From TFW2005, a video review (with short update) of the possible Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Soundwave toy. The toy has not yet been verified to be part of the line but its style suggests it could be. The reviewer starts in the "satellite" mode but I am partial to the Cybertronian jet mode. The figure size and construction suggest it’s in the Deluxe ($9.99) price point range.
Turns out that Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen officially wrapped with a wrap party held on November 15th at the Opera Lounge in Hollywood, CA. Below are two brief descriptions of the party.
From The Pop Republic:
Tyrese, attending the Wrap Party for Transformers 2 at Hollywood’s Opera Lounge on Saturday, November 15, 2008. He was super friendly, taking pictures with party guests beside a life-sized replica of a Transformer. So cool.From Skulboy Blogversation:
Transformers 2 Director Michael Bay was a huge Teddy Bear, laughing and joking with everyone. He posed for a ton of pix with Crew Members and their families. He also spent the better part of an hour talking to a dozen Marines, complementing them for their service to the US.
After working for 4 months as a sculptor on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, I got an invite to the Wrap Party, so I Akiko and I headed out to Hollywood last night to party down with the cast and crew.Now the above mentions a trailer but according to TF2 writer Roberto Orci, "It wasn't a trailer. Just select footage" so sadly to early to assume a trailer is in the can just waiting for a premiere date (dang). There is also a slideshow here but not sure if it’s from the party or what.
We don't get out all that much so it was fun hanging out at a hip club with an open bar, excellent food and a burlesque trio shaking things up for a few tunes. The highlight however was Michael Bay himself presenting a full length trailer that no one has seen yet as a thanks for all the hard work the crew put in to make the film. In true Bay fashion, the trailer had plenty of Armed Forces presence, returning stars and above all else, tons of stuff getting blowed up. We're talking some serious explosions here. Whoa.
Great time LA style.
Jester and Jolin strike again, this time with their design for Cosmos. The old G1 character was a green and yellow mini-bot that turned into a flying saucer. This one's alt mode is a much more logical Cybertronian Transport Shuttle that gives the character the heft and strength one would expect from a Transformer. Once again another excellent design (more work here).
More pictures of the TF2 Soundwave toy have popped up. They are the clearest yet but still don't provide confirmation as to whether this toy is part of the movie line and therefore a potential version of Soundwave in the movie but still indicates the alt mode is a Cybertronian jet. How many more pictures can there be of this toy?
From HK-TF, via TFormers is the below images of what is reported to be images of Shockwave for the upcoming Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen toy line. The orginial G1 Shockwave is identified by his cyclops eye and purple color scheme. A tradition that continued with his various iterations over the years and the images currently match.
If the toy images are true this is the first time any meaningful news has come out to suggest that Shockwave makes an appearance in TF2. Much like the first movie, the lineup of Decepticons in the sequel almost completely unknown so the idea has merit. Thanks to Furstreak for the heads-up.
Isabel Lucas spoke briefly with The Dish Rag about her work on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The article itself, which doesn't even get the title right, focuses mostly on her past relationships but in the video Lucas briefly mentions some wirework stunt she participated in. She describes the character of Alice as a student at Princeton but that just could be because the scenes were shot there and not the "official" name of the college the characters go to in the movie. Sadly it’s not much in the info department but right now it seems we are in a TF2 info drought.
Maybe it was just my theatre, but there was no Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen trailer with Quantum of Solace. Neither was the Star Trek trailer. I am thinking there will be no trailer this week mainly because there is not the usual studio promotional push with leaks to major movie websites and magazines. The theory was based on comments from Orci that a promotional push would start in November and just rumors in general. Keep in mind though that no one officially ever used the word "trailer" when describing promotional plans for the movie, so while I am disappointed there really isn't anyone to blame.
