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Showing posts with label Michael Bay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Bay. Show all posts

Thursday, January 22, 2026

Megatron (2007 Movie Version) [Classic Class]

Megatron’s movie design was a bit of a departure from his original looks. That goes without saying. To me, there was always some King Walder and Acroyear DNA in his new appearance. Considering the 2000s Microman line and Cool Girl — which had a heavy Diaclone influence — were being produced by Takara around the same time those first movie toys were being designed, I wouldn’t doubt there was some cross-pollination. I’ve also always found him a little similar to the Guyver. Not completely, but just enough to notice. Of course, Megatron got a new design in each movie, but today we’re looking specifically at the 2007 version.

I got this model kit among a mountain of others at Christmas from the Mrs., who absolutely spoils me. Considering how many redesigns Megatron gets throughout the movie series, I was eager to spend some time with the 2007 one, so building it was a real treat. As a Classic Class kit, Megatron is larger than the Galaxy and Defender Versions that are really popular right now. Once assembled, you end up with a pretty premium-looking figure that just looks amazing. It’s easy to forget how neat his 2007 design actually was. There’s a lot of detailed alien design packed into all those sharp points, and I’ve always appreciated the more feral look of the Decepticons in the earlier movies. I’ve felt for a long time that part of the design philosophy was to make them feel like living creatures. Honestly, the live-action designs always felt like a continuation of Beast Machines to me. Part of me likes to think that if things had continued as originally planned, something like the Bayverse designs could’ve ended up on a Saturday morning cartoon.

This kit looked like it would take longer to assemble than it actually did — and that’s not a complaint. With all the intricate pieces that make up Megatron’s armor, I assumed I’d be building tiny sub-assemblies forever. While there are sections like that, especially in the arms and legs, the process flows pretty smoothly: assemble the forearm, attach armor parts, connect it to the upper arm, attach more armor, and so on. I do find it amusing that at the core of Megatron is a standard Blokees Shining Version upper torso piece. The entire much larger figure builds outward from it, which I just find funny. That core also houses the components for Megatron’s light-up features.

Speaking of his upper torso, you get a choice of chest pieces. There’s the standard chest armor like the one shown in the photos, or an alternate piece depicting his death at the end of the movie. There’s even a tiny Allspark Cube included.

Megatron comes with his Fusion Cannon, which can be held in either hand. You can’t quite combine both arms into the exact pose he used in the movie — maybe an approximation, but not a perfect match. It honestly didn’t bother me. When held in one hand, it almost reads more like a rifle, and that works just fine here. His eyes light up a really satisfying red, which surprised me with how much I liked it. It genuinely breathes a little life into the finished kit.

It’s probably been a bit too long since I spent real time with the 2007 design. Building this made me appreciate the layering of silver over bronze parts much more than I ever did back then. A lot of the toys released around the movie glossed over those details, and I haven’t handled a newer take on this design until now. I always thought it looked cool, but its intricacies are standing out more to me this time around.

His head is amusingly a mix of the final movie design and elements from the abandoned earlier look. It’s funny — what we ended up with was considered to be more “G1.” I can kind of see it, but it’s still very much its own thing. At the time, Megatron getting a new design every incarnation was pretty much expected. So it was pretty status quo at the time. Thinking back, that stretch from 2003 — when the movie was first announced — to its release in 2007 was strange. News came and went, things were constantly in flux, and part of me is still surprised it ever actually came out.

I really like his animalistic face. There’s definitely some H.R. Giger influence there, and the part of me that loves bio-horror is all over it. A display stand with whoosh effects is included, but I found Megatron perfectly capable of standing on his own without it. This was a cool build and a great experience overall. The finished product looks fantastic, and it was genuinely fun reflecting on this version of Megatron while assembling it. At this point, I’m convinced Blokees is incapable of making a product I don’t like — and what kind of idiot would complain about that?

