The Transformers films tend to be hammered by critics and fans. Personally, I don't see why. For the most part that is. I can't say that I grew up watching the cartoons. But, while I did no such thing. I have seen the episodes of the original cartoon and I really like them. I even own the animated movie. Here, I will defend the Michael Bay Transformers films. Well, for the most part that is.
I wasn't a fan of the original trailer when the marketing started for the 2007 film, Transformers. So, I didn't understand the hype for the film. A lot of people throw shit at the window because the Tranformers not only don't look like their cartoon counterparts but also, because it is very much human centric. Here is where I will start to defend the movies. Until the day that I die too that is.
Transformers being centric made sense in the cartoon because it's a cartoon. Kids want to watch them kick ass. But in a live action film, doesn't make sense narrative wise. In a live action feature film, we need characters that we can relate to and will not only make the film more interesting but can stay within the budget and not feel like a boring action film. Keep in mind, the writers of the Star Trek movies wrote the first film as well as helped write Revenge of the Fallen. Although, Revenge of the Fallen greatly suffered from being in development and pre-production during a writers strike.
From a human perspective, the Transformers films become automatically that much more interesting. Sure, the Transformers are side characters in the films. But, when you see it from a human perspective and their roles in the films rather than just the military. You automatically understand the perspective and wonder not only their role in the films but also, how they'll take on that problem. Not to mention their reasoning for coming to earth after the death of Cybertron makes all the more sense.
That's where fans of the cartoons start to throw their fits. "[frick] the humans, we want Transformers!" "Not enough Transformers!" Well, despite the fact that Michael Bay is known for having awesome shots and being style over substance, he stayed true to the Transformer characters and gave us an action movie that we all could enjoy. Just like with comic book adaptations, you have to appeal to a wider audience. The movie isn't going to make much if you make it for the core audiene. Hell, I'm sure it wouldn't even make its budget. It's about the money. Studios need money to stay alive and keep giving us movies. We're not just fans of these products, we're also a fan of movies. If the studios die, we get no movies. We never would know what they'd look like if it were real.
Again, I acknowledge that Michael Bay isn't a masterclass director. He's style over substance. I enjoy all kinds of movies and he is the kind of director who gets paid to make entertaining movies. That's what movies are, entertainment. For as much as many of us bash his movies, they make money. If Pearl Harbor, Armageddon and the Bad Boys movies aren't proof then I don't know what is.
Transformers is a perfect fit for a director like Michael Bay. He gives us fun, brainless action films where we can get action scenes that we can tell what the hell is going on. That being said, I'm not saying I am a fan of all of his movies. Belive me, I'm not.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a bad movie. Sure, I get enjoyment from it when I watch it but, that would fall under the file of guilty pleasures. We all have those. One of the many complains people had with this movie is the humor. I never had an issue with the humor in Michael Bay films, particularly the humor in the Transformers franchise. Some of the humor (mainly revolving around Skids and Mudflap) I laugh at. I think it's funny, even if it might come across or is racist. Doesn't make me racist, I just find it funny. Although, I never did understand Shia Lebouf going to Transformers heaven. Again, I didn't say I liked all of his movies. Not everything makes sense either.
Michael Bay has tried movies with substance or at least give us some sort of substance in movies before and people reacted poorly to them. Again, look at Pearl Harbor and Armageddon. Michael Bay's strength has always been action. So, he gives us style over substance. In some cases, it works. People give him and Nicolas Cage shit all the time. Does anybody remember, The Rock? Awesome movie right? Guess what, Michael Bay directed it and it stars Nicolas Cage (Sean Connery too of course).
Let's take a look at Transformers: Dark of the Moon now shall we? Again, people bash on it because Michael Bay and they don't like the humor and even the case, story as well as once again focused on the human cast rather than the Transformers themselves. Transformers: Dark of the Moon did what the first movie did so well if you ask me. Gave us an interesting story that revolves around humans, amazing action plus asked the question "What if we decided we don't need them anymore?" While the the third installment didn't have Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci writing it again. It did give us again, an interesting story. Sure, Lebouf did become annoying in the movie no doubt.
But, Michael Bay as with the other two installments took different things from history and incorperated them into Transformers mythology for the movies. The Hoover Dam was built for a different reason, Pyramids are there for a different reason, we went to the moon for a different reason. Here is where I feel Transformers: Dark of the Moon would've worked better as a second movie and Age of Extinction would work better as the third and final film in a better trilogy (giving us a new way to ressurect Megatron). Transformers: Dark of the Moon gave us not only a real sense of threat but, the Decepticons would attempt to bring Cybertron to us. Save their planet and use us for slaves. Transfomers: Dark of the Moon was epic and I think the best of the franchise because it gave us an interesting story with amazing fight scenes while again, never loosing sight of what makes the Transformers, the Transformers.
I'm not saying these are perfect films, they have amazing acting, etc. I'm not even saying that you should like these films. I'm saying that give Michael Bay where credit is due and the fact that save for the second installment, the Transformers films really aren't that bad. They're fun entertainment with amazing action sequences and that the Michael Bay haters and the fans of the original material are just a small portion of the crowd as the box office again proves that people love his movies. He's a guaranteed money maker. Kids love the films and there's even adults who really like the films. Plus, you can't deny the amazing score his films have. Film is subjective, everyone has their tastes.
Michael Bay does what he does. He loves the military and it shows in the films and he gives us what all movies should be, entertainment. Not every movie needs to make us think, not every movie has to be style over substance. Movies are meant to entertain and in the end, that's what Michael Bay films do. They entertain. Michael Bay even has his own production company, Platinum Dunes. Which has produced some horror remakes as well as the upcoming, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot. I personally like the remakes of Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street, even have some interest in the new TMNT film.
That's all I really have to say. Comment below and as always, be respectful of others when you do. I know this article will cause a debate. But, this is my opinion and who doesn't love a good debate?