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Transformers (film)

2011-07-09T10:04:50Z

87.102.126.63: /* Synopsis */

{{disambig2|the 2007 movie|other uses of ''The Transformers''|Transformers (disambiguation)}}

{{nav-movie}}

:''Transformers is an [[Sector Seven (game)|elaborate cover up]] from the [[live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''
[[Image:Transformers2007teaserposter.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Beyond good. Beyond evil. Beyond your wildest imagination!]]
'''''Transformers''''' is a live-action movie released by [[DreamWorks]] in 2007, with Executive Producer [[Steven Spielberg]] and Director [[Michael Bay]]. The story follows the Transformers' arrival on modern-day Earth and their interactions with the human race, as they search for the life-giving [[AllSpark]] and continue their ages-old civil war. The movie is a new imagining of the [[Transformers brand]], drawing on past Transformers fiction but also distinct in its own right.

''Transformers'' features [[Sam Witwicky]], a plucky teenager who just wants a cool car, but gets more than he bargained for. The beater he and his father take home is actually [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]], an alien robot from the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], who plants Sam down in the middle of a civil war between Bumblebee's benevolent [[Autobot]] comrades and the evil [[Decepticon]]s who threaten the galaxy's peace. Both sides are after the AllSpark, a mysterious artifact that landed on Earth ten thousand years ago. The approaching robot-against-robot battle is a coming-of-age moment for Sam, who learns the meaning of his family's motto, "No sacrifice, no victory."

The principal cast members are [[Shia LaBeouf]], [[Jon Voight]], and [[Megan Fox]], with [[Peter Cullen]] and [[Hugo Weaving]] as the voices of the Transformers' iconic leaders. About 75 percent of the film's character designs and visual effects were created by [[Industrial Light and Magic]], the effects-wizards behind the [[Star Wars (film)|''Star Wars'' films]]. The remaining 25 percent were done by Michael Bay's company, [[Digital Domain]].

Originally slated to release in the summer of 2006, the film arrived in US theaters on [[July 3]], 2007, and hit UK theaters on [[July 27]] and French theaters on [[July 25]]. It premiered in Australia on [[June 12]], 2007, and was released there and in a number of Asian countries on [[June 28]], 2007. An extended cut of the film featuring footage not in the original was released to IMAX theatres on [[September 21]], 2007.

{{bigquote|Sam Witwicky, you hold the key to Earth's survival.|[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] on the basic plot}}

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Allspark movie.jpg|left|200px|thumb|With this, I shall make you my slave!]]
The film begins with the history of Cybertron's destruction at the hands of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], and his quest to obtain the AllSpark. Megatron discovers the AllSpark on [[Earth]], but crash-lands in the Arctic Circle, becoming frozen in the ice. Captain [[Archibald Witwicky]] and his crew of explorers stumble upon Megatron's body in the late 19th century. Megatron's navigational system is unintentionally activated, and [[Glasses#Movie|Archibald's eye glasses]] are imprinted with the coordinates to the AllSpark's location. [[Sector Seven]], a secret organization of the United States government, discovers the AllSpark and builds the [[Hoover Dam]] around it to mask its energy signal. The still-frozen Megatron is moved into this facility, and is reverse engineered to further advance [[human]] technology.

[[Image:Movie Blackout SOCCENT.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Let the slaughter begin!]]
In the present day, the rest of the Decepticons — [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]], [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]], [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]], [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]], [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]], and [[Brawl (Movie)|Devastator]] — have already landed on Earth and assumed the disguise of Earth vehicles. Blackout and Scorponok attack the U. S. [[SOCCENT Forward Operations Base]] in [[Qatar]] in an effort to use the military database to discover the location of Megatron and the AllSpark, but they do not succeed. A small group of survivors under Captain [[William Lennox]] wander through the desert and are followed by Scorponok. The Autonomous Robotic Organism (shortened to "Autobot") known as Bumblebee is also on Earth, disguised as a 1977 Chevrolet Camaro, and looking for Sam Witwicky, the descendant of Captain Archibald Witwicky. As soon as he locates Sam, the two quickly begin to bond as Bumblebee helps Sam try and woo his crush, [[Mikaela Banes]]. Sam is unaware of the fact that Bumblebee is an alien, until he witnesses Bumblebee transform and send out a homing signal for the rest of the Autobots.

[[Image:Movie Scorponok leapsout.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Run, Blaster! Save yourself!]]
At the [[Pentagon]], Defense Secretary [[John Keller]] oversees the investigation into the attack in Qatar. After Blackout's failure, Frenzy infiltrates Air Force One and attempts to download all information relating to "Project Iceman". However, [[Maggie Madsen]], one of the technicians studying the Decepticon infiltration signal, discovers Frenzy's actions and convinces the Pentagon to take down the Defense Network, halting Frenzy's download. When [[Air Force One]] makes an emergency landing, Frenzy slips into Barricade, and discusses his discovery of Archibald Witwicky, who has seen [[Cybertronian languages|their language]]. Using an internet search, they discover that Sam's glasses will lead the Decepticons to the AllSpark. Frenzy and Barricade begin tracking Sam's location. Back in Qatar, the Army Rangers are attacked by Scorponok, and take refuge in a nearby village. Calling the Pentagon and getting air support, they discover that the Decepticons are vulnerable to high heat weaponry such as sabot rounds. Using this information, the soldiers inform the Pentagon that they now have a weapon.

[[Image:Movie Sam Mikaela meettheAutobots.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] say find friends today.]]
Barricade confronts Sam, demanding Archibald's glasses. Bumblebee, who is following Sam, transforms and battles Barricade. Mikaela, who is also following Sam, is caught in the crossfire, but Bumblebee is able to defeat Barricade, while Mikaela decapitates Frenzy, who is still functioning and hides in Mikaela's purse as her cellphone. Bumblebee takes Sam and Mikaela to rendezvous with the rest of the Autobots. The Autobots—[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]—land on Earth and take on the forms of several Earth vehicles. They all meet in a dark, secluded alley, transform in front of the two amazed humans, introduce themselves and tell of the reasons they had to come to Earth to Sam and Mikaela. Meanwhile, Maggie made a copy of the intrusion signal and shows it to her friend [[Glen Whitmann]], who discovers a message with the signal about Sector Seven, Captain Witwicky, and [[Project Iceman]]. However, the FBI arrest Glen and Maggie, who desperately tries to convince them not to go to war with the wrong country.

[[Image:Movie Autobots Sector Seven.JPG|left|200px|thumb|I'll use the universal greeting.]]
Sam, Mikaela, and the Autobots then return to Sam's home to retrieve the glasses. However, agents from [[Sector Seven]] arrive to take Sam and Mikaela into custody. [[Seymour Simmons]], the agency's director, reveals that Mikaela has a criminal record and threatens Sam with life imprisonment, at which point the Autobots disable the convoy and rescue the teens. Mikaela then explains to Sam that the only reason she has a record is her refusal to turn her father in for the crimes he committed, prompting her to ask him what he has ever sacrificed in his "perfect little life." During the retreat, Sam and Mikaela are recaptured, and Bumblebee is also apprehended, against the pleas of Sam who assures the agents—to no avail—that he means them no harm. Prime orders the Autobots to let them go, unwilling to use deadly force against the humans. At the Pentagon, a virus Frenzy uploaded during the Air Force One hack causes a global communications blackout, while Keller is finally informed of the Decepticons. After Bumblebee's capture, Optimus uses the glasses to locate the AllSpark at Hoover Dam, and declares that if they cannot defeat the Decepticons, he will merge the Cube with his spark.

[[Image:Movie Optimus Megatron.JPG|right|200px|thumb|One shall stand. One shall fall.]]
Sam, Mikaela, Keller, Maggie, Glen, and Lennox's unit are brought to Hoover Dam, where they are shown the frozen Megatron and the AllSpark, while Frenzy slips away. Locating the AllSpark, he sends out an alert to Starscream, who mobilizes the rest of the Decepticons. Due to Starscream's attack and Frenzy's sabotage, Megatron begins to revive, and Sam convinces the Sector Seven agents to release Bumblebee so that he can get the AllSpark to Optimus Prime. The Decepticons chase the Autobots, who now possess the AllSpark, into [[Mission City]].

Glen, Maggie, Keller, and Simmons manage to contact the Air Force and direct F22s to Mission City. An ensuing battle results in casualties for both sides, including Jazz, who is killed by Megatron, while Bumblebee is crippled in an explosion. As Lennox orders Sam to take the AllSpark to a building to be removed from the city, under escort from Ironhide and Ratchet, Megatron and Optimus Prime battle, while the soldiers remain to fight Devastator. Mikaela drags the injured Bumblebee away from the battle with a tow truck, but goes back, with Bumblebee's weapons killing Devastator. Ironhide and Ratchet are incapacitated by Starscream, and Megatron joins the pursuit.

[[Image:Megatron allspark merge.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Now, light our darkest hour!]]
Sam's helicopter is destroyed by Starscream, and Prime challenges Megatron. The battle is fierce and dominated by Megatron. A full air strike is called in on Blackout and Megatron, just as Blackout attempts to assist Megatron, he is killed by Lennox and the Air Force before he can engage. Starscream hides among a raptor squadron, destroying three fighters. Despite this, the Air Force and Lennox's rangers manage to inflict serious damage on Megatron, but he is still functional, and heading toward the Cube. Finally, with both Prime and Megatron weakened, Prime beckons Sam to shove the AllSpark into his chest, destroying them both, but Sam instead takes the riskier action of shoving the AllSpark into Megatron's chest.

{{note|For an extensive synopsis of the battle, see separate article [[Mission City]].}}

[[Image:Movie Optimus ending.JPG|right|200px|thumb|[['Til all are one]]!]]
Optimus thanks Sam for his courage and for saving his life, while Bumblebee, who has regained his voice, asks permission to remain with Sam, which is granted. In an attempt to cover up the existence of the Transformers, Sector Seven is disbanded, while the remains of the Decepticons are cast into the [[Laurentian Abyss]]. And though Megatron is dead, the AllSpark's destruction leaves the Autobots unable to restore Cybertron. With no other home to go to, the Autobots decide to stay on Earth, and Optimus sends out a signal across space in an effort to locate any surviving Autobots, while Sam and Mikaela begin a relationship. Starscream, one of the Decepticons that survived the battle, leaves Earth.
{{-}}

==Quotes==
"Before time began, there was the Cube. We know not where it comes from, only that it holds the power to create worlds and fill them with life. That was how our race was born. For a time, we lived in harmony, but like all great power, some wanted it for good, others for evil. And so began the war - a war that ravaged our planet until it was consumed by death, and the Cube was lost to the far reaches of space. We scattered across the galaxy, hoping to find it and rebuild our home, searching every star, every world. And just when all hope seemed lost, message of a new discovery drew us to an unknown planet called...Earth. But we were already too late."
:—'''Optimus Prime's''' opening narration

"Look, can you do me a favor—can you look out the window for a second? See my father? He's the guy in the green car? Let me tell you about a dream, a boy's dream, and a man's promise to that boy. He looked him in the eye and said "Son, I'm gonna buy you a car, but I want you to bring me two-thousand dollars and three A's." OK, I got the two thousand and two A's. OK, here's the dream. Your B minus? Pfff! Dream gone. Kaputt. Sir, just ask yourself... what would [[Jesus]] do?"
:—'''Sam Witwicky''' negotiates a better mark for his Family Genealogy project

'''Bobby Bolivia:''' "What with the semi-classic nature of the vehicle, slick wheels and custom paint job—" 
'''Sam:''' "The paint's faded!" 
'''Bobby:''' "Y-yeah, but it's custom." 
'''Sam:''' "It's custom faded?" 
'''Bobby:''' "Well, it's your first car, I wouldn't expect you to understand." ''[turns to Ron]'' "Five grand." 
'''Ron:''' "No, not paying over four. Sorry." 
'''Bobby:''' ''[turns back to Sam]'' "Kid, c'mon, get out, get out of the car." 
'''Sam:''' "No, no, no, you said cars pick their drivers!" 
'''Bobby:''' "Well sometimes they pick a driver with a cheap-ass father—out of the car." 
:—Negotiations over [[Bumblebee (Movie)|the car]] at [[Bolivia's Finest Quality Used Cars and Petting Zoo]]

''[Sam's car leaves in a huge puff of black smoke]'' 
"Wow... you are so cheap." 
"It's his first car... supposed to be like that."
:—'''Judy Witwicky''' comments on the car's condition to '''Ron'''

'''Capt. Lennox:''' "I need a credit card! Epps, where's your wallet?" 
'''Sgt. Epps:''' "Pocket!" ''[fires gun]'' 
'''Lennox:''' "Which pocket?" 
'''Epps:''' "My ''back'' pocket!" ''[fires gun]'' 
'''Lennox:''' "You got ten back pockets!" 
'''Epps:''' "Left cheek! Left cheek! ''Left cheek!''" 
:—Calling the Pentagon from Qatar gets complicated.

