Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="LBD &quot;Nytetrayn&quot;" data-source="post: 215467" data-attributes="member: 20">[ATTACH=full]38818[/ATTACH]Happy Transformers Day, everyone!Well, actually, it's 12:20 as I finally sit down to write this, so the day is over. But I still hope it was happy for you!Me? As you might have guessed, the bulk of my day was spent going to and seeing the 40th Anniversary edition of The Transformers: The Movie.But before we get into that, here's a little about the day that was.For starters, I don't know about anyone else, but showings of this movie are not exactly what I would call... "common", here in Toronto. My wife booked the tickets at Cineplex. It wasn't showing at our usual theatre, and we thought we had gotten tickets at the one across the street, but it turned out that we actually had tickets for a similarly-named venue an hour away in Scarborough. Whoops. Thank goodness for the LRT.[ATTACH=full]38819[/ATTACH]A cloudy day. Strangely suiting for what we're about to experience.We got there just in time; I grabbed our seats while my wife grabbed our refreshments. Place was full, too. Not sure if it was packed, but I didn't see many free seats.Overall, the movie was just as you know it. Well, at least if you watched the North American version. Maybe. That is to say, this is the "basic" version: no Star Wars crawl at the start talking over the most slapping version of the Transformers theme to ever exist (thank you, Lion), no "please come back, we're bringing Optimus back! Honest!" addition at the end.I thought I saw something saying this release was in 4K, but if it was, I didn't notice. Or is that a special IMAX sort of deal? I'm not exactly a moviephile, I don't know. If it was 4K, I didn't notice the difference. And if it was, maybe the money spent doing that would have been put to better use doing some color corrections, like when there are two Frenzys going after Blaster's tower, or Starscream's recurring all-yellow nosecone.Speaking of Starscream, I think he was the MVP of the showing I was at, drawing the most laughter for his lines, mishaps, and getting dunked on/dunking on Megatron.There was one odd bit when we first go to see Daniel and Hot Rod fishing, in that the scene seemed rather blurry. It was back to normal pretty quickly, but I don't know if that was just our theatre, our showing, or something everyone will be experiencing (sound off if you saw Hot Blurr in the comments below!).I can say one fear of mine was quickly allayed, as you might have guessed above: The soundtrack was intact.Now, if you don't follow the forums (Shameful! But it's never too late to change!), let me fill you in. With all this "Apology Tour" stuff, including "<a href="https://www.allspark.com/home/threads/hasbro-reveals-the-transformers-the-movie-reformatted-soundtrack-featuring-the-return-of-stan-bush.3868/" target="_blank">The Reformatted Edition</a>" of the soundtrack by "The Knights of Unicron" throughout the first half of the year, a thought occurred to me: What if they were planning to replace the original score with something more "modern" sounding that might also mean they wouldn't have to pay the same royalties to the original artists?Thankfully, that was not the case at all. (Look, it's 2026, and there isn't a lot that companies won't do to <a href="https://www.allspark.com/home/threads/if-you-love-a-i-youre-going-to-love-what-hasbro-has-in-store-for-you.3881/" target="_blank">save a buck</a> at the expense of people these days. I don't think my fears were entirely unjustified.)[ATTACH=full]38821[/ATTACH]Everything was just as we remember it, and that's definitely good. A large part of experiencing this movie is the music, after all.That said, I did find the sound mixing seemed to have the music a little lower than I'm used to. Maybe it was just the theatre setup?Speaking of which, I feel I should add that this is my first time seeing this movie in a normal movie theatre (they were fine with everything from Sesame Street to Masters of the Universe to all three Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies, Super Mario Bros., and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, but for some reason, this was where my parents drew the line. You know, the one that actually mattered in the context of the TV show I was into at the time. Go figure). I've seen it in my home and others' countless times. I saw it in a vintage theatre accompanied by a performance by The Cybertronic Spree. Heck, I've even seen it <a href="https://www.allspark.com/home/threads/a-look-at-the-toronto-blue-jays-transformers-day-festivities.3943/" target="_blank">on the big jumbotron screen</a> at the Skydome following a Blue Jays win on their Transformers Day. But this is the first time I've seen it "as intended," more or less.Okay, that's enough beating around the Stan Bush. Let's get to what you're probably really interested in: Optimus Prime: Awakening.Strange thing: There were people actually getting up and leaving during the credits. The lights even came up. I... get the feeling that maybe this short wasn't promoted as well as it could have been.Spoilers follow, so don't click if you don't want 'em.