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What if the writer's strike DIDN'T affect Transformers 2?

posted 8 years ago by Darwinskid
12 replies | jump to latest

All that film's problems trace back to the writer's strike - Paramount wanted a new film in late June of 2009 and everybody went in making it without a completely realized concept and were making it up as they went along, and even exchanged napkin scribbles for direction. The end result was easily the worst installment to date and gave the franchise its negative reputation that still persists today; the first film wasn't exactly universally loved, but it wasn't universally hated either, it was more of a crowd pleaser and "good enough" to avoid landing more than one Razzie nomination( Jon Voight for Worst Supporting Actor - Not sure about that one if you ask me, Voight was just really "there" for the most part).

So let's say Paramount was willing to give Bay and co. more time to develop the second and postpones release for about another year, do you think the film would've been much different from what we actually had gotten?

I think IF they had gotten more time to develop the second there wouldn't have been as much useless filler going on( I.E. Decepti-chick Alice, the wacky and wild adventures of The Witwicky family, the Family Guy parody-leveled Twins, etc.), would've likely had been a more focused storyline, humor would've been toned down a little( Nothing sophisticated but less drug and bodily function-related jokes certainly) and a better "boss battle" at the end( Which Bay apologized for not being more grander). Critically, it would've probably been closer to the first one or more on the third being likelier but the bad reviews wouldn't have been *that* nasty, certainly there might've been some divisiveness between critics and movie goers though. Overall, it would probably be seen as a bit of a disappointment, but probably not a disaster.

What do you think?

COOKIES AND MILK!-Ed

[–] politicidal 8 years ago

The worst elements might have been more toned down or removed entirely and it could even have been more well received. I know it was a writer's strike but who the hell thought that stuff needed to be there in the first place? Who would watch that?

Whatever you are, be a good one.

[–] Darwinskid 8 years ago

All assumptions based on prior focus groups from the first - People actually responded to the parents and their off beat behavior, so they took it to the next level and gave the Mom more stupid stuff to do and say. I STILL don't know why the heck they thought Wheelie humping Megan Fox's leg was a good idea, what was the point in that idea at all? Sounds like some off camera shenanigans, but somehow got captured on film.

COOKIES AND MILK!-Ed

[–] Hazekiah 8 years ago

by
Darwinskid
» 2 hours ago (Thu Jan 26 2017 16:34:14)
IMDb member since September 2006

I STILL don't know why the heck they thought Wheelie humping Megan Fox's leg was a good idea, what was the point in that idea at all?

No worries, gotcha covered:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1055369/board/flat/264113978

:)

[–] Darwinskid 8 years ago

Wow. Gotta say, that was a fascinating read.

COOKIES AND MILK!-Ed

[–] Hazekiah 8 years ago

Thanks, that's really nice to hear!

I've got a BUNCH more pretty much ready to go once I get around to sitting down and writing them out, I just kinda put 'em on the back burner since I was banned by the idiots at TFW2005 so it kinda seemed pointless to bother for a while. Which is the main reason I returned back to here so of course IMDb's deactivating their message boards now, lolwtf.

Anyway, if you liked that I'd strongly recommend checking out a few of the others I've written more recently!

As they pertain to THIS movie I'll just go ahead and link a few here and use the Bay forums links since they have a nicer presentation there and since the links will last longer there.

EXPOSING THE KNIGHTHOOD THEME IN TF:AoE:

http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum/showthread.php?11773-Exposing-the-Knighthood-Theme-in-TF-AoE

DEVELOPING THE KNIGHTHOOD THEME IN TF:TLK:

http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum/showthread.php?11774-Developing-the-Knighthood-Theme-in-TF-TLK

Thanks again, I hope you get a chance to check 'em out and enjoy them!

And it IS nice to see that some of you guys are still around, btw!

\m/

[–] Flying_Swine 8 years ago

Wow. You're still here, Darwin.

Sincerely, The (\/🐷\/)

[–] FModerators 8 years ago

Im not convinced anymore that the 2nd film is the worse, especially after that way too long China pandering mess with Mark Walberg. That film was garbage and the conversation concerning why a legal technicality made it not statutory rape might be the most cringe worthy dialogue ever written and the acting was atrocious. I haven't seen Mark that bad since The Crappening and Nicola Peltz would be considered a bad actress even by porn standards.