"Ready, heat's coming!" 
"What, BRING IT!" 
:—'''Lennox''' and '''Epps''' giving the green light for Strike Package Bravo to attack

'''Jazz''': "What about Bumblebee? What can't just leave him to die! And become some human experiment!" 
'''Optimus Prime''': He'll die in vain if we don't accomplish our mission. Bumblebee is a brave soldier. This is what he would want. 
'''Ironhide:''' "Why are we fighting to save the humans? They're a primitive and violent race." 
'''Optimus Prime:''' "Were we so different? They are a young species. They have much to learn... but I've seen goodness in them. [[Make Prime Speak|Freedom is the right of all sentient beings]]... You all know there is only one way to end this war: We must destroy the Cube. If all else fails, I will unite it with the spark in my chest." 
'''Ratchet:''' "That's suicide! The Cube is raw power—it could destroy you both." 
'''Optimus Prime:''' "A necessary sacrifice to bring peace to this planet... We cannot let the humans pay for our mistakes. It's been an honor serving with you all. Autobots, roll out!" 
'''Jazz''': "We rollin'!" 
:—The Autobots discuss their next move.

"Humans don't deserve to live." 
"They deserve to choose for themselves!" 
"Then you will die with them! Join them in extinction!"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Optimus Prime''' have some mid-battle banter, Transformers style

"Give me the AllSpark, and you may live to be my ''pet''." 
"I'm never giving you this AllSpark!" 
"Oh, ''so'' unwise..."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Sam Witwicky''' have a tense moment on a Mission City rooftop.

"With the AllSpark gone, we cannot return life to our planet. And fate has yielded its reward: a new world to call... home. We live among its people now, hiding in plain sight... but watching over them in secret... waiting... protecting. I have witnessed their capacity for courage, and though we are worlds apart, like us, there's more to them than meets the eye. I am Optimus Prime, and I send this message to any surviving Autobots taking refuge among the stars: We are here... we are waiting."
:—'''Optimus Prime's''' closing narration

==Main cast==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] ([[Mark Ryan]])
*[[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] ([[Jess Harnell]])
*[[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] ([[Darius McCrary]])
*[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] ([[Peter Cullen]])
*[[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] ([[Robert Foxworth]])
|c2=
*[[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] ([[Jess Harnell]])
*[[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]]
*[[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]] ([[Jimmie Wood]])
*[[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]]'''*''' / Devastator
*[[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] ([[Reno Wilson]])
*[[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] ([[Hugo Weaving]])
*[[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]]
*[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] ([[Charles Adler]])
|c3=
*[[Tom Banachek]] ([[Michael O'Neill]])
*[[Mikaela Banes]] ([[Megan Fox]])
*[[Bobby Bolivia]] ([[Bernie Mac]])
*[[Robert Epps]] ([[Tyrese Gibson]])
*[[John Keller]] ([[Jon Voight]])
*[[William Lennox]] ([[Josh Duhamel]])
*[[Maggie Madsen]] ([[Rachael Taylor]])
*[[Seymour Simmons]] ([[John Turturro]])
*[[Glen Whitmann]] ([[Anthony Anderson]])
*[[Judy Witwicky]] ([[Julie White]])
*[[Ron Witwicky]] ([[Kevin Dunn]])
*[[Sam Witwicky]] ([[Shia LaBeouf]])
|c4=[[AllSpark Mutation]]s
*[[Nokia-bot]]
*[[Dispensor]]
*[[Steering wheel robot|Steering wheel]]
*[[Xbox 360 robot|Xbox 360]]
|c5=Others|c5=
*[[Mojo]] ([[Chester The Dog]])
|nonumbering=true
}}
'''<nowiki>*</nowiki>''' - Brawl is named "Devastator" in the film itself, but "Brawl" in the toyline and most of the supporting media. Plot summaries and such will reflect whichever name is relevant to that being described.

==Errors==
* Sunset occurs roughly every fifteen minutes. Possibly indicative of time passage, but a little too much to not warrant mention in the actual movie. Specific instances:
**When the radar operator at SOCCENT base first spots Blackout, he reports him as an "inbound unidentified infiltrator, ten miles out". [[Colonel Sharp]] dispatches two F-22s, which incercept Blackout still in broad daylight. When Blackout lands at the base, it's suddenly sunset. As the soldiers round him up, it rapidly turns dark within what appears to be seconds. Once Blackout transforms, it's already night.
**When Mikaela walks home from the lake, the sun is still shining. Sam tells Miles that she "lives ten miles from here". After he picked her up, Bumblebee feigns an engine problem. By the time Sam gets him running again, the sky is still in an early stage of pre-sunset. By the time Sam drops Mikaela at her home, it's night again.
**Barricade assaults Sam in the middle of the day. Bumblebee intervenes and drives off with Sam and Mikaela still in broad daylight. During the ensuing car chase, sunset abruptly occurs once Bumblebee has left the warehouse, and it promptly turns night between shots.
* The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) used by the US Air Force to investigate Scorponok's attack on Captain Lennox is modeled after the [[wikipedia:MQ-9_Reaper|MQ-9 Reaper]], but is identified as the [[wikipedia:MQ-1_Predator|MQ-1 Predator]]. Also, neither of these UAVs use jet engines.
* After Maggie copies the signal to take to Glen, she hails a black and white cab, but she's dropped off at Glen's house by an all-white cab. (The "cab hailing" footage originally came from a deleted scene near the beginning of the movie when Maggie was late for work.)
* When Sam's car breaks down and Mikaela gets out to look at the engine, she leaves the passenger door open. When the car restarts and Sam leaves to close the hood, the passenger side door is now shut. But hey, maybe that was Bumblebee.
[[Image:MovieTaxis.jpg|thumb|250px|right|These shots were ''shown in sequence'', believe it or not.]]
* Mikaela identifies Bumblebee's engine as having a "high-rise, double-pump carburetor" but the engine shown has no such carburetor.
* After Bumblebee backs into a corner of the power plant to evade Barricade, there is a close up shot of him spinning his wheels to make his getaway. However, the shot of the wheels spinning is at a different location: the empty warehouse that Bumblebee and Barricade had raced through moments earlier.
* Possibly an error, or possibly just a confusing shot setup, but when Bumblebee makes his escape, Barricade appears to change positions multiple times as camera angles change. Bumblebee guns his engines as Barricade is just starting to cross in front of him, but as Bumblebee speeds backwards, Barricade has backtracked well out of the way.
* After scanning his new Concept Camaro alt-form, Bumblebee's robot body displays either battle-worn parts or brand new parts at random times for the duration of the film.
* As long as Bumblebee transforms into a 1976 Camaro, his license plate consistently reads "489 PCE" both in vehicle and robot mode. After scanning his modern Camaro alternate mode, the license plate changes too... which isn't actually an error. What ''is'' an error, though, is that the new license plate keeps changing from "900 STRA" in vehicle mode to "4NZZ454" in robot mode.
* During the scene where Optimus Prime scans a truck for his new body, the passing truck has what appears to be an Autobot sigil on its grill, but the actual truck that Prime turns into at the end of the scene has a much wider, flatter symbol on the grill, quite possibly a Peterbilt logo.
* When Simmons replays Sam's "last words" recorded onto his cell phone, it doesn't match what he said in the scene where he actually recorded them.
* When the Autobots arrive to rescue Sam and Mikaela from Agent Simmons, Ironhide is the first Autobot to reach the damaged SUV and the other Sector Seven agents. Behind him, Ratchet is making his way towards the SUV, while Jazz and Bumblebee have their respective weapons drawn. However, in the very next shot, Ratchet's gun is suddenly in front of Ironhide, who is now making two short steps towards the SUV, while Jazz's gun has been replaced by his hand (which he uses to pull Sector Seven's guns away magnetically). In the shot after that, Jazz is just standing around sans Sector Seven guns, while Bumblebee wanders up and draws his gun...again.

[[Image:Movie2007 Keller OBVIOUSVISUALAID.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Yer days're numbered now, Decepti-creeps.]]
* When Banachek shows Keller photographs of the Decepticon that destroyed the [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] [[Beagle 2 Rover]], and supposedly a photo of Blackout taken by Epps during the attack on SOCCENT Qatar, "Blackout's photo" is clearly taken during the day, complete with the sun behind the Decepticon as a major light source, whereas the attack on SOCCENT took place in the evening. This was either a continuity error or a ham-handed attempt to make the audience realise the attackers in both photos are one and the same by making the photos look similar.
** Not to mention that the actual Beagle 2 was a '''''European''''' Space Agency '''''lander''''', not a NASA Rover.
* During the montage where Bumblebee's frozen body is being transported inside Hoover Dam via a moving platform whilst the Autobots discuss his fate, in one of the shots the physical Bumblebee prop is missing its distinctive car doors.
* During the first half of the movie, Maggie is wearing a slim checked skirt, but she is suddenly dressed in 3/4 jeans in the scene when they arrive at Hoover Dam.
*This may not be an error, but Barricade seems to disappear after the highway scene, as he is never shown again in the movie or the [[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|sequel]]. [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] later pulls the same trick in said sequel.
* When Ironhide transforms and performs a somersault to dodge Brawl's missiles, he is seen rising first, then falling. At that moment, he is already almost at the ground, low enough to touch the ground if he stretched his arms. However on the next scene, he has gone much higher up, high enough to fire both the cannons on his arms then perform a midair somersault.
* When Lennox arrives as Sam and Mikaela are supposedly strapping Bumblebee with the tow truck's chains, Bumblebee is not actually there. When the shot changes angles to the other side of the truck, Bumblebee is sitting right beside the truck while Sam directs Mikaela to wrap Bumblebee in the chains. When Lennox tells Sam to evacuate the Cube, subsequent camera angles from this side of the truck are actually where Bumblebee was moments earlier, but he's not there again (it is unlikely the angle was meant to be from Bumblebee's perspective). When Sam starts to run off and Mikaela calls him back, Bumblebee is once again clearly not sitting beside the truck. In fact, the space he once occupied has the beige van he crawled out of, earlier in the battle. What makes this all the more bizarre is that the life-sized Bumblebee prop was actually used for some of the scenes that depict Bumblebee strapped to the tow truck.
[[Image:MovieTowTruckNumbers.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Mike changed phone numbers while giant robots were fighting in the city.]]
* After Optimus Prime and Megatron land in the city streets after flying through the office tower, Megatron throws the Autobot leader a short distance away, causing him to land on a parked car. After Megatron forms his fusion cannon, Optimus Prime has suddenly moved further down the street and the car he crushed, along with the other abandoned cars, have vanished. Also, in this shot, Optimus' feet don't make craters or any visible mark on the concrete. Yet, when Optimus is running from the Sector Seven Agents, he's making huge craters while he is side-stepping cars. (This comes with weighing over four tons and running 40 miles an hour.) Additionally, Optimus stops at the intersection just in front of Megatron to pull out his Ion blaster in this shot, but when it cuts to a shot to the left-front of Optimus, he is only mid-way up the street, and there is a parked yellow cab at the curb which was empty seconds earlier. Funnily enough, this curb was where the crushed car was parked.
* During the fight towards the end of the film between Megatron and Optimus, it is shown that Optimus is about the same size as Megatron in robot mode. Yet, in vehicle mode, Megatron is a great deal larger then Optimus is. Similarly, Starscream seems to be smaller than Megatron in robot form, leading to the logical conclusion that he is smaller than Optimus as well. Yet in vehicle mode, he is nearly four to five times larger, seeing as an F-22 Raptor is a great deal larger than a Peterbilt 379 tractor cab. And they say they don't have [[scale]] problems.
* ''See also: [[Mission City]].''
*The phone number on the doors of the tow truck is "800-555-0199" when Mikaela is driving it, but when she gets out, the number changes to "800-555-MIKE". The font is slightly different, too.
* In the battle at Mission City, Brawl very clearly fires 3 missiles out of his shoulder-mounted missile launcher, but before he dies, all 4 missiles are in his missile launcher. Then again, this could just be a sort of 'auto-reload' thing the Transformers have going on, as they probably wouldn't get very far in battle if they were only limited to 4 missiles each.

===Explicable discrepancies===
* Sam and Mikaela, as well as Maggie and Glen arrive at Hoover Dam on the same helicopter despite being from opposite ends of the country. Occasionally cited as an error, it is actually a narrative oversight, as it is likely that Sam and Mikaela were held in custody at a U.S. Air Base while waiting for Maggie and Glen to arrive with Secretary Keller's party by plane, then they all left for Hoover Dam together on the helicopters.

