Transformers! (Merged)

[Alex]

They weren't even shiny since the picture was generally so muddy to hide the blend of CGI and non-CGI.

But it is ok with me that you liked it. Being entertained is an entirely subjective experience. It worked for you, I don't invalidate that. You're the one who attempted to invalidate my reasons for why I did not like it.

For a summer action movie I am not going in looking for high art and am perfectly willing to judge it on different criteria than I did Before Sunrise or other art pieces (by that standard all the great summer tentpoles would pretty much be crap). But I do expect a basic level of craftsmanship, as I define it, and did not experience that.

[Nephythys]

Originally Posted by Alex

They weren't even shiny since the picture was generally so muddy to hide the blend of CGI and non-CGI.

But it is ok with me that you liked it. Being entertained is an entirely subjective experience. It worked for you, I don't invalidate that. You're the one who attempted to invalidate my reasons for why I did not like it.

For a summer action movie I am not going in looking for high art and am perfectly willing to judge it on different criteria than I did Before Sunrise or other art pieces (by that standard all the great summer tentpoles would pretty much be crap). But I do expect a basic level of craftsmanship, as I define it, and did not experience that.

I did NOT try to invalidate anything. In fact I said critical comments ARE valid- but I do think over analyzing it ruins it. Heaven forbid I respond with my opinions on that- geesh.

I've apologized- I've explained- I am DONE with it. Fvcking done.


FUN movie- I'll be going again.....it's Harry Potter week too- more shiny.

[blueerica]

Hey, to be fairly noted, LSPE does know other people "in the business" who liked Transformers.

I agree with Nephy, in one sense. Page 2 (I read mine in 50-posts per page mode) has been nothing but the insinuation from a handful of very vocal people that those that enjoyed Transformers are morally bankrupt and are otherwise not intelligent enough to see past the shiny-shiny.

And frankly, it does come off as snobby. We are all snobs of one sort or another... so get over it. Everyone.

It's just a cheesy blockbuster. You either like that kind of thing or you don't. No need to have everyone harp.

ETA: I didn't mean everyone came off sounding like a total snob. Just those who used hyperbole to make some dramatic points.

[Nephythys]

Originally Posted by blueerica

Hey, to be fairly noted, LSPE does know other people "in the business" who liked Transformers.

I agree with Nephy, in one sense. Page 2 (I read mine in 50-posts per page mode) has been nothing but the insinuation from a handful of very vocal people that those that enjoyed Transformers are morally bankrupt and are otherwise not intelligent enough to see past the shiny-shiny.

And frankly, it does come off as snobby. We are all snobs of one sort or another... so get over it. Everyone.

It's just a cheesy blockbuster. You either like that kind of thing or you don't. No need to have everyone harp.

In my tiny voice- Thank you

I AM sorry I phrased it in an abrasive tone- I DID apologize.

Squee shiny shiny.....

[blueerica]

There have been times, mostly elsewhere, and in emails where I walk away from the computer and say "Sh*t... Did I just type/post that. I didn't mean it quite like that."

In other words, I live in perpetual-post-posting regret.

This, however, will be the last time I open this thread until I'm able to see the movie. I'll have lots of time on my little mini-vacation this weekend.

Oh, and then there's Harry Potter.

[BarTopDancer]

All my co-workers loved it.

And does everyone realize that "Mission City" is not LA? They say "Mission City is 20 minutes away". It may look like LA but in the movie it is not LA.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by blueerica

Page 2 (I read mine in 50-posts per page mode) has been nothing but the insinuation from a handful of very vocal people that those that enjoyed Transformers are morally bankrupt and are otherwise not intelligent enough to see past the shiny-shiny.

And frankly, it does come off as snobby. We are all snobs of one sort or another... so get over it. Everyone.

It's just a cheesy blockbuster. You either like that kind of thing or you don't. No need to have everyone harp.

Thank you. To be honest, those posts really made me sad. Not because people didn't like the movie (you like what you like and lord knows I find quite a few movies that people here enjoy uber-boring) but because I felt as if people who are my friends think I am stupid for not seeing some hidden message behind the shiny robots blowing stuff up.

Bay and Spielberg are not political activists. They make action movies. This is an action movie, not a recruitment movie, not a propaganda movie.

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by blueerica

And frankly, it does come off as snobby. We are all snobs of one sort or another... so get over it. Everyone.

It's just a cheesy blockbuster. You either like that kind of thing or you don't. No need to have everyone harp.

ETA: I didn't mean everyone came off sounding like a total snob. Just those who used hyperbole to make some dramatic points.

Exactly. I mean, how much of an intellectual stretch can it be to realize that an overly loud killfest with apparent urine jokes is doing its best to appeal to the Schwarzenegger/Stallone fans who think the blood and degradation can't run freely enough?

Personally, I think a happy, bouncy movie like Cars is far more dangerous. In addition to being one of the worst written movies that I was supposed to like in some time, it was one big red state NASCAR, oil company blow job.

And I seem to be the only one who gets it.

[mousepod]

I never meant to insinuate that those who liked Transformers were stupid.Here's how I see what went down:- Many people posted that it was great even if you're not a fan of the brand.- Based on these and other raves, I took my wife to see it. We both hated it.- I shared that fact.- More LoT posts about how it was just shiny and robots and explosions.- I explained why I disagreed.- Erica (having not seen the movie) snipes that I somehow don't get the franchise.- I rebut in greater detail.Where's the snobbishness? If anything, it's in the attempts to invalidate any criticism of your beloved Transformers.Some of us liked it. Some thought it sucked. Like Nephy says, everyone is entitled to their opinion....and just for the record, I'm fairly sure that a handful of Spielberg's movies can be considered political - and even the New York Times has referred to Bay as "casually sadistic".

[Alex]

I could either say simply "I didn't like it" or I can explain why I didn't like it. That is what I did.

The only time I couched my views in terms of anybody else was in saying that I really don't see whatever it is that has others so ecstatic about the special effects which, in my opinion were muddy, blurry, and operated mostly through a magician's misdirection, making you think you saw things you hadn't.

If me explaining my reasons for not liking it is insinuation that others are stupid, I do not feel that way. However, it was in defense of the movie that I was told I had to stop thinking if I wanted to enjoy it.

Yes, a cheesy summer blockbuster can be morally repugnant, and many have been (I previously mentioned Four Brothers; see also Mr. and Mrs. Smith). I don't necessarily agree that Transformers is but it is, to me, and interesting aspect to discuss.

I would hope that a movie can be discussed. Even the dumb so-called mindless ones, and that we're not supposed to limit ourselves to a simple binary thumbs up or thumbs down. If that is the case, each movie thread should just be a Yes/No poll closed to comments.