Monday, January 28, 2019

Movie Maserpiece Megatron and Jazz

 
Transformers: Masterpiece Movie Series Megatron
(Ages 8 and Up / Approx. Retail Price: $159.99 / Available: Sept. 1, 2019) Masterpiece Movie Series MEGATRON MPM-8 is 12 inches and a perfect authentic figure for fans and collectors alike, with features inspired by the explosive 2007 TRANSFORMERS live action movie. The figure showcases the merciless DECEPTICON leader with impressive attention to detail and features articulated hands and mouth, 40.5 grams of die cast detailing, and Fusion Cannon, chain whip and ALLSPARK Cube accessories. Converts from robot to CYBERTRONIAN jet mode in 50 steps. Features 35 cm of wingspan in CYBERTRONIAN jet mode and has 43 points of articulation. TRANSFORMERS Masterpiece figures showcase the greatest TRANSFORMERS characters in the highest level of detail (each sold separately). The ultra-premium, collectible figures are a must-have for any TRANSFORMERS collection. The Masterpiece Movie Series lineup includes iconic characters from the live action TRANSFORMERS movies with movie-inspired details and accessories. Will be available for pre-order from Feb. 1 - March 15 and retail purchase on Sept. 1, 2019 through Entertainment Earth, BigBadToyStore, Diamond, and Southern Hobby.
Transformers Masterpiece Movie Series Jazz
(Ages 8 and Up / Approx. Retail Price: $89.99 / Available: Nov. 1, 2019) Masterpiece Movie Series JAZZ MPM-9 is 6 inches and a perfect, authentic figure for fans and collectors alike, with features inspired by the explosive 2007 TRANSFORMERS live action movie. The figure showcases the daring AUTOBOT with impressive attention to detail and features articulated hands, sliding visor, die cast detailing, shield weapon accessory and spinal cord attachment. By pressing a back button, Jazz can be split in two and posed with Masterpiece Movie Series MEGATRON MPM-8 to recreate the tragic death scene from the 2007 TRANSFORMERS live action film. The figure also features 47 points of articulation and includes a Sam Witwicky figurine running with the ALLSPARK Cube. Converts from robot to hardtop Pontiac Solstice GXP mode in 48 steps. TRANSFORMERS Masterpiece figures showcase the greatest TRANSFORMERS characters in the highest level of detail (each sold separately). The ultra-premium, collectible figures are a must-have for any TRANSFORMERS collection. The Masterpiece Movie Series lineup includes iconic characters from the live action TRANSFORMERS movies with movie-inspired details and accessories. Will be available for pre-order from Apr. 1 – May 17 and retail purchase on Nov. 1, 2019 through Entertainment Earth, BigBadToyStore, Diamond, and Southern Hobby


Thanks to Hasbro and their partners for providing Zone Base with this information



Saturday, June 30, 2018

Red and Blue Fight


While working at my desk, the similarities between Redman and movie Optimus Prime occurred to me, and now I can't shake it. Watch the opening scene from Revenge of the Fallen and any episode of Redman and you'll never un-see it.

#bayverseisredman

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Russian movie poster

Sadly this is the best picture I could find
I've been on a touch of a TF movie kick today, which led me to wondering about what kind of interesting foreign movie posters I could find for some of them (regular readers have probably already noted my fondness). Doing so led me to this beauty. First off, let me just say I really appreciate the depiction of the movies final act with the design flair of folk art I normally see for sale along the side of rural state roads. I mean, just look at that, it looks like it was painted on a discarded piece of wood by hand. It's pretty great and somehow manages to match the color palette of the actual movie.

I feel like the artist probably has interesting views on the government and secret radio transmissions.

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

You be my homerun, I'll be your Bumblebee

Admittedly, I just like this graphic.
So with the Bumblebee movie trailer all up in everyone's bees-nests, I feel it's time to talk about the elephant in the room. Why is there an elephant in the room? What kind of mad house do we have with wild pachyderms just in our rooms? Roaming around. Kinda silly if you ask me. Also, I thought I'd talk a bit about that trailer.


I've seen mostly praise from fans excited to see a movie that's full of wonder and magic in the trailer. That Spielberg vibe that really meshes well with meeting an alien robot from outer space that wants to be your friend. It's seemingly what most people wanted the 2007 movie to be, which in all honesty could still be more like the 2007 movie than the trailer leads us to believe, but let's put away that cynicism away and just enjoy feeling happy. I think the most I'm getting from the trailer outside of the tonal shift is the designs, they manage to merge the traditional Transformers look with the Bayverse aesthetic we've all grown accustomed to, and very successfully at that.

Common theory is that the movie will act as a soft reboot as well as a prequel, which if you think about it in the same vein as those younger cast X-Men movies (I swear I've talked about that before here), it works. It absolutely works in a way that would appeal to the casual viewer as well as the more in-tuned viewer.

I know I'm excited, it looks great. The designs look to make for some great figures and licensed merchandise has already popped up that looks super cool. Will Bumblebee bee the sting in the butt this franchise needs to recover from the box office slumps of that last knight all under performing and such? Who the hell knows. I can't tell the future, and nobody else can either. So time will tell, but for now, it's nice to bee optimistic and have that optimism well founded.


Sunday, June 25, 2017

Transformers: The Last Knight


The fifth and newest Transformers live action movie is playing in theaters now and boy is it's arms tired... wait.

Transformers: The Last Knight (TF5) is a legitimately enjoyable Transformers live action film. It follows in the trend that the odd numbered ones are the better ones (look, it's my theory and I've been right so far) which bleeds into a new thought process of mine. The even numbered ones serve as a bridge. Transformers 2007 (TF) is an introduction. Between TF and TF3 the only thing that matters is a explanation as to Megatron's return and introducing a brief bit of mythology. In TF3 we get a big info dump and things got apocalyptic, so much so that years later in TF4 we see that Chicago is a wasteland and the government is now hunting down Transformers. Megatron comes back and we get a new focal point human. That's literally all that we keep going forward into TF5 where we get another info dump and things get apocalyptic. Next year we get the Bumblebee movie which I'm taking as a side story and not part of my odd numbered better, even numbered are bridges theory.