* There are some problems with Simmons's statement about various technologies being reverse-engineered from Megatron. Cars came about in one shape or form at about the turn of the century, and spaceflight technology was pioneered by German and Soviet scientists. (This is possibly what [[Sector Seven|they]] ''want'' you to think.) Then again, [[Seymour Simmons|Simmons]] also thinks that Nokia is a Japanese company...

* Most people mistakenly confuse the date of Megatron's discovery with the date the Hoover Dam was built. Based on the various dates given by Banachek, it's clear that Megatron was ''left in the Arctic'' for many years before being moved to Hoover Dam, making his discovery easily pre-date cars.

==Transformer references==
The movie contains a number of nods and winks to previous iterations of ''Transformers'', primarily from ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]''. Some of these were included in direct response to urgings of the fans; others originated with the production crew.

* The basic story set-up is similar to many iterations of the ''Generation 1'' story — two warring factions, the noble Autobots and the power-hungry Decepticons, arrive on Earth, having left their devastated home planet, the war-torn mechanical world of Cybertron.
* Many of the featured Transformers are re-imagined versions of characters from ''Generation 1''. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] in particular are similar in physical form and characterization to their movie incarnations. The Movie versions of [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] differ in appearance but fulfill story roles similar to their original versions.
* Though the characters are new, "[[Frenzy (disambiguation)|Frenzy]]", "[[Scorponok (disambiguation)|Scorponok]]", "[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]/[[Devastator (disambiguation)|Devastator]]", "[[Blackout (disambiguation)|Blackout]]", "[[Barricade (disambiguation)|Barricade]]", and "[[Bonecrusher (disambiguation)|Bonecrusher]]" are all names that have been used on Transformer characters before.
* Blackout's symbiotic relationship with Scorponok originated as an interpretation of [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and his cassette troops. Frenzy's transformation into a portable stereo is likewise an homage to Soundwave's cassette deck alternate form.
* Sam shares his last name with the [[Witwicky#Generation 1 continuity family|main human allies]] of the Autobots in the original [[The Transformers (cartoon)|''Generation 1'' cartoon]]. Like Spike before him, he's closest to Bumblebee.
* The Autobot faction symbol seen on Bumblebee and others is basically unchanged from its ''Generation 1'' appearance.
* The AllSpark takes its name from [[Allspark|a concept]] originally introduced in ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''.
* The original G1 [[transformation]] sound pops up several times during the course of the film, such as Blackout's first conversion sequence (though truth be told it sounds more like it's being broadcast from a loudspeaker.)
[[Image:Movie BoliviasFinestQualityUsedCars 2.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Your bargaining posture is highly dubious.]]
* In his first appearance, Bumblebee parks next to a yellow Volkswagen Beetle — the alternate form of [[Bumblebee (G1)|G1 Bumblebee]].
* When instructing the Autobots to escape Sector Seven and when they later head for Hoover Dam, Optimus Prime delivers his catchphrase from the ''Generation 1'' cartoon, ordering them to [[Roll out|"Roll out!"]]
* Prime references "the spark within my chest". [[Spark]]s — the life-force that makes Transformers alive — have been an integral part of Transformers fiction since ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''.
* Although the Transformers' primary energy supply, [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]], does not make an established physical appearance in the film, its name appears on the license plate of an SUV thrown through the air during Megatron's rampage in [[Mission City]].
* Optimus Prime's line "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings" is the quote from his [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|original 1984 toy's]] [[bio]]. At least one of the reasons for the inclusion of this line was because it won in an online contest conducted by [[Paramount]] in late 2006, named "[[Make Prime Speak]]".
* Prime's line "...one shall stand; one shall fall" comes from the 1986 animated ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
* The scene in which Jazz yanks aside Devastator's tank barrel is a direct homage to a similar sequence from TF:TM involving [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]].
* Ironhide's complaint that [[Mojo]] "leaked lubricant" on his foot references a [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|favorite]] [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3|exclamation]] [[Power Play!|of his]] ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'' [[Ironhide (G1)|counterpart]], "Leakin' lubricant!" The phrase originated with his [[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|original character outline]], stating that "he [refers to] excessive talking as 'leaking lubricant.'"
* Sam telling Mikaela that there's "more than meets the eye... with you" quotes the slogan used in the toy line, also included in the G1 series [[theme song]].

==Other editions==
The 2007 Transformers film has more than one "cut."

* The worldwide theatrical release was essentially identical all around the world with a few minor exceptions.
* The film board of Malaysia{{fact}} required [[Judy Witwicky]]'s masturbation reference be removed. However, no such change has been made and her lines were not omitted from the film.
* The [[wikipedia:IMAX|IMAX]] edition of the movie features two minutes of additional footage in the form of slightly extended scenes and very brief new scenes. Added material includes the following:
**Before heading to the lake party, Sam is shown picking Miles up at his house. Miles derides Sam's choice of car colors.
**After Sam is questioned by the sheriff at the police station, he is given an anti-drug bumper sticker and shown the "[[wikipedia:This is Your Brain on Drugs|This is Your Brain on Drugs]]" [[Public service announcement|PSA]] starring [[wikipedia:Rachel Leigh Cook|Rachel Leigh Cook]].
**After abducting Sam and Mikaela, Agent Simmons uses a device to monitor Sam's pupil dilation while interrogating him in the truck. He also remarks that he has "been there" when it comes to women with criminal records.
**Upon arriving at Hoover Dam, Simmons remarks colorfully that it is "Area 50". A few minutes later, he lists the nicknames of all the U.S. Presidents to have toured the facility.
**In Mission City, Lennox acquires short-range radios from a gun-toting, but easily-flattered, pawn shop owner.

==Prequel material==
* ''[[Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday]]''
: A novel about the truth behind humankind's first venture into space and how that event is related to the Transformers' presence on Earth, both past and present.

* ''[[Movie Prequel|Transformers: Movie Prequel]]''
: A four issue limited series comic book from [[IDW Publishing]], released before the movie's debut. It chronicles the events which bring the Transformers to [[Earth]].

* "[[Interlude]]" (also originally published as ''Transformers Movie Prequel'')
: A short comic book by IDW, produced in cooperation with [[Target]], available (online) from Target's website and (in printed form) at BotCon and in theaters, following Bumblebee's early search for clues on Earth.

* "[[Planetfall (Movie)|Planetfall]]" (also originally published as ''Transformers Movie Prequel'')
: A mini-comic by IDW, produced in cooperation with Target, available (online) from Target's website and (in printed form) as a Target exclusive bonus pack-in with the Movie DVD, showing the Decepticons' arrival on Earth.

* The ''[[Movie Prequel Special]]''
: A mass retail release that contains reprints of both "Planetfall" and "Interlude" (now with individual story titles) in collected form.

* ''[[Transformers: Beginnings]]''
: A not-really-animated animatic version of IDW's ''[[Movie Prequel]]'' comics, voiced by some of the actors from the movie, the game and a bunch of other people. Included on a [[Walmart]] exclusive bonus DVD available with the Movie DVD.

* ''[[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Transformers]]''
: A monthly comic published in the UK by [[Titan Books]], featuring new adventures set before the movie in its initial six issues (in addition to reprints of stories originally published by IDW). They were reprinted by IDW in the ''[[Saga of the Allspark]]'' mini-series.

Some dialog in the film contradicts the prequel material, specifically pertaining to the years in which the frozen Megatron was moved from the Arctic to Hoover Dam, and exactly when the Decepticons arrived on Earth. Some of the prequel material contradicts the ''other'' prequel material...

==Adaptations==
* A novelization of the film by [[Alan Dean Foster]] was published under the title ''[[Transformers (novel)|Transformers]]''.
* IDW Publishing released a comic adaptation of the film under the title ''[[Movie Adaptation]]''.

==Sequels==
{{main|Revenge of the Fallen (film)}}

A sequel to this film has been produced and has been released worldwide.

[[IDW Publishing]] also released the comic sequel to the film, titled ''[[The Reign of Starscream]]''.

==Soundtrack==
{{main|Transformers: The Album}}

==Score==
{{main|Transformers: The Score}}

==Home video releases==
[[Image:2007Movie 2-disc DVD.jpg|thumb|200px|]]
{{main|Transformers (2007)/home video}}
* '''US:''' [http://tformers.com/US-To-Get-Transformers-DVD-HD-DVD-October-16th/8350/news.html October 16th, 2007] (DVD, HD-DVD), [http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1175/transformers2007.html September 2nd, 2008] (Blu-ray)
* '''Australia:''' November 1st, 2007 (DVD)
* '''United Kingdom:''' December 3rd, 2007 (DVD, HD-DVD), September 8th, 2008 (Blu-ray)

There are nearly a dozen store [[exclusive]] [http://tformers.com/Transformers-DVD-Exclusives-Who-Gets-What/8534/news.html versions and sales premiums of the DVD.] They include:

* [[Target]] and HMV UK: transforming Optimus Prime display case.
* Best Buy: [[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]] [[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]] and battle-damaged Optimus Prime.
* [[Walmart]]: [[Transformers: Beginnings]] "animated" prequel material.
* Borders: "Making Of" book.
* Circuit City: password unlocking 15 minutes of exclusive online behind-the-scenes featurettes, covering the voice recording sessions, prop construction, stunt work, and early CG tests and animatics.
{{-}}

==Theatrical posters==
{{picsneeded|Any other official posters not depicted here}}
<center><gallery perrow="4">
Image:Transformers2007teaserposter.jpg|Teaser poster
Image:Movie2007 Autobot promo poster.jpg|Autobot promo poster
Image:Movie2007 Decepticon promo poster.jpg|Decepticon promo poster
Image:Prime-Sam-Mikaela-poster.jpg|Promotional poster
Image:Movie2007 Megatron onesheet.jpg|Megatron one sheet
Image:Movie2007 Prime onesheet.jpg|Optimus Prime one sheet
Image:Movie2007_final_standee.jpg|Standee, also used as a poster
Image:Movie2007 humans internationalposter.jpg|International "Humans" poster/US theatrical poster
Image:Movie2007 Sphere internationalposter.jpg|International "Sphere" poster
Image:Movie2007 Bumblebee internationalposter.jpg|International Bumblebee poster
Image:Movie2007 Prime internationalposter.jpg|International Optimus Prime poster
Image:Movie2007 Megatron internationalposter.jpg|International Megatron poster
Image:Movie2007_Korean_poster.jpg|South Korean theatrical release poster
Image:Movie2007 Japanese Aprilpromo poster.jpg|Japanese April 2007 promotional poster
Image:Movie2007_Japanese_release_poster.jpg|Japanese theatrical release poster
Image:Movie2007_IMAX_poster.jpg|IMAX promotional poster
Image:Movie2007_IMAX_releaseposter.jpg|IMAX release poster
Image:Movie2007 handsmashy ver7 poster.jpg|Used as a prominent skyscraper advert
</gallery></center>

==Reception==
The movie set multiple records when it opened, including biggest opening week gross for a non-sequel ($155.4 million), biggest Tuesday release gross ($27.4 million), biggest July 4th gross ($29 million), and the biggest film opening in mainland China ($3 million) [http://www.china.org.cn/english/entertainment/217368.htm].

The movie closed domestically on [[November 8]], [[2007]], during which time it took in $319,246,193. (Domestic gross accounted for $310,578,372 before the IMAX version's release.) It has earned a ''worldwide'' gross of $708,272,592. It currently sits at spot #20 in the "most domestic gross" list of movies, though this listing is ''not'' adjusted for inflation. When taking inflation into account, ''Transformers'' currently sits at #102. [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=transformers06.htm 2]

{{quote|I didn't sleep through it the way I Novocained my way through the awful ''Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'', but by the time it ended, I thought I might have vertigo or whiplash, or both, and I certainly lost more than a few of my remaining I.Q. points|[http://www.observer.com/2007/bay-bombs-again Rex Reed]}}

{{quote|It's goofy fun with a lot of stuff that blows up real good, and it has the grace not only to realize how preposterous it is, but to make that into an asset.|Roger Ebert}}

{{quote|But it's tough to really care about questions like, "Why did that happen?" or even "What's going on?" when you’re constantly interrupted by "Oh my goodness! Giant robots! Weeee!"|Peter Suderman|[http://tinyurl.com/373rps The National Review]}}

Critical reception was hit-and-miss, [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/transformers_the_movie/ more positive than negative but not by a lot], though it's sometimes hard to tell how many negative reviewers were more interested in criticizing [[Michael Bay]] in general over the movie itself. Otherwise, the most common negatives involved it being a generally think-free "spectacle"-style movie; even those who rated the movie positively noted it was a pure "popcorn" movie meant to wow its audience with [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] and explosions rather than make them think (Richard Roper noted in his "thumbs up" review "it has no nutritional value"). Whether one considers that a good or bad thing for a movie and if the movie was enough fun to overcome that is, of course, highly debatable. The other main culprit, again noted by many of the positive reviews, was its long running time, particularly the overly-chaotic, often hard-to-follow final big-bang extended ending action sequence. ([http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070705/REVIEWS/70620006/1023 Roger Ebert] noted that this sequence was what made him give the movie three out of four stars rather than the full four.)

