A Fourth Transformers Film?

[William Rendfeld]

I'm not asking about the possibility of one - it's all but inevitable
that we'll see a fourth film, between the claims of the producers and
Hasbro and the fact that the third film raked in a lot of cash. I'm
just wondering what they could do with it.

Let's be realistic here - the big villains are dead. Megatron? Dead.
Starscream? Dead. Soundwave? Dead. Shockwave? Dead. The Fallen? Dead.
I don't see them reviving Megatron as Galvatron, and frankly, I'd
rather that not happen - IDW had them as separate characters, so why
can't the motion pictures? Unicron coming in would be interesting, but
I'd rather he not be brought into the mix until a theoretical sixth
film, and even then, I'd want him done properly, and not muddied about
like Galactus was in the second Fantastic Four film.

And ignoring the issue of villains and what not, while a fourth film
is inevitable, I'm in no rush for it. We had a new Transformers film
every two years; a little bit more time to work out a story for both
the human characters (new and returning) and the Transformers
themselves (both new and returning) would be welcome, especially
considering the troubled production seen with ROTF and the fact that
actors and production people associated with the films have opted
against returning, for better or worse. I don't object to Shia's
departure; his character had a good arc, so if we leave it where it
is, that's fine. I don't object to Michael Bay leaving as director; a
new one could bring a new perspective and tell a new story, and
there's nothing stopping him being an executive producer or
consultant. Just give me a good story to go with my crazy action
sequences, and I'll be a happy camper.

Still, I'm in no rush. We've got comics. We've got a new TV show.
We've got toys coming out that have nothing to do with the films, and
there are a few releases yet to come for the movie line (and some
that, regrettably, may never come). Let the movies rest a while, so
the franchise can refresh itself. That's fair, yes?

[Irrellius Spamticon king of the Potato people]

I still feel like DOTM was all set up to make it near-impossible for
someone to make a follow-up, kinda Michael Bay trying to close the
door on his trilogy, to make it his own little closed film universe. I
wouldn't mind if they waited on another movie, but wait too long and
it'll be just like Duke Nukem, 3-5 years, and make it good.

I'm also worried, it seems so many new films since the writers strike
suffer from a severe lack of story structure. Sort of "The Strike is
over, we go back to work, but don't work as hard as you used to."

Galvatron, Thunderwing, Bludgeon, Jihaxus, Deathsauruaz, Overlord,
there are many things that can be adapted into the story for a
villain. but I don't think the casual fan will accept anyone other
than Megatron. (I'm gonna be honest, I thought the Fallen was a waste
of time. ) I kinda agreeabout Unicron, I don't like the idea of 4-5
characters against a galactic super powerhouse that destroys solar
systems and the 5 characters win. At least the 86 movie had 40-50
Autobots, and not 4-5. I wouldn't mind a CG/animation movie if it
meant we got better writing and more characters.

[IsThisScottie]

The next film should be in 2 years time. The current film, animation and
homage toy release cycle works well.

As for the dead, just bring them back without explanation. It totally
worked in Batman. Besides the films are meant for casual Trannies. Would
you dream of watching Romeo without Juliet? What is that you say? Juliet
is dead?

> I'm also worried, it seems so many new films since the writers strike
> suffer from a severe lack of story structure. Sort of "The Strike is
> over, we go back to work, but don't work as hard as you used to."

I doubt that the strike influenced the quality of the films. When the
quality was already subpar at inception, how can you tell?

> Galvatron, Thunderwing, Bludgeon, Jihaxus, Deathsauruaz, Overlord,
> there are many things that can be adapted into the story for a
> villain. but I don't think the casual fan will accept anyone other
> than Megatron. (I'm gonna be honest, I thought the Fallen was a waste
> of time. ) I kinda agreeabout Unicron, I don't like the idea of 4-5
> characters against a galactic super powerhouse that destroys solar
> systems and the 5 characters win. At least the 86 movie had 40-50
> Autobots, and not 4-5. I wouldn't mind a CG/animation movie if it
> meant we got better writing and more characters.

Fantastic Four 2 had 4-5 guys up against a galactic super powerhouse that
destroys solar systems... ...just sayin'

[I. R. Caughn]

On Sep 19, 1:18 am, William Rendfeld <WARendf...@aol.com> wrote:
>
> Let's be realistic here - the big villains are dead. Megatron? Dead.
> Starscream? Dead. Soundwave? Dead. Shockwave? Dead. The Fallen? Dead.

... Shockwave died?!

Huh... I don't remember him being on screen long enough to doing
*anything*, let alone die (did he ever actually talk?). Almost makes
me wanna go out and buy that DVD when it comes out... almost...

Did I see something about Skids and Mudflap being re-inserted into the
film on the TV commercial for the DVD release? I kind've approve of
that actually... I honestly didn't mind them all that much (it helps
if you think of them as suburban wigger gangbangers, instead of actual
African-American characters)

> Still, I'm in no rush. We've got comics. We've got a new TV show.
> We've got toys coming out that have nothing to do with the films, and
> there are a few releases yet to come for the movie line (and some
> that, regrettably, may never come). Let the movies rest a while, so
> the franchise can refresh itself. That's fair, yes?

