• 29Aug 06

  Fan Vitrole Prompts Hasbro Reaction

  Well, it was bound to happen.  The relatively negative fan reaction to the leaked pictures has prompted Hasbro's COO Brian Goldner - the one responsible for making Megatron public - to release a statement to the fans last Friday.  I'll let those who haven't read it yet to do so on their own, but the gist I'm getting is one of "You beg, you plead, you give us sad puppy dog impressions, and when we give you want, you spit in our face."  Whether you agree with that assessment or not depends on your point of view.  However, I will admit that's the wording is considerably better than producer Don Murphy's response to some poor blogger who voiced his own objection.

  While I do believe that some fans' reaction has dulled the overall luster, it's also my belief that Hasbro made a serious mistake releasing the concept images to the public, especially after the reaction to Starscream a week earlier.  They should have used that as an indicator as to how the fans might react to Megs and waited at least a month or two before releasing the film.  If the situation results in an information lockdown on the part of Hasbro, DreamWorks, and Paramount, I won't be surprised.

  On to more... vapid subjects.

  Sunday, I went to my father and stepmother's house for a little party they were hosting to "celebrate" their apparent newfound celebrity.  They had participated in the filming of the H&G Network show "Curb Appeal" in which their house was remodelled from a "60's design" to one that was "English country cottage" (love to see real English reaction to that one).  It had aired on Tuesday (I missed it due to a feature on the Book of the Dead on the History Channel) with a reairing on Sunday.  I'm surprised how many folks saw it; my mother, her sister and friends, my sister and her friends...  Mom's comments about how "air-headed" my stepmother was presented was funny (she really does act like that, though ).  She also thought my father didn't look that good - the camera does add ten pounds though.

  Added the last decals to the model of my S-37 prototype last night; once the 24hr period is up, I'll spray it down with Dullcote to make sure they stay on.  Got to admit, adding the decals while the model is still in peices was the best idea I've had for this thing.

  • Posted Aug 29, 2006 5:34 am PT
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• 24Aug 06

  Don't Talk To Me About the New Transformers Movie

  I want to first make it clear to the site administrators, moderators, members and visitors to TV.com that I mean no disrespect to anyone in the following rant.

  I have decided that there are now four things one should not discuss in a public setting:

  1. Sex
  2. Religion
  3. Politics
  4. The upcoming Transformers movie

  Last Thursday, the first concept pictures of the Transformers appearing in the movie were leaked (or purposely released) to the public.  Fans at the forum I went to seemed okay with the look for the characters Blackout and Scorponok; however, the view for what was labeled as Starscream was universally against it.  Today, pictures leaked of the concept for the movie Megatron, and the reaction is a repeat of Starscream.

  I'll be the first to admit that I am not fond of the concept for Starscream, and I freely admit that I like Megatron's look, even though I'd have preferred that the pictures not have released.  I remain cautiously optimistic about the fortunes for the movie.  However, the recent behavior that I percieve from some fans right now absolutely sickens me. 

  I don't know, maybe I'm reading too far into it.  I expected naysayers, but maybe I had too high a hope that the majority of fans would remain open minded about this movie.  And perhaps most are and it's just the naysayers who are the ones howling about it.  But I just feel horrified that there are so many people in the fandom who aren't giving this movie a chance based on the choice of director, unfinalized concept images, and a host of other issues I've seen.  I mean, the movie's a little over 10 months away with only a teaser trailer done, and already folks are "doom and gloom" about the movie's prospects.  If I remember correctly, Beast Wars was not recieved well by fans before the pilot aired either, and yet this is now considered the series that revived interest in what was then a dying line.  In the same manner, this movie shouldn't be so universally dismissed, especially since no one's seen the finished product.

  Maybe I was too optimistic in my expectation of how much fans would tolerate the changes to the characters.  But I'm just perplexed that just because the concept images - which could change - don't look like "any Transformer that's come before" should be a reason to claim the movie will "suck".  I've read the reasoning, and none of them hold water for me.  I guess for some, in any established fan base like this, any change is a bad one, and the reaction I've seen thus far I fear has created an image - and again, no intended offense to anyone - of a fan base with the collective personality of a spoiled, tempermental child to those who have merely a passing knowledge of Transformers.  I understand that not everyone is like that; I've seen a few other than myself who are attempting to defend this movie, as a well as a few well thought out objections, and I'm not trying to shame anyone.

  Thank you for allowing me to vent, and once again, mean no disrespect to anyone with views differing from mine.  It is just I have decided to never again talk about this movie with anyone, whether they agree with my opinion or not.

  • Posted Aug 24, 2006 12:26 pm PT
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• 12Jun 06

  Whoa, Haven't Been Here in Awhile;

  Just looked at my blog and was amazed to see just how long it had been since my posting.  I decided maybe it's time to blow dust off the old account and start writing in here again, at least once a week. 

  But let's face it, I haven't been watching that much TV (except old reruns) and the forums I used to frequent just aren't that good anymore.    Seibertron.com just been a little more interesting, and I've also joined the Seeker's Sanctuary, a smaller, Transformers related forum, so a good amount of my time may be directed there. 

  That's not mentioning that the month of May's been really busy.  First was my sister's birthday, then cousin that Wednesday, then sick the weekend after, the air show on the 23rd, then my sister's move on the 27th.  This month hasn't started slow, either: Last weekend I had my oil changed, and the weekend before was the last one of the Godspeed Sail in Alexandria.  This coming weekend, I plan to be at Fort Ward for "Civil War Day" and then it's Father's Day. 

  So, in short, it's been a crazy few weeks. 

  • Posted Jun 12, 2006 12:31 pm PT
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