Leave Michael Bay alone

[razgriz21]

Seriously, the hate has reached an all time high for this man. He works his ass off making action sequences and people continue to tear him down.

Reasons why Michael Bay is a good action director

-shots most of his scenes with real elements (helicopters, explosions, stunts)
-blends in digital FX with filmed action
-nice, kinetic cinematography
-great action sequences
-knows how to put people on a wild ride

My only con that I can come up with him iss that he has inspired a few wannabe movie directors who copy him frame by frame (McG, Len Wiseman).

There is only one Michael Bay and he is good in my opinion. Not great, but good.

For the record, my favorite action movies are

-Die Hard 1-3
-Heat
-The Rock
-First Blood
-Predator 1-2
-Aliens

I just also to happen like Michael Bay's work. He actually shots most of his material piratically. None of that wire fu bullshit that McG loves or an overabundance of CGI.

[adamjohnson]

or an overabundance of CGI.

HAHAHAHAHA.

[BakeTheMooCow]

No, I refuse to leave him alone.

He's a horrendous director and he has a crooked douche face.

[adamjohnson]

Reasons why Michael Bay is a good action director

-shots most of his scenes with real elements (helicopters, explosions, stunts)
-blends in digital FX with filmed action
-nice, kinetic cinematography
-great action sequences
-knows how to put people on a wild ride

Notice how every single thing you mentioned are the jobs the stunt coordinator and the cinematographer do.

Not the director.

[RicochetShaw]

This has been up for a while, but for anyone who hasn't seen his fake Twitter account, it's pretty damn funny:

http://twitter.com/michael_bay

My favorite update:
"Im giving myself an f'ing awesome back massage. Nobody has fingers like this."
8:27 PM Jun 17th

[ilovemovies]

Michael Bay is great when he doesn't do Transformers flicks.

[Tweek]

Eh, I've got no problem if one likes Michael Bay (or any other thing I might dislike). But I'd hope no one tries to convince me into being a fan in the same way I wouldn't try to convince someone to be a fan of, oh, Charlie Kaufman...



This has been up for a while, but for anyone who hasn't seen his fake Twitter account, it's pretty damn funny:

http://twitter.com/michael_bay

My favorite update:
"Im giving myself an f'ing awesome back massage. Nobody has fingers like this."
8:27 PM Jun 17th

From about 11 hours ago it says:

Michael Bay lost his virginity to a bolt of lightning

Oh man...

[Kevin Smith fan]

I'm tired of the sappy "leave Brittany alone"- like posts on here supporting Michael Bay, whether it be his own shitty films or his awful production company which continues to plague horror.

The guy gets paid hundreds of millions of dollars to go off and play like an 8 year old with a.d.d. and an unlimited supply of action figures and fireworks for audiences all over the world and we're supposed to feel bad when people jump his shit for putting out less than mediocre work?

At least Uwe Boll is relatively obscure and irrelevant in the general public's eye. The financial success Michael Bay has achieved is absolutely criminal, in that it implies that what he's doing is acceptable cinema. It is not.

And I love mindless action as much as the next guy. Prolly even more than most. I loved Eraser, Last Action Hero, Judge Dredd, Waterworld, Robocop 2, Cobra, Die Hard 2, and a slew of other critically bashed action films. But I had fun with those. Michael Bay's films come off so fake and forced I feel like he's trying to sell me something rather than entertain me. I guess his years as a commercial director have stuck with him.

Here's my all time top 10 action flicks:

1.Terminator 2:Judgement Day
2.First Blood
3.Heat
4.Batman
5.Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
6.Darkman
7.Escape From New York
8.The Dark Knight
9.The Warriors
10.Robocop

[someguy]

Please god no one come in here and start saying we shouldn't be expecting Oscar quality material with Michael Bay. No one is, we're just expecting good action movies that will provide entertainment. Some people just believe there should be more substance when it comes to these kinds of movies and Michael Bay's successes only harm the chances of more movies like the new Star Trek, Iron Man or even The Dark Knight being preferential to studios.

All it really boils down to is whether or not you think his movies are fun. I don't think he's a great director but I don't think he's the horrible monster some of his critics paint him out to be. When I watch a Michael Bay movie I'm entertained, it's the same with someone like Roland Emmerich. It's trash, it's offensive and horrible trash but I enjoy it.

[Z_oasis]

Starting these posts for a guy that 90% of everyone here hates (im being nice with that estimated guess) is just adding more fuel to the "HATE Bay" fire...

I'm not stopping you, i like seeing people coming to their senses and seein shit as it really is.

If it looks like shit, sounds like shit, tastes like shit, it HAS to be a Michael Bay film.

[adamjohnson]

I maintain that I am STILL glad Addicted2Bayhem is no longer here.