Now that I have seen Quantum of Solace, it seems like a good call to not air the trailer with that film. It will not be the biggest movie of the season as it will likely have a great weekend and then quickly flameout due to poor word of mouth. The acting is good, the story serviceable, the woman beautiful, but the villain is a joke. But that isn't the problem. The problem is either a poor director or editor. The film seemed edited by someone with a hyper version of ADD. During action sequences, I defy you to find a moment that lasted more than 3 seconds before there was a cut. During no action points, the number climbed to at most 8 seconds. There was probably excellent, epic Bond-like stunts and effects in the movie but everything was so cut to pieces that you could not enjoy them. In there was an excellent 007 flick but horrible editing resulted in a horrible movie. I cannot recommend the movie and suggest you wait till it’s at the cheap theatre or can rent it. See Casino Royale or another Bond movie again if you need a 007 fix.
This leads me to wonder if Paramount and Bay knew what a disaster Quantum was going to become and decided to attach the movie to a better, possibly Twilight (out 11/21). I hope that is the case. Time will tell as always but if suddenly multiple magazines and websites start getting Transformers 2 information, take that as a strong hint that a trailer is coming.
From TFormers.com comes a possible version of the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen movie logo. The image was revealed as part of a presentation of securities analysts by Hasbro today. The logo is a nod to the classic G1 Transformers logo. I am not sure but the Autobot image is from one of the video games and not the movie itself.
Now the image could be what is being used for the upcoming image or just something that Hasbro put together for the presentation. As usual we will not know until something official comes out to confirm it. Thanks to April for the heads-up.
From TF08.net's "yizhi521", via TF2005.com are the below pictures of what could be a toy for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The current theory is this is an image of Soundwave based on the three wings that look vaguely like satellite panels, which is the current rumored alt mode for the character. Thanks to Simbatron for the heads-up.
Over at the TFormers forums, "Hunter Rose" (name of comic book Grendel) pretty much writes this post for me.
I have a buddy who is a manager at a theater, and just like last year when he hooked me up with a TF Movie shirt early - he gave me a brand new REVENGE OF THE FALLEN shirt today.The current theory is Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen trailer will start this Friday with Quantum of Solace and the Star Trek trailer. Failing that, then Twilight becomes the next likely debut movie. Hopefully by the end of the week Paramount will release something that verified the trailer's debut date (but not holding my breath on that). Thanks to Rich for the link.
I guess we should expect to see promos popping up at theaters soon then...
shirts, posters, trailer maybe??
Just a few random Transformer related things that I have collected over the last few weeks.
Robot Chicken: Transformers - Thanks to Mindy for the link. Apparently Peter Cullen was approached to voice this skit but declined. Not sure who the replacement voice is but probably one of the regular cast.
From Seibertron.com comes news that Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen production spent November 1st and 2nd filming on the USS John C. Stennis. This contradicts news from Nelson that shooting wrapped around the end of the month. Roberto Orci had suggested that production may wrap on November 5th but at this point I guess we will not know for sure until Bay pops up somewhere and announces it.
The filming involved Michael Bay and the core Transformers 2 cast of Shia Labeouf, Megan Fox, Tyrese Gibson and Josh Duhamel. Filming occurred on "closed sets" and on the flight deck showing normal operations. Duhamel and Tyrese where in dress uniforms while Shia had "beat-up" makeup on so difficult to tell exactly where in the storyline the scenes might be for.
The full set report with pictures can be found here.
Thanks to Rich for the heads-up.
s250 has provided another rumor regarding the Devastator toy. S250 previously posted the information about Megatron and Sideswipe's possible movie designs.
At local agent clearance event, I met their product manager. He gave me a little blur information about Devastator.Judging from last year, the toys are often a solid guide to what a character looks like and how used in the movie. In this case I have no real clue what to make of this description except that it continues to feed the rumor that the famed gestalt will appear in the movie.
We have some rumor and speculations about Devastator likes Energon Optimus Prime [pic above - TFLive], and his words proved this. In the Gestalt version, most construction vehicles just transformable drones as a part of Devastator, no robot mode.
These vehicles will get Deluxe version, can transform to robots, but I think Deluxe version can't combine.
