'Transformer' Robots May Appear in Film

AP ^ | ANTHONY BREZNICAN

[Sir Gawain]

'Transformer' Robots May Appear in Film

 

Jun 12, 11:13 AM (ET)

By ANTHONY BREZNICAN

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The shape-shifting "Transformer" robots from the 1980s may soon be using 20-something nostalgia to fuel a Hollywood movie.

The Hasbro Inc. (HAS) toy company has teamed with the production company Angry Films to create a live-action version of the popular cartoon series that ran from 1984 to 1987, about a group of alien robots who disguise themselves on Earth as common vehicles.

"The basic thing is that if you've been going to the comic-book festivals and seeing all that stuff, the '80s kind of came back last year in a huge way," Angry Films producer Don Murphy said Wednesday.

"We figured the technology had finally caught up to the point where we could actually show an 18-wheel truck turning into a giant robot," added Murphy, who also helped make the upcoming comic book movie "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen."

The story of "The Transformers" centers on a war between two mechanized armies - the heroic Autobots, led by the red tractor-trailer Optimus Prime, and the evil Decepticons, ruled by the gigantic silver gun Megatron. Seeking new sources of energy, both factions crash-land on Earth.

Although the "Transformers" toys have changed over the years - from animal shapes to the current series of futuristic machines - Murphy said the movie would be based on the original lineup.

The 1980s Hasbro toys, which the cartoon helped turn into a money-machine for the company, have recently been reissued by the original Japanese manufacturer, Takara Co. A recent comic book based on "The Transformers" and a DVD of the original cartoon series have also become best sellers.

Murphy and his producing partner, Tom DeSanto, whose credits include "X-Men" and "X2: X-Men United," are still in the early stages of the "Transformers" movie. The project has not yet settled at a studio and no potential release date has been set.

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On the Net:

http://www.hasbro.com/

[scourge]

Well, if he was a retarded flying boat, he will definitely be in this movie. Only with a name change, he'll be the "mentally challenged flying boat"

[Green Knight]

No, the point is this: Why should I spend $8 to get the history of the Middle East compacted into a 2-hour time period, being forced to trust the Director to NOT have cut out important stuff, and the scriptwriter to NOT have twisted the history around, when I can pay slightly more for an indepth book on the subject which'll give me MUCH more information than a 2-hour film can POSSIBLY give me?

Movies in theatres aren't meant to be educational tools. They're meant to be entertainment. Trying to TURN them into educational tools is a fools errand, as their format just ISN'T suitable for that. Just how WOULD one tell the ENTIRE HISTORY of the Middle East in a 2-hour period? Or even a 4-hour period? And you can't have it any longer, because nobody wants to sit in the theatre for any longer than that.

A book does a MUCH better job at teaching history, so why bother with movies? The last thing we need is for people to learn their history through a medium which cuts material for time. Do you want vital bits of history left on the cutting room floor? For chrissakes, even Blackhawk Down had its detractors who said that it left stuff out, and the events it was depicting were only a handful of days, let alone a number of CENTURIES! It just can't be done.

BTW: They DID make a Sir Gawain and the Green Knight movie, with Sean Connery as the Green Knight. It sucked. I know this because I saw it. Just because they make a movie on a great story, doesn't mean the movie'll be any good. It's naive to think that history, especially history spanning hundreds or thousands of years, won't get mercilessly butchered in a movie translation, which'll make the butchering inflicted on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight seem mild by comparison. Me, I'll stick to books for my history. At least there I won't have to worry about some Hollywood director chopping out bits of history cause he doesn't like it, it's to long, or it doesn't fit his "vision" for the story.

[Skywalk]

I agree with your last post, GK.

Indeed, I can tell you that I've toyed with the idea of screenplays about the Communist holocaust, but generally, the story has to be more personal. This is why, though I hated it, the story in Titanic is more effective than simply broadly-drawn characters(Oops, that's titanic.)

Even in fantasy like Star Wars, the entire story hinges around a couple of main characters, or the journey of one--Anakin. Same with Optimus and the Transformers.

Any good story, no matter the historical value, or the lessons it is attempting to teach, must do so through the lens of a few characters or one. Anything beyond that and all you've hoped to convey is lost in a mishmash of names and events.

