Batch and Logan reunite to discuss an ass ton of content. The boys break down the first five episodes of Deadly Class on Syfy. Then, the very first appearance of Google Voice: Small Screen Heroes edition! Following that, both talk comic books-reading and news. Then tv news. Batch gives his thoughts on Doom Patrol before the two conclude with a conversation about the recently dropped Netflix Show The Umbrella Academy.
Lots of geeky shit, basically. You surprised? Don’t be. If you are though, you’re in the wrong place, cocksucker.
It is one of the most unusual franchises in history as it is derisive among purists, yet it is also a lucrative moneymaker. I am of course talking about Transformers. A 1984 cartoon that had a massive toy line, only to be replaced by a whole new toy line by 1986’s game changing theatrical film. And then came producer Steven Spielberg, who hand picked non fan of the cartoon Michael Bay to handle a live action version of that oh so lucrative toy line from many years ago. With five films, a cartoon movie, and a brand new prequel starring Bumblebee, we tackle a franchise that is derided and molded. But how will myself, Nate, and Matt respond to it?
After Transformers The Last Knight came and went with barely a thud, Hasbro and Paramount finally decided that maybe, just maybe, it was time to move the series in a different direction. As discussed in The Last Knight podcast, producer Steven Spielberg called for a writer’s room meeting where he invited many of the most successful writers in Hollywood to discuss where to take the next chapter of the fighting robot franchise, In the end, it was Spielberg himself who not only decided to go backwards with a prequel, but also make an E.T. style film starring the most sympathetic figure of the series, Bumblebee.
Join myself, Matt, and Nate as we FINALLY get back together to discuss what we all decided was our most anticipated part of this retrospective, and decide if new director Travis Knight took the franchise in the correct direction.
It is one of the most unusual franchises in history as it is derisive among purists, yet it is also a lucrative moneymaker. I am of course talking about Transformers. A 1984 cartoon that had a massive toy line, only to be replaced by a whole new toy line by 1986’s game changing theatrical film. And then came producer Steven Spielberg, who hand picked non fan of the cartoon Michael Bay to handle a live action version of that oh so lucrative toy line from many years ago. With five films, a cartoon movie, and a brand new prequel starring Bumblebee, we tackle a franchise that is derided and molded. But how will myself, Nate, and Matt respond to it?
Finally. After four films, two of which were supposed to be his last, Michael Bay hung up his transformian metal with his fifth entry, 2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight. Feeling like he needed to go back to King Arthur after his long in the making project about the knight went to other hands, Bay, heading a writer’s room put together by himself and Steven Spielberg which included people such as Zak Pen (X-Men) and Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead), heard the suggestion of bringing King Arthur into the Transformers cinematic universe, and put together this once again big, loud, and expensive feature starring his friend Mark Wahlberg. But how will we feel about it?
After feeling like the habit of bringing historical value into a series about punching robots was stale around the second film, myself, Matt, and Nate tackle the fifth Bayformers film and wonder how big of a chance Bumblebee has to end this retrospective in a positive light, unlike our last one Harry Potter.
Transformers The Last Knight (2017) (?/10, ?/10, ?/10)
It is one of the most unusual franchises in history as it is derisive among purists, yet it is also a lucrative moneymaker. I am of course talking about Transformers. A 1984 cartoon that had a massive toy line, only to be replaced by a whole new toy line by 1986’s game changing theatrical film. And then came producer Steven Spielberg, who hand picked non fan of the cartoon Michael Bay to handle a live action version of that oh so lucrative toy line from many years ago. With five films, a cartoon movie, and a brand new prequel starring Bumblebee, we tackle a franchise that is derided and molded. But how will myself, Nate, and Matt respond to it?
Three years following his proclamation that he was done with the Transformers franchise, director Michael Bay, armed with new leading man Mark Wahlberg, unleashed Transformers Age of Extinction. Hyped as ‘the one with the dinobots’, fans of the series once again jumped in glee at trailers for the film and when released, the film ended up crossing the $1 billion mark in worldwide box office.
Join myself, Matt, and Nate as we get into all that makes Bay’s 2014 film tick, and whether we enjoy it or not.
We appreciate your patience, as in just two more podcasts, we will have a review of the brand new Bumblebee prequel, already in theaters.
Transformers Age of Extinction (2014) (?/10, ?/10, ?/10)
It is one of the most unusual franchises in history as it is derisive among purists, yet it is also a lucrative moneymaker. I am of course talking about Transformers. A 1984 cartoon that had a massive toy line, only to be replaced by a whole new toy line by 1986’s game changing theatrical film. And then came producer Steven Spielberg, who hand picked non fan of the cartoon Michael Bay to handle a live action version of that oh so lucrative toy line from many years ago. With five films, a cartoon movie, and a brand new prequel starring Bumblebee, we tackle a franchise that is derided and molded. But how will myself, Nate, and Matt respond to it?
