Recent comments
Josh, I agree with some of the other faults you've brought up, though I felt that many of these silly plot oversights (i.e., running into the city to "hide" the Allspark, Megatron's cliched villainness, etc.) could be forgiven because it was supposed to be a light, fun movie.
And as for my "cries" of racism, I know you, in particular, don't mean anything by the term...but it is a tad telling, isn't it? I mean, don't you find it curious that whenever a person of color tries to bring up a rational discussion of racism in order to raise dialog about something a bit off, it's viewed as "crying" by white people?
You've mentioned some other "stereotypes" of white characters in the movie. I'm honestly not so convinced that those are established negative racial stereotypes...as much as fictional character archetypes that happen to be tired and banal. Can you honestly say that the stereotypes of those white characters you've mentioned are even remotely as racially-charged as those for the characters of color? Come on.
Sure, the black soldier wasn't so bad...but everyone else. Yikes! By the way, there WAS an Asian in the movie: the Indian phone support guy...who happened to be grossly insensitive and incompetent. Wonderful.
Seriously, give that blog entry a read. I noticed you referred to it as a "rant". Again, I'm sure you don't mean anything by that turn of phrase, but it's worth mentioning that it's hardly a rant. It's a measured, logical reaction from someone who wasn't expecting to be blindsided by pretty obvious racial stereotyping in a supposedly innocent movie.
But you're right that what we're discussing is far from a Spike Lee joint. I was certainly NOT expecting socially-conscious commentary from this movie! I was expecting big robots banging the crap outta each other...and for the most part, the movie delievered. It's just that, as is often the case with racism, ya just don't see it coming. Here I am, enjoying some nice alien robots bashing each other...then the minstrel show starts...
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Sanjeev
Wow, right down to the mole on Ewan McGregor's forehead. That's amazing, and probably expensive as all get out.
Heavyarms
thatsjustprime.blogspot.com
addictedtoplastic.blogspot.com
I hope that the MG (and HG 1/144) treatment is given to more of the AU Gundam designs (especially Gundam Wing). I'd love to see a HGAU series.
Heavyarms
thatsjustprime.blogspot.com
addictedtoplastic.blogspot.com
I like to use Testors Model Masters Acryl. I think they're easier to clean up than enamels, and also easier to thin.
For Gundams the main colors I use are White, Engine Gray (for joints and machinery parts), Turn Signal Yellow, and Insignia Red (usually matte or semi-gloss, though I like gloss for small red details like chins and the parts on the V-Fins). I prefer to keep the reds, whites and yellows uniform on my Gundams and let the blues differ. The blues I use most often are French, Cobalt, and Dark, but I'm always searching for the perfect color most of the time.
For the eyes and "cameras" I put down a layer of silver paint, then overpaint that with a clear green, but as soon as I find a suitable metallic green I'm going to switch to that because this method is a hassle.
I USUALLY put down the base coats (I rarely use primer) and then overcoat that with Future before doing the panel lines. I use a mix of 1 part Flat Black and 4 parts water. You just dip your brush into this and let capillary action do the rest, and then simply wipe away the excess (and the Future makes this much easier to do than on a regular matte finish.)
Heavyarms
thatsjustprime.blogspot.com
addictedtoplastic.blogspot.com
Well, I've done some digging...and it appears that I was wrong! Well...at least vaguely incorrect. When I said "yet another", I meant just a larger size of an existing sculpt. I was specifically thinking of this one. Or even this goopier rendition of the oily bastard (which has been repainted over and over).
But if you look very carefully, the sculpt on this new one seems unique. I'm gonna try digging some more on ClubTokyo later today to see if I can find a previous sculpt that matches this...but it appears that this new toy seems genuinely NEW. (even if it is just another Hedorah...albeit a ginormous one!)
As for the Scrander, Mark, these should eventually hit eBay (that's how I got my Grendizer Daigokin). But if you have an agent in Japan (Celga, Rinkya, Masato...), you can have them check out Marmit's Scrander page to see if they can pick one up for ya. And while we're at it, here's a direct link to the "version 3" of the Daigokin Mazinger. I have no idea if this version 3 will be necessary for the Scrander (i.e., the Scrander won't fit v1 or 2)...
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Sanjeev
Finally got out to see the movie last night with the wife - she actually really liked it.