Transformers was nominated for three Oscars, in the fields of Achievement in Sound Editing, Achievement in Sound Mixing, and Achievement in Visual Effects. The sound awards went to ''The Bourne Ultimatum'', and the visual effects award went to ''The Golden Compass''.

Currently, two sequels are planned, with [[Shia LaBeouf]] and [[Peter Cullen]] signed for both. Michael Bay, Steven Spielberg, and the two screenwriters have also returned. Filming for ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]'' began in June 2008, and was ultimately released worldwide on June 24 2009.

==Technical details==
'''Length:''' 144 min (original theatrical)<ref>The movie had some content cuts to meet the standards of some <strike>oppressive regimes</strike> quaint "developing world" rating boards.</ref> 
'''Aspect Ratio:''' 2.35:1 
'''Audio:''' Dolby Digital / DTS / SDDS 
'''Content Rating:'''
{{collist|4|
* PG-13 (USA/MPAA)
* ? (Japan)
* 12A (United Kingdom)
* PG (Canada; British Columbia)<ref>''Transformers'' received a "14A" rating in British Columbia, but an appeal by the studio successfully reduced it to PG.</ref>
* G (Canada; Quebec)
* PG (Canada; Alberta/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario)
* PG (Canada; Canadian Home Video Rating System)
* PG (Taiwan)
* IIA (China; Hong Kong)
* PG (Singapore)
* G (Philippines/MTRCB)
* U (France)
* U (Malaysia)
* M (Australia)
* M (New Zealand)
* TE (Chile)
* 10 (Brazil)
* 10M (South Africa)
* 11 (Denmark)
* K-11 (Finland)
* 11 (Norway)
* 11 (Sweden)
* 12 (Germany)
* 12A (Ireland)
* 12 (Netherlands)
* M/12 (Portugal)
* 12 (South Korea)
* 12 (Switzerland)
* 13 (Argentina)
* 14 (Peru)
* 12 (Poland)
* B (Mexico)}}

==Production staff==
[[Image:Movie Castandcrew2.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Megatron? Is that you?!]]
* Executive Producer: [[Steven Spielberg]]
* Executive Producer: [[Brian Goldner]]
* Director: [[Michael Bay]]
* Producers: [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]], [[Ian Bryce]], [[Tom DeSanto]], [[Don Murphy]]
* Story by: [[Alex Kurtzman]] & [[Roberto Orci]] and [[John Rogers]],
* Screenwriters: [[Alex Kurtzman]] & [[Roberto Orci]]
* Music by: [[Steve Jablonsky]]

====Visual Effects====
* Visual Effects by: [[Industrial Light and Magic]], [[Digital Domain]]
* Production Designer: [[Jeff Mann]]
* Lead Robot Illustrator: [[Ben Procter]]
* Illustrators: [[James Clyne]], [[Tim Flattery]]
* ILM Visual Effects Supervisior: [[Scott Farrar]]
* Art Director: [[Alex Jaeger]]
* Animation Supervisors: [[Scott Benza]], [[Dan Taylor (ILM)|Dan Taylor]]
* Animators: [[Charles Alleneck]], [[C. Michael Easton]], [[Keiji Yamaguchi]]

====Locations Department====
(winners of the California On Location Award[http://www.californiaonlocationawards.com/] for "Production Company / Location Team of the Year for Feature Films")

* Supervising Location Manager: '''Ilt Jones'''
* Location Managers: '''Michael J. Burmeister''', '''Fermín Dávalos''', and '''Emre Sonmez'''
* Key Assistant Location Managers: '''Michael Wesley Aycock''', '''Leann Emmert''', '''Perri Fichtner''', '''Ronald M. Haynes''', '''Jonathan Hook''', '''Kathy McCurdy''', '''Manny Padilla''', '''Lisa Patton''', '''Rob Swenson''', '''Marta Tomkiw''', and '''Scott Trimble'''
* Additional Key Assistant Location Managers: '''Brooks Bonstin''', '''Alexandre Chen''', '''Michael Chickey''', '''Martin J. Cummins'''
* Assistant Location Managers: '''Ces Hardy''' and '''Amanda Harrington'''
* Location Scouts: '''Stuart Raven Barter''', '''Richard Klotz''', '''James Lin''', and '''Keith Nakata'''
{{-}}
==Development details==
===Cast and crew signing on===
Originally, producer [[Don Murphy]] had intended to produce a movie based on another [[Hasbro]] property, [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]. However, following the US invasion of Iraq in March of 2003, a movie entitled "G.I. Joe" was no longer considered viable, so Carol Monroe, who was in charge of Hasbro's movie department at that time, suggested doing a ''Transformers'' movie instead.<ref name="murphylatino">[http://www.latinoreview.com/news/on-set-interview-producer-don-murphy-on-transformers-1502 Latino Review interview with producer Don Murphy.]</ref> [[Tom DeSanto]] joined the project as a second producer and wrote a treatment that he and Murphy tried to shop around for a while. (The treatment would eventually remain entirely unused, but DeSanto would try to get a writing credit regardless, even though none of the screenwriters had ever actually ''seen'' his treatment.<ref name="bayspat">[http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/the-hollywood-deal/2007/07/05/michael-bays-spat-with-his-transformer-producers Rant by Michael Bay, deleted from his own blog, still mirrored on other sites]</ref>) The movie was officially announced for the first time in June of 2003.<ref name="comingsoon">[http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=238 Coming Soon announcing he movie.]</ref>

[[Steven Spielberg]] signed up as executive producer in 2004, while [[John Rogers]] was confirmed as screenwriter in November of the same year.<ref>[http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/563/563081p1.html IGN confirming Rogers as screenwriter.]</ref> In February of 2005, Rogers was replaced by by [[Alex Kurtzman]] and [[Roberto Orci]],<ref name="ignkurtzorc">[http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/588/588884p1.html IGN confirming Kurtzman and Orci as new screenwriters.]</ref> who drastically reworked Rogers' original script.<ref name="rogerscred">[http://kfmonkey.blogspot.com/2007/07/proper-credits-for-transformers.html John Rogers confirming that Kurtzman and Orci drastically rewrote his script]</ref> Spielberg tried to convince [[Michael Bay]] to direct the movie in late July of 2005, but Bay initially declined, having no interest in a "toy movie". He later changed his mind after attending "Transformers school" at Hasbro, but decided to make the movie "realistic" and accessible for adult viewers.<ref name="audio">Michael Bay's audio commentary on the ''Transformers'' DVD.</ref>

A few days after a list of names of the human cast had been leaked on the internet, [[Shia LaBeouf]] was confirmed as the first cast member.<ref name="ignshia">[http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/698/698735p1.html IGN confirming Shia LaBeouf.]</ref> Producer Don Murphy,<ref name="murphytfcon">[http://www.transformerscon.com/videos.php Don Murphy at the Canadian TransformersCon.]</ref> Hasbro<ref name="tfwtour">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/139273-botcon-2007-botcon-2007-hasbro-tour-updated-friday-12-45pm.html Hasbro tour report.]</ref> and the screenwriters<ref name="mtv">[http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1554426/20070312/story.jhtml MTV.com interview with Kurtzman and Orci.]</ref> all favored [[Peter Cullen]] and [[Frank Welker]] as voice actors for [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. Bay had both audition, but only hired Cullen, while preferring [[Hugo Weaving]] as Megatron.<ref name="cgirobot">[http://web.archive.org/web/20070810172643/http://www.wizarduniverse.com/movies/transformersmovie/004974570.cfm Wizard Universe article about the production of the movie.]</ref> However, Welker still got to voice Megatron (alongside Cullen as Prime) in the video game adaption of the movie, ''[[Transformers The Game]]'', as well as in ''[[Transformers: Beginnings]]'', an animated (sort of) version of [[IDW Publishing|IDW's]] [[Movie Prequel|prequel comic mini-series]] that was available on a Wal*Mart exclusive bonus disc included with the movie DVD.

===Sponsors and partners===
====Hasbro====
In addition to acting as a licensor, Hasbro also actively participated in the development of the movie, starting with an introduction into the world of the Transformers, called the "Transformers School", for everyone involved, including [[Michael Bay]].<ref name="paramountbotcon">[http://tformers.com/article.php?sid=8001 "Hasbro and Paramount Partnership Panel" at BotCon 2007.]</ref> Hasbro also had a say in the depiction of the Transformers in the movie, the selection of the voice actors,<ref name="tfwtour" /> naming the characters, working on the robot designs<ref name="lorenzoiesb">[http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2724&Itemid=99 IESB interview with Ian Bryce and Lorenzo di Bonaventura.]</ref> and the inclusion of "easter eggs", but no veto rights.<ref name="paramountbotcon" /> According to screenwriter [[Roberto Orci]], Hasbro was more interested in an adequate adaption of the ''Transformers'' concept rather than ''only'' marketing the toyline.<ref name="orcihasbro">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2200611&postcount=239 Roberto Orci discussing Hasbro's involvement.]</ref> Nevertheless, Hasbro urged [[Michael Bay]] very early on to decide upon the Transformers characters to be used in the movie and their vehicle forms because of the long production run of the toys, even though the script wasn't completed yet by that point.<ref name="bayew">[http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20035285_20035331_20044598_3,00.html Entertainment Weekly interview with Michael Bay.]</ref> Hasbro and [[Takara]] then created the [[Movie (toyline)|toys]] based on the designs developed by [[Industrial Light and Magic]]. Aside from this, Takara wasn't involved in the creation of the movie at all.<ref name="murphytformers">[http://www.tformers.com/article.php?sid=3945 TFormers interview with Don Murphy.]</ref>

Unlike other ''Transformers'' toylines (except for ''[[Alternators]]''), Hasbro and Takara don't share the full rights to the movie toys: Paramount and ILM hold the rights to the robot designs, while the vehicle modes were licensed by companies such as General Motors ([[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]], [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]), Saleen ([[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]]), Force Protection Industries ([[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]]), the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation ([[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]]) and the Lockheed Martin Corporation ([[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]). Only [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] didn't require a license, since his vehicle mode in the movie was heavily genericized, and all manufacturer logos were removed.<ref name="edmundsveh">[http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=121424 Edmunds.com article on the vehicles featured in the movie.]</ref> TakaraTomy even identifies the Leader Class toy as a Kenworth W900 instead of a Peterbilt 379.<ref name="takaraprime">[http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/products/movie/ma-01.html TakaraTomy product page for Leader Class Optimus Prime.]</ref>

Even though Hasbro didn't directly profit from the box office revenue, owning the ''Transformers'' brand allowed them to profit more from the toys than from licensed brands such as ''[[Spider-Man]]'' or ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]''. In addition, Hasbro was able to give out over 240 licenses to third party companies.<ref name="hasbrofall">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6912693.stm BBC reporting on Hasbro quarterly earnings for July 2007.]</ref> In the USA alone, Hasbro had sold more than three million toys from the movie line as early as July 2007,<ref name="cnnmoney">[http://money.cnn.com/2007/07/23/news/companies/hasbro/index.htm?section=money_topstories CNN Money story on Hasbro sales.]</ref> while Wal-Mart had earned more than five million $USD with the movie Transformers at the same time.<ref name="walmartmillion">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showthread.php?t=143983 Wal-Mart employee Steevy Maximus reporting on sales figures for movie toys.]</ref> A lot of the movie toys were frequently sold out at many stores ("drought") due to a mix of popularity, stores underestimating said popularity (and thus not ordering enough toys), shipping problems in China and [[Toy scalping|scalpers]].

