25. Transformers: The Movie

(65 points, 3 lists of 24, highest ranking: #1 Tyrant)
Release date: August 8 1986
Directed by: Nelson Shin
From IMDB: The Autobots must stop a colossal planet consuming robot who is after the Autobot Matrix of Leadership.
My take:
My Childhood: The Movie.
This movie is the epitomy of 80s goofy commercial fun. At the hieght of it's initial popularity, the silly cartoon designed to sell toys tried selling us movie tickets.
I'm not going to ignore or deny the commercial point of the show and it's movie. But they did manage to make memorable charaters that are still beloved, have kickass battles that had actual consequences and emotional throughlines, and there was character growth in Rodimus. They didn't have to do all of that, but they did, amidst all the red and blue lasers.
What have we learned?
Most alien civilizations in the universe are machine based, not organic.
A movie designed just to sell toys could actually have interesting characters, character arcs, emotion, as well as awesome action you could actually follow.
Even in this movie, the story stops dead every time we spend time with the humans.
80s rock is FUN! It may be cheesy as all hell, but it's fun.
It is not physicaly possible for me get the huge grin off my face when "The Touch" is playing.
I actually think Michael bay did in fact watch this movie. Because I think he heard "Dare to be Stupid" and took it as a personal challenge.
http://www.youtube.com/v/eYAAbbuEpnwhttp://www.youtube.com/v/bq1_6D9QS9YRemake: Joe Dante directs, main characters are the robots, NO KIDS.
Bruce Willis as the Army captain who's squad first encounters the Transformers and is the primary human character.
Bruce Campbell plays the President of the United States, and Timothy Balme is the embassador from New Zealand.