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Deluxe-class Autobot Arcee

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33 comments posted
If we want a very

If we want a very alien-looking robot, then perhaps she is a good choice indeed :) I can't wait to see Flareup to see their combined mode. I wonder if it's just one gestalt mode or will it be like the Tornado System from RID Landfill, like their plugs suggest.

Wallas's picture
Posted by Wallas on 24 January, 2010 - 04:58
Well, first of all, she's

Well, first of all, she's gonna be called Elita-One. (They officially changed it away from Flareup months ago.)

I don't know the Tornado System since I never saw RiD.
However, in one of the DVD documentaries on the two-disc of RotF, there is an animatic of the three sisters combining and moving- 'running' on a pinwheel of three legs running down the center of the body (a la Demolishor), but the designs are obviously not the ones we see in the movie itself.

And yes I too can't wait to see how it turns out. Unfortunately, I get the feeling it's gonna be a POS...
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EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 24 January, 2010 - 05:12
A big question

heres the biggest question that always come out when ever i see arcee... i now elite one and optimus has a relationship but is it true that arcee and iron hide are 2gether or is it... bumblebee or hot rod i cant remember i remembered back that arcee has a relationship with a another transformer but who is it?

Billy-Breakdown's picture
Posted by Billy-Breakdown on 24 January, 2010 - 10:10
IIRC, Arcee debuted in

IIRC, Arcee debuted in TF:TM, which means she was in the second wave of TF toys. Therefor, Ironhide was killed before they saw each other on Earth. It is possible, though, that they kknew each other beforehand.

But I haven't seen TF:TM yet.
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EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 24 January, 2010 - 13:10
This design looked kind of

This design looked kind of cool in the movie,but it's a terrible looking toy. I mean,it transforms from a bike to a twisted up mess.
I always see references online to the fact that the three bikes all have one mind,but did it really say this in the movie? I don't remember,but I only watched it once,and I'll probably never see it again.

In the Marvel comics,it was stated that the girl TFs were just so the TFs could better relate to humans,their gender didn't serve any function.
In the IDW comics,Arcee was a dude but Jhiaxus turned him into a girl for a fun experiment,and then Arcee went insane. The IDW comics are kind of messed up.

kidnicky's picture
Posted by kidnicky on 24 January, 2010 - 10:26
It's all too confusing to

It's all too confusing to keep track of...

The writers said the three were a hive mind, all under the name Arcee.
Michael Bay purportedly had them as the same mind inside of three separate bodies.
Hasbro portrays them as individuals.

But, of course, the movie doesn't outright say which it is, so technically it's up for debate.

I think of them as sisters with separate minds but who can coordinate well between themselves telepathically, much like the Twins.
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EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 24 January, 2010 - 21:46
you could say that arcee was

you could say that arcee was a male in IDW, but if you take into account that gender was introduced with the creation of arcee (as she appears now), transformers were neither male nor female, which raises even more eyebrows.

in regards to the whole relationship thing, Arcee was most seen with springer during TF:tM, and i remember during the series rodimus and springer had a friendly (if not oft highlighted) rivalry over arcees affections.

during the G1 cartoon chromia and ironhide had a thing, much the same with Prime and Elita-One, and the Chromia-Ironhide thing is mentioned in Chromias RotF toy bio. Hope that helps!

thanks for the in-depth review (as always) Eva!

Astronopolis's picture
Posted by Astronopolis on 24 January, 2010 - 15:44
chill dude theres a reason

dude theres a reason why they made arcee like that worm with hands thing and scary face maybe its the budget cuts or bay just dont like a girl transformer with legs or maybe for some fans including me it kinda looks.. well... hot? hehe i now its ugly and kinda look like a decepticon type but shes cute if u look her in the side..

Billy-Breakdown's picture
Posted by Billy-Breakdown on 24 January, 2010 - 21:21
"...shes cute if u look her

"...shes cute if u look her in the side"

LoL

You sound like Peter Griffin- "Look at that side-boob."


I seriously doubt Arcee's look was due to "budget cuts" since RotF got an extra $6 million compared to the first one. Besides, who says all Bayformer Cybertronians need feet to walk on? Some of them actually work out well- Sideswipe, Demolishor, etc.
Arcee has been a motorcycle for some time, so having her as one for Bayformers-2 wasn't unprecedented.
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EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 24 January, 2010 - 21:35
HUH?

"dude theres a reason why they made arcee like that worm with hands thing and scary face maybe its the budget cuts or bay just dont like a girl transformer with legs or maybe for some fans including me it kinda looks.. well... hot? hehe i now its ugly and kinda look like a decepticon type but shes cute if u look her in the side.."

Uhhhhhhh?
Errrrrr?
Uhmmmmmm?
You seeeeee?
I guesssssss?
Hmmmmmmmmmm?
You have to understand....etc?

HUH?

What the heck are you babbling about man? What's more to understand? Your reasons aren't very confident b/c they're just random sick leave notes w/ no doctor's signature in plainsight. Just admit the facts. This toy, this design is as silly, clumsy, unbelievable, distorting & convoluted as this franchise.