====US Military====
The [[United States military]] supported the movie by providing vehicles and soldiers. The vehicles included an MH-53 Pave Low helicopter ([[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout)]], several F-22 Raptors (one of them serving as [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]'s alternate mode), two A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter jets, an E-3 Sentry AWACS plane, an AC-130 Spectre gunship and two V-22 Ospreys. Therefore, ''Transformers'' is the first movie to feature real, non-CG F-22s.<ref name="afmil">[http://www.afspc.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123061917 Air Force Space Command article on the movie.]</ref> Real soldiers trained with the actors who played military personnel<ref name="tyreselatino">[http://www.latinoreview.com/news.php?id=2260 Latino Review interview with Tyrese Gibson and Josh Duhamel.]</ref> and were also featured as extras in the movie. Michael Bay even allowed them to improvise lines to make their military dialogue sound as "realistic" as possible.<ref name="nabbtfw">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showthread.php?t=115126 First Lieutenant Micheal McNabb reporting his experience of working on the movie.]</ref> In return for their cooperation, Bay gave the military a say in their own depiction in the movie.<ref name="wired">[http://www.wired.com/entertainment/hollywood/magazine/15-07/trans_movie?currentPage=all Wired.com article on the movie.]</ref> The military, in turn, views the movie as a new form of recruitment.<ref name="aflink">[http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123021491 Air Force Link article about the movie.]</ref>

====Product Placement====
Aside from advertising the ''Transformers'' toyline, the movie also features product placement for other companies, such as Apple, Yahoo, Burger King, Nokia, Panasonic, eBay and Hewlett-Packard. The machines given life by the Allspark include an Xbox 360 (including the original startup sound) and a [[Dispensor|Mountain Dew soda vending machine]]. In addition, the movie also features other Hasbro brands, such as ''My Little Pony'' and ''Furby'' (the latter being a property of Hasbro's subsidiary Tiger Electronics). Furthermore, all Autobots, with the exception of Optimus Prime, have vehicles provided by subsidiaries of General Motors as their [[Alternate mode|alternate modes]], which saved Michael Bay $3 million of his budget.<ref name="bayew" />

Many of these cooperations were mutual: Burger King offered the obligatory Kids Meal toys based on the movie characters for the movie's theatrical launch, and General Motors and Mountain Dew ran TV ads under the titles "Transform Your Ride" and "Transform Your Summer", respectively. According to producers Ian Bryce and Lorenzo di Bonaventura, however, some of these brands, such as [[eBay]], were not originally included as part of a sponsoring deal, but had been part of the script from the beginning for story purposes on the writers' behalf.<ref name="lorenzoiesb" /> For the DVD release of the movie, meanwhile, ''additional'' "Cisco" logos were added into the movie that had not been there yet in the theatrical version.<ref name="dvdprod">[http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=38792 Allspark thread featuring comparison stills of the theatrical and DVD versions of the movie.]</ref>

===Special effects===
* Three quarters of the CG effects were done by [[Industrial Light & Magic]]. The other quarter was done by [[Digital Domain]], a company [[Michael Bay]] bought shortly before signing up to the ''Transformers'' movie.
* As seen in the bonus material for the Movie DVD, at least some of the ILM designers are actually Transformers fans. One of the animators, [[Charles Alleneck]], has his entire office decorated in more ''Transformers'' toys than a lot of "regular" fans might own.
* Physical props and set pieces were built for several of the Transformers' robot modes. Full body props for [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] (the 2009 Camaro body) and [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] were used for scenes that involved direct interaction with the human cast. The Bumblebee prop (with detached legs) was also used for the scene where he was strapped to a [[Longarm (Movie)|tow truck]]. A set featuring the frozen lower half of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron's]] body was also built. The rest is assorted bits and pieces, such as [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok's]] head and tail, a part of [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]'s leg (including a wheel) and an unpainted, entirely blue version of his head plus a small part of the upper chest, and various semi-random chunks meant to represent the remains of the destroyed Decepticons dumped into the ocean (some of the parts meant to represent pieces of [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] even feature markings found on a real-life MH-53 Pave Low helicopter).

===Changes before, during and after production===
A lot of details about the movie changed during the pre-production phase (and even still during production and post-production):

* The script was originally supposed to center around the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], but because the studio wanted to avoid association with the ''Matrix'' movie trilogy, it had to be renamed. For the longest time, the working name was "[[Energon (fuel)|Energon]] Cube", which neither the fans nor producer [[Don Murphy]] were really happy with.<ref name="murphytfcon" /> Ultimately, it was renamed into the [[AllSpark]] for the final movie; however, the name "Energon Cube" is still used in [[Alan Dean Foster]]'s [[Transformers (novel)|novelization]] of the movie, and was also used by [[Shia LaBeouf]] in a CBS interview immediately before the movie's official theatrical launch.<ref name="shiacbs">[http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3004937n?source=search_video CBS interview with Shia LaBeouf.]</ref>
* One of the Autobot characters in the early Kurtzman/Orci drafts was [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], who would have turned into a motorcycle. Even though Hasbro developed a toy based on the designs for the character, Arcee was dropped from the script and replaced with [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]: Kurtzman and Orci didn't want to spend time explaining the purpose of "female" Autobots,<ref name="orciign">[http://movies.ign.com/articles/801/801098p3.html IGN interview with Roberto Orci.]</ref> and Michael Bay considered her too small as compared to the rest of the Autobots.<ref name="orciwizard">[http://web.archive.org/web/20070714214451/http://www.wizarduniverse.com/movies/transformersmovie/005082421.cfm?page=1 Wizard interview with Kurtzman and Orci]</ref> Despite what fans commonly assume, however, the scene during the final battle in [[Mission City]] where [[William Lennox|Lennox]] uses an abandoned motorcycle for his assault on [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] wasn't added to the script until ''after'' Arcee had already been dropped from the script; however, had she ''not'' been dropped, she ''would'' have probably been that motorcycle.<ref name="arceelennox">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/2288318-post539.html Orci once again clearing up the story between Arcee and the motorcycle Lennox uses during the final battle]</ref>
* Other Autobot characters considered by Orci and Kurtzman were [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]].<ref name="orcichara">[http://boards.transformersmovie.com/showpost.php?p=388609&postcount=280 Roberto Orci confirming various characters originally intended for the movie.]</ref> The last was eventually dropped because Orci and Kurtzman preferred the idea of "a Decepticon in disguise as a police vehicle".<ref name="orciprowl">[http://boards.transformersmovie.com/showpost.php?p=365508&postcount=4411 Orci explaining why Prowl is not in the movie]</ref>
* Kurtzman and Orci tried ''twice'' to include [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] in the movie. The first attempt was supposed to turn into a helicopter,<ref name="orciswave">[http://boards.transformersmovie.com/showpost.php?p=351304&postcount=4161 Roberto Orci confirming that Blackout was originally intended to be Soundwave.]</ref> but Hasbro rejected that notion and insisted that Soundwave's [[alternate mode]] should have something to do with music.<ref name="murphyswave">[http://www.donmurphy.net/board/showpost.php?p=97507&postcount=23 Post by Don Murphy at his message board.]</ref> The "helicopter" character was then renamed multiple times, among those names being "Grimlock",<ref name="early">Details from an early script draft [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2213120&postcount=297 summed up here], [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2214148&postcount=303 confirmed as authentic by Roberto Orci here].</ref> "Vortex",<ref name="orcisample">[http://www.donmurphy.net/board/showpost.php?p=1120447&postcount=2360 Unformatted script sample from first draft posted by Roberto Orci on Don Murphy's message board]</ref> "Devastator"<ref name="procterdevas">[http://www.benprocter.com/SITEv2/HTML/ZOOM_Trans/ZOOM_32.html "Devastator" concept art at Ben Procter's online portfolio.]</ref> and "Incinerator".<ref name="procterinc">[http://www.benprocter.com/SITEv2/HTML/ZOOM_Trans/ZOOM_34.html "Incinerator" pre-production render at Ben Procter's online portfolio.]</ref> The character eventually ended up as [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]].
* The second attempt would have infiltrated the CIA headquarters in the form of a "portable stereo" and then transformed (and size-shifted) into a Humvee for his escape and tracked down [[Sam Witwicky|Sam]].<ref name="early" /> The "vehicle" part was later turned into a separate character, who was then given a different alternate mode (as a police cruiser) and eventually ended up as [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]]. Meanwhile, the "portable stereo" character also went through several changes, because Kurtzman and Orci eventually decided that the character didn't really do Soundwave justice, so they decided to change his name and save Soundwave for the [[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|sequel]].<ref name="webcast">[http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808716430/video/2701721/20070418/2048/2701721-300-wmv-s.35907855-,2701721-300-flash-s.35907881-,2701721-100-wmv-s.35907849-,2701721-100-flash-s.35907874-,2701721-1000-wmv-s.35907866-,2701721-1000-flash-s.35907894-,2701721-700-flash-s.35907887-,2701721-700-wmv-s.35907861- Yahoo webcast with Kurtzman and Orci, revealing the final names of the movie characters.]</ref> The character went through some other working names such as "Boombot"<ref name="procterboom">[http://www.benprocter.com/SITEv2/HTML/ZOOM_Trans/ZOOM_45.html "Boombot" concept art at Ben Procter's online portfolio.]</ref> and "Soundbyte"<ref name="proctersbyte">[http://www.benprocter.com/SITEv2/HTML/ZOOM_Trans/ZOOM_54.html "Soundbyte" head study at Ben Procter's online portfolio.]</ref> and eventually ended up as [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]].
* Other Decepticon characters considered by Orci and Kurtzman, aside from Soundwave, were [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]].<ref name="orcichara" /> The latter was originally supposed to be a minion of helicopter Soundwave, who would have chased [[William Lennox|Lennox]] and his crew through the jungle after the attack on their base. However, when the scene was changed from the jungle to the desert (and Soundwave was no longer Soundwave), Ravage was replaced by [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]].<ref name="orciravage">[http://boards.transformersmovie.com/showpost.php?p=234188&postcount=2008 Roberto Orci confirming that Scorponok replaced Ravage].</ref>
* Because of the long production run of the toys, Hasbro urged [[Michael Bay]] very early on to decide upon the Transformers characters to be used in the movie and their vehicle forms, even though the script wasn't completed yet by that point.<ref name="bayew" /> As a result, many of the Decepticon characters in particular were chosen somewhat hastily, and aren't really based on established Transformers characters aside from their names. The tank used for [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]] (aka "Devastator") was a recycled prop originally built for the movie ''xXx: State of the Union'', while the mine protected vehicle used for [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]] caught the filmmakers' attention because of a giant photoshopped fork depicted on the manufacturer's website.<ref name="enewsi">[http://enewsi.com/news.php?catid=190&itemid=11213 Entertainment News International article on the making of the movie.]</ref>
* Other Decepticon characters featured in an early draft, aside from "Grimlock" (helicopter) and "Soundwave" (portable stereo/Humvee), were Brawl as a Jeep, Frenzy as a Piranha III mortar artillery vehicle, Onslaught as a mobile missile launcher, Octane as a tanker truck, and three jets named Blitzwing, Starscream and Devastator (a cargo plane, a 747 jet and F-16 fighter; the script doesn't say which is which). Instead of having been hiding on Earth for a while, they would have arrived there during the movie after having been summoned by Soundwave.<ref name="early" /> It's possible that the Piranha III later evolved into Stryker/[[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]].
* The "evil police car Decepticon" that replaced Prowl took over the "vehicle" portion of the second character originally conceived as Soundwave (which eventually became [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]]). His vehicle form was originally supposed to be a Ford Crown Victoria, while his working name was "Brawl".<ref name="policebrawl">[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-images/events/Botcon-2007/Hasbro-Tour/PICT5108.JPG.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1 Early design for Barricade with working name "Brawl" shown during the BotCon 2007 Hasbro Tour].</ref> Eventually the character ended up as [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]], with the vehicle mode being changed into a Saleen S281 "Extreme" Mustang, because Ford didn't want one of their cars used as a "villain". Therefore, Barricade sports no "Ford" logos in the movie.<ref name="edmundsveh" />
* Another Decepticon character intended to be in the movie had the working name "Stryker", named after his vehicle mode, a M1126 Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle.<ref name="stryker">[http://www.seibertron.com/events/fullsize.php?event_id=70&size=2&image=262 Unused design for "Stryker", revealed at the BotCon 2007 Hasbro tour.]</ref> It's possible that he had evolved from a character named "Frenzy" featured in an early script draft, who would have turned into a Piranha III. The character ultimately never made it into the movie, but Hasbro later turned the design into a toy regardless, named [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]].<ref name="tfwtour" />
* Michael Bay also considered having a Transformers character turn into an aircraft carrier, but eventually scrapped that idea for cost reasons.<ref name="ignround">[http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/796/796057p2.html IGN roundtable with Michael Bay from the Australian press conference.]</ref> Orci and Kurtzman included the character in one of their drafts of the script,<ref name="orciaircraft">[http://boards.transformersmovie.com/showpost.php?p=387736&postcount=210 Roberto Orci confirming that the aircraft carrier was in one of the drafts.]</ref> and artist Tim Flattery created concept art.<ref name="flattery">Tim Flattery's concept art for the unused aircraft carrier Transformer: [http://timflattery.com/transformers/4.html Image 1], [http://timflattery.com/transformers/5.html image 2].</ref>
* Working names for the tank Decepticon were "Demolisher"<ref name="hasbrodemolisher">[http://www.hasbro.com/objects/content/wallpaper.cfm?img=wp_transformers651_1280.jpg&brand_id=496&lang_id=1 Wallpaper at Hasbro's website calling Brawl/Devastator "Demolisher".]</ref> and "Devastator", the latter of which had also been a working name for [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] at one point. Even though [[Michael Bay]] confirmed in May of 2006 that this was not the final name,<ref name="baysecret">[http://michaelbay.com/newsblog/files/586e45dbd5e89a45846b0ec668a70e03-12.html Michael Bay claiming that the Transformers' names circulating were "aliases".]</ref> screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman confirmed the final name to be "[[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]]" in April 2006,<ref name="webcast" /> and Hasbro used that name for all their toys based on the movie character, he identifies himself as "Devastator" in a subtitle in the movie itself. According to a fan who attended the Australian press conference, Bay had decided to use that name regardless,<ref name="griffin">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=1360922&postcount=122 Australian fan griffin-of-oz reporting from the Australian press conference].</ref> while Hasbro considered the name in the movie a "continuity error",<ref name="hasbrofuture">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showthread.php?t=139268 Hasbro Transformers Future Product Unveiling panel at BotCon 2007.]</ref> and Orci even claimed that he and Kurtzman had pointed out said "error" in the editing room twice.<ref name="orcidevastator">[http://boards.transformersmovie.com/showpost.php?p=368555&postcount=4479 Orci confirming the name "Devastator" to be an "error".]</ref>
* Michael Bay decided to have [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] not turn into a Volkswagen Beetle because he wanted to avoid similarities with Disney's ''Herbie, the Love Bug''.<ref name="bayew" /> Production Designer Jeff Mann originally suggested using a Dodge Super Bee as Bumblebee's alternate mode,<ref name="edmunds1976">[http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=121138 Edmunds.com article on the classic Bumblebee Camaro.]</ref> but eventually Bay signed a deal with General Motors that saved him $3 million of his budget, which is why Bumblebee turns into a Chevrolet Camaro in the movie.<ref name="bayew" />
* [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] was originally intended to transform into a fire truck rather than a Search & Rescue Hummer. After being changed into a Hummer, he initially still retained a red and white deco, which later served as the inspiration for Hasbro's "Rescue Ratchet" redecos of the movie toys.<ref name="ratchettour">[http://www.seibertron.com/events/fullsize.php?event_id=70&size=2&image=285 Early designs for Ratchet shown at the BotCon 2007 Hasbro tour.]</ref>
* After designs of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] had leaked on the internet, his head design was slightly revised following massive fan complaints.<ref name="murphysunday">[http://www.donmurphy.net/board/showpost.php?p=764141&postcount=1 Don Murphy confirming that Megatron's head design was changed due to fan complaints.]</ref>
* The studio had originally preferred the Transformers not to talk ''at all'' throughout the movie, a notion Hasbro heavily contested.<ref name="tfwtour" /> Bumblebee still ended up being mute throughout most of the movie, which, according to Orci and Kurtzman, was inspired by Spielberg's ''E.T.'' and is supposed to signify that his friendship with Sam transcends words.<ref name="mtv" />
* Most drafts of the script started the movie with [[Archibald Witwicky]]'s discovery of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. In the actual movie, this scene was moved to a later point, shown as a flashback (actually at two points, split into two parts). [[IDW Publishing|IDW's]] [[Movie Adaptation Issue Number One|comic adaptation]] of the movie still has this as the opening scene.
* Also in one of the early drafts, the original reason for Mikaela's falling out with [[Trent DeMarco|Trent]] was not because he wouldn't let his "little bunny" drive his car, but because she refused to let him drive after having drunk beer. [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Anvilicious Anvilicious] much?
* In an early draft, [[William Lennox|Lennox]] and his crew would have defeated [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] with a simple grenade, which would have "dissolved him at a molecular level". The air strike would have never happened, and Lennox wouldn't have established contact with the Pentagon until around the time when [[Sam Witwicky|Sam]] and [[Mikaela Banes|Mikaela]] were apprehended by [[Sector Seven]].<ref name="early" />
* In the same draft, Sam had left his grandfather's glasses at school. The Autobots would have distracted a security guard while Sam and Mikaela would have broken into their school. It would have been there that Sam would have learned about Mikaela's criminal past, and the scene would have ended with their arrest by Sector Seven.<ref name="early" />
* In some earlier drafts of the script, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] was supposed to kill [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] too after he had finished off [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]]. That scene never made it into the final movie, and Barricade simply disappears with no explanation after Bonecrusher transforms; however, the scene still made it into Alan Dean Foster's [[Transformers (novel)|novelization]] of the movie and IDW's [[Movie Adaptation issue 4|comic adaptation]].
* Also in earlier drafts of the script, [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] was supposed to kill [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] by consuming his [[Spark]]. Again, this is only explicitly confirmed in the novelization and IDW's comic adaptation of the movie, but not in the movie itself.

