MovieChat Forums > Transformers (2007) Discussion > Who would've been a better director?

Who would've been a better director?


I'm just curious, I'm thinking about what might have been. If Michael Bay hadn't stepped in to direct this film, who would've been a better choice for director?

reply

Well since Pacific Rim has proven that movies with giant fighting robots don't have to dumb as sh-t, I'd say Guillermo del Toro.

reply

Pacific Rim has proven that movies with giant fighting robots don't have to dumb as sh-t


Pacific Rim IS dumb as sh*t!

Don't get me wrong, I still really enjoyed it, probably even more so than Transformers, but it still shares many of the same traits and flaws.
Several examples include; style over substance, implausible moments (Chinooks somehow being able to lift a 2500 ton Jaeger, giant winged Kaiju being able to fly above the atmosphere etc.), exaggerated comical stereotypes (e.g. the two scientists), several plot holes (like why were the Jaeger's escape pods able to pass the breach even though only objects with alien DNA were able to do so?) and action sequences that are hard to follow at times (especially since most of them take place in dark stormy weather with the Jaeger's headlights beaming in every direction).

But yeah, I guess Guillermo Del Toro could do a better job with Transformers if he was attached to direct.

reply

Joss whedon or james Cameron

reply

[deleted]

You know I always thought that maybe one of the guys who helmed a Fast & Furious film might be able to pull off a Transformers film:

Rob Cohen

John Singleton

Justin Lin

James Wan

reply

i am not a bay fan, but considering the silliness of the basic material, he did a good job. i doubt than anyone except wheadon could improve on that.

reply

How about aomebody who actually respects the original source material enough to try to be faithful to it. Not someone who is focused on making his own brand of spectacle first, and just uses the source material to try to lend an air of historicity or gravitas to that imagery. Someone who wants to dramatize source material--not someone who wants to cheaply use the source material as fodder or window dressing for some other story that he wants to tell.

Or someone who renames his reenvisioned story as something else, instead of masquerading under the "Transformers" banner for cool points.

reply

Agreed, I wish they got someone who was interested in doing a movie about the Transformers, where they are the main characters, and not guest stars. Of course from a studio perspective, they obviously made the right choice as the movies keep making a bunch of money.

reply

Edgar Wright

"Its not the going I like in the ladies, Its the Co(um)ming" - McLovin

reply

I'm sorry but Bay has all the $ and a zillion cameras and for such a big production and a guy who usually makes big money blockbusters (like them or not) he was a great choice. Maybe should have stopped after the first but if I'd say another director definitely a guy like Doug Liman or Joss Wheeden . Even Cameron or Ridley Scott but that may be a bit out of his usual even though he is one of the best Sci-Fi directors out there with his record.

THERES NO ROOM IN MY CIRCUS TENT FOR YOU !!!!

reply

Simon West
Jan de Bont
Stuart Baird
Irwin Allen
George Lucas
John Carpenter
Marcus Nispel
Gregory Hoblit
Alexandre Aja
Gareth Edwards
Patrick Lussier
Sean S. Cunningham
Jamie Blanks
Spike Lee
John Singleton
Andrew Davis
Lee Tamahori
Peyton Reed
Drew Goddard
Matt Reeves
JJ Abrams
David Fincher
Gus Van Sant
Clint Eastwood
Paul Greengrass

reply

Me! And I'd have made a better tmnt too. I'd love to get my hands on the visionaries film and show bay how to make an 80's cartoon into a great film!

reply

Somehow I doubt that. While I don't know what your exact level of film making experience is like (or whether you have any at all), something as large scale as Transformers would be extremely difficult for the average film maker to accomplish. Love him or hate him, Michael Bay is highly educated and experienced director and most people would probably have constant anxiety attacks if put in his shoes, given his work load and the people and events he's supposed to be in charge of.

It's interesting how many people love to nit pick over even the most minor flaws in Transformers (as if to suggest the T.V. show was somehow flawless) and claim it had so much potential to be something great. If anything, it had more potential to be a lot worse, especially considering the type of adaptation it is (live-action cartoon) and the many failed attempts by major Hollywood studios to adapt cartoons into live action in the past (Masters of the Universe (1987), The Flintstones (1994), Casper (1995), Mr. Magoo (1997), Inspector Gadget (1999), The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000), Scooby Doo (2002), Garfield (2004), Underdog (2007), Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007), Dragonball Evolution (2009), Yogi Bear (2010), The Last Airbender (2010) and The Smurfs (2011) just to name a few).

reply

[deleted]

Orson Welles perhaps?

reply