Bumblebee

[SirAndrewD]

Wife and I saw this today while celebrating our 10th Wedding Anniversary. 

This was the live action Transformers film my 9 year old self was asking for. 

Pretty much did right what the Bay films did wrong. 

Best thing, while it is sort of in the Bayformers continuity, it leaves a lot of room to branch off and become a reboot of the series.  It actually actively ignores some of the Bay canon right out of the gate. 

If Travis Knight stays at the helm of the franchise it might actually be saved, and we can remember Bay's version as fondly as we remember the GoBots.

[Gusington]

I wanted to see this with my daughters. We've never seen any of the films. Would we know what's going on?

[SirAndrewD]

I wanted to see this with my daughters. We've never seen any of the films. Would we know what's going on?

Yes.   The movie is basically a soft reboot.  It barely follows the Bay films continuity, and it's a "prequel" to them.

You're better off never watching the other "Transformers" films that came before. 

It stands alone and it's a great family film.  It's got a little bit of something for all ages. 

Sadly, despite critical acclaim, it's rocking a 94% RT score, it's looking like it's going to be a catastrophic flop this weekend. 

[JasonPratt]

Doesn't have "Transformers" in the title -- and the well has been poisoned by too much unwanted stuff in the prior films.

I'm looking forward to seeing it, but with Aquaman and Spiderverse (and Mary Poppins) all kicking in, it'll have a tough row to how this weekend.

You're better off never watching the other "Transformers" films that came before.

I wouldn't take my nieces to see those. This seems worthy.

Having said that: the other five films manage to do a lot of things right. Enough that I'll be legitimately sorry never to see the grand finale 6th film which was being teased. It's just... there's so much sheerly Godawful crap shoved into them, in various proportions per film.

While I'll be sorry not to see the teased 6th film, I won't be sorry if a more fan-friendly series starts off from this new beginning (more or less). Even though in places this is being called TF6.

[Gusington]

Thanks SirAndrewD.

[SirAndrewD]

Doesn't have "Transformers" in the title -- and the well has been poisoned by too much unwanted stuff in the prior films.

I'm looking forward to seeing it, but with Aquaman and Spiderverse (and Mary Poppins) all kicking in, it'll have a tough row to how this weekend.

I wouldn't take my nieces to see those. This seems worthy.

Having said that: the other five films manage to do a lot of things right. Enough that I'll be legitimately sorry never to see the grand finale 6th film which was being teased. It's just... there's so much sheerly Godawful crap shoved into them, in various proportions per film.

While I'll be sorry not to see the teased 6th film, I won't be sorry if a more fan-friendly series starts off from this new beginning (more or less). Even though in places this is being called TF6.

The Bay series lost me after the fourth.  It didn't really have me solidly prior to that anyway.  It's like you say, they had the germ of a good idea but too much junk got injected into the mix, along with Bay's addiction to explosion porn. 

Bumblebee rejects most of what Bay's films did, all the way down the design of the Transformers.  They actually look, sound and act like they did in the old Cartoon from our youth.   

The relationship between Bumblebee and Charlie is very close, in both feel and story to the relationship between Bumblebee and Spike from the original G1 comics and cartoon.  Much more true than anything Bay did.  It has a lot of genuine heart, and borrows a lot from films like ET and the Iron Giant. 

I'd be very happy if this is the start of a franchise that's closer to Transformers G1 than Bay's vision.  But, you're right, Paramount made a bad choice releasing it this weekend.  Early financials don't look good, and critical acclaim isn't going to do a lot to help it. 

As you say, the well has been very fully poisoned by the preceding movies.   The film is simply too close to the release of the last one, and the producers have outright lied about how much this movie is a reboot rather than connected.

We'll see, maybe word of mouth can save it. 

[JasonPratt]

Disc and similar after-theater sales might save it, too. Grass roots brand rebuilding could be the way to a solid future for the franchise, if the Paramount execs can look that far: accept a minor extended profit now, to build a larger profit later.

Can't say I'm looking forward to TF films named after single character names, just from an aesthetic position; but choosing (perhaps back and forth) to focus on particular characters narratively per movie could be an worthwhile way forward. The TF property has character to burn! -- it's just too bad that the prior films have mostly "burned" their headlining characters in favor of humans who should have been the secondary focus.

[Sir Slash]

So Bumblebee is making 'tuna' out of the competition this weekend?  :DD   Anybody seen "Mortal Engines" yet?

[Gusington]

^That is way high on my list but I don't have anyone to see it with...will have to go solo on that one.

[Destraex]

So Bumblebee is making 'tuna' out of the competition this weekend?  :DD   Anybody seen "Mortal Engines" yet?

I saw Mortal Engines over the new year break and can say that it was pretty disappointing. It's definitely B grade.
I was not sold on the whole premise of the movie to start with anyways. They did not explore or explain much of what I presume is in the books very well. I did however like the Necron character.

[Sir Slash]

Sad but similar to what I've heard elsewhere.  :'(