Same reason why the massive struggle of Terminator is told through the perspective of one character or two at a time. We are humans and we inhabit our own little universes. We simply can't process every story told in film, unless it operates in a certain fashion.

I think of Gladiator, which was historical fiction, but I much prefer the lessons imparted in that, than something that would have been more accurate(and therefore murkier and ultimately depressing)

Even when following the proper formula, there are monumental failures.

[scourge]

You talk about "Why should I spend" and "being forced to trust". Nobody makes you do anything you don't want to do. Just like nobody can make me watch some dusty cartoon, that appeals to adults who happen to have watched things on T.V that suspended reality for 5 hours a day after school, while growing up.

I realize that if someone made an entertaining film about a history topic or an interesting biography about a true to life character, it would not be a guaranteed summer blockbuster (hence it won't be made) although if some person ever were to make such a film, at least I could have an interesting debate about the pros & cons of the film, thereby getting a little more for my money.

[IronJack]

Oooooo! A movie based on a CARTOON! We've certainly come leagues since the cinematic medium was developed, haven't we? I only hope this will be as good as the Power Rangers movies and those wonderful Pokemons.

[Duke Nukum]

I always thought transformers were lame. They should bring back micronauts, 'cause they were cool.

And when will we see the next Thunderbirds movie? That's what the geek-American community really wants to know.

[Paul C. Jesup]

The will ONLY tehy will make money is if they use the original series, and original characters, including the original Megatron, who turned into a P-38 pistol with scope, stock and silencer.

Of course in the original series, there is a nice gap between season 2 and TF Movie/season 3 (1985-2005) to play around with.

[TC Rider]

Dude, that sword looks pretty gay.

[Paul C. Jesup]

I always thought transformers were lame. They should bring back micronauts, 'cause they were cool.

I have recently bought season 1 and season 2 of the original Transformer series on DVD Boxsets and I was surprisingly shock that this old cartoon is much better than most of the crap that comes today on primetime TV.

[amused]

Ping for fellow 80's toy enthusiasts (long hand for DORK)

[LanPB01]

The Micronauts are back, at least in comic book form. And they still suck!

Transformers
More Than Meets the Eye
Transformers
Robots in Disguise

[Springman]

Bump for later.

[LanPB01]

There was a big posting earlier today about this Transformer's movie at aintitcool.com.

I was also banned from aintitcool.com today for the offense of posting the David Brinkley/Peter Jennings exchange when Brinkley became upset about the idea of four more years of Clinton's nonsense. Oh well, I had a good run.

[Paul C. Jesup]

Even in fantasy like Star Wars, the entire story hinges around a couple of main characters, or the journey of one--Anakin. Same with Optimus and the Transformers.

You never saw the Transformers Movie did you.

[TC Rider]

The last couple of Transformers series' have been complete and utter dreck (From Beast Machines to Armada).

I actually liked the Beast Wars, no annoying kids, someone actually put together a interesting plot line that ran consistently through most of it.

Armada and that one before that showed up briefly on Saturday mornings are truly deserving of the crusher.

[Skywalk]

I did, but I was talking about the main thrust of the 'story' not necessarily the movie.

What I'm hoping is that a NEW movie would take that approach.

That said, who wasn't devastated when Optimus died?

[Paul C. Jesup]

That said, who wasn't devastated when Optimus died?

The techno music fit that scene prefect.

In season 3, I liked how they kinda brought him back (as a zoombie), then kinda killed him and brought him back to life for good at the end of season 3.

Also, Starsceam's death and return to life was interesting.

That movie did not pull it's punchs.

That movie was good on so many levels.

[The Coopster]

"Dude, you need to get out more....."

[Duke Nukum]

Actually, I was thinking more about the toys then the comics or cartoons. The toys came in all kinds of shapes and sizes. there was the little guy with the silver head. The guy with the dome head. The big robot you could take apart and put back together.

That robot was the coolest! But I never got it for Christmas like I hoped. Well, I guess if I decide to turn to a life of crime at some point, or become a democrat, I'll be able to use that as an excuse.

[Paul C. Jesup]

For your information I weight around 180 and I am of over 6 feet tall.

You remind of the guys who call everyone who likes good anime and cartoons, geeks, while at night you secretly watch old Looney Tunes cartoons.

Admit it. You're no better than the rest of us. :p