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The third live-action "Transformers" movie hit theaters this week and is sure to have a decent opening. Regardless of whether any Michigan resident chooses to watch it or not, as a taxpayer, they’ve already been forced to support it. That’s why Michigan residents should ask for a discount when purchasing their tickets. Michigan offers qualified and approved film productions refundable tax credits based on how much they spend in the state to make the movie. Since the tax credit is refundable and has little to do with the company’s tax liability, it is effectively a subsidy check from the state...

Transformers: Dark of the Moon, the third in the Transformers series, is in some ways the perfect summer movie. A movie where you can turn off your brain, ignore reality, and simply enjoy sugar sweet Hollywood mayhem. The movie starts with a basic concept: that the space race in the Cold War was focused on reaching the moon first, not for its scientific achievement, but to obtain alien technology that both the Soviets and Americans secretly knew had crashed on the dark side of the moon millenia ago. Americans, led by Neil Armstrong, get there first...but keep the information hidden.

According to Aintitcool.com, Obama will present Shia LaBeouf's character, Sam Witwicky, a medal in Transformers 3. Excerpt bellow Meanwhile, for the very first time Shia LaBeouf finally wrestles a bit of respect for his character. And for the name of Sam Witwicky. You see – here’s a character that has saved the world twice from the nightmare of Decepticon rule – but has never been given any real world respect. *****You’ll see Obama give him a medal – but he can’t explain what it is for.******** Saving the world curiously doesn’t have any real world applications, beyond prepping you for...

In May 2010, as production geared up for the third installment in the "Transformers" franchise, Megan Fox's publicist released this statement. “Megan Fox will not be starring in Transformers 3, It was her decision not to return. She wishes the franchise the best.” Well, that statement may not jive with reality. "Transformers" director Michael Bay recently told the Daily Mail that Fox was fired from the production after she gave an interview comparing Bay to Hitler. The comparison, to put it mildly, did not sit well with executive producer Steven Spielberg. "You know the Hitler thing?" said Bay. "Steven said,...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people would be added to the lengthy list of social and ethnic groups that public schools must include in social studies lessons under a landmark bill passed Thursday by the California Senate. If the bill is adopted by the state Assembly and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, California would become the first state to require the teaching of gay history.

A D.C. Police SUV was involved in a wreck at the filming of "Transformers 3" in Washington D.C. While the movie was filming a car chase scene on 3rd Street and Maryland Ave in southwest D.C., the police SUV collides with a yellow Chevy Camaro, which in the movie series is known as the character Bumblebee. The police SUV was not supposed to be there and the wreck itself was not scripted. The police officer driving the SUV is a 25-year veteran senior explosive ordnance technician. He was taken to a local hospital and sustained minor injuries. Law enforcement sources...

As investigators attempt to determine the cause of the Transformers 3 accident that sent a 24-year-old extra to hospital with brain injuries, Paramount, the studio behind the film, is suddenly contradicting eyewitness and police reports. Michael Bay's Transformers 3 was wrapping up filming in Hammond, Indiana — after spending the past few weeks shooting throughout the Chicago-land area (the photo above is from earlier in Chicago shooting, and not from the incident in question) — when a stunt reportedly malfunctioned. The result? 24-year-old first-time extra and aspiring actress Garbiela Cedillo was sent to the hospital with serious head trauma in...

"Transformers" director Michael Bay has been sued by two men who claim they were pistol-whipped by his security guard outside a trendy nightclub. The complaint, for battery and negligence, was filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court by Joshua Stewart and Paul Klimczak. The men say that exactly two years ago they were struck in their heads with a handgun by Bay's unidentified security guard after being booted from Kiss nightclub adjacent to Beso restaurant in Hollywood. They were treated at a hospital for broken teeth and bones, according to the lawsuit. Bay is not claimed to have participated in...

As the story goes, the Transformers -- enmeshed in intergalactic battle -- traveled from the far-off planet of Cybertron all the way to earth in pursuit of an all-powerful talisman. They are having trouble handling the National Park Service, however. .................................................... Kathy Hollinger, director of the D.C. Office of Motion Picture and Television Development, acknowledged that the plans amounted to "a lot more than D.C. has ever been accustomed to in terms of scale and impact," including, for instance, simulated explosions and pyrotechnics at locations along Pennsylvania and Independence avenues.

I can tell you that this new statement from Megan Fox's PR flack about why the actress won't be appearing in Transformers 3 is absolutely untrue: "It was her decision not to return. She wishes the franchise the best." What a pantload. I stand by my scoop that Paramount and Michael Bay kicked her to the curb by not picking up her option to do the threequel.

