No, no not THAT way….
As common readers will attest – I’m a full on, up to the minute geek. As a male geek at that, I take a certain about of interest in action films. The point of this topic is Transformers and specifically, it’s director/producer.
Now, I’ve read the blogs, forums and whine-lists. I’ve talked to friends. I’ve seen the “Bay is killing the genre” and “He’s only popular for the special effects” discussions. Well, for the first, I disagree and it’s because of the second. Action movies of past – Die Hard, Commando, Lethal Weapon – all were great without CG and big effects. -their plot didn’t require them. Then came movies like Final Fantasy, Titan A.E., and The Matrix. The genre appears to be in revolution – one where the effects like CG ADD to the effectiveness of the script, plot and shot of a scene. The simple fact is the special effects add to the “action” factor of the movies they are effectively engaged in. And few are better at that than Michael Bay.
Now, I don’t solely see straight with Bay about other decisions, esp this shirts he just just released (see michaelbay.com), but in film – he has the touch:
Bad Boys, Armageddon, The Rock, Bad Boys II, and yes, even The Island ( with a fall from the top of a sky scraper on a company logo that LOOKED believeable — and for all you whining it wasn’t believable, no crap – it’s a M-O-V-I-E). All these are movies with engaging plots and a TON of crap blow up or being shot.
You see, with the Matrix (and even add the Lord of the Rings Trilogy), there are some things that are impossible or hugely expensive with live action. Add to that CG is fully realistic (with the exception of the Neo vs. Smith fight scene in Matrix Reloaded), it’s a tool in the filmmakers’ arsenal. A tool that brings things to life that can’t otherwise be. And the full users of this? Comic book movies. How else do we get the most of Fantasic Four’s powers – the Silver Surfer looks w-i-c-k-e-d – or Superman’s heat vision?
The same way we’re going to get 45-ft tall intelligent robots battling on a highway at 65 mph.
And it’s friggin AWESOME.
So, do my movies tastes show I’m cheap (got stuff blowing up or shooting) or have I been onto something all along and it’s just been overlooked?
The box office will tell… as it already has before.