Bios: Ravage

Bulleting down through the atmosphere at better than 15 times the speed of sound, Ravage considers the data he has already amassed on the small, soft creatures that inhabit this planet. They seem weak and fragile, yet they are the ones that destroyed Megatron. That is a fact he will keep in mind as he penetrates their most sensitive installation. Against such an unpredictable enemy, stealth will be his watchword.

Strength: 6 Intelligence: 9 Speed: 7 Endurance: 7
Rank: 4 Courage: 10 Fireblast: 4 Skill: 8

Bios: Tomahawk

 

Tomahawk may be slow, but he's made a career out of taking on Decepticons faster than him, and blowing them out of the sky. He uses himself as bait to draw in overconfident Decepticon aces, then he fills the sky around them with heat-seeking missiles. Jetblade and Terradive don't stand a chance. 

Strength: 7 Intelligence: 8 Speed: 5 Endurance: 8 Rank: 6 Courage: 8 Fireblast: 8 Skill: 9

Part One of Many

 

Let's look at one more of Sakomoto's E-Hobby pitches while we're on this tangent of unused concepts. Transformers Part One was similar to Bravemasters in that it would have used non-screen character toy molds from the movies. However, instead of a series taking place in a specific timeline, it was seemingly a general classic characters line. I'd like to think there would have been some fiction to go along with and give the toys a setting for these new looks to take place in. It makes me think of Machine Wars a little as is. The way we've got the classic characters in new bodies made from older toys with no apparent setting. Either way, it looks like it would have been a lot of fun.

Mastering the Brave

 

Transformers is a pretty big brand that's been going for a pretty long time. During that time and growth, there's been a lot of ideas that never became real. I'm going to talk about one of those right now. Mainly because it's something that I wish would have happened. That would be New Transformers: Bravemasters. Bravemasters was a proposal by Hayato Sakamoto for an E-Hobby exclusive toy line. The line was to use non-screen character Transformers movie toys in new colors as new characters.

The setting would have been the time period between Headmasters and Masterforce. A new group of Deceptcions led by Master Hell would have attacked Earth. A lone Autobot still on Earth named Brave would have been the first line of resistance with others to join him as things progressed. The series would have been a triple threat. New fans would have a virtual clean slate to pick up from. Older fans would have a look into a time that hadn't been explored much. Third, it would visually appeal to fans of Brave and give them something new.

Personally, I would have loved to see Bravemasters become a reality. It's such a cool idea and theoretically would have given some great toy molds some much deserved attention. I wasn't there at BotCon 2015 when the information was revealed at a panel featuring Sakamoto. However it's been something I've wished for since reading the panel notes. I'd have been a big fan of this series and I'm pretty sure others would have too. Ultimately, a lot of the concepts pitched at the time would have led way to Transformers Cloud. Itself a neat line exclusive to E-Hobby.

Bios: Bludgeon

Decepticon Bludgeon was nearly destroyed by a fight with the metallikato master Autobot Whirl. Forced to retreat and hide, he scanned a new vehicle mode and disappeared into the southeast Asian jungle. He is desperate to prove himself against an Autobot, however, so he has caused just enough chaos locally to attract the attention of Ironhide. Now he lies in wait for the Autobot, ready to spring his trap and destroy his victim in an instant.

Strength: 6  Intelligence: 5  Speed: 4  Endurance: 8  Rank: 8  Courage: 8  Fireblast: 7  Skill: 10

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.

Timing is everything

Ok, now every time there's a new Transformers movie, I start clamoring for the return of the Bumblebee Snickers bar. But... you know... there's a Bumblebee movie coming out this summer, which would be just the perfect time.

Look, my stock pile ran out in 2010 and I haven't been holding out for a candy bar for 8 years for nothing.

Oh hey, think Sonic will get those Transformers slushes again?

Those were good.

Making it fit in the Universe-al

I really love this ride.

I'm ridiculous. You reading this blog already realize this. But, I admit it, I'm ridiculous. Friday afternoon, while out doing some holiday shopping, I was at Ross buying some of the Autobots Unite Legion sets that have been showing up (just need that Megatron/Berserker set now). While in line, I was looking at the toys. They're obviously from the movie universe, but you know what I did? I started talking to my wife about the new Supply Vault Exclusive Snarl toy. He's not in the ride, but he has a ride exclusive toy. Then I looked down at the figures in my hand. Sure, Optimus and Bumblebee are in the ride. But Hot Rod and Ravenspar isn't. The set I haven't found yet, Megatron is in the ride (in an older body, but he's there). Beserker isn't. I'm sure versions of them are for sale in the ride store.

But, really, why would they be? They're from movies that came out after the ride was made. But wait, the ride was first released shortly after Dark of the Moon came out. Yet it heavily features bots from Revenge of the Fallen who (spoilers for an almost 10 year old movie) died in that movie years before the ride came out.

