One of the things that Michael Bay, and by extension the Transformers movie series, is known for is hard-hitting, intense action sequences. There is no shortage of outstanding fight sequences in the Transformers movies. In this second part of our celebration of ten years of Transformers live action movies, TFW2005 news staff and movie fan SilverOptimus looks at his personal favourite picks of Robot vs. Robot, Metal vs. Metal, Autobot vs. Decepticon.
- Rescue Sam (Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen)
Revenge of the Fallen was not without its troubles, but it delivered some great action set pieces. Two of the amazing fight sequences of the movie with one happened back-to-back. Sam Witwicky had walked out on his Autobot friends earlier only to find moments later that they have never left him and compromised his safety. Optimus Prime showed off his athletic skills as he took on both Megatron and Starscream at the same time and helped get Sam to safety. The whole scene was a fast-paced chase, but was merely an appetiser for an even bigger battle.
- Optimus vs. Megatron (Transformers 2007)
The first movie culminated in a moment audience members were waiting for. It’s the final battle of the movie, and the rivals clashed for the first time on the big screen. Optimus Prime enters the arena shouting Megatron’s name and Megatron returns the favor by exclaiming “Prime!” and tossing the lifeless body of Jazz aside. The battle wasn’t easy for Optimus, as he needed to protect Sam and the Allspark while fighting Megatron at the same time. Megatron on the other hand has set his focus on the Allspark, and was just moments away from achieving his goal. The audience were on the edge of their seats throughout. Who will triumph? Who will walk out of this battle as the victor? The battle of Mission City concluded in grand style, complete with quotes from the 1986 animated movie.
- The Battle Of Chicago (Transformers: Dark Of The Moon)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon dedicated almost one third of its running time to its series of final battles, which saw fights on multiple fronts including Bumblebee facing Soundwave (and Barricade), and Optimus Prime fighting Shockwave and the Driller, while Sam kept his promise to make Dylan Gould regret betraying humankind. It ended with the showdown between Optimus Prime and his mentor, Sentinel Prime, a confrontation that was both brutal and also emotional, given the relationship of the two Primes, capped off by the last-minute rescue of Optimus from near defeat by his arch-rival Megatron, of all robots. While audiences were pleased with the outcome, feeling that Dark of the Moon got back to its roots with the huge action sequence, we wonder how much more awesome the novel’s ending, that had Megatron and Optimus fight side by side against Sentinel, could have been on the big screen. Regardless, it was a great way to round out this first trilogy of big-screen Transformers adventures.
- Honor To The End (Transformers: Age Of Extinction)
Transformers: Age of Extinction may not have ended with the biggest final showdown, but it stands as one of the best. Lockdown proved to be a formiddable opponent in single combat, easily capable of holding his ground against not only Optimus Prime, but Bumblebee and their handful of brave human friends. The action was fluid and intense, showing why Lockdown was such a feared warrior, with the background score by Steve Jablonsky and Imagine Dragons adding to the emotional highs and lows of the whole battle.
- Forest Battle (Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen)
Revenge of the Fallen may not have gotten the approval of critics and some fans, but one thing most agree is that the Forest Battle that ends the first half of the movie is an astounding fight sequence. Michael Bay’s amazing cinematic camerawork is complemented by composer Steve Jablonsky delivering one of his best performances in the franchise. You know you are in for a wild ride when you see Optimus Prime face off against three Decepticons, including Megatron himself and Starscream, and greet this situation with a defiant “You’ll never stop at one. I’ll take you all on!” that got audience members shouting “Come on, Optimus!”. The fight was something we rarely get to see in a big-screen movie of any kind – a hero fighting three powerful opponents and holding his own, only to fall due to his compassion when he catches sight of the one under his protection. When Optimus fell after this battle, the audience was devastated. Their hero just fell. But not without putting up an incredible fight, and giving audiences an amazing piece of cinema to enjoy.
These are not all of the battles in the live action movies. Far from it. Here are a few runner-ups (in no particular order)
- Highway Battle / Class Dismissed (Transformers: Dark Of The Moon)
- Optimus vs. Bonecrusher (Transformers 2007)
- Infiltrating KSI (Transformers: Age Of Extinction)
- I Rise, You Fall (Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen)
- Bumblebee vs. Barricade (Transformers 2007)
Starscream78
Man that was fast. I remember in 2006 seeing a trailer for it in the movie theaters while I was there seeing another and it was all "Coming Summer 2007" which felt like so far away at the time. I was like "OMG. A whole year? I can't wait that long." Little did I know I could've waited a bit longer had I known. lol oh well. We're neck deep in it now.
Leolim
Happy 15th anniversary
AceEdent
Can we talk about how many DOTM characters were either changed names mid production or how they tried to cover the real names up mid productions
Like Shockwave was original called Blitzwing ,Which is could be just for production reason, or they wanted a big tank villian, asked for it, someone made this , and a guy on staff was like, "Hey, isn't just just Shockwave?"