Overall, I liked the movie a lot. I thought it was well done, fun, and entertaining.
I do agree with a lot of the criticism stated above. The hacker subplot was useless, both Jon Voight and John Tuturro's characters were worthless. The plot point about taking the cube into the city.. WHY?!?! that was just stupid.
But this is not a movie that you want to over-think. It's not citizen Kane, and it's not going to win any awards for acting. If you come into the movie expecting giant robots smashing each other, you wont be let down. The CGI was great, and I thought the music choices were excellent.
Of course, I have some additional criticisms. Like many others, the new designs grew on me. But I found that they were animated so busily that it was hard to get a good sense of what most of them looked like because none of them seemed to stand still. Aside from Prime, Bumblebee and Megatron, you really don't get a whole good look at any of the designs. I feel I am only familiar with them because of the toy designs. I wish they would have slowed down a little and given some more face time with the robots. This goes even moreso for the Decepticons. I just remember these cool whirling masses of steel and sparks, but for the life of me, I can't tell you one face from the other, aside from Megatron. Megatron was unleashed too late in the movie, and the ever classic rivalry between Megatron and Starscream was hardly used. Also, Megatron's jet mode was only seen from far away and in short bursts.
I thought the plot point with Sam and the Allspark was pretty dumb as well. Yeah, lets give the source of life for all Transformers to a small, flesh creature, and then give him the task to somehow evade the most powerful Transformer there is. Of course, I also thought it was stupid for Megatron to try and "bargain" with Sam to get the cube? Just kill him and take it! How is it that he has been frozen for 70 years but still knows the stupid villain cliche's?
And in response to Sanjeev's cries of racism, I see your point on a few sides. But also, lets not overlook the white stereotypes - the wealthy white family obsessed with their lawns and their little dog. The bumbling incompetent White bureaucrat. The Spoiled guido with the spinning rims. The nerdy teacher with glasses. I haven't read the angryblackwoman's rant, but I saw some positive black stereotypes as well. How about a black guy being the worlds best computer hacker? How about the black military guy? I'm not saying those make up for the inequalities, but it wasn't all bad. And what about the Asians? In a movie about Giant robots (which originally were derived from Japanese toy designs), there were no Asian characters. In fact the only mention of the Japanese is Sam questioning the Autobots country of origin. How about a hot white chick being one of the best hackers in the country?
The film was not made with that kind of sensitivity in mind, and I think if you go into that with that mindset, you will be fine. I mean, it's a movie about giant transforming robots, not a spike lee film.
The film also left me with a few unanswered questions. Why dissolve Sector 7? They obviously know a lot about the Transformers, and as they said, they derived all of our modern technology from them. Does the general public know about the Transformers now? During the fight in the city and on the dam, they hardly kept a low profile. If that is the case, why maintain a vehicle disguise? If the allspark is gone, does that mean no new Transformers can be created? How did Sam know that the Allspark would create an energy beam that would "overload" megatron?
So yeah, I had some faults with it, but in all it was a fun time. Go see it, just don't expect to have to use a lot of brainpower.
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CollectionDX Admin
By all accounts, the Sector 7 Skyblast figure, which is just a repaint of Energon Skyblast, is an excellent toy.
Heavyarms
thatsjustprime.blogspot.com
addictedtoplastic.blogspot.com
They're teasing me with that $100 Wing Zero kit. That ain't fair.
Heavyarms
thatsjustprime.blogspot.com
addictedtoplastic.blogspot.com
Well, I've been wanting to cover some trademarked Transformers for quite a while now, but just haven't gotten to it yet. And, truth be told, I haven't followed it nearly as closely as I should have been the last 15 years. Super Sentai and LEGO stuff have most of my attention here, but I'd also like to branch out into-
-and I'm working on getting more from "Transformers" (2007 movie)(2 so far) & associated Real Gear Robots line (2). I also really, really, really want to get my hands on the re-released Toys-R-Us-exclusive G1 Soundwave! (He's really the only G1 I've ever really wanted aside from Powermaster Optimus Prime/God Ginrai!)
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CollectionDX Staff
Well then I would expect to see a review of those up ASAP. :)
Ehh, I'm not a big fan of repaints; they just feel cheep to me even if it's just a change in paint apps. Closet I may get for the movie repaints would be the Target-exclusive Autobot Signal Flare (originally "TF:Energon's" Decepticon Signal Flare).
