rock" sucked as well.
ReplyDeleteScale issues aside, let me get this straight:
ReplyDeleteThe first two iterations of The Transformers to which I was exposed were spoiled for me by the over the top, distracting antics of a guy in a monster suit; and an over the top, distracting chunk of early-90s computer graphics.
However, I can be reassured that the film - to be directed by Michael "Let's remount the chase scene from Bullitt, only with a Hummer and a Ferrari, and ending with both vehicles and a cable car exploding" Bay - will contain nothing over the top nor distracting.
Right.
Triple J - I'm just trying to understand why you feel the Transformers have no entertainment value. Two of your stated reasons have nothing to do with the actual show (they're not on the DVDs, for example), and the third would seem to be more an irritation than a death-blow. It'd be like saying Babylon 5 has no entertainment value because of Michael O'Hare's acting. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying this film won't "suck big time," but I am heartened to see Tom Lenk will be playing 'Pentagon Analyst #2'! Yay, Tom Lenk!