What do I call that theory? Even bridge to odd high five?

I'm about to go into more details about this movie and since it's going to have spoilers, I'm going to hide the rest of the post behind a cut (click the read more link). So if you're on the mobile version of Zone Base or a link and the cut doesn't work, there's spoilers after this pic.


Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Weekly Spotlight: Blackout


Blackout is the largest of the Decepticons. Most often seen looming silently over the right shoulder of Megatron, he is his leader’s hound. He pursues relentless efficiency, allowing nothing to stop him in his task. Those who defy him beware: his rage knows no bounds. He will fill the air with fire and burn the land clear to take his revenge. Paired with his minion Scorponok, he is a dangerous and a deadly foe.
 
 

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

The last knight (until the next one)


I'm not one of those fans that craps all over everything. I think this looks like a lot of fun and I personally am excited to see it. Looking forward to drinking a can of soda with a TF5 promotional image on it while out looking for Tiny Turbo Changers, Turbo Changers (yay, One Steps got that more exciting name!), Legions, and more.

I love Transformers, all of them.

Friday, January 27, 2017

I don't dread the Dreads.

Who you calling an ugly mofo?

I have a theory about the Transformers live action movies. It's that the odd numbered ones are the better ones. Seeing as part 5 is coming out this summer, I'll get to put that theory to test again. As news has began leaking it looks like a revisit from one of my favorite parts of Dark of the Moon just might be showing back up in The Lost Knight.

My love for you is like a truck...

Toy leaks have shown a new toy named Berserker, whom looks an awful lot like Crankcase from DOTM. Crankcase was part of a Deception team called the Dreads and I was quite fond of them. In DOTM, they featured in a great action sequence including a great chase and fight scene. Generic bad guys based on them were all over DOTM tie in video games. Personally, I was a big fan of the iPad DOTM game where all the generics were different colored Dreads.

They were just this awesome team of beastly Decepticons who specialized in hunting down enemies. DOTM is 5 years old and it playing somewhere on cable everyday, so I'll risk the spoilers. They all die in the movie, or at least the ones we saw did. Perhaps Berserker is another member of the team who wasn't on that mission or possibly a newer member who wasn't around for that mission. Or maybe he just happens to look an awful lot like the Dreads.

It's possible that this is just a toy meant to homage the older Dreads characters and possibly won't even be in the movie. Who knows just yet? But seeing the pictures of him online gives me hope for some more Dreads in the future. I'd dig that.

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Minor or Major?

I kinda like it

So, picture this. It's just after midnight and I'm on my lunch break (night shifter). I'm just sitting here eating my salad and see that the TF5 Twitter account posted a look at the movie version of Hot Rod.

Without a doubt, it's not traditional G1 and is mostly dark colors. Now that the obvious is stated, I kinda like it.

I like the overall design and look. I've been wanting Hot Rod to be in the movies and have always considered his personality a good fit for movie universe characters.

*Shrug* I don't hate the movies. I'm looking forward to buying him at Walmart.

*HOURS LATER EDIT* I just realized he would make a perfect Rapido. I think I would loose my mind if they had Rapido in the movies.

Thursday, June 2, 2016

What is that?


The other day, pictures of the new Megatron design from TF5 was put online. Oh sure, it's kinda neat, guess he's going by Megatron again now...

What is that?

It stands out clear to me. A tiny cross, maybe a sword on his mouth plate. I've been memorized by it. I've pointed it out to many of people who obviously think I'm crazy and maybe I am, but...

What is that?


Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Space Knights


Yesterday, the new logo and title for the new Transformers live action movie was released on various social media with a short video clip. 

Personally, I like it.

This new logo is very retro space age looking. It looks like Rom, it looks like Micronauts, it looks like a space opera, it looks fun. The movie logos tend to reflect the TF logo on all products for years after, and this is a logo I wouldn't mind seeing for years.

The sub title, is also missing the 'of' every TF sequel has had. Which I'm happy about, because everything within the last few years has been 'something of something'. It's nice to see a fresher approach. Not to mention, 'The Last Knight' sounds very fantastic. Just look at that logo with that title. This screams space opera battle. 

I was a fan of the knight theming that was given to the robots in TF4, so to see it continuing is a good thing. I like the silly notion of space knight robots that turn into sedans. Unfortunately the last movie was an incoherent mess, so I really hope the theming is more worked out. It's not hard to imagine as to why I'd want this to be a better movie. That last movie was really hard to sit through and I want to have the fun I had with TF3 all over again. 

I have a theory, that given the track record, odd numbered Transformers movies are the better movies. So hopefully my theory is right and the odds work out in TF5's favor. I mean, just look at that freaking logo. How can anything not super fun come from that logo?