[rocknblues81]

Seriously, the hate has reached an all time high for this man. He works his ass off making action sequences and people continue to tear him down.

Reasons why Michael Bay is a good action director

-shots most of his scenes with real elements (helicopters, explosions, stunts)
-blends in digital FX with filmed action
-nice, kinetic cinematography
-great action sequences
-knows how to put people on a wild ride

My only con that I can come up with him iss that he has inspired a few wannabe movie directors who copy him frame by frame (McG, Len Wiseman).

There is only one Michael Bay and he is good in my opinion. Not great, but good.

For the record, my favorite action movies are

-Die Hard 1-3
-Heat
-The Rock
-First Blood
-Predator 1-2
-Aliens

I just also to happen like Michael Bay's work. He actually shots most of his material piratically. None of that wire fu bullshit that McG loves or an overabundance of CGI.


All works his ass over for is making one dimensional movies for his fanbase that flock to see his fast food movies like they flock to McDonalds to stuff fatty foods down their throat.

[Vanderzaiden]

Please god no one come in here and start saying we shouldn't be expecting Oscar quality material with Michael Bay.


micheal bay dosen't make oscar material films. so you mean that he usually makes cinematic mastperpieces...

[Natty]

That twitter account is pretty damn funny.

[echo_bravo]

The only Bay film that I like and actually own is The Rock. And its not only cause of the action. All of the characters are great in it especially Sir Sean Connery and Ed Harris.

All his other films are giant piles of shit IMO.
(Downright AWFUL dialogue, TERRIBLE plots, horrible acting)

[poopontheshoes7]

His films are no more or less "empty" or "shallow" then half of the movies that come out any give year.

When I watch a Bay film I get slick and polished visuals, some good humor (Some not so good), entertaining characters (Come on people, you can't say the characters in Armageddon/The Rock/Bad Boys aren't fun and likable), and yes, balls out entertaining action.

It is possible to love and enjoy a simple big budget boomfest AND thought provoking cinema. I certainly do.

I do understand not liking his films. They are the epitome of excess, of over-the-top. Everything is so big, so loud, so damn good looking and polished it turns people off. But thats why I like him and hell, ADMIRE him. No director has the balls to be so in your face. He has no illusions about what he does. He does what he does and says "Take it all in! I dare you!" He is almost a parody of big budget Hollywood and I find it hilarious and entertaining.

If enjoying the occasional Bay flick makes me a dumb, mindless, idiotic drone then so be it.

[Mr.HyDe807]

I never ragged on Bay, due to enjoying his flicks on some levels, but Revenge of the Fallen was pretty terrible.

[rocknblues81]

His films are no more or less "empty" or "shallow" then half of the movies that come out any give year.

When I watch a Bay film I get slick and polished visuals, some good humor (Some not so good), entertaining characters (Come on people, you can't say the characters in Armageddon/The Rock/Bad Boys aren't fun and likable), and yes, balls out entertaining action.

It is possible to love and enjoy a simple big budget boomfest AND thought provoking cinema. I certainly do.

I do understand not liking his films. They are the epitome of excess, of over-the-top. Everything is so big, so loud, so damn good looking and polished it turns people off. But thats why I like him and hell, ADMIRE him. No director has the balls to be so in your face. He has no illusions about what he does. He does what he does and says "Take it all in! I dare you!" He is almost a parody of big budget Hollywood and I find it hilarious and entertaining.

If enjoying the occasional Bay flick makes me a dumb, mindless, idiotic drone then so be it.

I can't think of one single thing that I liked about BB2. Martin Lawrence is about as bad of an actor as you can find. He is not funny in the slightest. The movie is overlong for what it is. Even if I wanted to accept the movie on the most shallow level it overstays it's welcome. A movie needs something to justify 2 1/2 hours of running time.

[razgriz21]

His films are no more or less "empty" or "shallow" then half of the movies that come out any give year.

When I watch a Bay film I get slick and polished visuals, some good humor (Some not so good), entertaining characters (Come on people, you can't say the characters in Armageddon/The Rock/Bad Boys aren't fun and likable), and yes, balls out entertaining action.

It is possible to love and enjoy a simple big budget boomfest AND thought provoking cinema. I certainly do.

I do understand not liking his films. They are the epitome of excess, of over-the-top. Everything is so big, so loud, so damn good looking and polished it turns people off. But thats why I like him and hell, ADMIRE him. No director has the balls to be so in your face. He has no illusions about what he does. He does what he does and says "Take it all in! I dare you!" He is almost a parody of big budget Hollywood and I find it hilarious and entertaining.

If enjoying the occasional Bay flick makes me a dumb, mindless, idiotic drone then so be it.

Agree.

Also, Michael Bay directed The Rock starring Sean Connery.

Face it, Michael works with some of the best stunt coordinators and cinematographers. All he needs is a good editor and he'll be unstoppable.

