Transformers (2007 film)
2007 Transformers film
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/66/Transformers07.jpg)
Transformers is a 2007 live action film adaptation of the Transformers franchise. The film stars Shia LaBeouf as Sam Witwicky, a teenager involved in a war between the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, two factions of alien robots who can disguise themselves by transforming into everyday machinery. The Decepticons desire control of the All Spark, the object that created their robotic race, with the intention of using it to build an army by giving life to the machines of Earth. Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Jon Voight and John Turturro also star, while Peter Cullen and Hugo Weaving provide the voices of Optimus Prime and Megatron respectively. The film was directed by Michael Bay and written by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. Producers Don Murphy and Tom DeSanto developed the project in 2003, with a treatment written by DeSanto. Executive producer Steven Spielberg came on board the following year, and he hired Orci, Kurtzman and Bay on the project in 2005. The filmmakers wanted a realistic depiction of the story, and created a complex design aesthetic for the robots to stress their alien nature. The computer-generated characters were programmed to have thousands of mechanical pieces move as they transformed and maneuvered. The military of the United States and General Motors lent vehicles and aircraft during filming, which saved money for the production and added realism to the battle scenes. Hasbro organized an enormous promotional campaign for the film, making deals with hundreds of companies. This advertising blitz included a viral marketing campaign, coordinated releases of Transformers prequel comics books, Transformers toys and books, as well as product placement deals with GM and eBay. Transformers was a box office success despite mixed fan reaction to the radical redesigns of the characters, and reviews criticizing the focus on the humans at the expense of the robots. It became the twenty-eighth most successful film released, and the fifth most successful of 2007, grossing approximately US$708 million worldwide. The film revitalized media interest in the franchise, and a sequel is expected for release on June 26, 2009. The film won four awards from the Visual Effects Society and was nominated for three Academy Awards.
Bumblebee makes an appearance as one of the Autobots in the 2007 live-action movie Transformers. Instead of a VW Beetle, he is a Chevrolet Camaro (the model year of which is upgraded in the movie). Due to a battle injury, he is rendered effectively mute, and communicates through use of selected playback of radio and television signals. The biography for the Decepticon Hardtop toy states that Hardtop and Bumblebee are old rivals and it was not Megatron who damaged Bumblebee's ability to speak, but a shot from Hardtop's gun. This, however, is in almost direct opposition of the movie's prequel.
(http://www.thechevroletcamaro.com/transformer_camaro_01.jpg)
Michael Bay stated in an early interview that Bumblebee stands about 17 feet tall , but the scale of his Deluxe concept toy suggests he stands closer to 18 feet tall. The official guide to the Transformers video game says he's 16 feet tall.
Bumblebee depicted as a 1976 and 5th-gen Camaro.}} The vehicles used for Bumblebee, Ironhide, Jazz and Ratchet were put on display by General Motors at the 2007 Detroit River Walk Festival a little over a week before the U.S. release of the film.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In Hot Rod magazine's Nov. 2006 issue, Bumblebee was a feature article. Originally a worn-out 1969 Camaro, producers settled on a 1976 model.<ref name="BumblebeeYear">Template:Cite web</ref> It is painted yellow with black stripes, primer and rust patches, riveted hood scoop, Cragar SS wheels up front, Eric Vaughn Real Wheels in the back, marine-grade vinyl seats, and even an eight-track player. The fifth-generation Camaro model was built using a 2006 Pontiac GTO by Saleen, the body was built from the same GM R&D molds that were used in the 2006 Camaro Concept. Early photos show that Bumblebee can transform his right arm into an plasma cannon and has missile launchers in his shoulders. In addition to his firearms, Bumblebee can extend an axe-like "stinger" from his wrist, in a similar fashion to how Optimus releases his sword. Bumblebee uses this in close-quarters combat. It was most notable in the video game. The 1976 Camaro movie vehicle was sold on eBay with a winning bid of U.S. $40,100.01.
(http://www.2dayblog.com/images/2007/july/camaro_bumblebee_1.jpg)
External links
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bumblebee_%28Transformers%29&action=edit§ion=21
