Long ago, there was a television program about hapless humans forced to make the best out of being thrust in the middle of an interplanetary battle with other-worldly robots. The show was Mystery Science Theatre 3000, and they waged their battle to destroy the evil forces of cheesy movies.

But it's 2007 now, and it's time to look past that early, "Generation 1" version of MST3K, to a new "reimagining" involving Michael Bay. Don't worry that the designs look a little different--it's still the same basic idea. Michael "Mike" Nelson, Kevin "Tom Servo" Murphy, and Bill "Crow" Corbett have been selling downloadable MST3K-style audio commentaries called "RiffTrax" for a while now, and their home page now announces that their next target will be none other than Transformers: The Movie.

Look for the Transformers RiffTrax to be available for download very soon at RiffTrax.com for $3.99. Thanks to Allsparker FortMax for the news!

In a new article on Rotten Tomatoes, Transformers: The Movie director Michael Bay says he plans to be a bit sneakier when it comes to the upcoming giant-robot sequel.

"We're going to leak a lot of false information all over the place... We've got scripts and treatments written up that we're going to leak... There's one out that's fake right now. There are going to be many others."

So, the next time we see a blurry cellphone photo of a Bludgeon CGI model sheet, or stumble upon a fanwanky script treatment with Unicron and a transforming Death Star attacking Earth with only Nightbeat's detective skills to save us all... take it with a bigger grain of salt than usual. Read the original article at Rotten Tomatoes.

BigBadToyStore has sent out an email newsletter listing a bunch of items they thing you should know about. Coincidentally, the items they want to share with you are all available for sale at their very website!  We've listed the Transformers-related products below, and the entire email is behind the "Read More" link below. Enjoy!

PREORDERS 

• BBTS Exclusive Jazz Bust
  
• New Movie Toys
  
• Allspark Rubik's Cube
  
• Alternators Mirage (restock)
  

NEW ARRIVALS

• Japanese Beast Wars TM-SP
  
• A variety of Transformers are back in stock including:  Classics Soundwave, Commemorative Astrotrain, Tracks, Ultra Magnus, Encore Starscream, Reissue #8 Inferno, #15 Stepper, #20 Kup & Wheelie, BT-10 Grimlock, MD-06, RM-24, SD-14, plus more in the Vintage department.

The nominees for the 34th Annual People's Choice Awards have been announced, and our favorite robots scored some major nominations! Transformers: The Movie is competing in the following categories:

• Favorite Movie
• Favorite Action Movie
• Favorite Song From A Soundtrack (Linkin Park)

Transformers' producers were reportedly saddened to be shut out of the "Favorite Threequel" and "Favorite Female TV Star" categories because of what they called "technicalities and typical Hollywood B.S." 

The People's Choice Awards will be handed out January 8th in Los Angeles, and you can cast your vote on the official website. Discuss this news in our Movie Forum.

They trickled out before, but now comes the big push it would seem. More Transformers: Animated prototypes/testshots/samples have popped up on eBay! Up now are:

• Optimus Prime (Deluxe)
• Bumblebee
• Bulkhead
• Prowl
• Lockdown

Details and images are far and few between concerning TakaraTomy's release of Hasbro's Wal-Mart Exclusive Masterpiece Starscream.  Thanks to HLJ we now have some new images of his vehicle mode.  The changes appear to be less weathering (which was stated before) and a Decepticon symbol between the canopy and the nosecone.

Online vendor Toyz and Gamez has put up preorder pages for the following Transformers: The Movie figures, though unfortunately without pictures.

Jungle Bonecrusher

Stealth Battle Bumblebee

Salvage

Thanks to tfw2005 user "AllSpark Ferret" for the news and Bass X10 for the tip.

You can discuss these figures (and their possible paint schemes) in his thread here.

While Hasbro is churning out G1-style repaints of movie toys, bootleg companies are gussying up their old knockoff molds with new movie-style paint jobs. The latest re-knockoff is Generation 2 Laser Optimus Prime, who gets his flames from Transformers: The Movie Prime and his plastic from the lowest bidder.

Speaking of bidding, you can see images of this crazy mix-em-up on eBay. Credit goes to Allspark poster Zathu for the find. 

The WGA strike may be holding up the screenplay, but progress is still being made on the sequel to Transformers: The Movie. ComingSoon.net and SuperHeroHype are reporting that Nigel Phelps, veteran of Michael Bay flicks Pearl Harbor and the Island, has signed on as production designer. Phelps, who is currently working on The Mummy III, replaces the first movie's production designer Jeff Mann.

Visit ComingSoon.net or SuperHeroHype for the original story and a link to Phelps' résumé. Thanks to Seibertron for pointing out the news.