-R78

Rodimus78's picture
Posted by Rodimus78 on 25 January, 2010 - 02:24
LoL Good ol' R78- never lets

LoL

Good ol' R78- never lets his guard down, and always catches ya on your faults... no matter how painful they are. ^_^
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CollectionDX Staff

EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 25 January, 2010 - 03:25
What can I say dude?

What can I say dude? It's an adversative job but somebody's gotta do it. ;)

-R78

Rodimus78's picture
Posted by Rodimus78 on 25 January, 2010 - 05:06
Only things really bad about

Only things really bad about RotF Arcee was:

1- not enough screen-time
2- she (and Elita-One) was killed before we got to know her
3- she has that weird S-bend in her waist, WTH

Now, for the toy, I wish the panels on her left coulda folded up differently, and had her S-bend more articulate in Robot Mode.
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CollectionDX Staff

EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 24 January, 2010 - 21:33
Some people hate the

Some people hate the Bayfomers' aesthetic, and some (like myself) think it's fine.

(*shrugs*) There's no accounting for personal taste.
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CollectionDX Staff

EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 24 January, 2010 - 21:39
DIS-GUS-TING

This is one of the WORST toys in recent memory.

ivanko's picture
Posted by ivanko on 24 January, 2010 - 20:26
No, it is certainly not the

No, it is certainly not the best. But, I don't think it's the worst either. The S-bend is certainly unusual, but that's about it.

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CollectionDX Staff

EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 24 January, 2010 - 21:41
lol i didnt know this toy

lol i didnt know this toy was such a source of rage among the fans. generally people dont take to change very well and this is a VERY different iteration of any transforers character, but i do think its a step in the right direction that arcee gets a toy at all. i have to admit that i would prefer a more G1 accurate humanoid looking toy, but i own this toy and think its fun to play with. im not a fan of mister Bays monsterformers, but this line was a fun experiment in creating new ways to transform an object. hopefully future lines implement what was learned here in terms of transformation and detail, and what does and doesnt work in the aesthetic department!

Astronopolis's picture
Posted by Astronopolis on 24 January, 2010 - 22:01
"...generally people dont

"...generally people dont take to change very well..."

That's an understatement...

Oh, I think Trans-fans are still upset that every single incarnation of Arcee has had a toy except the G1 character, and they hold that against all subsequent releases. [This is my first Arcee as well (by choice), with TFAnimated's to follow soon...]

"Monsterformers", eh...? I like that. XD

I think the Bayformers-2 toyline is a general upgrade from the first line as far as how things transform, surface details, and features/gimmicks. I think there's more animosity towards the toys because of how poorly-made the movie itself was.
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CollectionDX Staff

EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 24 January, 2010 - 22:21
RotF Sideways?

After a long trial of denial, I think I'm gonna add the RotF Deluxe-class Decepticon Sideways to my collection [and review it].
Like Autobot Jolt, I think he may get a bad rap for his little screen-time, and it's affecting sales/opinions of him.

Any opinions either way?
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CollectionDX Staff

EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 24 January, 2010 - 22:26
It has nothing to do with

It has nothing to do with being unable to accept change,or the quality of the movie,or anything else. This is garbage. It turns from a motorcycle into a broken motorcycle.
I hate how there's such a huge base of online fans willing to give Hasbro a pass on EVERYTHING because,hey,ya gotta accept change,amirite? Even if a good thing changes into a bad thing?
I liked the first movie,I enjoyed the second. I picked up a couple figures from each. I'm not one of the people who has to go into a rant every time the movie or the newer toys are brought up. But in all seriousness,this looks like a dog ate one of your toys and pooped it back out.

kidnicky's picture
Posted by kidnicky on 25 January, 2010 - 08:44
@EVA_Unit_4A Sideways is a

@EVA_Unit_4A

Sideways is a pretty good toy. Excellent car mode, cool transformation, and a nice looking bot mode. It would be one of the best RotF toys, imo, save for the tiny feet can't support him well at all, and the rather plain looking arms, which needed some paint apps in a bad way.

Re:Arcee, the design is just too out there for me, just like that of Demolishor. It was passable on screen but this toy is a horrendous, ugly mess in robot mode, and thus I had zero desire to buy it.

djinniman37's picture
Posted by djinniman37 on 25 January, 2010 - 09:25
People hate RotF Arcee so

People hate RotF Arcee so much that I have to wonder if they would have been more satisfied if she had come with a miniskirt, smooth thin legs, and high-heels?

I see it as this: these are all traits of human females rather than an alien life-form which has no connection to us other than being generally of our physical shape most of the time, and they have no practicality in combat She is an alien- why the hell should she conform to our societal standards of what looks normal just to make an interesting toy? Be fortunate, all, that she even has just a light bust and female-sounding voice...

Now, I don't care for the S-bend either, but I really don't see the problems people have with her. I don't think she's a detractor to the legacy of Transformers at all... since every other series and character after G1 seems to be automatically labeled "ruined FOREVER" anyways.
(Although- now that I think about it- I suppose that would accurately reflect my own opinion of Macross...)