Does it really matter? Well, it is an official Transformers product and it's story line doesn't fit well with the series that it's connected to (yes I know it's just a ride). Sure there's also Generations and Robots in Disguise toys sold in the store, but that's obvious. That's other uses of the Transformers that well stated. Just like the Spider-Man store, they have other Spider-Man stuff. The thing is, you just walked off a very specific version of Transformers and there is branded that version Transformers immediate for sale. There's even figurine sets exclusive to Universal Studios featuring characters not in the ride. I have the set that's themed from Age of Extinction with Stinger, he's not in the ride. Hell, he doen't exist until a post NEST world that the ride is based in. There's a new figure set with bots from The Last Knight. Same post NEST world. Same Universal Studios exclusive set.

Ultimately, I'm thinking too much, but also I'd going to once again state that I'm ridiculous. I'll even risk the embarrassment to admit that thanks to the ride, I have a new found love for the movies. They went from being a summer spectacle based on my favorite toy line that I had a lot of fun with, to being part of my overall love for that ride. When the movies first started, IDW ran comics based in the movie universe that were a little removed. Giving the characters a little time to shine and honestly made some really good Transformers stories. Like the ride, they exist in a splinter timeline. According to the TFwiki, All movie related stories fall into the Tyran Universal cluster. The ride itself falls into the Tyran 1211.03 Theta (who comes up with these names?) stream.

In short, the ride falls into a splinter reality of it's own in the movie's overall setting in Transformers.So really, Hot Rod could just show up without any real rhyme or reason. Maybe he'd be riding Snarl like a cowboy while Ravenspar scanned the scene and reported what's going on during some in line videos. Really, any random Transformers movie character is game. Perhaps Megatron sent Beserker in that mission to grab the Allspark fragment. Maybe, Stinger is just another Decepticon in the fight and Sqweeks is one of Wheelie's buddies. Or even part of a Minion crossover.

Hey, in that meet and greet outside of the Supply Vault... Megatron sure is there. There's even that new nighttime parade in Japan featuring the Transformers. What I'm saying is Universal Studios is it's own Transformers continuity where everything is possible and super fun. I'm a little excited that by the next time I get to ride the ride, the Bumblebee movie will be out. That means 2 movies will have happened since my last visit. I'm excited to see what impact they'll have on the Supply Vault as well as my overall mental version of things.

I said right off the bat that I'm ridiculous.

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.

My Satisfaction with the live action

I could have not gave this post a worst name.

The Last Knight (TF5) is now in theaters with preview showings earlier in the week to release on the 21st. Since Dark Of The Moon (TF3), my work schedule has dictated that I wait until the Saturday following release to watch new movies. That being said, just like any other live action Transformers movie, I'll see these spoiler free reviews (and skip the spoiler laden ones, k thanks bye) and various social media posts leading off with that persons perspective on the live action movies before talking about the current one. Knowing that I can ramble and that it will be a few more days until I see TF5 and write my own review, I thought I should make a separate post all about my thoughts on these movies before my review.

What? I thought it sounded like a good idea.

Don't look at me like that.

Around 2003 when it became public knowledge that a live action Transformers movie was actually in production (not counting the tons of unfounded rumors from years prior) it didn't take long for the fact that it was not going to be an adaption of G1 or any other incarnation of Transformers to be established. Early information had Soundwave as a helicopter, lake a boom box with a small robot mode (well, the concepts made it in, even if the names were changed), Ratchet as an ambulance and many other developments. Some true, some fake. My point is, from the very beginning of these movies there has been a constant flux of information and misinformation shaping opinions of fans long before they ever even see the movie. I've made it a point to take every "news' item I've heard to be taken with a grain of sand or sometimes a bag of it.

I mean, Ultra Magnus is totally going to be in Transformers 2.

Part of the early news leaks was in 2006 just around a year to release of the first movie was when we finally got a look at the robot designs. A sketch of Starscream, a render of Megatron, Optimus's truck mode. None were traditional. Fans, casual and hardcore, cried out in protest while others accepted the new look. This was right at the release of classics toys and many of us were used to the characters looking different in each new outing. I was in that crowd, I knew that the robots were going to look different. I wasn't sure just how different, but different.

I had assumed they were going to be similar to the Alternators/Binaltech toys. I had assumed correctly that they mostly were going to be licensed vehicles with more robot parts for realism. I didn't expect the more alien nature of the designs and honestly didn't know what to think of it. Though, I did think they looked neat. The alien nature grew on me as I began appreciating it as a design element. One, it looks gnarly. Two, it conveys the fact that these are living aliens from outer space visually. I've been in crowds where scenes of Optimus's death in the 1986 animated movie went over with a thud as casual reactions were mainly "it's just a robot, why don't they just fix him?".  Though in viewings of the 2007 movie, when Megatron rips Jazz in half, I heard several gasps. Visually, they just saw a living creature ripped in half and sympathized.