Megan Fox Dropped From 'Transformers 3' Megan Fox has been axed from "Transformers 3," Access Hollywood has confirmed. A source at Paramount, the studio behind the film, told Access that Megan, who played star Shia LaBeouf's love interest in the franchise, would not return for the third movie. VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Transformers' Sexy Siren Megan Fox The source said that in order to take Shia's character - Samuel James Witwicky -- in a new direction, it was better if Sam wasn't tied down to a love interest. On Wednesday night, however, reps for the actress told People that it was...

Hollywood poised for record-breaking year at the box office; 2009 set to best 2007's record intakeBy Amy Eisinger DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER Thursday, December 10th 2009, 3:26 PM The Hollywood box office is having its best year in history, reports Hollywood.com Box Office. This week the box office grand total for 2009 is expected to hit $9.682 billion -- surpassing previous record holder 2007, when the tally was $9.68 billion. With potential top-grossing holiday films still to come, Hollywood is bracing for their first $10 billion year ever. Movies that are still on the way this year include James Cameron's...

President Obama and his Autobot Allies defeated the evil Decepticon forces lead by Megatron. Air Commander Starscream was quoted as saying "We knew the battle was over when Obama appeared on the battlefield and in the end personally ripped out Megatron spark." Optimus "The Hater" Prime could not be reached for comment.

New York, July 7 (ANI): ‘Transformers’ director Michael Bay reportedly made Megan Fox wash his Ferrari, as part of her audition for her role in the film. Bay had called the sizzling actress to audition for ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ at his house. “He made her wash his Ferrari while he filmed her,” The New York Post quoted Jason Solomons having said in Britain’s Guardian. He added: “She said she didn’t know what had happened to that footage. When I put it to Bay himself, he looked suitably abashed — ‘Er, I don’t know where it is either.’” ‘Transformers:...

Megan Fox is becoming known not only for her ravishing looks, but for the controversial statements that come out of her mouth during interviews. She’s come under fire for several statements she’s made in the last few weeks, including slamming Scarlett Johansson in Esquire for being “too smart.” Her latest rant was about Michael Bay, the director for the Transformers franchise, which, by the way, put her on the map. Megan slammed Bay, saying he focuses too much on special effects, and not enough on acting. Bay was quick to put Megan back in her place, telling the Wall Street...

LOS ANGELES - After just five days, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" is halfway to $400 million domestically, a box-office milestone only eight other movies have reached. If it climbs that high, the "Transformers" sequel will be by far the worst-reviewed movie ever to make the $400 million club. Critics and mainstream crowds often disagree, but "Revenge of the Fallen" sets a new standard for the gulf between what reviewers and mass audiences like. The movie pulled in $201.2 million since opening Wednesday, the second-best result for a movie in its first five days, just behind "The Dark Knight" with...

LOS ANGELES (AP) - After just five days, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" is halfway to $400 million domestically, a box-office milestone only eight other movies have reached. If it climbs that high, the "Transformers" sequel will be by far the worst-reviewed movie ever to make the $400 million club. Critics and mainstream crowds often disagree, but "Revenge of the Fallen" sets a new standard for the gulf between what reviewers and mass audiences like.

After just five days, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" is halfway to $400 million domestically, a box-office milestone only eight other movies have reached. If it climbs that high, the "Transformers" sequel will be by far the worst-reviewed movie ever to make the $400 million club. Critics and mainstream crowds often disagree, but "Revenge of the Fallen" sets a new standard for the gulf between what reviewers and mass audiences like.

Variety's David Cohen saw the latest "Transformers" movie --- "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" --- and filed this report on its reference to President Obama, but not, at least in his eyes, in a good way. Cohen writes, "So as usual in these movies, the federal bureaucrats are portrayed as annoying if not villainous. The President's man, "Galloway," is a bespectacled blowhard who becomes an obstacle to our brave fighting men and their alliance with the noble Autobots. In this movie, exactly one real-life politician is named: "President Obama." They went out of their way to make sure they named...

You thought his outreach to the Iranians was a disgrace: Variety's David Cohen saw the latest "Transformers" movie --- "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" --- and filed this report on its reference to President Obama, but not, at least in his eyes, in a good way. Cohen writes, "So as usual in these movies, the federal bureaucrats are portrayed as annoying if not villainous. The President's man, "Galloway," is a bespectacled blowhard who becomes an obstacle to our brave fighting men and their alliance with the noble Autobots. Operating specifically under presidential authority, he makes all kinds of mischief. He...