Are we not supposed to enjoy movies anymore? Transformers is not a bad movie. Far from terrible. Just a movie where you can eat pizza and drink beer with your friends.:)

Michael is an entertainer and puts on a wild ride.

[Cenopath]

As long as his shitty movies keep oversaturating the theatres in place of good ones, no, I won't leave Michael Bay alone.

[razgriz21]

As long as his shitty movies keep oversaturating the theatres in place of good ones, no, I won't leave Michael Bay alone.

There are other scapegoats.

-McG
-Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer
-Len Wiseman
-Joel Schumacher
-Brett Ratner
-John Moore
-Jon Avenet

[rocknblues81]

There are other scapegoats.

-McG
-Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer
-Len Wiseman
-Joel Schumacher
-Brett Ratner
-John Moore
-Jon Avenet

In fairness, Red Dragon is better than anything Bay has ever done. Phone Booth is better than anything Bay has ever done.

[Preston_79]

Are we not supposed to enjoy movies anymore? Transformers is not a bad movie. Far from terrible. Just a movie where you can eat pizza and drink beer with your friends.:)



Who is suggesting we can't enjoy movies anymore?

Bays movies are best watched when partially distracted by pizza, beer and friends. That's not a very good endorsement. I say the same thing about watching Teletubbies.

[Kevin Smith fan]

Yes but none of these films acheive the commercial success and studio handjobs that Bay's films do. Despite how terrible Aaron Seltzer's parodies are, I don't think there's been one of them to cross the 50 million dollar mark. So I think people realize his films are terrible.

Mc G's We Are Marshall is criminally underrated and I don't care what the critics say, Terminator Salvation has been the best summer action flick this year. Period. (See I can like mindless action films, too).

And as bad as Schumacher's Batman films were, he's still made some great pictures like Phone Booth, A Time to Kill, Falling Down, The Client, The Lost Boys, and St. Elmo's Fire.

And with the exception of Rush Hour 3 and X3, I don't know why Brett Ratner is so universally hated. Red Dragon was fantastic and Rush Hour is exactly what a summer action flick should be.

[Abbie Normal]

No, I refuse to leave him alone.

He's a horrendous director and he has a crooked douche face.

He does have a weird face. He is not a horrendous director. He does a particular type of movie. With some movies the point is just mindless action and some humor. There happens to be a big market for mindless stuff. Obama's supporters like it this way and I don't think you want to mess with Obama. Remember the Fly?

Notice how every single thing you mentioned are the jobs the stunt coordinator and the cinematographer do.

Not the director.

Where is it written that he can't do these things in his movie. Do you bitch about directors who also edit, write, director, produce and star in their own movies too? I think you are being petty.

As long as his shitty movies keep oversaturating the theatres in place of good ones, no, I won't leave Michael Bay alone.

Yeah, because this time of year is when all the "good" movies come out. I am sure the teens and young adults would be lining up for something like "The Reader". Get real man.

Who is suggesting we can't enjoy movies anymore?

Bays movies are best watched when partially distracted by pizza, beer and friends. That's not a very good endorsement. I say the same thing about watching Teletubbies.

Fucking A man. I will say it again. As long as there is a market for mindless movies like Bay's, he will keep making them. It is the same way with the stupid Wayans Brothers movies, slasher films, teen comedies that suck.


What would all you haters like Bay to do? If he made a drama that was nothing like his other movies, you would kill him for it even if it was awesome. Get over yourselves and accept the fact that people like mindless movies to ENTERTAIN them.

BTW I tried to go see Transformers last night and the last 4 shows were sold out. Will try again on Friday or Sat night.

[adamjohnson]

Yeah, because this time of year is when all the "good" movies come out. I am sure the teens and young adults would be lining up for something like "The Reader". Get real man.


This is your problem. Actually, it's your entire arguement.

You think that because we dont like Bay, the only things we do like are shit like the Reader, Doubt, the Soloist, etc. And thats simply not true.

However, we DO like truly great action movies like T2, Die Hard, etc etc.

If I dont care about a character, how is that considered entertaining? Isnt the plot of the movie revolving around whether or not they will live? In Die Hard, EVERYBODY wondered if McClane was going to survive. Thats good writing.

So, yeah, I expect more from an action movie than explosions. I expect little things - like a well written story, coherent plot and likeable characters. No biggie.

[poopontheshoes7]

I can't think of one single thing that I liked about BB2. Martin Lawrence is about as bad of an actor as you can find. He is not funny in the slightest. The movie is overlong for what it is. Even if I wanted to accept the movie on the most shallow level it overstays it's welcome. A movie needs something to justify 2 1/2 hours of running time.

I do agree with you on Bad Boys 2. BB2 and Pearl Harbor are the only Bay flicks I don't dig. The rest is aces in my eyes.

