Michael Bay's TRANSFORMERS - More Pics!

[Ranger REG]

It looks like every part of the vehicle mode of a Transformer is shown in their humanoid form. I wonder if the transformations didn't look right without a ton of stuff in the humanoid form, or if someone got carried away.

All I know is that Citreon(sp?) commercial (featuring a car-to-robot transformation and started dancing like he's Lance Bass) is going to bite us in the butt. I never should have thought that was cool.

 

[Ranger REG]

I'd still rather see a Battletech movie...

Meh. It wouldn't be the same without LAMs.

Besides, they're undergoing some non-digital makeover with the original 'Mechs in order to avoid further lawsuits from Harmony Gold.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

I kind of like Optimus, but I'm not digging on the Megatron look all that much. Not even his transformed look (I thought he would at least be a tank...)

 

[mmu1]

I like them. (at least after having seen Prime, Bumblebee and Megatron) They're actually making them look like robots that disguise themselves as vehicles - it's clear that this is their primary form. The original transformers looked like vehicles that turned into robots.

 

[Umbran]

I like them. (at least after having seen Prime, Bumblebee and Megatron) They're actually making them look like robots that disguise themselves as vehicles

I disagree - no robot with a sense of self-preservation that has to go into battle would want to walk around with all those working bits exposed. The whole thing should be covered in armor. And all those pointy things, hollows, and bits sticking out are all going to grind on, catch on stuff, and generally get stuff caught in it - not good for an action-oriented critter. Horrid design.

And artistically, the darned things look too darned busy - too many fiddly bits to distract the eye from the character.

And by the way, designers, I got one thing to point out - robots don't need teeth.

 

[D.Shaffer]

If you havent been following the various Transformers sites, these pics have been providing a lot of controversy from the fans. No big surprise there. Change is scary and not everyone is gonna like the changes.

Keep in mind that this is all concept art and the final product on screen is likely to look different, albeit not dramatically so. There's been a more 'finalised' pic of Optimus, for example, where the head is a bit different, as well as different concept shots of his weapon systems.

 

[mmu1]

I disagree - no robot with a sense of self-preservation that has to go into battle would want to walk around with all those working bits exposed. The whole thing should be covered in armor. And all those pointy things, hollows, and bits sticking out are all going to grind on, catch on stuff, and generally get stuff caught in it - not good for an action-oriented critter. Horrid design.

So what does this have to do with my post? I didn't say they looked like perfect battle robots, just that, for a change, they looked more like robots and less like cars. And I like it.

I suppose you're free to disagree with that, just as you're free to disagree with my fondness for the color blue, if that sort of thing works for you. :\

Moreover, are you really trying to argue about what makes sense for giant, alien, bipedal robots that change into cars and planes and construction equipment? Because I can think of a lot more problems with this concept than just the "pointy things" and "bits sticking out".

Though if you wanted to play that game, I could easily claim that they are not an issue, because they're simply camouflage, and not of any structural significance to anything strong enough to move around in bipedal humanoid form at 50-60 feet tall. That, in fact, it makes much more sense to only cover the vital areas in thicker armor with a smaller surface area than cover the whole thing in box-like armor plate.

 

[Mercule]

Prime looks fine. A reasonable update.

Megatron looks like complete and utter crap. There is nothing that can be done for that design, save throwing it in the can and starting over.

 

[Umbran]

So what does this have to do with my post? I didn't say they looked like perfect battle robots, just that, for a change, they looked more like robots and less like cars. And I like it.

You are, of course, free to like what you want. I'm free to disagree, and I hope we're both cool with that.

I'm saying they don't look more like robots, because no self-respecting robot would look like that. And it isn't as if Megatron's "metallic thornbush" look is really "natural" for a robot.

Moreover, are you really trying to argue about what makes sense for giant, alien, bipedal robots that change into cars and planes and construction equipment?

Yep. Because I am, despite any veneer of civilization, a big honkin' geek.

Though if you wanted to play that game, I could easily claim that they are not an issue, because they're simply camouflage, and not of any structural significance to anything strong enough to move around in bipedal humanoid form at 50-60 feet tall.

Some of those bits are tires, wings and other bits required to get around in the vehicular form, and thus vulnerable. And, in general, their being structurally significant isn't necessarily an issue - even cosmetic plates will likely get itn the way of transformation if they get bent and deformed. When Optimus gets slammed around the street in a fight, he's gonna get a mailbox, a hunk of concrete, or maybe some bystander's poodle stuck behind that shoulder plate on his back, and he's gonna need a crowbar to get it out before he can say "Let's roll out!", is all I'm sayin'.

And energon-sucking robots still don't need teeth

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

I still say Megatrons mouth looks like a rectum with shark teeth...

Megatron look more preditory now than he has in others takes on the charater. Perhaps this is supposed to be his form on Cybertron before traveling to Earth millions of years ago.

There is a lot of odd mechanical fussyness to them.

Where can a guy find some of the other pics?