==Notes==
* The Autobot computer generated models consisted of 35,592 total pieces, 7,435,478 polygons, 95,247 rig nodes, and 20,258 texture maps. If laid end to end, the pieces would stretch 3.11 miles.
* For all the robots combined, there are 60,217 pieces of geometry, 123,509,502 polygons, 144,341 rigging nodes, and 34,215 texture maps.<ref>Robertson, Barbara (2007). Heavy Metal. ''Computer Graphics, 30''(7), 12-17.</ref>
* The events of the movie span 4-5 days.
* Within the movie, neither the Autobots nor the Decepticons are referred to as "Transformers".
* As confirmed in the audio commentary on the movie DVD, director [[Michael Bay]] has a brief cameo as an innocent bystander getting flicked against a taxi cab by [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]].
* The "<tt>[322] days without a safety breach</tt>" sign behind Agent Simmons before they bring the [[Nokia-bot|cell phone]] to life relates to a piece of backstory that was cut from the final film. A researcher named [[James Farr]] was killed when a [[AX9-8946-09SU-1|robot they brought to life]] ran amok, causing the damage Glen comments on. The [[Sector Seven (game)|viral marketing campaign]] gives a date for Farr's death; [[March 16]], [[2006]]. This would chronologically place the primary events of the film as occurring over a 3 day period, [[January 30]] - [[February 1]], [[2007]].
* In an interesting showing of unified marketing, the Japanese dub of the movie uses the English-market character and factions names (e.g., Autobot, Decepticon, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee) rather than the terms previously established in Japanese Transformers continuity (e.g., Cybertron, Destron, Convoy, Bumble). This has subsequently influenced Takara's subsequent dub of ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'', where (for the most part) they retain the english-market names and factions.
* In a bit of a shocker, [[Simon Furman]] has said he personally isn't a fan of the film, though he believes they're great for the intended audience of young kids. <ref> [http://mindlessones.com/2009/07/20/transformers-terminators-and-the-rest11-questions-with-simon-furman/ Interview at Mindless Ones blog]</ref>
* In an unexpected celebrity-related moment, famed multi award-winning british actress Helen Mirren, a Dame Commander of the British Empire, was one of the guests at the June 27, 2007 Los Angeles Film Festival premiere of ''Transformers''. One wonders what she thought of it. <ref>[http://movies.about.com/od/transformers/ig/Transformers-Premiere-Photos/transformersprem34.htm Helen Mirren at the June 27, 2007 Los Angeles premiere of ''Transformers'';Rebecca Murray, Movies.About.com Guide]</ref>
* ''Transformers'' (ahem) "inspired" a [[Knockoff|direct-to-video movie]] called [[Wikipedia:Transmorphers|''Transmorphers'']]. It got a [[Wikipedia:Transmorphers: Fall of Man|prequel]] in 2009, starring [[Wikipedia:Bruce Boxleitner|Bruce Boxleitner]], of all people. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
* Somewhat less embarassing, ''Transformers'' also inspired the [[Wikipedia:Knight Rider (2008 film)|2008 ''Knight Rider'' television movie]] and the [[Wikipedia:Knight Rider (2008 TV series)|short-lived revival/sequel series]] that followed it.<ref name="varietykr">[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117972829?refCatId=14 Variety article about the then-upcoming 2008 ''Knight Rider'' revival]</ref> Furthermore, the special effects<ref name="madeatl">[http://madeinatlantis.com/movies_central/2008/iron_man_production_details.htm ''Iron Man'' Full Production Notes]</ref> and the marketing campaign<ref name="imtie-ins">[http://www.brandweek.com/bw/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003692165 Brandweek article about the ''Iron Man'' marketing campaign.</ref> both served as inspirations for the 2008 [[Wikipedia:Iron Man (film)|''Iron Man'' movie]].

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''''Transformers''''' (トランスフォーマー ''Toransufōmā'')
*''Mandarin:'' (變形金剛, "Transformers")
*''Russian:'' '''''Transformery''''' (Трансформеры, "Transformers")

==External links==
* [http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=68329&p=irol-newsArticlePR&ID=421174 June 11, 2003 Press Release announcing the movie.]
* [http://www.transformersmovie.com/ Transformersmovie.com]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418279/ ''Transformers'' at IMDB.com]
* [http://www.transformersalbum.com/ ''Transformers The Album'']
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers_%28film%29 ''Transformers'' 2007 film on Wikipedia]
* Designer portfolios: [http://www.benprocter.com/SITEv2/HTML/PROJPAGE_Trans_01.html Ben Procter], [http://www.jamesclyne.com/projects.php?gallery_id=297 James Clyne], [http://timflattery.com/main.html Tim Flattery], [http://features.cgsociety.org/story_custom.php?story_id=4150 Alex Jaeger] (at CG Society), [http://2d2cg.com/# James Cook]
* [http://www.capalert.com/capreports/transformers.htm ''Transformers'' CAPalert.com review]

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

[[Category:Movie| ]]
[[Category:Movie media]]
[[Category:MSTF]]
[[Category:Real world films]]

Mission City

2011-07-09T10:00:56Z

87.102.126.63: /* Transformers (2007) movie */

:''Mission City is a city from the [[Movie (franchise)|Movie]] [[continuity family]]''

[[Image:Mission City.JPG|right|300px|thumb|City motto? Life is pain.]]
'''Mission City''' is a city in the [[United States of America]], possibly in either [[wikipedia:Nevada|Nevada]] or [[wikipedia:Arizona|Arizona]]. It may rival [[San Francisco]] as "worst place to live", because it's the kind of place where [[Dispensor|Mountain Dew machines]] thirst for human blood, [[Xbox 360 robot|Xbox 360s]] play with the lives of their owners, and [[Steering wheel robot|steering wheels]] tend to [[kiss]] their drivers. It also had the poor fortune to be the location where the [[Autobot]]s and the [[Decepticon]]s threw down for control of the [[AllSpark (Movie)|All Spark]].

It's located 22 miles north of the [[Hoover Dam]].<ref>[[William Lennox]] explicitly states their distance from the dam in [[Transformers (2007)|the 2007 movie]].</ref> Its downtown has lots of Classically-detailed buildings from the early 20th Century which tend to shatter spectacularly when [[Transformer|giant robots]] smash into them. [[Interstate 95]] runs through it, somehow. <ref>[[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] follows [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]] along Mission City's Interstate 95 in "[[Cyber Missions 3]]." The real world's Interstate 95 runs up and down the United State's east coast.</ref>

==Fiction==
===''Transformers'' (2007) movie===
As [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] began to thaw, [[William Lennox|Captain Lennox]] suggested that they move the All Spark to Mission City, where it would be easier to contact and rendezvous with military airlift to take it to safety. Defense Secretary [[John Keller]] agreed with him, despite the risk of attack from pursuing Decepticons. [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] converted the All Spark to a more portable form, and he and a military escort, soon augmented by the Autobots, left for the city.

En route, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] left the escort to battle [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]], while the other Autobots continued into downtown Mission City. Their human allies, meanwhile, had summoned F-22 Air Force fighters to provide aerial support.

[[Image:Movie MissionCityBattle1.jpg|left|250px|thumb|[[Dark Star (issue)|Ironhide is the first person in some twenty years to consider Starscream a serious threat... with good reason for once.]]]]
Captain Lennox procured several short-wave radios to contact the hoped-for aerial support, intending to summon Blackhawk helicopters to extract the All Spark. They soon sighted a lone F-22 overhead and called for support, marking their location with green smoke. Too late, the Autobots realized that the incoming fighter was in fact [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]. [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] ordered the humans and other Autobots to fall back, as he and Bumblebee lifted a truck to shield them from Starscream's attack. The resulting explosion crippled Bumblebee, severing his legs below the knees.