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EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 25 January, 2010 - 14:00
Are you seriously trying to

Are you seriously trying to use "science" to defend these toy/movie designs? Wow.

They're robots from space. They don't need to transform into ANYTHING. They can nuke us from orbit, assassinate all the world's leader, or otherwise erradicate humanity in any number of ways.

But they don't. Because that makes for crappy entertainment. Y'know what makes for non-crappy entertainment? Cool vehicles that transform into sweet-ass giant robots.

This toy looks like even more of a pile of pooh than your average Bay-former. I'm kinda surprised the discussion has gone on this long...

--
Sanjeev

Sanjeev's picture
Posted by Sanjeev on 25 January, 2010 - 15:53
Oh, I said nothing about the

Oh, I said nothing about the toys and how they were designed. (I actually disliked a lot of them.) They are based on what you see in the movie, but I'm not holding that debate. I guess I'm trying to defend the Bayformers' aesthetic more than anything else here.

I asked in an earlier comment in another review which would have been preferable for big screen Transformers- big chunks of armor which are brightly decorated (a la a toy), streamlined fluid armor like a skin-tight suit, fractured parts like they have now, or something else- but no one answered.

According to Bayformers, the Decepticons are a nasty bunch, but they have no real interest in humans or our planet. So the three examples you gave us would be irrelevant.
If I were to bring extraterrestrial biological science into this (which I'm not mind you), then why in the hell do they have two eyes, a mouth, a brow, two arms, a compact torso, and two legs on average if they are aliens? They wouldn't.
What Bayformers does is break that trend and give us something slightly alien (transforming, fractured skin surface, language) while remaining familiarly humanoid (Insecticons-and-the-like notwithstanding).

While RotF is not a good movie for a lot of reasons, I like the somewhat-hard-sci-fi motif that the Cybertronians have for the movies thus-far and have/will embrace it.
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EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 25 January, 2010 - 16:33
"People hate RotF Arcee so

"People hate RotF Arcee so much that I have to wonder if they would have been more satisfied if she had come with a miniskirt, smooth thin legs, and high-heels?"

Curtly, yes.

Dkun's picture
Posted by Dkun on 25 January, 2010 - 17:39
Wait...

You hated leader class Jetfire but you liked this? It looks like an extremely unpleasant avant garde desk lamp from 1991 when everything was neon pink.

Ginrai's picture
Posted by Ginrai on 25 January, 2010 - 16:59
I hated that Jetfire toy

I hated that Jetfire toy because of what was done with the toy, not how he appeared in the movie (which is a different argument altogether). He was far from screen-accurate, he was difficult to transform, and the combo with Optimus was bull.

Now, the transformation & posing on the toy of Arcee here is challenging because of the S-bend, yes. But appearance- & function-wise, I have no real problem with her aside from the panel on her left arm. And, of what we saw in the movie (and the concept painting above) I have no major problem. If- like a lamia, or RotF Rampage- she had been able to straighten out that S-bend, then she would have been just fine, but she couldn't, so I have one problem with her as seen in the movie.
Deluxe-class Chromia is more-or-less the same IMO, and only suffers from a weak connection peg in her chest and a poorly-integrated 'leg' assembly in the toy form... both of which are completely separate from my opinion on how she looks and functions in the movie.

Rest assured, I do not add to my collection unless several factors match up- some of those being screen-accuracy and functionality.
Jetfire [and several other things I've covered for CDX] was an obligation for me because I was covering it for CDX, not because I wanted him to begin with; I never had any interest whatsoever in getting him.
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EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 25 January, 2010 - 18:17
"People hate RotF Arcee so

"People hate RotF Arcee so much that I have to wonder if they would have been more satisfied if she had come with a miniskirt, smooth thin legs, and high-heels?"
I would be happy with ANY LEGS AT ALL.
How would a girl robot having a skirt and high heels not fit in with a movie where-
robots urinate from roughly where human genitals would be
robots fart
smart robots wear glasses
robots from another planet all speak with accents from various regions of earth
robots say phrases like "my bad"
"black" robots have gold teeth

Do I need to go on? Are any of these things somehow more plausible than a robot having legs? Espescially when ALL THE OTHER ROBOTS DO.
Again,not to sound like a broken record,I liked the movies. But you have to admit,they were more cartoonish than the actual cartoon show.

It absolutely blows my mind that you would use the phrase "hard sci-fi" to refer to a movie where a robot humps a girl's leg. That's hard science fiction? Really?

kidnicky's picture
Posted by kidnicky on 25 January, 2010 - 20:17
No- that is certainly not

No- that is certainly not hard sci-fi, I completely agree there. More I was referring to the somewhat versatile variety of body design we get from alien robots.
And, again, I like most of the movie, but certainly not all of it.

. . .

"smart robots wear glasses"

Huh?
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CollectionDX Staff

EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 25 January, 2010 - 20:22
Doesn't the German doctor

Doesn't the German doctor Decepticon have little spectacles on?

kidnicky's picture
Posted by kidnicky on 25 January, 2010 - 20:55
Oh- right! Thought you

Oh- right! Thought you meant Jazz or somethin'. ^^
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EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 25 January, 2010 - 22:27