That would be my preference...

Actually, my preference would be a fourth film done by Darby Pop that
continues from the third season of TF:Prime... and then leads into a
fourth season...

The TFTM model could work *really* well with a show like TF:Prime. The
characters are much more fleshed out than 80% of the characters from
SunbowG1. Just imagine how beloved and interesting Arcee, Breakdown
and Starscream will be after Season 3 (or even Season 2!). If that
doesn't translate into boffo box-office, I don't know what does...

#MichaelBay: TA-TAS AND BOOM-BOOMS!!! That's what the people want!!

#SlagThreehorn: Me Slag no like you...

Slag, still in Pretender mode, douses Mr. Bay in vodka and lights a
match...

#AngryArcher: You've done me a great kindness, my homeless Native
American companion. Now tally-ho-- to Burbank! We've a film to make!

J (#PurpleDawnPreview)

[...Also Known As Thunder]

I hope they either reboot it (hard, soft, whatever) and try to actually
tell a story next time around instead of the crapfests Bay did.
Unfortunately, the people behind number 4 will really need to push for
that because Bay has proven his shit films can make money (I've seen
plenty of "it was awesome!" type comments online about TF3).
Or, as I.R. Caughn says, an animated Prime movie would be a nice
change (and likely could be done cheaper then Bay's
ever-increasing-budget movies).

t.k.

[IsThisScottie]

"I. R. Caughn" <ia...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
> On Sep 19, 1:18 am, William Rendfeld <WARendf...@aol.com> wrote:
>>
>> Let's be realistic here - the big villains are dead. Megatron? Dead.
>> Starscream? Dead. Soundwave? Dead. Shockwave? Dead. The Fallen? Dead.
>
> ... Shockwave died?!
>
> Huh... I don't remember him being on screen long enough to doing
> *anything*, let alone die (did he ever actually talk?). Almost makes
> me wanna go out and buy that DVD when it comes out... almost...
>
> Did I see something about Skids and Mudflap being re-inserted into the
> film on the TV commercial for the DVD release? I kind've approve of
> that actually... I honestly didn't mind them all that much (it helps
> if you think of them as suburban wigger gangbangers, instead of actual
> African-American characters)

Since we are George Lucasing here, why not go the whole hog and replace all
the animation models with the G1 designs? That would make for a much
clearer film.

>> Still, I'm in no rush. We've got comics. We've got a new TV show.
>> We've got toys coming out that have nothing to do with the films, and
>> there are a few releases yet to come for the movie line (and some
>> that, regrettably, may never come). Let the movies rest a while, so
>> the franchise can refresh itself. That's fair, yes?
>
> That would be my preference...
>
> Actually, my preference would be a fourth film done by Darby Pop that
> continues from the third season of TF:Prime... and then leads into a
> fourth season...

Say what? I re-read that last paragraph like five times, but I still could
not make heads or tails of it.

> The TFTM model could work *really* well with a show like TF:Prime. The
> characters are much more fleshed out than 80% of the characters from
> SunbowG1. Just imagine how beloved and interesting Arcee, Breakdown
> and Starscream will be after Season 3 (or even Season 2!). If that
> doesn't translate into boffo box-office, I don't know what does...
>
> #MichaelBay: TA-TAS AND BOOM-BOOMS!!! That's what the people want!!

Two words... ...Bang bus: Transformers edition, featuring perennial
favourites, Mudflap and Skids. Also back by popular demand, starring Megan
Fox.

> #SlagThreehorn: Me Slag no like you...
>
> Slag, still in Pretender mode, douses Mr. Bay in vodka and lights a
> match...

Bay survives and removes his Pretender shell. He had been Starscream all
along...

[IsThisScottie]

Awesome. Please make it with the same amount of detail as Ghost in the
Shell. Transformers Prime's backgrounds are... ...sparse.

> t.k.

[William Rendfeld]

On Sep 19, 4:44 am, "I. R. Caughn" <ia...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
> On Sep 19, 1:18 am, William Rendfeld <WARendf...@aol.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Let's be realistic here - the big villains are dead. Megatron? Dead.
> > Starscream? Dead. Soundwave? Dead. Shockwave? Dead. The Fallen? Dead.
>
> ... Shockwave died?!
>
> Huh... I don't remember him being on screen long enough to doing
> *anything*, let alone die (did he ever actually talk?). Almost makes
> me wanna go out and buy that DVD when it comes out... almost...

He had maybe two lines total. Three at most. Nothing special about
them either, beyond the fact that Frank Welker used his original
Megatron voice for them.

> Did I see something about Skids and Mudflap being re-inserted into the
> film on the TV commercial for the DVD release? I kind've approve of
> that actually... I honestly didn't mind them all that much (it helps
> if you think of them as suburban wigger gangbangers, instead of actual

> African-American characters).

I haven't seen that commercial, but I wouldn't object to such a
reinsertion. It seemed pretty obvious to me where their big scene had
been cut, it'd help the film flow a little better, and (heaven forbid)
they'd get a little redemption out of the deal.