View attachment 29290837
And then their are the Wreckers, where instead of Roadbuster, Leadfoot, and Topspin
we had Warpath, Flash , and Tempest, which also possibly was for leak prevention, or just changed in production, since with Roadbuster, he changed completely with a different color and a different name, where as the other two were just renamed. and if it was just to stop leaks, thats some dedication just for one character, and also dedication to give them all protoforms when we never saw them
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TrailbreakimusPrime
It makes me wonder sometimes how RotF might have been had 2 things not happened…
1: no writers strike. The SWAG went on strike and they had to use non members to finish the script. This hurt the film.
2: Shia Lebuff (or however, my phone is dumb) broke his hand. They needed to figure out how to have that be in the film or delay the film till he got better. A delay probably would have been better.
I think if both didn't happen, we might have been given a better film.
trokanmariel33
I recently re-watched the 2007 film, and was drawn to the woman who's called Ding Dong Darlin'. I addressed her in a whole thread, which has now been closed (which I suppose is fair enough).
Applejacktimus
You've instantly gained my respect with these words. You can like whatever you want and criticize whatever you want; it's the attitude someone takes when they disagree that determines how their opinion will be recieved. Sadly, not everyone can disagree amicably and let others like what they like. I love most of the franchise and I wish the "tribes" could just get along. Welcome to the boards. If you like movie toys, this thread is a great, generally positive little pocket community I think you'll enjoy.
the c f
i grew up with these films and i cant abandoned them cause of others, i will cherish this as my childhood and im proud to say im a bayverse fan so G1 fans i respect your taste but theres nothing you can really do to pull me out of bayverse
Chris Londo
I remembered watching this a lot on DVD. But I didn’t see it in the theaters when it came out. Back then I was 6 and 7 years old. Remembered seeing the commercials on TV a lot when this was coming out. Along with ones for the toy tie-ins for the movie and that Burger King ad. Over the years I stopped watching it. Until a couple years ago back in June 2017. I watched it for the first time on TNT. Basically it was free on demand. And I was like 16 then. For me, I thought the special effects still hold up really well. Even for 2007 standards it looked detailed. There is some of the Steve Jablonsky score I like is the theme for the Autobots, Optimus, Arrival to Earth and the All-Spark. But my all time favorite is What I’ve Done by Linkin Park. That was the first ever song from them that I ever listened to. Heck, I’d even remembered owning Ironhide, Starscream, Ratchet, Bumblebee, Blackout, Megatron, Optimus Prime and Brawl toys.
Even on the 20th Anniversary Edition DVD of the Transformers: The Movie. Basically the animated movie that came out in 1986. Which I got as a Thanksgiving gift from my grandma when she was living Yakima back then. On the widescreen disc it included the teaser trailer with the Mars Rover which does appear in the film. Along with a minute and a half long featurette for the first film.
I felt a little nostalgic just writing this.
hthrun
Happened off screen.
WEEGEE
I just realized that between mikaela taking out frenzy and the arrival to earth scene we never saw Sam put his pants back on. Yet during the bumblebee new car mode scene he's got em on.
It's been a slow day for me.
MindChamber
JohnStartop
I think green screen is hard when something is lifted and dragged away. But I prefer that to CGI models of Shia LaBeouf flying around.
TheSoundwave
It's hard to believe that Revenge of the Fallen will be ten years old later this year. It somehow feels like a short time, and a really long time simultaneously.
I don't think that's really accurate at all. I didn't notice anything wrong with that scene in Bumblebee, I thought it looked great. And I don't think Bay's movies used motion capture. Maybe on Quintessa and Cogman, but not for the big Transformers.
MindChamber
The scene where bee and Carly (or whatever) walk in the woods ,was terribly composited.. like original hulk movie leak levels..
As for the fight animations and transformation creativity.. Bee definitely holds the crown..
The bay movies were mocapped and lazy, but I wouldn't expect any less from a director who's an animators first.
JohnStartop
I think they're pretty close. They have the same texturing, but the movement has improved since 2007. I know 2007 was bigger and more expensive, but their craft improves even among smaller-budgeted projects.
MindChamber
As much as I love bee.. the effects can't even come close to the first one which is over a decade old.
JohnStartop
1 and 3 were pretty good, but overall, it was a dumb series. I liked it for what it was, mind-blowing visuals associated with the most insanely idiotic writing, but obviously, I prefer good films like Bumblebee. Glad it's rebooted, but I'll still rewatch Bayverse every once in a while. I was a teen in 2007 so you might say I grew up with Michael Bay's awful movies.
darklordoftech
When TF1 was released, Paris Hilton still had a tv show and the recession hadn't hit yet. I reminisced about this when I saw Bublebee.