So, I do think they look cool in the live action designs and get the idea. I didn't like some of the faces in the original movie though, and by the first sequel I saw that they had been changed up a bit and looked a bit better. I guess I wasn't the only one with that opinion. I knew going in that Bumblebee wasn't going to be a Volkswagen bug. As a fandom, we had been through years of explanations of why Bumblebee could never be a bug again. I did expect him to be some kind of small car, so when the news of his new alt mode being a Camaro was made public... that took me by surprise. Then the whole not talking bit became known. I warmed up to the new look of Bumblebee, though I've never liked the not talking bit. I've accepted it and moved on, but I've never liked it.

While I've always understood and defended the designs, recently I found myself even more accepting of the explanation that the classic designs wouldn't look as good in live action. The Universal Studios ride (here I go again) is obviously based on the movies. It however uses the same ride technology as the Universal Studios Spider-Man ride. It even has the same cars. Sure Transformers 3D is a more advanced ride technologically, but to the average rider, it's pretty much the same thing. Spider-Man is visually an adaption of the Fox Kids cartoon series of the 90's. In fact the pre-show videos are all from that cartoon. On the ride, Spider-Man and co are CGI, but still very cartoonish looking.  This mixes with the real dark ride set pieces and is a very fun ride. Transformers 3D uses the same mixture of screens and practical sets. And though you're looking through the same 3D glasses and same 4D experience, Transformers is much more immersive. Which gives me more insight into that line of thinking for the designs. Sure, it might still be possible to pull off the classic designs in live action realistically, I can see how the movie designs work as a 'real world' thing.

Another big complaint that folks have is the focus on humans. I did leave the 2007 movie wishing for more robots, but I understood fully. This was a movie for everyone and everyone else had to be reintroduced. The sequels featured the robots more and more heavily each time, so I found myself not worried about the human focus as much as I found the robots got more time to shine. I know a lot of folks disagree, but in a live action movie that's just a reality that's not going anywhere. I understand the complaint and can sympathize with those fans. It just doesn't bother me that much.

The characterizations are a LOT more savage than we're used to. A LOT. Which, going by just how violent the 1986 animated movie was, didn't surprise me. Being a big fan of the carnage in the G2 comic, it didn't bother me at all. Not to mention, it was pretty cool when Optimus...

Ok, Optimus Prime is a stone cold killer in these movies. It's become common meme in the fandom that Optimus Prime is a raving psychopath in the live action movies. He delivers extremely harsh dialog while ripping off faces, cutting off limbs, and point blank executions.  To quote my Grandfather, he'd shoot you and step on the bullet hole so you feel that bullet a little more before you die. Many fans have stated their outright hatred of this incarnation. That's fine, that's ok. That's understandable. There's an understanding within many other fans that this Optimus was written to convey more the effects of fighting a war for 4 million years. I'm one of those fans. To me, I get it.

Take Sentinel Prime. At the end of TF3, Optimus executes him point blank after defeating him. Many fans have said he should have taken him prisoner. Classic cartoon Optimus would have. Except in Heavy Metal War where he and the Autobots chucked the Decepticons into lava. Personally, and realistically I still find myself agreeing with that mindset of Optimus has been fighting a war for 4 million years. Not to mention, after everything that Sentinel had done in TF3, I can't say I'm strong enough to not pop that cap myself. I might even step on that bullet hole.

The violence in a whole doesn't bother me in the live action movies. War is being fought, guns are being shot, swords are being swung. Things are getting shot, heads are going to fly off, and the time for talking was over just under 4 million years ago. Though, it's also a movie that's an adaption of a long running toy line. In fact, the movie tie in stuff ranges from toys to candy to Halloween costumes. Ok, Halloween costumes probably isn't the best case for arguing against violence considering the amount of hockey masks on shelves next to plastic machetes during October, but the point is there. They are extremely violent movies and probably much to scary for children. I get that. I totally do. I'm writing this from my perspective, as an adult. So, I'm writing as to why I, myself, am not bothered by the violence. If I had a child, I'd probably not want my child to see these until they're older. Adding in the toilet humor and crudeness that is present in some of the movies, I'd definitely not let them watch them at certain ages.