[Abbie Normal]

This is your problem. Actually, it's your entire arguement.

You think that because we dont like Bay, the only things we do like are shit like the Reader, Doubt, the Soloist, etc. And thats simply not true.

However, we DO like truly great action movies like T2, Die Hard, etc etc.

If I dont care about a character, how is that considered entertaining? Isnt the plot of the movie revolving around whether or not they will live? In Die Hard, EVERYBODY wondered if McClane was going to survive. Thats good writing.

So, yeah, I expect more from an action movie than explosions. I expect little things - like a well written story, coherent plot and likeable characters. No biggie.

So do I, but those movies are few and far between. Would I like a better Transformers with an awesome story and everything that goes with it? Sure, I would, but what the hell do you expect with a base from a toy and a cartoon?

Your problem is you think the studios care about what you want. They don't. They want to make as much monye as possible. They do not care if the movies they put out are good or not. You would think they would have learned a lesson from The Dark Knight and Wolverine (too recent I know), but they don't. So we have what we have.

Did you actually think McClane was going to die? In general, good guys don't die in action movies.

[adamjohnson]

Did you actually think McClane was going to die? In general, good guys don't die in action movies.

Its one of the reasons Die Hard is studied in film schools across the nation.

[adamjohnson]

So do I, but those movies are few and far between. Would I like a better Transformers with an awesome story and everything that goes with it? Sure, I would, but what the hell do you expect with a base from a toy and a cartoon?




With this logic, we could very easily compare Transformers and Pirates of the Caribbean, which was built around even less IE a theme park ride. While they both have similar flaws (runtime, for instance) I think everyone would agree that the acting all across the board is better in Pirates, that Gore Vibinski is a better director, and the plot is much more interesting.

[rocknblues81]

He does have a weird face. He is not a horrendous director. He does a particular type of movie. With some movies the point is just mindless action and some humor. There happens to be a big market for mindless stuff. Obama's supporters like it this way and I don't think you want to mess with Obama. Remember the Fly?



Where is it written that he can't do these things in his movie. Do you bitch about directors who also edit, write, director, produce and star in their own movies too? I think you are being petty.



Yeah, because this time of year is when all the "good" movies come out. I am sure the teens and young adults would be lining up for something like "The Reader". Get real man.



Fucking A man. I will say it again. As long as there is a market for mindless movies like Bay's, he will keep making them. It is the same way with the stupid Wayans Brothers movies, slasher films, teen comedies that suck.


What would all you haters like Bay to do? If he made a drama that was nothing like his other movies, you would kill him for it even if it was awesome. Get over yourselves and accept the fact that people like mindless movies to ENTERTAIN them.

BTW I tried to go see Transformers last night and the last 4 shows were sold out. Will try again on Friday or Sat night.

Hell, just make an action movie that is truly good. People you know... Actually did that before this horrible decade started. Any level of badness is now acceptable people because that's mostly what's been made this decade. Badness.

[rocknblues81]

This is your problem. Actually, it's your entire arguement.

You think that because we dont like Bay, the only things we do like are shit like the Reader, Doubt, the Soloist, etc. And thats simply not true.

However, we DO like truly great action movies like T2, Die Hard, etc etc.

If I dont care about a character, how is that considered entertaining? Isnt the plot of the movie revolving around whether or not they will live? In Die Hard, EVERYBODY wondered if McClane was going to survive. Thats good writing.

So, yeah, I expect more from an action movie than explosions. I expect little things - like a well written story, coherent plot and likeable characters. No biggie.

It's amazing that some folks think were asking for everything to be an academy award winner just because explosions on their own aren't enough to fill the bill.

[g1ng3rsnap9ed]

I hate michael bay. (See how I refuse to capitalize his name?)

But that's cool that you're a fan, I guess. Everyone has their own taste, that's what makes us individually interesting. :)

[Danger^Cart]

Bay won't leave ME alone!!

[ilovemovies]

Bay won't leave ME alone!!

No offense, but that's bullshit. You don't have to see his movies.

[adamjohnson]

With this logic, we could very easily compare Transformers and Pirates of the Caribbean, which was built around even less IE a theme park ride. While they both have similar flaws (runtime, for instance) I think everyone would agree that the acting all across the board is better in Pirates, that Gore Vibinski is a better director, and the plot is much more interesting.

In addition, it looks like WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE should put an end to this "It was just a childrens show" arguement. WTWTA is a Dr. Suess book and it looks to be one of the best movies upcoming.

[poopontheshoes7]

In addition, it looks like WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE should put an end to this "It was just a childrens show" arguement. WTWTA is a Dr. Suess book and it looks to be one of the best movies upcoming.

Not to be nitpicky but it's not a Dr. Suess book.

[John Galt]

Spielberg made the cinematic puncture wound. Michael Bay plunged the blade in and twisted it around.


