Comments on: Transformers Robbed

By: Sonny

Sonny — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:49:01 +0000

I totally agree with you John,Transformers should’ve won that award.I understand that making moving metal takes less time to make look real than making a talking polar bear,but the fact of the matter is:YOU COULD STILL TELL THE BEARS LOOKED FUCKING FAKE.That’s why I loved Transformers.There were maybe two scenes tops that I saw that reminded me that “Oh yeah,this is CGI and not actually real.KONG,good effects,deserved to win,but COMPASS’ effects idnt look any better than fucking NARNIA’s.The effects in Transformers flowed with the movie,unlike WOTW,KK,NARNIA,COMPASS.Now although the effects were great in all those movies,and at the end of the day thats all you heard people saying.The effects were GOOD or GREAT.When I walked out of Transformers I heard at least 15 people say,the effects were AMAZING.Not once did I hear that about any film in the past 10 years.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:36:31 +0000

Cut the songs, except for the winner.

Reign Over Me deserved at least some nominations, but I can understand how it slipped through the cracks.

Would have also liked to have seen William Hurt get a best supporting actor nod for Mr Brooks.

And part of me wanted to see 300 nominated for -something-.

But, that’s all the issue I can raise with the results this year.

By: Drewbacca

Drewbacca — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:40:51 +0000

I should mention that “The Golden Compass” was the one film in the entire Oscar ceremony I hadn’t seen (besides doc shorts and foreign). So I’m not saying Golden Compass should’ve won. I’m just saying how the voters sometimes look at things.

But the Zodiac comments above are right on. – It should’ve been up for best Picture and at the very least, cinematography (the true best picture category this year).

By: Drewbacca

Drewbacca — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:30:55 +0000

FX are designed to enhance an experience. They shouldn’t BE the experience, in my opinion. I bet that is how many voters look at it. Transformers was so confusing and ridiculous in it’s over the top movement scheme that the FX were actually sort of annoying. They moved to fast for the eye to even see. Plus, it was a bunch of “boxy”, flat pieces of metal moving around – that’s about it.

I’ve read interviews with voters where they talk about the fact that the quality of the film DOES matter to them. If you have mind blowing effects, but the movie is horrible, then you could argue that the FX weren’t good because they were a puzzle piece in a shit movie (a good example of this would be Star Wars 1 losing to The Matrix).

Other films deserved the nomination and win much more.

By: Meiran

Meiran — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:23:55 +0000

This was one of the only categories where I’d seen every film in the category.

And it was the only one where I practically jumped up from the couch yelling “BULLSHIT!” when they announced it.

I’ve been watching the development of CGI for over a decade. I’m obsessed with visual effects. The Golden Compass did not even have effects worth of several years ago! There were scenes of Lyra riding the bear that were so bad I literally groaned out loud in the middle of the theatre. Everything had this shiny CG-sheen that I hate, it had no heart, it didn’t seem to exist in the same world as the real actors. Sure, some of the bears were impressive, but who cares if they can’t interact with the actual characters?

It was absolutely a case of bias against Transformers and “blockbusters” by the Academy. Nothing could explain to me why they thought Golden Compass even deserved to be nominated.

By: rafa1215

rafa1215 — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:22:53 +0000

I saw both movies and I agree that Transformers should of won.

By: scoville

scoville — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:16:18 +0000

I agree with the comments made about Zodiac. If you’re whining about anything, it should be that Zodiac wasn’t even nominated.

I honestly see more transformers fanboyisms here than real reasoning, but it’s good to see the few comments that aren’t blinded by Bay’s glare,

By: sfsilver

sfsilver — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:34:28 +0000

Generally the effects in Transformers were very impressive. I do think they suffer from the chaotic all out attack on our senses and eyeballs that they became by the end of the film. It was mind numbing in the worst way. They actually took away from my enjoyment of the film at a point where I should have been cheering in the aisles. Now this may be Bay’s fault, but it was realized by the special effects team. I think this and the aforementioned organics vs metal impressions are the keys

By: Kristina

Kristina — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:51:47 +0000

Do you think the shaky cam took away from the effects? There are times in that film where I honestly cannot tell what the hell is going on. It becomes one big robotic blur as the camera goes into epileptic shock. Golden Compass did let you actually SEE the shit, even though that shit looked awful. During the bear fight, it is PAINFULLY obvious that Lyra is the only real thing onscreen.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:41:36 +0000

Get rid of the songs? Really?

I like seeing the Oscar nominated musicians. “Falling Slowly” was one of the highlights of the evening. That was an awesome performance.

Also, I do think that Transformers should have won. However, I think Pirates could also have won. It really shocked me that the polar bears walked away with it.