As far as the complaint that the moves are all fireworks and lasers with no substance... That's a fair point. Transformers, as a live action movie series is the definitive summer blockbuster to definition. Though some giant summer spectacles can and have delivered a much more sound movie, these can and do fit that bill. I can't argue that. There's plot holes and paper thin plots sandwiched by giant explosive action scenes. Though I will say, with the 4 I've seen so far, the odd numbered ones are much more sound movies. In fact, the odd numbered ones are much better movies than the even numbered ones. Going into part 5 this weekend, I'm hoping the odd movie theory still holds water. It's not that 2 and 4 aren't  unredeemable for me. The robot stuff is great and they're really fun to watch. It's just that they are also big messes on screen. 2 is a result of a writers strike. It was shot to meet a deadline and it did and made a ton of money, but the movie is a mess. I'm not sure what happened with part 4, just like part 2 there was some good ideas (in fact some stuff I really liked), but it was all over the place. Just all over the place. In more recent viewings, I've warmed up to it more. In fact watching TV edited versions makes it easier to watch. Maybe it's that trimmed for time aspect making the movie tighter. Though, like watching part 2, I felt like I was watching a bunch of scenes edited together without a solid flowing narrative.

I legitimately like parts 1 and 3. In fact I like Dark of the Moon best of all. I honestly really enjoy it. From early impressions, I feel like TF5 will be more like it and I have high hopes. In writing this, I don't intend to change any minds or start any arguments. I'm simply putting some of my perspective out so that I don't have to do it in my review this weekend and also offer some explanation as to why I view it as I do. Hopefully to give some perspective. I know I often come off as someone who likes everything, and maybe I do. But... this is something I do for fun, obviously I'm not going to bother if I don't like it. Saying that and understanding how much I love Transformers, perhaps it might make more sense to a reader. I enjoy the live action movies for the most part, and really enjoy the related stuff that goes with it. So I'm happy that there's a new movie every year for the foreseeable future.

Ok, I liked it when Optimus said 'Give me your face'.

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.

 

 

Tie In Masters: Revenge of the Product Placement

As the new Transformers movie release draws near, merchandising mania starts running wild. Personally, it's my favorite part of a new TF movie. There's TF imagery on just about everything and all sorts of TF editions of products. It's like having BotCon in my local Walgreens. Seeing as there is to be a new TF movie every year for the foreseeable future, I'm certainly going to enjoy the onslaught of licensed products available.

The BBQ Double Stackticon from Burger King.

While Revenge of the Fallen wasn't the highest praised of the Transformers movies, it's licensed tie ins will forever hold a special place in my heart. Most specifically it's junk food items. Each movie season since I hope for a return of the items released that fateful summer of 2009 with Optimus and company proudly on the packaging. Pictured above is the wonderful BBQ Double Stackticon from Burger King. Burger King had kids meal toys for movies 1-3 as is, but for part 2 they included a wonderful bacon double cheeseburger with bbq sauce that was pretty low priced. I must have eaten enough to fill Unicron and still want more. I know, it sounds so simple, but it's usually the simple things I'd rather have on any menu. Tie that in with Transformers (which, I kinda like or something) and I'm buying it every time. There's literally a Burger King just a few blocks from my workplace, if they brought that back, I'd probably have it every night for lunch. Admittedly that's probably best for my own health... but... shut up.

These were wonderful.

I usually don't eat a lot of M&M's. Not that I have anything immediately against them, I just don't. If I do eat M&M's, it usually the peanut butter kind, because I'm pretty crazy for peanut butter and chocolate candy. So when TF2 came out and M&M's had a tie in flavor that was based on the kind I eat normally already, I was sold. Turns out these were crazy good. So good they went into normal M&M packaging after the Transformers deal went out. Essentially it was just a regular peanut butter M&M with a touch of strawberry flavor (get it, it was a pb&j candy). There was some sort of mail way promotion with M&M's to get an Optimus Prime candy dispenser. I should have taken advantage of that, I certainly bought enough of the candy. I shouldn't have brought that up. I've already lost enough sleep over it. I kinda hate myself for it.

This is the Lexus of candy bars.

The most important tie in ever was, the Bumblebee Snickers bar. This was the luxury cruise, the first class, the biggest diamond ring of a candy bar ever. While by all looks it was just a Snickers bar with the nougat dyed yellow... it most certainly was not just that. Food coloring used in commercial food products has a flavoring that is just wonderful. Next time you're in the baked goods aisle, buy one of those crazy color cake mixes and frosting. It's just so much better tasting than the yellow cake and vanilla frosting that it is allegedly based on. You'll see.

So there was this wonderful Snickers bar with Bumblebee proudly on the label. As I mentioned just now, it tasted better, sweeter and just high five awesome. I stockpiled these. Even as movie hype winded down, I found stock at discount stores and piled them up. I cherished them and mourned them when they were all gone. Each and every movie season that has come and gone since 2009 I've hoped for it's return, only to buy a regular Snickers and inflict my disappointment upon it. It's just not the same.

I'm just hoping that Bumblebee solo movie can give me hope. Because I'm going to hope anyway.

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?