As the humans realized the deception, they finally heard back from actual incoming Blackhawks, but they then came under attack from [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]]. [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] and Ironhide all rushed to attack as the human soldiers fell back. [[Mikaela Banes|Mikaela]] spotted a tow truck nearby and ran to procure it, while the crippled Bumblebee handed the All Spark off to [[Sam Witwicky|Sam]].

[[Image:Movie MissionCityBattle2.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Yeah, let's triple-team the guy who is suffering an identity crisis. That's fair.]]
Ironhide rushed Brawl head-on, transforming and vaulting over an extremely hot woman with a huge mouth, all the while dodging two of the Decepticon's missiles. Jazz attacked from another direction, yanking the Decepticon's main gun aside. Brawl transformed and tossed Jazz into a building. Ironhide fired on the Decepticon, while Ratchet and Jazz attacked from both sides, Ratchet using a [[saw]] blade to slice off one of Brawl's arms. The humans joined the Autobots in blasting Brawl, until a series of shots from Ratchet knocked the Decepticon to the ground.

While Mikaela worked to hotwire the tow truck, [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] landed in the city streets, prompting the Autobots to call a retreat. Jazz stayed behind and engaged the much larger Decepticon, getting blasted aside for his efforts.
[[Image:Movie2007 Jazz fighting Megatron.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Autobots, attack! ...Guys?]]

Mikaela drove the tow truck over to Sam and Bumblebee. Megatron, meanwhile, carried Jazz through the air, crushing him under his feet atop a building, then pulling him out. Jazz fired on Megatron, but the massive Decepticon tore him in half.

On the ground, Captain Lennox's troops observed Brawl getting back to his feet, as well as the arrival of Blackout, who transformed and landed atop a building behind them. Under sporadic hostile fire, Lennox led his troops back to Bumblebee's position as Sam and Mikaela worked to hook Bumblebee to the tow truck. Lennox handed a flare to Sam and ordered him to take the All Spark to a nearby rooftop, while [[Robert Epps|Sergeant Epps]] summoned their Blackhawk support to pick him up. Ratchet and Ironhide promised Sam that they would protect him as he carried out the mission. After a quick farewell to Mikaela, Sam fled.

Megatron (from somewhere) ordered the Decepticons to [[Decepticons, attack|attack]], prompting Devastator to fire. Ratchet and Ironhide provided cover fire as Sam ran. Blackout attacked from the other side, and Ironhide engaged him. Blackout bashed aside the car that Ironhide tossed at him, then transformed and flew away. Mikaela finished securing Bumblebee and drove him off, as Brawl continued his lumbering advance.

[[Image:Movie MissionCityBattle4.jpg|right|250px|thumb|This is the only time Prime and Megs got to use their signature weapons. You fail us yet again, Michael Bay.]]
Optimus Prime arrived after his delay on the freeway, transforming and challenging Megatron. Still perched atop his building, Megatron tossed away the remains of Jazz and transformed. He scooped up Prime and took him for a dizzying ride through the streets and buildings of the city, smashing through an entire office building at one point before crashing to the street. The two exchanged their respective views on humanity and fisticuffs. Prime managed to get in a shot at Megatron, but a blast from Megatron's main gun hurled Prime down the street and into the side of another building, prompting viewers to wonder why Michael Bay hates architecture so much. Prime then fell to the street amid a small crowd of panicked humans, some of whom may or may not have been crushed.

With Ratchet and Ironhide alongside him, Sam continued sprinting for the building. Blackout landed in the street and sliced at Sam with his rotor weapon, but did not attempt to capture him. Starscream also landed nearby and engaged Ratchet and Ironhide, blasting them both. Starscream then transformed and launched again as the two Autobots collapsed. Sam continued onwards.

Megatron flew down from the sky and transformed, demanding that Sam give up the All Spark. As Sam darted through traffic, a near-collision with an SUV made him drop the cube, unleashing a pulse of its power. The pulse brought several machines to life, including part of the SUV and a [[Dispensor|Mountain Dew vending machine]].

[[Image:Movie Brawl dies.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Gah! Heartburn!]]
''Meanwhile, in [[Detroit]]...'' Sam sprinted into the abandoned building, pursued by Megatron, who smashed through a floor practically on Sam's heels but failed to stop him from entering a fire stairwell.

Mikaela and Bumblebee stopped in an alley, while Sam continued climbing and Lennox's troops continued fighting against Brawl. Mikaela was crying, hitting the wheel in frustration, then turned to look at Bumblebee, who nodded. After a moment of preparation, Mikaela backed the tow truck into the street so that Bumblebee was facing forwards, then drove it full speed in reverse into the battle scene. Under heavy attack from two directions, Brawl suffered heavy damage, before a final shot from Bumblebee hit him in the chest, bringing him down for good. He collapsed into the building where Lennox's troops had taken shelter.

[[Image:Movie Megatron Samonroof.jpg|right|250px|thumb|It depends...how well do you take care of your pets?]]
As the Blackhawks closed in, Sam reached the rooftop and activated his flare. Starscream transformed and landed on a nearby building as the helicopters pulled up to the rooftop. Sam was inches away from handing off the All Spark when Starscream shot the waiting Blackhawk out of the sky. Optimus Prime sprinted toward the building, determined to save Sam. Starscream continued watching from nearby while Megatron bashed his way onto the rooftop. Cornering Sam, Megatron demanded the All Spark, then unsheathed a barbed mace and bashed the building out from under Sam's feet when he refused. Optimus Prime, suspended most of the way up the building, caught the falling human. Prime then vaulted/fell down to street level, with Megatron close behind. The two metal titans smashed into the street, scattering still more panicked humans, [[Michael Bay|one]] of whom got himself flicked aside by Megatron.

Prime ordered Sam to take shelter behind him and to push the All Spark into his chest if he was unable to defeat Megatron. As the two leaders laid into one another a second time, Lennox's troops moved in on their position. They stopped and observed as Blackout transformed, landed, and moved in to assist his leader. Epps called in a full air strike on Blackout and Megatron, advising that the targets would be marked. The troops then marked Blackout with green laser light as the F-22s closed in. Meanwhile, Lennox secured a fallen motorcycle.

[[Image:Movie MissionCityBattle5.jpg|left|250px|thumb|WWWWHHHHEEEEEEEE!!!]]
Blackout was about to fire when he noticed the lasers lighting him up, so he instead turned to engage the soldiers, opening fire. Lennox raced at him on his motorcycle, evading Blackout's blasts and purposefully going into a long skid/slide along the ground. As Blackout was hit by fire from the F-22s, Lennox slid past and under him, firing several rounds directly up into the Decepticon's chest and crotch. (''Ow!!'') The Decepticon fell dead to the pavement. Lennox urged his troops onward as Megatron appeared to be getting the upper hand over Optimus.

[[Image:Movie Prime Jazz Ironhide Ratchet battleaftermath.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"Prime, could we maybe discuss this some time when you're not holding a corpse?"]]
As a second wave of F-22s approached the city, Starscream appeared in their midst, destroying three of them before the pilots realized what was happening. The surviving pilots attempted to engage the Decepticon. Several of the F-22s survived to make an attack run on Megatron, firing on him while Lennox's troops also attacked him, damaging his chest. Megatron advanced on Sam, and Prime urged him to push the cube into Prime's chest. Instead, Sam opted to push it into Megatron, killing him.

Ratchet and Ironhide arrived then, carrying the remains of Jazz, and Mikaela and Bumblebee reached the scene soon afterward. Prime thanked the humans for their effort and sacrifice. Bumblebee requested to stay with Sam. Prime granted the request, then extracted a sliver of the All Spark from Megatron's body.

Initial media reports called the attack "so-called alien activity" but the US government denied aliens had caused the Mission City destruction. {{storylink|Transformers (2007)|Transformers (2007)}}

===''Transformers'' film novelization===
{{note|For unknown reasons, here the Battle of Mission City was moved to [[Las Vegas]].<ref>''Bumblebee and Lennox's convoy headed for Las Vegas.'' — [[Movie (books)|Del Rey Books]], [[Transformers (novel)|Transformers]], p249, ([[2007]])</ref>}}
{{storylink|Transformers (novel)|Transformers (novel)}}

===Titan Magazines ''Transformers'' movie comics===
Wow, it sure is lucky for Mission City that all of the above ''didn't'' happen there but happened in [[Los Angeles]] instead! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 7|Starscream's Militia}}

Two years on, and Starscream is still unclear about why Optimus lured the Decepticons to this heavily populated city when he claims to like humans. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 22|#22's Star Screams}}

===IDW ''Revenge of the Fallen'' movie prequel comics===
In the aftermath of the battle, Lennox's soldiers became acquainted with the Autobots whilst they hunted [[Xbox 360 robot|mutated]] [[Dispensor|transformers]] created by the released All Spark energies. Optimus Prime requested Lennox's help in allowing the Autobots to transport Jazz's remains out of Mission City whilst evading untrustworthy humans such as those from Sector Seven. When a suitable abandoned truck trailer found, the assembled soldiers had a moment of silence as Ironhide placed Jazz's body inside. Soon after the Autobots left, [[Seymour Simmons|Agent Simmons]] and Sector Seven arrived to take away the dead Decepticons. {{storylink|Alliance issue 1|Alliance issue 1}}

===''The Veiled Threat''===
According to ''[[The National Enquirer]]'', the battle was caused by Elvis's robot alien offspring. {{storylink|The Veiled Threat}}

===The Real Effing Deal===
The official story is "several biomechanical prototypes by [[Mendelson Robotics]]" went haywire by accident; the government cleared Mendelson of any wrongdoing. The leaked Department of Defence reports also said that the tales of giant robots fightings are ''completely'' unfounded, even though their official story is ''it was big robots''. No wonder certain bloggers worked out the cover story was crap. {{storylink|The Real Effing Deal}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen''===
See above, except replace "Mendelson" with [[McClaren Robotics|''McClaren'' Robotics]].

Except when it's [[Massive Dynamics]]. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (novel)}}

Some of which claimed the battle took place in [[Los Angeles]]. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)}}

The terrifying thing is that this half-arsed cover-up actually ''worked''.

===Cyber Missions===
[[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] pursued [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]] through Mission City when Lockdown set off some explosives which caused some damage to the roadway that would have to be explained by [[NEST]]. Lockdown got away with Ratchet's [[Electromagnetic pulse|EMP]] blaster. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 3}}

==Related characters==
===Kid on freeway===
:''Actor:'' [[Chip Hormess]]
This young man was riding on the freeway though Mission City when [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|two]] [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|robots]] suddenly fell off the overpass and landed in their lane. His mother barely skidding their car to a halt, the kid watched in shock as one of the robots was struck so hard one of its [[Sensors|eyes]] popped out and it was knocked off the overpass on which they were sitting. As the other robot jumped after it, the kid said that the whole thing was cool.

===SUV driver===
:''Actor:'' [[Odette Yustman]]

This young woman and two of her friends were driving around in her SUV when [[Sam Witwicky|some kid]] nearly ran into her car. Failing to noticed the panicked bystanders running in the opposite direction, the woman asked if "that jerk" had dented her car. This was quickly forgotten as she noticed her [[Steering wheel robot|steering wheel]] had come to life. It proceeded to wrap itself around her face. Her fate is unknown, but [[Kiss Players (franchise)|things are not looking good]].

===Woman in blue===
This woman had the unfortunate circumstance of being caught in the middle of [[Brawl (Movie)|a tank]] firing shells at [[Ironhide (Movie)|a truck]]. As the truck [[Transformation|changed]] into a giant robot, it proceeded to do some questionably useful (but fun to see) somersaults over the missiles being shot at it, landing right near the woman and totally scaring the crap out of her. Of course, this raises another question: If a tank was shelling something, why did she stop right in its line of fire?

===Xbox owner===
:''Actor:'' [[Bob Stephenson]]

This man was proudly carrying his newly purchased [[Xbox 360]] down the street (as you do) when some sort of [[Energon (fuel)|energy]] surged from some [[AllSpark (Movie)|object]] that a kid was carrying. He heard the Xbox activate, he saw that it had [[Xbox 360 robot|sprouted arms]] that were trying to attack him. Despite the fact that it probably cost a great deal of money, the owner threw the Xbox away, deciding that it wasn't worth his life.

Remember that, people: Gaming is not worth your life!