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However, now that you've confirmed them, I'll probably go for just Wreckage and then maybe Payload.
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But as far as other tie-in products that don't actually appear in the movie, I've already picked up Autobot Longview and Decepticon Booster X10 from the clever Real Gear Robots line. Now these are robots in disguise-! (Longview is really the only 'functional' bot of the entire line because, even though you can't zoom in on distant objects like real binoculars, you can still look through the very tiny eyepieces. Although, I'll note, adults' eyes are too far apart to look through it properly...!) Ya know how Frenzy changed into both a boombox and a cell phone in the movie (that was him for the latter, right...?)? Well, these are the kind of toys that make you paranoid that they might really exist; like you want to double check just to make sure! I may get Decepticon Zoom Out 25x (camcorder with fold-out screen) and Booster X10-repaint Autobot Night Beat 7 (white 'iPod' player with cordless ear piece).
I'm still debating whether-or-not I want to get the Nerf missile-firing Converting Arm Blasters; those things are cool! If I do, I'll go for Starscream since he can shoot two at once.
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CollectionDX Staff
Dreadwing, Dropkick, Payload and Swindle I know for sure are in the game. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Dreadwing looks pretty sharp actually.
Not sure about Wreckage (I’ll check that next time I am out toy shopping as there seems to be tons of him on the pegs.). Arcee is the autobot that almost was according to web rumors so she is based on movie concepts but was not in the movie. Maybe in the extended cut DVD? "Times New Roman";mso-hansi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-char-type:symbol;
mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings'> Wingdings'>J
I don’t actually care for the repaints myself but several of the more die hard fans I know actually want those and not the movie styles so I am sure they will be popular.
I confirm that Swindle here was not in the film. But even though his style closely resembles that used in the 2007 live-action film, he does not appear in it. According to Hasbro's official Transformers movie product page, there are several other Deluxe-class Cybertronians there that also match Swindle in style but did not appear in the movie, and are not repaints from previous series':
There are also Voyager-class repaints from the movie of Autobot Ratchet with a new white-on-red paint job (but same character) and Decepticon Thundercracker which is a repaint of Starscream.
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While repaints like Thundercracker & Ratchet are [inevitable], what's up with the other five listed above? Are they also in the game, or are these toys that were made, but their characters were eliminated from the movie [like Swindle]?
Is it just me, or did some of these big-screen robots have a kind of Syd Mead style/feel to their designs...? ;)
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CollectionDX Staff
With the recent addition of the Gundam Ground Type, I'm hoping the EZ8 isn't far behind (although the original kits are HG enough for me already) I have been saying I wanted a GM Sniper II for years. I thought that since the Cold Climate, Command, and Command Space types from 0080 were released we'd get to see one. Oh, well, at least now they have a mold they can base it on.
Man, don't get me started on a HG 1/144 scale wishlist. Nu Gundam, Sazabi, ZZ, all the Gundam W Gundams and MS (Leo, Virgo, Tallgeese), all the remaining "Title" Gundams for that matter, Quin Mantha, I could go on all day.
There was a PG Wing Gundam on clearance at Amazon for $70 bucks a while back. I'm still kicking myself for not getting one.
Heavyarms
thatsjustprime.blogspot.com
addictedtoplastic.blogspot.com
Admit it, it was worth buying just so you'd have a reason to post that video.
"This must be settled the way nature intended....with a vicious, bloody fight!"
Onyx Blackman
Principal, Flatpoint High
So... someone is reading these after all. ;)
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Well, I didn't know what the technical term for the part was since I didn't get any of last year's "Bionicle" sets. I knew of Zamor Spheres, but not much more than that.
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But, LEGO is also a bit hazy as to what the weapon on the Sky Guardian is called, so I had to kinda half-make it up. What better name for it...?
And you're right- it's not hollow.
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CollectionDX Staff
Hey Sanjeev, I would think that if pressed to have to choose what the final focus of the film will be, I’d say it DVD> I know if I was lucky enough to say be directing and making one of my movies I would be focused on the DVD as that is what will be watched over and over. As much as I enjoyed the Theatrical versions of Lord of the Rings, it’s the longer extended DVD versions I most intimate with now.