IMDB Terrorist Watch List Since 2004

[–] Hazekiah 8 years ago

Oh, ffs.

Wahlberg was fine, China played an exceedingly minor yet hilariously appropriate part in the movie, and SIXTEEN is legal most other places, let alone a 17 year old with her boyfriend from high school.

And, while we're at it, TF:RotF was awesome!

:P

[–] FModerators 8 years ago

Wahlberg was fine

No he wasn't. His acting hasn't been that bad since The Happening .

China played an exceedingly minor yet hilariously appropriate part in the movie

It was pandering and nothing more. It has become all too common and it was only a part of the film to appease China and gain favorable access to its market.

SIXTEEN is legal most other places, let alone a 17 year old with her boyfriend from high school.

That's irrelevent because the fact is the film actually had a discussion concerning a technicality that allowed a guy to bang an underage girl. He produced a friggin card that he carries in his wallet proving the legality to bang the guy's daughter! If you need to carry around something like that you are pathetic. It was cringe worthy dialogue even for a $h!tty explosion filled Michael Bay film.

And, while we're at it, TF:RotF was awesome!

No it wasn't. It was so bad that even Michael Bay admits it. That's like doing something so bad that even the Devil feels the need to acknowledge it. It was pathetically thrown together half-a$$ed during a writers strike. It should not have gone to production.

IMDB Terrorist Watch List Since 2004

[–] Hazekiah 8 years ago

Again, Wahlberg sank his teeth in and did a great job.

Sorry if the hilarity of a Transformers movie literally showing the exporting of manufacturing jobs to China (for PLOT-RELATED REASONS, btw) was lost on you...but I would've thought the whole "I hate cheap knock-offs" line might have driven the point home enough even for you, lol.

And if YOU were banging bodybuilder Wahlberg's daughter in TEXAS of all places wouldn't YOU want as much insurance as possible? Plus, she was legal anyway so it's w/e. The fact that the whole scene happened in a Transformers film is awesome af and (again) relates specifically to the point of the film, for that matter.

Oh, and Michael Bay admitted he wished he could have made the movie under better circumstances. That's a far cry from your misinterpretation of his statement.

Thanks for trying to make sense though, lol.

[–] FModerators 8 years ago

Again, Wahlberg sank his teeth in and did a great job.

The only thing he sank his teeth into was the huge paycheck.

Sorry if the hilarity of a Transformers movie literally showing the exporting of manufacturing jobs to China (for PLOT-RELATED REASONS, btw) was lost on you...but I would've thought the whole "I hate cheap knock-offs" line might have driven the point home enough even for you, lol.

The only one who didn't get why it was in the film is you. The China friendly BS has become a Hollywood staple for the purpose of overseas distribution and marketing. If you want your movie to do well in China its become standard to put them in your film. China pandering is about as subtle as product placement.

And if YOU were banging bodybuilder Wahlberg's daughter in TEXAS of all places wouldn't YOU want as much insurance as possible?

Insurance? If you are actually affraid of your girlfriend's father I doubt a legal loophole is your best defense. I would expect him to still beat the guy.

Plus, she was legal anyway

This fact makes the whole conversation that much more cringe worthy. It is legal for someone her age to have sex with him and yet they purposely ignored this and included the Romeo and Juliet statue that applies to a person between the age of 15-16. They so wanted this dumba$$ conversation to happen that they purposely ignored the actual law. Why would they go out of their way to include something this stupid! It most certainly did not make the film better and it was insanely long with or without it. There was an interaction that deserved to be left on the cutting room floor.

Oh, and Michael Bay admitted he wished he could have made the movie under better circumstances. That's a far cry from your misinterpretation of his statement.

He has referred to the film as a mess, the villian as being a $h!t character and he referred to the overall story as crap so thank you for trying but being a good minion does not make your BS true, LOL.

IMDB Terrorist Watch List Since 2004

[–] Hazekiah 8 years ago

Sooo...were you actually BORN without any sense of perspective or is this just some carefully curated hipster b/s that's metastasized to your brain over time?

I'd bet you're lots of fun at parties, lol.