And he's not very sure about the members number.
And he mentioned Optimus Prime and Jetfire combine, but no details.
Devastator Gestalt toy will be formed as follows:
Dump Truck - Right Leg, Bulldozer - Left Leg, Wheel Loader - Right Arm, Truss Crane - Left Arm, Excavator - Right Shoulder, Articulated Dump Truck - Left Shoulder, Cement Mixer - Head
S250 has also received an update regarding his previous information, the update being that six of the seven components (the lone exception being the Truss Crane) also apparently have a robot mode. The Truss Crane is listed as having "no robot form".
From Wonder-Who.com is the below image of Megan Fox as Wonder Woman. It has nothing to do with Transformers but I figured the Megan Fox fans wouldn't mind considering how good she looks and how well done the photo shop design of the costume is on her. Now this site nor the image has anything to do with a rumored Wonder Woman feature film. Currently that movie is in limbo with no script and no director so this is entirely for fun...but it does get you thinking (which may very well be the point).
Here are more questions asked by fans and answered by Transformers writer Roberto Orci over at TFW2005. There really isn't much new information (unless you just want to read more into his replies then need to). My comments in parenthesis and italics.
On what day did / will filming end?
two days left
(This suggests that filming will end on November 6th, which contradicts the post on Michael Bay's board. Not sure what to make of it, could just mean that 1st unit wrapped last week and 2nd unit wraps this week.)
How do you and your writing team go about selecting characters and storyline
for movie?
Different for each movie. For TF2, we start with the characters we know we have to have and start by imagining what they'd be up to two years later if we were merely thinking realistically, and we go from there.
Will Primus be mentioned/referenced in Revenge of the Fallen?
Perhaps... certainly some form of deep back story and mythology will be important
(I read that as no on Primus, but yes on some established Transformer mythology might be used, possibly in the backstory of the Fallen?)
When I think of the decepticon Soundwave, three things come to mind: 1) His distinctive vocoder voice, 2) His loyalty to Megatron, 3) His (cassette) partners such as Ravage & Laserbeak. My question is, will we experience all three of these characteristics in the next movie?
All signs point to yes
I was wondering if the Beasties had any influence in the Original Transformers design. Can we expect more beast-like qualities/references?
Not for us. We didn't indicate that type of design in the writing. You'd have to ask Bay and Hasbro and designers.
Can you comment on this supposed concept art for Soundwave?
I thought you said he wasn't going to be a pickup truck?
This concept art appears to imply it is Ravage who is a truck, no?
(I read this as a non-answer where he is not confirming nor denying anything.)
Are their going to be evil humans that work with the decepticons?
Certainly, not every human will be on their side.
(This could hint at the rumor on Alice...or it could just mean any number of other things.)
How much input is given to Jablonsky on the score? Or do you happily let him do his own thing? Will there be more, separate, themes for the Decepitcons?
The input he was given in general was to make sure the score was more melodic and classic in nature, rather than being too electronic, which could be a temptation when dealing with robots.
Have you ever, even fleetingly, discussed a nod or crossover with G.I. Joe with Lorenzo di Bonaventura? Or does that film being set ten years into the future prohibit the idea?
No, but in a way, the Transformers vs GI Joe series inspired the first movie -- hence the heavy soldier presence. In a way, that is what we did.
Last night The Simpsons' aired a parody of Transformers as part of its annual Treehouse of Horror episode. While the TF section was said to be inspired by the movies, it seemed to me to be mostly inspired by the 1980s cartoon. Either way it was usual goofy Simpsons fun. Below is the video from Transformers Matrix of that section of the episode.
From Bay's official blog:
Nelson here..It probably ended around the same time that Shia was spotted at LAX so October 27th or 28th. Now begins the editing of the film together, finalizing of FX work for scenes, working on the music, sound effects and casting of the Transformer voices. Thanks to Rich for the heads-up.
As of this week, principal photography for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has ended.
Congrats to Michael and his team.