> > Still, I'm in no rush. We've got comics. We've got a new TV show.
> > We've got toys coming out that have nothing to do with the films, and
> > there are a few releases yet to come for the movie line (and some
> > that, regrettably, may never come). Let the movies rest a while, so
> > the franchise can refresh itself. That's fair, yes?
>
> That would be my preference...
>
> Actually, my preference would be a fourth film done by Darby Pop that
> continues from the third season of TF:Prime... and then leads into a
> fourth season...
>
> The TFTM model could work *really* well with a show like TF:Prime. The
> characters are much more fleshed out than 80% of the characters from
> SunbowG1. Just imagine how beloved and interesting Arcee, Breakdown
> and Starscream will be after Season 3 (or even Season 2!). If that
> doesn't translate into boffo box-office, I don't know what does...

A feature film based on TF: Prime has been discussed, and I wouldn't
object to it. I'd want it to be done better than how they did the
eighties film, however - don't just assume that the casual moviegoer
knows the story thus far, give the characters meaningful deaths (and
only kill them if you have to), don't send little kids home
crying...again, et cetera. However, using the film to forever change
the status quo would be nice. We've gotten a good idea of who the
various Earth-based 'Bots and 'Cons are (the ones that aren't nameless
Vehicons), so why not add a few new faces to the mix on a permanent
basis?

[Ka Faraq Gatri]

On Mon, 19 Sep 2011 06:04:04 -0700 (PDT), William Rendfeld
<WARen...@aol.com> wrote:

>> Did I see something about Skids and Mudflap being re-inserted into the
>> film on the TV commercial for the DVD release? I kind've approve of
>> that actually... I honestly didn't mind them all that much (it helps
>> if you think of them as suburban wigger gangbangers, instead of actual
>> African-American characters).
>
>I haven't seen that commercial, but I wouldn't object to such a
>reinsertion. It seemed pretty obvious to me where their big scene had
>been cut, it'd help the film flow a little better, and (heaven forbid)
>they'd get a little redemption out of the deal.

I actually liked them in the novelization. They went out as heroes,
guarding their friends' escape against an unstoppable and unexpected
foe. They had more characterization and purpose in those few pages
than in all of ROTF. I was actually sad to see them die.

Ok, I've decided. Peter David needs to write the next movie.


"Hello, I'm the Doctor. Basically . . . run." - the 11th Doctor, "The Eleventh Hour"

[William Rendfeld]

On Sep 19, 12:53 pm, Ka Faraq Gatri <davidconnell1...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> On Mon, 19 Sep 2011 06:04:04 -0700 (PDT), William Rendfeld
>

> <WARendf...@aol.com> wrote:
> >> Did I see something about Skids and Mudflap being re-inserted into the
> >> film on the TV commercial for the DVD release? I kind've approve of
> >> that actually... I honestly didn't mind them all that much (it helps
> >> if you think of them as suburban wigger gangbangers, instead of actual
> >> African-American characters).
>
> >I haven't seen that commercial, but I wouldn't object to such a
> >reinsertion. It seemed pretty obvious to me where their big scene had
> >been cut, it'd help the film flow a little better, and (heaven forbid)
> >they'd get a little redemption out of the deal.
>
>  I actually liked them in the novelization. They went out as heroes,
> guarding their friends' escape against an unstoppable and unexpected
> foe. They had more characterization and purpose in those few pages
> than in all of ROTF. I was actually sad to see them die.
>
> Ok, I've decided. Peter David needs to write the next movie.

That would be awesome. If nothing else, it'd be great if he could
write a future episode of Prime.

[Ultra Magnotron]

As long as the 4th film is nothing like the first 3.

[Onslaught Six]

On Sep 19, 12:53 pm, Ka Faraq Gatri <davidconnell1...@gmail.com>
wrote:

>  I actually liked them in the novelization. They went out as heroes,

> guarding their friends' escape against an unstoppable and unexpected
> foe. They had more characterization and purpose in those few pages
> than in all of ROTF. I was actually sad to see them die.
>
> Ok, I've decided. Peter David needs to write the next movie.

Nah, it wasn't him who did it. This was in an earlier script draft,
because it's in most of the comics and other adaptations too.

[Irrellius Spamticon king of the Potato people]

On Sep 19, 1:57 am, IsThisScottie <thisissco...@trip.com> wrote:
> > Galvatron, Thunderwing, Bludgeon, Jihaxus, Deathsauruaz, Overlord,
> > there are many things that can be adapted into the story for a
> > villain. but I don't think the casual fan will accept anyone other
> > than Megatron. (I'm gonna be honest, I thought the Fallen  was a waste
> > of time. ) I kinda agreeabout Unicron, I don't like the idea of 4-5
> > characters against a galactic super powerhouse that destroys solar
> > systems and the 5 characters win. At least the 86 movie had 40-50
> > Autobots, and not 4-5. I wouldn't mind a CG/animation movie if it
> > meant we got better writing and more characters.
>
> Fantastic Four 2 had 4-5 guys up against a galactic super powerhouse that
> destroys solar systems... ...just sayin'

And it was a smelly poop of a movie....Galactus wasn't even the real
villain, he was a side plot to Doom vs Surfer.