Michael Bay is an anathema. He has set a standard of infantalism that is destroying cinema and making it almost impossible for quality films to make it into the theaters.

[Abbie Normal]

With this logic, we could very easily compare Transformers and Pirates of the Caribbean, which was built around even less IE a theme park ride. While they both have similar flaws (runtime, for instance) I think everyone would agree that the acting all across the board is better in Pirates, that Gore Vibinski is a better director, and the plot is much more interesting.

Jack Sparrow did not exist on the Disney ride until after the 2nd Pirates movie came out. About the only things that the ride inspired were pirates, boats, Caribbean and the song. Jack Sparrow is the greatest character invented since Tony Montana.

Pirates has no flaws. They are all perfect movies. You are not and forever banned from the ride in Disney and if you don't watch your P's and Q's you will be banned from all the Disney parks including the one outside Paris.

[Abbie Normal]

Its one of the reasons Die Hard is studied in film schools across the nation.

Now we know why there is a dearth of great directors coming out of schools.

[zombievictim]

EDIT

[Jon Lyrik]

Michael Bay films would have good cinematography if he stopped using the same visual look over and over again, and if it didn't permeate all of TV thanks to him. Now everything looks like an episode of CSI Miami.

[Le_Big_Mac]

Michael Bay films would have good cinematography if he stopped using the same visual look over and over again, and if it didn't permeate all of TV thanks to him. Now everything looks like an episode of CSI Miami.

That was Tony Scott and Michael Mann's fault before it was Michael Bay's.

[JohnLocke2342]

Ah, the Michael Bay hate. To me, he's an action director that bridges the gap between the film fan and the average moviegoer. He can make a movie that both a Kubrick fanatic can enjoy in parts, and one that will jump off the screen at the latest Dance Flick fans. What I mean by this is I feel he puts a perfect counterbalance in his movies to make them intriguing to smart action film fans, and also appealing to the masses of "dumb" moviegoers that populate the majority of our theaters.

Take Armageddon for example. You have the ultimate bad ass in Bruce Willis but then he chucks in some Liv Tyler and Ben Affleck cheesy romantic one liners and "my heart will go on.." moments to lure in the the romance fans. He then can throw together a ton of fantastic character actors in Will Patton, Steve Buschemi and William Fichner, but can also have Owen Wilson's dumb one liners and over the top action to balance it all out. He shows flashes of brilliance that are few and far between (Cuba Gooding Jr. manning the battleship gun and taking down a Japanese Plane), mixed with a bunch of mediocrity and silliness. Now, I guess you can say I enjoy a Michael Bay movie. I own every one of his movies besides Pearl Harbor. I thoroughly enjoy Armageddon, The Rock, Bad Boys 1/2 and even Transformers, the rewatchability is great, and they're a quick fun waste of time. But people seem to always want more from him.

He can put together the perfect money shot of Optimus Prime wripping off a Decipticons face, having even the biggest Bay hater thinking about changing their minds but then quickly (and almost deliberately) cover up his genius with a fart joke or a quick scene of 2 dogs in diamond encrusted collars humping each other. It's as if the immature little kid inside always has to come out, and he never allows himself to reach his full potential.

I feel like deep down inside of Michael Bay there is a classic action film waiting to come out. If he could only grow the fuck up and stop trying to sell me something in his movies, we can finally get there. The closest we have come to that is sadly one of his first films, The Rock. He had everything going for him there, 3 fantastic lead ACTORS (not movie stars), the tragic, flawed bad guy... the redeeming quality of Sean Connery, the race-against-time plot elements mixed with some excellent fight choreography and a brilliant score. Unfortunately, his movies only got sillier after that.

Right now, as it stands, Michael Bay is the staple director for fun, silly, outrageous, EXPLOSIVE action movies. If this guy can ever get a smart and mature writer to pen him a darker witty action movie; sort of like The Rock mixed with In Bruges, he can deliver us something special. But, until that time.. he'll always be Michael Bay: The Man torn between guilty pleasure and Dumb America.

[therealjohng]

That fake Michael Bay twitter account reminds me of the fake Chuck Norris facts.

[APzombie]

Fuck that.

i'm not going to leave him alone. People think that Popcorn films do not need anything tangible to hold onto these days. I'm saying:

THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

When did we allow the summer tentpole of popcorn flair to turn into this shit?

TF2 is repulsive. Anyone who thinks its an acceptable blockbuster needs to get their head out if Hollywood's ass.

When silent films turned into talkies filmmakers took advantage of it and made a whole lot of shit with no aesthetic. The camera stood still while they let the dialogue do the storytelling. It took a while to get out of it and to free the camera again. I feel like we've been in a mainstream cinematic recession and CGI is grasping us by the fucking balls. Every summer they add a couple extra shaders and pixels to glitter their trailers all the while diluting the values of a cinematic narrative. When the fuck will we get out of this? When did shit like Transformers 2 get to be considered passable cinema?