[spoiler]As promised, Optimus Prime: Awakening waits until after the credits of the movie to start, and basically recaps Prime's final moments on his death bed, only now in 3D computer animation. That said, this piece does splice in some actual movie footage as well. Kind of lends a sense of detachment that feels appropriate for someone in another state of being, in an afterlife.He ends up waking up in a void before what the credits call "The One." You know, the guy who made Unicron... and Primus. Except for the part where Primus doesn't exist in the Generation One cartoon universe. Or does he? I don't know. Oh, and also, there's that whole thing where Unicron was made by a gremlin named Primacron in this universe. So maybe this is a different The One? Wait, wouldn't that make him like, "The Two", or something?Doesn't matter. Turns out this guy's kinda pissed about Optimus being the greatest Autobot who ever was, yadda yadda. So pissed, in fact, that he calls Optimus by all his names (except his Dreamwave one). Even Convoy!Prime wants to know if he can go back, and The One is like "Oh, you'll go back alright -- again and again and again", showing off footage from different continuities like Animated and Prime and the Bayverse films -- you know, a bunch of the ones he died in, however briefly. The One then tells Prime to cut that scrap out, or else <a href="https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Furmanism#IT_NEVER_ENDS" target="_blank">it never ends</a>.That's not enough to deter Optimus, so then we cut to the scene <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivlzW7oRI_E&pp=ygUXb3B0aW11cyBwcmltZSBhd2FrZW5pbmc%3D" target="_blank">we caught a glimpse of</a> the other day, where Prime is on a moon or asteroid or some sort of cosmic landscape. He gets attacked by Soundwave and Insecticons and Starscream, too. Then Bumblebee shows up, and Optimus thinks he's there to help, but nope! This Bumblebee is pissed at Optimus -- oh Primus, <a href="https://www.allspark.com/home/threads/transformers-cyberworld-s2-episodes-1-2-rargh-bee-smash-season-premiere.3963/" target="_blank">not again</a>. Maybe Hasbro really is trying to get people to quit liking Bumblebee -- who, oddly, is not played by Dan Gilvezan reuniting with Peter Cullen and Frank Welker here. In fact, he sounds a lot like the Cyberworld version to me, though I don't think it's the same voice actor. At least, from what I glimpsed in the credits.Anyway, Bumblebee is now Bumblebad -- he has longer horns, a faded Autobot symbol on his chest, a more pristine Decepticon symbol on his arm, and a fusion cannon like Megatron's on his other arm. Or maybe it is/was Megatron's? Maybe this makes him "Bumbletron"? "Megabee"? Or "Bumblecron" with those horns? Whatever the case, he's pissed that Optimus led them into a futile war they couldn't win... even though they kinda just did about ten or so minutes ago, theatre time.Then, after refusing Optimus's offer of help by saying he doesn't need help as the other Decepticons join him by his side, they all fuse into a Combiner with Bumblebee as the core. And I mean, that's kinda neat -- how long do you think before Hasbro fast-tracks that for Studio Series? No idea what they call it, though.Still, leave it to Bumblebee to find a way to take up more shelf space. *<a href="https://youtu.be/8eXj97stbG8?si=xG9e7HU4MenFz0E1&t=25" target="_blank">rimshot</a>*Ah, but seriously, though, before we go on: This was an interesting sequence. Prime is in the afterlife, but the mix of other characters... well, let's see: Soundwave lived. The Insecticons got reformatted into other guys (not getting into that here). Starscream died. And Bumblebee would be the one guy who survived from the first episode all the way to appearing in the last.So, this can't be their sparks or whatever from the afterlife Optimus is in, right? So is this a dream sequence? Yeah, it must be a dream sequence. (Put a pin in this for later.)Back at The <s>Ranch</s> One, Prime still says he has to protect Earth, Cybertron, and the Matrix. T.O. says if Prime doesn't get off the path of conflict (I guess even it knows Prime's death is only temporary), then <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2BYLPNUpfY" target="_blank">everybody dies</a>. Earth and Cybertron and existence, too. Cut to Optimus on Earth, Unicron attacking, and now OP has a human hand. (I thought he was about to turn into Peter Cullen or something, but no.)After that, Optimus is sent to Cybetron at... some point, and Megatron is kicking the scrap out of Bumblebee. So, this would be before the movie, I guess? On the other hand, neither transform, so maybe this is the <a href="https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Action_Master" target="_blank">Action Master</a> era, where everyone is alive and in their original forms again?Anyway, Bumblebee is saying Prime will stop him, and Megatron <a href="https://youtu.be/wgNozOiLA5c?si=xQup-oT1ZyYjSJ-C&t=124" target="_blank">does his best Joker impression</a> and says that if Op was ever gonna, he already woulda. Optimus isn't having it and leaps in to save Bumblebee and take the fight to Megatron, knocking all three of them over a smelting pit, but managing to push Bee to safety on a ledge above. OP and Megs fight, breaking out their dam weapons, and Megatron gets the upper hand until Bee gets to Prime's rifle and distracts Megatron long enough to give OP the edge -- literally. Like, if I remember right, he was on the edge of the platform over the pit and had the edge or Prime's axe digging ever-so-slightly into his throat. Kup isn't around, so Bumblebee tells Prime to finish him off, do it now. (Maybe not in those exact words.)Suddenly, Prime realizes that this must be the never-ending cycle of violence that The One was going on about, and literally just nopes on out of there. To the baffling bewilderment of