TFW TF2 source strikes again, this time saying that Isabel Lucas' Alice is a Pretender.
The TFW TF2 Insider has confirmed that the character of Alice, as played by Isabel Lucas, in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, is a Pretender. For those not familiar with Transformers sub-lines from the 1980s, Pretenders are Transformers that are hidden inside a shell that acts as their disguise. In the case of Alice, the shell will be an attractive human woman while the inner robot is best described as a hybrid of the Frenzy robot design from the first movie. The Pretender Transformer will have an arm that transforms into an energy weapon, a long tongue, and a scanning tentacle.So what is a "Pretender"? It is a subsection of the Transformers line that was first introduced back in 1988 where a Transformer has a "synthetic organic outer shell" that hid the robot. Back then the shells where just a plastic shell that split in half revealing the TF inside which usually had a pretty crappy alt mode. Click here for the Wikipedia entry.
Movietickets.com had a survey of 4000 movie fans between August 8th and October 5th for the most anticipated movies of 2009. Sadly Transformers 2 is "only" 3rd place. Hopefully once a trailer debuts next month that will change.
MovieTickets.com Top 10 Most Anticipated Films
1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Warner Bros)
2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Fox)
3. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Paramount)
4. Public Enemies (Universal)
5. Angels & Demons (Sony)
6. Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian (Fox)
7. The Informant (Warner Bros)
8. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (Fox)
9. The Day the Earth Stood Still (Fox)
10. The Taking of Pelham 123 (Sony)
Via TFormers.com is the below footage that shows Stan Bush's "The Touch" being used for an amusing montage on NBC's Chuck (good show, very entertaining, highly recommend). The song is dear to many of us Transfans from the animated Transformers: The Movie so its use brings a few memories.
[A] segment lampoons Michael Bay's Transformers movie. "What happens is Bart gets a Christmas present from a 99 Cent store, and it turns out to be a Transformer. They take over Springfield, and they're fighting all over the place. Then Marge says to the Transformers, 'Why do you have to fight?' And they go, 'We agree. We'll just team up and take over you guys.'"
For the segment, animators drew from the live-action film, not the animated Transformers TV series. "It's based on the movie. It's just really fun to do transformations. You can see why they enjoyed doing that film."
According to Celebrity-Gossip.net, Shia LaBeouf is back in LA as of October 27th after wrapping on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
As the picture shows, his hand is still in a splint. While Transformers 2 production is possibly still shooting in Paris, that could just be interstitials and the like that doesn't require direct participation of the actors to complete. I expect we will hear that Transformers 2 production has wrapped any day now. Thanks to Rich for the link.
According to a poster on the Michael Bay forums, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen production has moved from Egypt to Paris, France.
While this could be fake, it seems more likely that Bay and company are in France to film exteriors and other scenes they need to match the "Paris, France" footage that was shot on Chancellor Street in Philadelphia, PA back in June involving Sam's parents. Thanks to Michael for the heads-up.Forget the Middle East, he's in France right now...
... in Paris, more specifically.
And this is what he was shooting: L'Arc de triomphe.
Now that was weird... I was walking home from work, and just happen to see a small group of people around a camera... When I got closer, I saw that Bay was riding it (literally). The last thing I would have expected is to see Bay shooting in my neighbor.
The scene was about a news anchor from CNN doing a report... It feels like main photography is getting closer to the end.
Producer Ian Bryce was here as well.
NOTE: this is a stock photo of L'Arc de Triomphe, but from where Bay was shooting it, you will probably get the same angle, with the actor standing in front of the camera.
From TFW2005 is the possible concept art for Soundwave and Ravage. The artwork (link below) is pretty slick but I think it's fake mainly because Roberto Orci already said that Soundwave's alt mode is not a truck (he didn't comment on the satellite mode). Besides I think the misspelling of "satelitte" is a big hint.
Because of the lack of Transformers 2 news and people find them, here are more Transformer related videos. Thanks to Tahnee for the rap link and Radames for the rest.