Not only is it overlong, unintelligible, repulsively boring and profoundly stupid it also depicts a sinisterly adolescent view of women. You might have had Back to the Future, This is the "fun sci-fi summer experience" kids will grow up with.

Fuck anyone who says it's just a popcorn film. It's not, it's fucking butter and it's making our children cinematically obese.

[Tagia_Romero]

That fake Michael Bay twitter account reminds me of the fake Chuck Norris facts.

... The Chuck Norris facts were fake?! :eek: :p

[rocknblues81]

We should also remember that George Bush was elected twice. Which speaks about America.

[CyclicNightmare]

What?

[Reigh Kaufman]

What?

HE SAID WE SHOULD ALSO REMEMBER THAT GEORGE BUSH WAS ELECTED TWICE. WHICH SPEAKS ABOUT AMERICA.

God, I hate the veteran posters...deaf and senile.

As for Bay, do NOT leave him alone. Poke him with a stick until he stops making fucking pish movies.

[rocknblues81]

HE SAID WE SHOULD ALSO REMEMBER THAT GEORGE BUSH WAS ELECTED TWICE. WHICH SPEAKS ABOUT AMERICA.

God, I hate the veteran posters...deaf and senile.

As for Bay, do NOT leave him alone. Poke him with a stick until he stops making fucking pish movies.

I'm going to layoff for a while. Better movies to talk about.

[Reigh Kaufman]

I'm going to layoff for a while. Better movies to talk about.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Keep fighting the good fight.

I would help, but armageddon out of this thread before Cyclic realises I was taking the piss.

Ha-cha-cha!

[overwatch]

Michael Bay, Rob Cohen, Stephen Sommers and Rolland Emmerich entomb everything that is bad about movie-making. Fuck them all.

[razgriz21]

Cohen, Sommers, and Emmerich = Bay wannabes.

[corran horn]

Yes but none of these films acheive the commercial success and studio handjobs that Bay's films do. Despite how terrible Aaron Seltzer's parodies are, I don't think there's been one of them to cross the 50 million dollar mark. So I think people realize his films are terrible.

And as bad as Schumacher's Batman films were, he's still made some great pictures like Phone Booth, A Time to Kill, Falling Down, The Client, The Lost Boys, and St. Elmo's Fire.

Don't forget TIGERLAND, which many, including me, consider to be his best effort.

[corran horn]

Fuck that.

i'm not going to leave him alone. People think that Popcorn films do not need anything tangible to hold onto these days. I'm saying:

THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

When did we allow the summer tentpole of popcorn flair to turn into this shit?

TF2 is repulsive. Anyone who thinks its an acceptable blockbuster needs to get their head out if Hollywood's ass.

When silent films turned into talkies filmmakers took advantage of it and made a whole lot of shit with no aesthetic. The camera stood still while they let the dialogue do the storytelling. It took a while to get out of it and to free the camera again. I feel like we've been in a mainstream cinematic recession and CGI is grasping us by the fucking balls. Every summer they add a couple extra shaders and pixels to glitter their trailers all the while diluting the values of a cinematic narrative. When the fuck will we get out of this? When did shit like Transformers 2 get to be considered passable cinema?

Not only is it overlong, unintelligible, repulsively boring and profoundly stupid it also depicts a sinisterly adolescent view of women. You might have had Back to the Future, This is the "fun sci-fi summer experience" kids will grow up with.

Fuck anyone who says it's just a popcorn film. It's not, it's fucking butter and it's making our children cinematically obese.

As we say in the galaxy far far away: A-KRIFFING-MEN, sir!

I too have had enough of this "it's just a summer movie" or "turn your brain off" mentality. The latter attitude, in my judgment, is the most corrosive because it that very attitude that got our world into the mess it's in today. I pride myself on intellectual alertness and am not afraid to rub in the faces of knuckle-draggers like Michael Bay.

As for the first sentiment, I need only point to examples like TDK, Star Trek, and Iron Man to show what a good (or great) summer movie should be. Each of those films made you care about the characters, and they respected the viewer's intelligence. While the abundance of CGI has helped make previously unfilmable projects into masterworks (LOTR), it has also encouraged a massive amount of laziness and self-indulgence that, sooner or later, will send the whole system crashing down if it weren't for better directors like Jackson, Del Toro, Nolan, Greengrass, and Favreau coming in the knick of time.

