Seeing as there is no Transformers thread over on the Sci-Fi side, and I am not a member there, I will start one here.

It all started when my brothers---well, I guess it technically started with "The Movies". I saw toys, movie posters at Walmart, that sort of thing, about these giant, colorful robots. (I was fourteen when the first movie came out, and we almost never go to the theater.)

Fast forward to early this year. My little brothers (with the permission of my father, most likely) started watching episodes, off Youtube, of the original 1980s cartoon series. And, gradually, I started standing behind them and watching it with them. It was noisy, some of the voice acting grated me a bit, and the animation was fairly terrible. But the stories were intriguing. And then there was this big, strong (yet gentle), blue and red Autobot leader with a deep, commanding voice...I became a fan.

That is not to say there are no problems with the Transformers. There are. Like there are problems with Star Wars, and The Princess Bride. So they are worthy of discussion.

This thread is for us to discuss Transformers in general. The movies, TV shows (there are many), and even the toys, if you want.

(Have you ever felt the urge to begin a road trip with the command "Autobots, transform and roll out!" ?)

I used to watch the tv shows when I was a kid. The movies sounded like they would be cool, till I saw a couple clips and promptly swore not to go see the movies. *still sighs over this *

Yes, I have no desire to see the movies.
The only good thing about them is that Optimus Prime has the same voice as in the old show.

He was awesome looking, in the clip I saw.

I saw the first movie, and I wasn't impressed. I don't know if I'll ever see the other two. Probably not.

I've never actually seen the cartoons...

It [the original cartoon, now referred to as "Generation 1] has to grow on you for a little while. The "noisy-ness" doesn't bother me so much anymore, but the animation still looks cheap.

I like the animation in the new show Transformers: Prime much better, and Optimus Prime and Megatron have the same voice actors (yay!)
I use Youtube and Wikipedia to research episodes before I watch one, because, like I said, Transformers does have problems:

1. A timeline of millions and millions of years is an integral part of their backstory.
2. There are subtle spiritual elements that make me uncomfortable sometimes.

I love lots of clanking metal and explosions *grins*

But I also need at least a thin plot to go along with said clanking metal and explosions. And the Transformers don't deliver on that. Throw in all the needless immodesty and I'm turning up my nose and walking away. Which is sad. They could have been so good.

Is the 80's series worth the theological missteps? It sounds kind of cute.

You're talking about the movies, right? And I agree.

Let's see...spiritualism is not evident in seasons one and two, I think. But, like I said, millions of years are integral to their backstory. I guess you can decide about that.

And yes, I guess they are cute. They have smart storylines, mostly, and a handsome, screaming villain with a scheming, traitorous sidekick. Then the good guys are not perfect, but are individuals with various personalities.
And then the hero is...a hero. He's seriously one of the best heroes I've come across, and I hope my MC hero is a lot like him.

Dark of the Moon looked epic, so I'll get around to watching the first ones just to see that one. That, and giant metal robot things fighting each other is cool in any setting. *coughRealSteelcough*

I don't think the robot war bothers me, as much as what the humans are doing meanwhile.

I've watched parts of the movies, but I don't remember which ones. They're all trash, from what I saw =P

I do like the cartoons, though. I've seen a few episodes of both the original and newer series. I've missed quite a few that have been on TV, but my oldest younger brother watches them.

So, most of us agree that the movies are not very good. The cartoons, however, are a different matter.

One theme, in all the Transformers shows I've investigated, is heroism. The Autobots are always portrayed as heroic protectors of mankind, while villains don't care about human life. The Autobot leader (Optimus Prime) holds to a high moral code, and this distinguishes him from the Decepticons.

Then the TV shows are always made for kids, so they tend to be clean. Much cleaner than the movies, anyway.

I would agree with that, Aemi. Heroism is a constant theme. I just wish the humans were as heroic.

Mm-hmm.

Maybe I'm more of an Optimus Prime fan than a Transformers fan. (Hmmm...)

*laughs * He's a cool character.

Yes; in my opinion, he's the one who drove the series. (Have you heard the stories about the uproar from all the kids when he was killed in the old movie?)

Wait... he was killed?!?!? I must have stopped watching them by the time that happened. *feels old now *

Okay, there were two seasons, and then a movie. In the movie, Optimus dies from battle wounds, and I've read that all the kids in the theaters started crying at the moment of his death.

Ah! I see. Didn't see the movies.

Well, likely not, since I don't think you were born yet when that movie came out.

O.O

Yeah, I'm talking about the old movie. I haven't watched it, but have read about it and seen clips from it. People are still angry.

Oh the power and wrath of fans...

I know, right? Many people credit his death as the downfall of the TV series.

I have seen both the new Transformers movies and didn't care for them a bit. Actually, not entirely true: I loved the Transformers themselves, but Aemi, you were right when you said:


I loudly and emphatically claim to anyone who cares to listen that the humans utterly wrecked the robot movie. If they fired all the actors and kept just the Transformers, I would love it!



*goes to make thread*

*giggles * Okay, that was funny.