Bumblebee, he takes out the Matrix (that he still has, somehow, for some reason...?), chucks it over the edge, and walks out that glowing door to go light their darkest hour. Whatever that is. Unicron's dead, so... hate plague? I'm guessing hate plague.Though that kinda skips "Dark Awakening", though. Might've been cool to see that from OP's POV, but anyway.Optimus had his realization, and I guess he can leave this dream world behind to go lead the Autobots and Cybertron into a new Golden Age....oh, wait. If this dream was set in Action Master time, I guess everything would be gold then, wouldn't it?Roll credits!...but then there's a post-credits scene. Megatron picks up the Matrix from the edge of the smelting pool and smiles.Uh... okay? Remember that pin? Maybe this wasn't a dream, after all?Look, my usual snark and sarcasm aside, I really enjoyed this. They even added an extra card on screen dedicating it to the memory of Peter Cullen that drew some applause, myself included.But for what I thought was supposed to be a coda to Optimus Prime's journey (pre-revival, at least), this left me with more questions than answers.So all those visions were real? If so, what were they? And that's a heck of a note to leave off on. How do they plan to follow this up? Do they plan to follow this up? If so, how? I guess they would have to recast Optimus Prime. Wouldn't be the first time someone else played OP, but I think it would be the first someone else (dubs excluded) someone has played this very version of Optimus Prime, the one explicitly from the 1984 Sunbow animated continuity.And where/when do you follow this up? Wait five years for the 45th Anniversary, and attach it to another screening?My wife thinks this kicks off a new series. A continuation of the Generation One cartoon, all these years -- heck, decades later? Can you imagine (Earthspark notwithstanding)?I thought maybe this would connect some dots, in a way, but instead it went off the page into a whole other puzzle.It was a fun ride, and it was great to hear Peter Cullen voice Optimus Prime in such a prominent, starring role one last time, but... this has left me confused, and wondering when the answers will come. Or if, considering.Not the feeling I expected to leave the theatre with, but I hope we find out more soon.[/spoiler]Sheesh, had more to say than I realized. But then again, look at what I get out of five minute shorts, what else did I expect from 12?As for the rest of the experience, we saw some fans there having a good time, including some fanciful dress and cosplay:[ATTACH=full]38823[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]38824[/ATTACH] I hope I remembered to compliment his hat...And of course, we had to get our picture taken with the movie poster:[ATTACH=full]38825[/ATTACH]Oh, and for those wondering: There was no merch to be had. None. I was apparently not the only one to ask, either, but they didn't get anything in for this.All in all, a great time was had! If you've never seen The Transformers: The Movie before, this is the way to do it while you still can! And if you have? Well, it's still a great way to see it!I mean, you've got better things to do tonight than die, right?But what did you think? Did you check it out? Is it not showing in your area? Did you get into one of those fancy 4D showings that throttles your chair and blows air in your face? Feel free to talk about it here (but be sure to mark spoilers for Optimus Prime: Awakening!), or over in the "<a href="https://www.allspark.com/home/threads/transformers-the-movie-40th-anniversary-tour.3760/unread" target="_blank">Transformers the Movie 40th Anniversary Tour</a>" thread in our forums!<table style='width: 100%'><tr><td><a href="https://www.allspark.com/home/forums/" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.allspark.com/home/attachments/allspark-png.24401/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a><a href="https://www.allspark.com/home/forums/" target="_blank">Allspark Forums</a></td><td><a href="https://discord.gg/allspark" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.allspark.com/home/attachments/discord-png.24402/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a><a href="https://discord.gg/allspark" target="_blank">Discord Server</a></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/AllsparkNews" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.allspark.com/home/attachments/xformerlytwitter-png.24403/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a><a href="https://twitter.com/AllsparkNews" target="_blank">Twitter/X</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/theallspark" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.allspark.com/home/attachments/facebook-png.24404/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/theallspark" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a></td><td><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/allspark.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.allspark.com/home/attachments/bluesky-png.24405/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/allspark.com/" target="_blank">Bluesky</a></td><td><a href="https://www.instagram.com/allspark_com/?hl=en" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.allspark.com/home/attachments/instagram-png.24406/" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/allspark_com/?hl=en" target="_blank">Instagram</a></td></tr></table> <table style='width: 100%'><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></table></blockquote>

Name

Verification