Normally, I can excuse an actor or director for his/her personal frailties if they produce good films. Cruise, Penn, and Crowe may be jerks but at least they get results. Bay doesn't have that. In fact, his personality is mirrored trait for trait by his films: loud, insulting, and obnoxious. Other directors fall into this category as well, notably Uwe Boll. However, Boll's efforts have, each time, failed miserably. Plus, his buffoonery is a source of great amusement to many, including me. Bay, on the other hand, conjures a deep contempt within me that only two other beings have been able to conjure: Dick Cheney and Glenn Beck. I would also add that it won't be long before Bay is hit with a sexual harassment lawsuit. It is clear from his films that he holds little respect for women. Then again, when you're basically working with jumped-up prostitutes like Megan Fox, it's hard to have much respect for women. Why Spielberg entrusted so much power to this cretin is beyond my comprehension. It is painful to see the man who first showed us what a blockbuster could/should be is now pummeling us with what a blockbuster should not be.

I do think JohnLocke makes an excellent point about The Rock showing Bay's potential. Having seen it, I was surprised to find that he directed it as it lacked the immaturity and product placement of his later works. I'm not sure if it's a matter of his inner child overcoming the inner artist or a simple matter of laziness. The product placement leads me to think that Bay found the secret that eluded Schumacher and the guy who did MAC & ME: how to craft a feature length advertisement and make a lot of money doing it. Having directed commercials himself, Bay knows how to sneak even the most blatant product placement into his movie without irritating the audience.

[Preston_79]

What?

huh?

[Abbie Normal]

I really liked Bay's comcast commercial. Big cat. Big BBQ.

[Servo]

My defense: I enjoy Michael Bay movies on an Army of Darkness level. Meaning, I notice the flaws, but the other things going on in the movie bring me so much enjoyment I can laugh the flaws away or overlook them. Except the Island. That movie sucked.

Transformers 2 was a very acceptable summer blockbuster and a good popcorn film.

EDIT: The guy eats sloppy joes for breakfast, he can do what he wants.

[Mr. Fred Krueger]

As we say in the galaxy far far away: A-KRIFFING-MEN, sir!

I too have had enough of this "it's just a summer movie" or "turn your brain off" mentality. The latter attitude, in my judgment, is the most corrosive because it that very attitude that got our world into the mess it's in today.

You can't really compare movie taste to social issues. Sometimes it's just fun to have mindless entertainment. I love thought provoking, well written cinema as much as the next guy. But there's nothing wrong with mindless entertainment.

[rocknblues81]

Cohen, Sommers, and Emmerich = Bay wannabes.

Emmerich is terrible. Yeah, he's probably worse than Bay.

[corran horn]

You can't really compare movie taste to social issues. Sometimes it's just fun to have mindless entertainment. I love thought provoking, well written cinema as much as the next guy. But there's nothing wrong with mindless entertainment.

Fair point. I went off on a tangent there. It's just that I find the "turn your brain off" excuse both irritating and insulting. The way you put it is much better.

I have my share of "mindless entertainment" movies, but I can enjoy them either for free (on SyFy) or for extremely low prices (DVD rental). Why would I pay $7.50 to be visually assaulted when I can have the same experience at home for a lot less PLUS the chance to sharpen my commentary skills w/o annoying other people.

[Hey Man]

Seriously, the hate has reached an all time high for this man. He works his ass off making action sequences and people continue to tear him down.

Reasons why Michael Bay is a good action director

-shots most of his scenes with real elements (helicopters, explosions, stunts)
-blends in digital FX with filmed action
-nice, kinetic cinematography
-great action sequences
-knows how to put people on a wild ride

My only con that I can come up with him iss that he has inspired a few wannabe movie directors who copy him frame by frame (McG, Len Wiseman).

There is only one Michael Bay and he is good in my opinion. Not great, but good.

For the record, my favorite action movies are

-Die Hard 1-3
-Heat
-The Rock
-First Blood
-Predator 1-2
-Aliens

I just also to happen like Michael Bay's work. He actually shots most of his material piratically. None of that wire fu bullshit that McG loves or an overabundance of CGI.

Sorry, but a good or even great action director should be able to do it all - be a visionary and be able to tell a good story. Bay can't even write an email - never mind directing a movie that makes sense.

Blowing shit up doesn't make you a great director - no matter how good it looks. He is the king of the hacks.

[miguel_montes]

Bay can't even write an email

You don't get to write that and expect not to be asked for proof. :p

[overwatch]

hah. Oh you'll have proof. Proof away.

[Hey Man]

You don't get to write that and expect not to be asked for proof. :p

Are you forgetting the horribly written email he wrote to Paramount?

[miguel_montes]

Are you forgetting the horribly written email he wrote to Paramount?

Probably, because I know nothing about it. Enlighten us, please.

[CyclicNightmare]

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Keep fighting the good fight.

I would help, but armageddon out of this thread before Cyclic realises I was taking the piss.

Ha-cha-cha!
Yeah, you better run. I was just wondering what in the world George Bush had to do with Michael Bay.

