If you’d asked fans at the beginning of the year which film might prove more successful or more “in tune” with what the fandom wants, the answer would have been unanimous: Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. Hell, if you’d asked the same fandom a week ago, the answer would have been the same.
Yet Kris Polglase, a blog writer for Voxy.co.nz seems to indicate that perhaps the tables are turning, if just a bit. Transformers 2 is receiving widespread negative reviews (though, I gotta say the first film did the same), while the latest trailer has risen the stock of G.I. Joe considerably. Check it out here.
Listen. I don’t pretend to assume that G.I. Joe will hold a candle to Transformers 2. Not by a long shot. Just thought it was an interesting article. Hell, I’ll be seeing Revenge of the Fallen in iMax on Saturday, so I have no delusions that it won’t be entertaining. I just look forward to August 8th, when everyone can judge on actually seeing the film rather than casting blanket statements about it.
I have always been a backer for ROC for the most part. At first, with all the buzz and no trailers, i thought Hasbro was hiding a bomb and i had my doubts. After the super bowl spot though, i was blown away and have been nothing but positive about this movie. Sure its not what we grew up with, but was anything the same after the 82-88 figures? G.I. Joe has taken so many forms over the last 40 years, what makes this any different?
Transformers 2 looks like the action and effects will be solid, but whats with all the shtick? Bumblebee crying, Devastator with testicles? WTF? Oh man, and in that latest kitchen scene thats on youtube, robots farting, another robot that shoots stuff from his extending boner’ish gun? And the other scene where Megan Fox is in the garage, and this little TF guy calls her a crazy bitch. Stuff like that just isnt relevant or necessary, and to me degrades the seriousness and professionalism of a movie like this.
Think of it this way, if Steve Spielberg made E.T. have balls and fart, do you think it would be as much of an iconic legend as it is today? Probably not, and his Director credibility would probably be questioned.
Im all for a good slapstick comedy, but is TF2 really the time and the place for this stuff? I think the reviews give you that answer sadly .
To add a little more to that statement,
Im not pre-maturely judging TF2, im just pointing out that some that stuff is out of place. Im wondering, if in attempt to make movies “kid friendly”, this is what writers and directors think they need to do? Hence all the “dick and fart” jokes in all the recent Disney/Pixar type of films.
Im wont hesitate seeing this movie, and i would be there opening day if i could. I will make an accurate judgement of it after i see it.
i agree totally. side note, i think spielberg added in some toliet humor when he re-released et a few years ago, but at least he did 20 years later. i think lucas started all this “bathroom humor in summer blockbuster films” trend with the phantom menace.
After reading the movie prequal to GIJoe and the comic adaption of TF2, I’m more looking forward to ROC, but honestly I think I was always more looking forward to ROC. Probably going to see TF2 at a midnight showing tomorrow night.
This is like saying the shit you took today is better than the shit you took yesterday. Sure, one may have been superior, but at the end of the day, it’s still shit.
Unless you’re into that sort of thing, then carry on.
Justin,
You actually lump two very different ideas into one when I think they should be seperate.
You state “…which film might prove more successful or more in tune with what the fandom wants.” Those are really two different things.
I don’t think there’s any question that Transformers 2 is going to be financially successful. It can’t NOT be successful, not with all the hype going on. Even if it turns out to be an awful sequel, it will sell a lot of tickets, not to mention merchandise. So in that sense, I still think GI Joe may have an upward battle if it is going to somehow exceed Transformers in that area.
However, as far as being “in tune with what the fandom wants”, I’ve been more worried about Transformers 2 than GI Joe from the start. When I saw the first preview for ROTF, it immediately struck me as a formulaic sequel. And now that the element of crude humor appears to be making a strong showing, I’m already dreading dissapointment with this film, and I think a lot of fans of the line will be dissapointed as well.
GI Joe, on the other hand, has made a big comeback when it comes to fan excitement, so in that sense I agree with you. Plus, I think the bar has been set a little lower for GI Joe, so there is a lot more potential for our expectations to be exceeded.
Hopefully they’ve saved the best for last, so to speak.
Does Devastator really have balls? Does Bumblebee really cry? Man what the hell?