What do you get when you cross two exhausted podcasters and one hyperactive podcaster with a show where the prior podcast dissected one of the most derided sequels ever made? You get this piece of Americana, as Nate, Matt, and myself look at Michael Bay’s projected final (Ha!) Transformers movie Transformers Dark of the Moon. Does it actually live up to Bay’s proclamation of putting his best foot forward? Or will all of us find it to be more of the same.?
Download below to find out, and be sure to check back as we are leading up to a review of the Bumblebee prequel.
Transformers Dark of the Moon (2011) (?/10, ?/10, ?/10)
It is one of the most unusual franchises in history as it is derisive among purists, yet it is also a lucrative moneymaker. I am of course talking about Transformers. A 1984 cartoon that had a massive toy line, only to be replaced by a whole new toy line by 1986’s game changing theatrical film. And then came producer Steven Spielberg, who hand picked non fan of the cartoon Michael Bay to handle a live action version of that oh so lucrative toy line from many years ago. With five films, a cartoon movie, and a brand new prequel starring Bumblebee, we tackle a franchise that is derided and molded. But how will myself, Nate, and Matt respond to it?
Michael Bay blames it on the writer’s strike as well as his tendency to interject ‘goofy humor’ into his films. Critics blame just about everything Bay does as being juvenile. Yet, despite the supposed dip in quality from the last film, and a mighty low Rotten Tomatoes score -Nate reveals what that is on the podcast- Transformers Revenge of the Fallen made almost $150 million more than its predecessor. Is it as bad as we remembered?
Join Nate, Matt, and myself as we delve into that very question, and evaluate how well or poorly the film has aged. All of us agreed we had a much better time with the previous film than we were expecting. What about this one?
Keep coming back, as this retrospective will end with a review of the brand new prequel Bumblebee.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) (?/10, ?/10, ?/10)
It is one of the most unusual franchises in history as it is derisive among purists, yet it is also a lucrative moneymaker. I am of course talking about Transformers. A 1984 cartoon that had a massive toy line, only to be replaced by a whole new toy line by 1986’s game changing theatrical film. And then came producer Steven Spielberg, who hand picked non fan of the cartoon Michael Bay to handle a live action version of that oh so lucrative toy line from many years ago. With five films, a cartoon movie, and a brand new prequel starring Bumblebee, we tackle a franchise that is derided and molded. But how will myself, Nate, and Matt respond to it?
2007 marked 21 years since the Transformers transformed on the big screen. With Optimus Prime’s death went fans’ starvation to see their robotic heroes fight it out in the cinema. Leave it up to advances in computer graphic images (CGI) and the clout of producer Steven Spielberg to make fans’ dreams come true. After hiring director Michael Bay to helm the film, Spielberg sat back and watched as the finished film launched into the stratosphere, bringing in almost $800 million worldwide and making stars out of Shia LeBeouf and Megan Fox. Oh, not to mention spawning four sequels and the prequel for which this retrospective was started. But how do we feel about it?
Join myself, Nate, and Matt as we do our first dissection of a Bay film on the Aftertaste, and determine whether initial reactions to the huge rock ’em sock ’em robot slugfest which began the Transformers franchise is worth another look.
It is one of the most unusual franchises in history as it is derisive among purists, yet it is also a lucrative moneymaker. I am of course talking about Transformers. A 1984 cartoon that had a massive toy line, only to be replaced by a whole new toy line by 1986’s game changing theatrical film. And then came producer Steven Spielberg, who hand picked non fan of the cartoon Michael Bay to handle a live action version of that oh so lucrative toy line from many years ago. With five films, a cartoon movie, and a brand new prequel starring Bumblebee, we tackle a franchise that is derided and molded. But how will myself, Nate, and Matt respond to it?
In 1984, young boys were ready for something to replace Star Wars. Sure, we had He-Man to tide us over, but there HAD to be another thing to keep us busy, right? Enter Transformers. After two successful seasons, Hasbro felt the need to change the formula by releasing a theatrical film that would not only kill off the old line of toys, but also introduce a whole new set. Essentially, they ended up making an hour and a half toy commercial.
Join Nate, Matt, and myself as we dive into Transformers: The Movie, and wonder if the massive box office flop from the time has any redeeming qualities, and begin our journey toward this month’s Bumblebee release.