[Abbie Normal]

If MB is reading this site I expect a check to be in the mail by Monday. Fighting with people on this site about him is hard work.

Would Star Wars be the same without the crawl at the beginning of the movie? Then why ask MB to be anything less than what he is?

[APzombie]

Would Star Wars be the same without the crawl at the beginning of the movie? Then why ask MB to be anything less than what he is?

http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/8194/846531-this_picture_makes_no_sense_super.jpg


a.k.a. that doesn't make any sense.

[FireCaptain4]

a.k.a. that doesn't make any sense.

Glad to see I'm not the only one that didn't have any clue what Abbie was talking about.

That response either went way over my head or half the paragraph is missing.

[pablo_super1!]

Well wanna put my input on this.

Yeah people don't like Bay because his films tend to not have very great plots, they have flaws, and yes they aren't always the smartest films. But okay everyone has a different taste in films, Shit!!!

Nobodies forcing anyone to see his films. I see that people are saying they do love action films like Die Hard, Terminator 2, and Indiana Jones. Yes I like those and all 3 of them are some of my favorite action films. But Bay also has actions films that are my favorites like Bad Boys 2.

Nobody can deny the fact that Bay can entertain people. He is... I would go as far as to say the king of Summer blockbusters. I just went and seen Transformers 2 and I was extremely entertained, yea there were a few things that didn't add up, but I still enjoyed it. Just because I laughed at the jokes from the twins DOES NOT MEAN I'M IMMATURE. I hate reading reviews sayin that if you laughed at the crude jokes you must be immature or a kid. You can laugh at a stupid joke about a robot humping or a mom on Pot Brownies without being immature, I was in a full theater with Adults older couples and younger people and everyone laughed. I didn't turn off my brain while seeing it, I paid close attention and I still liked it.

I see film fanatics saying that Bay is terrible and talk about how Indiana Jones (Raiders of the Lost Ark) is better than many of Bay's films, but take a look at it from another angle. Steven Spielberg the director of the Jones films, loved Transformers 2.

People don't like bay because he doesn't make intelligent In-deph actions films that really make you think, but who cares, There are plenty of other actions films that are like that, for ex. THE DARK KNIGHT. People tend to forget what films are made to do ENTERTAIN and Bay has never failed on that level.

If you don't like his films leave them alone, just because someone likes his films, doesn't mean they don't pay attention them or that they don't understand film enough and just because some people dislike Bay that doesn't mean they're too high strung on Drama films to just enjoy actions films.

[miguel_montes]

People tend to forget what films are made to do ENTERTAIN and Bay has never failed on that level.

I agree with you that Bay's movies are entertaining. But perhaps people don't like that type of entertainment. I guess there are those who like to go on rollercoaster rides and adrenaline stuff for entertainment, and those who like to go to the theater, to the opera or even just reading a book. These are very different types of entertainment. And I can understand that.

What I don't understand is people looking for their type of entertainment in the wrong places. People shouldn't go looking for deep story and excellent acting in a Michael Bay movie, like a Lakers fan shouldn't go looking for a basketball game in a museum. So, it's no wonder they didn't like it.

[rocknblues81]

Nobody can deny the fact that Bay can entertain people.

Britney Spears also entertains people. A Bay movie is about on the same level as a Britney Spears concert.

People don't like bay because he doesn't make intelligent In-deph actions films that really make you think, but who cares, There are plenty of other actions films that are like that, for ex. THE DARK KNIGHT. People tend to forget what films are made to do ENTERTAIN and Bay has never failed on that level.

We don't like Bay because his movies has no depth at all. Often filled with horrible actors like pretty much the entire cast of Bad Boys 2. There is a reason somebody like Gabrielle Union (He even failed at adding a hot chick in this one) doesn't get in movies other those typical black rom com type of movies. She sucks.

If you don't like his films leave them alone, just because someone likes his films, doesn't mean they don't pay attention them or that they don't understand film enough and just because some people dislike Bay that doesn't mean they're too high strung on Drama films to just enjoy actions films.

I will not. His movie trailers are all over tv so you hear about his movies. If you put out stuff to the public you leave your movie open to criticism. You're wrong here. Simple as that.


I see film fanatics saying that Bay is terrible and talk about how Indiana Jones (Raiders of the Lost Ark) is better than many of Bay's films, but take a look at it from another angle. Steven Spielberg the director of the Jones films, loved Transformers 2.

I don't know why this is supposed to mean anything. Michael Jordan was a great player, but he sucked as an owner. Just because Steven made some good movies doesn't mean everything he likes or approves of is golden.

[Jon Lyrik]

That was Tony Scott and Michael Mann's fault before it was Michael Bay's.

Tony Scott's guilty too, but leave Mann out of this. His use of light is impeccable. Bay could never do that.