As for editing and doing the effects, what I do know about the process is they do the “work” on smaller monitors but weekly review the footage on a larger screen. By that point however I would think that those working on the film “know” where to look.
n.pl. "A public or general demand or complaint".
Sanjeev, this is exactly what I mean when I say you can be a little oversensitive. You're seeing racism where there is no racism to be seen. The word used in that context is perfectly appropriate. Complaining about racial stereotypes in a movie is not "crying", but nit-picking over this type of vocabulary is, imo. It's the sort of thing that makes me dismissive of ones entire opinion (speaking in general terms, not your complaint about this movie in particular.) I mean, if someone chooses to find negativity in something that is not inherently negative, well, to quote Theo Epstein "That says more about you than it does about me." :)
"This must be settled the way nature intended....with a vicious, bloody fight!"
Onyx Blackman
Principal, Flatpoint High
An AU line would be great. Considering just about every machine of importance to the Universal Century has been captured in HGUC glory (Even the big Dendrobium), we're starting to see an influx of alternative UC designs such as the recent releases from Blue Destiny, although we're still coming up short on lesser UCs: GM Custom/Cannons from 0083, GM-Ground Types from 08th Team, the GM-Sniper 2s from 0080 and my personal favorite the Jegans from Char's Counterattack. Aside from those, its only a matter of time. Besides, Gundam Wing's in its Renaissance in Japan now as we speak and already they've re-released the PG Wing Zero Custom.
In the meantime, we've got #100 to look forward to: The Turn A. Syd Mead's counterculture Gundam. It floats like a Moonlight Butterfly and stings like a Gundam.
all the while, I'm still waiting for my MG Powered GM (from 0083).
It's not a hollow round plastic ball, it's a Power Sphere.
I was talking to my buddy the other day about the special effects in the TF movie--he was complaining about them going WAY too fast during the fight scenes, and there being just too many details flying around the screen to understand what was going on.
I've seen this effect before: Aliens Vs. Predator. By no means a "good" movie, to be sure! ;) But the whole damn thing was really dark and during the fights, you got to see flashes of...stuff...and a couple alien blood squirts.
Now, AVP came on tv the other day (don't ask why I was watching it!) when I noticed something: the action sequences were significantly more enjoyable than I remembered them being in the theater. It took me about a minute to realize it was simply because I could tell what the hell was going on!!
Just having all the action condensed down onto a small screen, I was able to take everything in and follow all the bone-crushing, human-slicing, alien-exploding action. It was actually pretty damn cool! (Not that I'd ever consider buying AVP...*ahem*)
As my buddy and I were discussing this, we began to wonder if a) the film effects editors are going over the shots over and over again just on small monitors (so they know the action inside and out...while never getting its incoherent effect on a big screen)....OR b) they're simply optimizing the film for home theater experience (banking on dvd sales, rather than movie ticket sales).
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Sanjeev
Ok...I feel somewhat vindicated...or like a total nerd--I'm not sure which.
The new Marmit Hedorah *IS* an existing sculpt blown up. Get a sweet, heapin' load of this'un.
Not too shabby, eh? I like it more than the Marusan giant Hedorah (which I thought you did get at last year's post-Summit NYC trip, Nekrodave...?). And, yes, I'm pretty dang sure this'll be the biggest Hedorah EVAR...could even challenge Jumbo Godzilla! ;)
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Sanjeev
I almost pointed that out in the review but felt silly.
There not terribly expensive IF you buy them when they first come out. There limited in number so when there gone, there gone and they have been a particularly popular line.
New they run 54.99. At that price you probably won't want
all of them but for your favorite characters...I think these will probably be
the best poseable figures we are ever going to see.
I did have one more thought I wanted to share. Despite it’s flaws, what it does well it does real well. I do think that they have set the stage to make even better Transformer movies which is part of why I think they killed off Sector 7. Now the main body of government is involved with the Autobots , certainly sets the stage for things like an Autobot city?
GIANT ROBOTS ROCK!!! Racism is lame and that is all I have
to say on the subject here. Let's talk about how much these robots kicked ass.
:)
To Josh's comment that the battles are a little tough to keep
up with, it gets better with repeat viewing much like AOTC OR ROTS. At first a
bit overwhelming but more detail for repeat viewing.
To the others comments that the
It does seem that it's in the editing and I suspect there is a longer cut of
the movie coming our way on DVD. Just a guess.