==Notes==
*[[Roberto Orci]] confirmed they had considered having the film climax at the [[Grand Canyon]], which is close to the [[Hoover Dam]] and would've endangered a lot less civilians. [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-movie-discussion/180451-welcome-mr-roberto-orci-you-may-ask-him-questions-221.html#post3399075]
*At [[BotCon 2007]], at one of the movie's writers' panels, they explained that the original intent behind taking the All Spark to the city was not to "hide" it there, but simply to use the city as a rendezvous point—someplace relatively near the dam that might have a working radio they could use to call for help.
* [[Transformers: The Junior Novel]] set the final battle in the ostensibly nonfictional city of [[Las Vegas]] instead of Mission City, since it was set there in early drafts of the script. [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-movie-discussion/180451-welcome-mr-roberto-orci-you-may-ask-him-questions-220.html#post3395250]
*Most of the city skyline shots clearly show Los Angeles. The downtown street scenes were primarily filmed there as well. No wonder [[Fassbinder]] was confused.
* The abandoned building that Sam runs into, however, is actually the [[wikipedia:Michigan Central Station|Michigan Central Depot]], located in [[Detroit]].
* And because things weren't muddled enough, the Mission City diorama backdrop in the [[Longarm (Movie)|Final]] [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Stand]] Screen Battles set is actually a Photoshopped version of Scranton, Pennsylvania. <ref>[http://www.oafe.net/yo/tfm_sbfs.php OAFE review of The Final Stand Screen Battles set]</ref>
* The battle of Mission City, portrayed in ''Transformers'', contains several editing and plot errors, as well as some confusing editing choices (over and above Michael Bay's characteristic Shakey Cam point of view):
** During Optimus and Bonecrusher's fight as Bonecrusher skates through the bus causing it to burst into flames, no one is actually in the bus.
** It's not entirely clear where some of the Decepticons go during the battle, or why. Starscream defeats Ratchet and Ironhide, but then flies away instead of making a grab for Sam and the All Spark. Blackout is nearby at this point and would also seem to have an opportunity to secure the human, but he disappears after slicing up the street outside the diner, not reappearing until Megatron and Optimus begin their final fight.
** There's a long period where Jazz is not doing ''anything''. He's standing around in vehicle mode when Ironhide notices that the F-22 flying above the city is Starscream, stays in vehicle mode when Ironhide and Bumblebee pick up a Furby delivery truck for cover, ''still'' remains in vehicle mode when Starscream blasts them, and after Sam discovers that Bumblebee has lost his legs, all Jazz does is pull back for a few feet to give Bumblebee space to crawl. In the end, Jazz doesn't really join the battle ''at all'' until Brawl shows up.
** For that matter, the fact that Starscream completely incapacitates Ironhide and Ratchet (they're absent from the last eleven minutes of the fight) is not made clear. When we last see them, they are falling down, but Ironhide is still talking and moving.
** [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]], meanwhile, never shows up at all. Presumably he was fighting Optimus Prime off-screen, accounting for the Autobot leader's late arrival; Prime's delay seems too long to be accounted for solely by his very short fight with [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]].
** Why didn't Bumblebee use the All Spark to restore himself as Frenzy had done? Most likely because he was unaware the Allspark had such healing properties.
** Also unclear is why the military thought they could smuggle the All Spark out of town on a slow-moving helicopter, when fast-flying guys like Starscream and Megatron were around and well aware of the cube's location.
** Fans have speculated that Starscream actually participated in the F-22 attack run on Megatron. While there's no concrete evidence either way, it doesn't make much sense for him to be destroying the jets beforehand if he's just going to turn around and help them in their mission a few seconds later. When asked about it, screenwriter Roberto Orci explicitly refused to address this theory since it would pose a plot thread for the sequel. Meanwhile, IDW's [[The Reign of Starscream issue 1]] has Starscream consider this an option, but soon has the decision taken from his hands.
** Epps emphatically states that F-22 pilots would ''never'' fly between buildings, as they'd just observed Starscream doing. Yet a few minutes later, that's exactly what the real F-22s do. (However, it's possible that with Megatron and the other Decepticons currently battling in the streets, protocol was wavered for the missile strikes.)
** At the end of the Jazz/Megatron battle, Megatron rips Jazz in half. After several minutes, Optimus Prime walks up to Megatron, who is still holding Jazz's corpse. Why he was holding said corpse for such a long period of time is not made clear, but evidence from the movie's novelisation and in several other media suggests that Megatron could have been consuming Jazz's spark.
** The denizens of Mission City are remarkably well-composed considering that global communications networks have been shut down. You'd think there'd be a bit more "panic in the streets"... especially with all the audible explosions, and people fleeing from previous battlegrounds. Yet nobody ''ever'' panics until those freaking giant robots come literally crashing into the next nearby building. You'd think the girl whose steering wheel is brought to life by the Allspark would have bigger problems than Sam denting her car... such as those giant robots fighting everywhere. [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WeirdnessCensor Weirdness censor] doesn't even ''begin'' to describe this.

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:Battles]]
[[Category:Cities in the United States]]
[[Category:Movie locations]]

Mission City

2011-07-09T09:59:32Z

87.102.126.63: /* Transformers (2007) movie */

:''Mission City is a city from the [[Movie (franchise)|Movie]] [[continuity family]]''

[[Image:Mission City.JPG|right|300px|thumb|City motto? Life is pain.]]
'''Mission City''' is a city in the [[United States of America]], possibly in either [[wikipedia:Nevada|Nevada]] or [[wikipedia:Arizona|Arizona]]. It may rival [[San Francisco]] as "worst place to live", because it's the kind of place where [[Dispensor|Mountain Dew machines]] thirst for human blood, [[Xbox 360 robot|Xbox 360s]] play with the lives of their owners, and [[Steering wheel robot|steering wheels]] tend to [[kiss]] their drivers. It also had the poor fortune to be the location where the [[Autobot]]s and the [[Decepticon]]s threw down for control of the [[AllSpark (Movie)|All Spark]].

It's located 22 miles north of the [[Hoover Dam]].<ref>[[William Lennox]] explicitly states their distance from the dam in [[Transformers (2007)|the 2007 movie]].</ref> Its downtown has lots of Classically-detailed buildings from the early 20th Century which tend to shatter spectacularly when [[Transformer|giant robots]] smash into them. [[Interstate 95]] runs through it, somehow. <ref>[[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] follows [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]] along Mission City's Interstate 95 in "[[Cyber Missions 3]]." The real world's Interstate 95 runs up and down the United State's east coast.</ref>

==Fiction==
===''Transformers'' (2007) movie===
As [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] began to thaw, [[William Lennox|Captain Lennox]] suggested that they move the All Spark to Mission City, where it would be easier to contact and rendezvous with military airlift to take it to safety. Defense Secretary [[John Keller]] agreed with him, despite the risk of attack from pursuing Decepticons. [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] converted the All Spark to a more portable form, and he and a military escort, soon augmented by the Autobots, left for the city.

En route, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] left the escort to battle [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]], while the other Autobots continued into downtown Mission City. Their human allies, meanwhile, had summoned F-22 Air Force fighters to provide aerial support.

[[Image:Movie MissionCityBattle1.jpg|left|250px|thumb|[[Dark Star (issue)|Ironhide is the first person in some twenty years to consider Starscream a serious threat... with good reason for once.]]]]
Captain Lennox procured several short-wave radios to contact the hoped-for aerial support, intending to summon Blackhawk helicopters to extract the All Spark. They soon sighted a lone F-22 overhead and called for support, marking their location with green smoke. Too late, the Autobots realized that the incoming fighter was in fact [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]. [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] ordered the humans and other Autobots to fall back, as he and Bumblebee lifted a truck to shield them from Starscream's attack. The resulting explosion crippled Bumblebee, severing his legs below the knees.

As the humans realized the deception, they finally heard back from actual incoming Blackhawks, but they then came under attack from [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]]. [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] and Ironhide all rushed to attack as the human soldiers fell back. [[Mikaela Banes|Mikaela]] spotted a tow truck nearby and ran to procure it, while the crippled Bumblebee handed the All Spark off to [[Sam Witwicky|Sam]].

[[Image:Movie MissionCityBattle2.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Yeah, let's triple-team the guy who is suffering an identity crisis. That's fair.]]
Ironhide rushed Brawl head-on, transforming and vaulting over an extremely hot woman with a huge mouth, all the while dodging two of the Decepticon's missiles. Jazz attacked from another direction, yanking the Decepticon's main gun aside. Brawl transformed and tossed Jazz into a building. Ironhide fired on the Decepticon, while Ratchet and Jazz attacked from both sides, Ratchet using a [[saw]] blade to slice off one of Brawl's arms. The humans joined the Autobots in blasting Brawl, until a series of shots from Ratchet knocked the Decepticon to the ground.

While Mikaela worked to hotwire the tow truck, [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] landed in the city streets, prompting the Autobots to call a retreat. Jazz stayed behind and engaged the much larger Decepticon, getting blasted aside for his efforts.
[[Image:Movie2007 Jazz fighting Megatron.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Autobots, attack! ...Guys?]]

Mikaela drove the tow truck over to Sam and Bumblebee. Megatron, meanwhile, carried Jazz through the air, crushing him under his feet atop a building, then pulling him out. Jazz fired on Megatron, but the massive Decepticon tore him in half.

On the ground, Captain Lennox's troops observed Brawl getting back to his feet, as well as the arrival of Blackout, who transformed and landed atop a building behind them. Under sporadic hostile fire, Lennox led his troops back to Bumblebee's position as Sam and Mikaela worked to hook Bumblebee to the tow truck. Lennox handed a flare to Sam and ordered him to take the All Spark to a nearby rooftop, while [[Robert Epps|Sergeant Epps]] summoned their Blackhawk support to pick him up. Ratchet and Ironhide promised Sam that they would protect him as he carried out the mission. After a quick farewell to Mikaela, Sam fled.

Megatron (from somewhere) ordered the Decepticons to [[Decepticons, attack|attack]], prompting Devastator to fire. Ratchet and Ironhide provided cover fire as Sam ran. Blackout attacked from the other side, and Ironhide engaged him. Blackout bashed aside the car that Ironhide tossed at him, then transformed and flew away. Mikaela finished securing Bumblebee and drove him off, as Brawl continued his lumbering advance.

[[Image:Movie MissionCityBattle4.jpg|right|250px|thumb|This is the only time Prime and Megs got to use their signature weapons. You fail us yet again, Michael Bay.]]
Optimus Prime arrived after his delay on the freeway, transforming and challenging Megatron. Still perched atop his building, Megatron tossed away the remains of Jazz and transformed. He scooped up Prime and took him for a dizzying ride through the streets and buildings of the city, smashing through an entire office building at one point before crashing to the street. The two exchanged their respective views on humanity and fisticuffs. Prime managed to get in a shot at Megatron, but a blast from Megatron's main gun hurled Prime down the street and into the side of another building, prompting viewers to wonder why Michael Bay hates architecture so much. Prime then fell to the street amid a small crowd of panicked humans, some of whom may or may not have been crushed.

With Ratchet and Ironhide alongside him, Sam continued sprinting for the building. Blackout landed in the street and sliced at Sam with his rotor weapon, but did not attempt to capture him. Starscream also landed nearby and engaged Ratchet and Ironhide, blasting them both. Starscream then transformed and launched again as the two Autobots collapsed. Sam continued onwards.

Megatron flew down from the sky and transformed, demanding that Sam give up the All Spark. As Sam darted through traffic, a near-collision with an SUV made him drop the cube, unleashing a pulse of its power. The pulse brought several machines to life, including part of the SUV and a [[Dispensor|Mountain Dew vending machine]].

[[Image:Movie Brawl dies.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Gah! Heartburn!]]
''Meanwhile, in [[Detroit]]...'' Sam sprinted into the abandoned building, pursued by Megatron, who smashed through a floor practically on Sam's heels but failed to stop him from entering a fire stairwell.

Mikaela and Bumblebee stopped in an alley, while Sam continued climbing and Lennox's troops continued fighting against Brawl. Mikaela was crying, hitting the wheel in frustration, then turned to look at Bumblebee, who nodded. After a moment of preparation, Mikaela backed the tow truck into the street so that Bumblebee was facing forwards, then drove it full speed in reverse into the battle scene. Under heavy attack from two directions, Brawl suffered heavy damage, before a final shot from Bumblebee hit him in the chest, bringing him down for good. He collapsed into the building where Lennox's troops had taken shelter.

[[Image:Movie Megatron Samonroof.jpg|right|250px|thumb|It depends...how well do you take care of your pets?]]
As the Blackhawks closed in, Sam reached the rooftop and activated his flare. Starscream transformed and landed on a nearby building as the helicopters pulled up to the rooftop. Sam was inches away from handing off the All Spark when Starscream shot the waiting Blackhawk out of the sky. Optimus Prime sprinted toward the building, determined to save Sam. Starscream continued watching from nearby while Megatron bashed his way onto the rooftop. Cornering Sam, Megatron demanded the All Spark, then unsheathed a barbed mace and bashed the building out from under Sam's feet when he refused. Optimus Prime, suspended most of the way up the building, caught the falling human. Prime then vaulted/fell down to street level, with Megatron close behind. The two metal titans smashed into the street, scattering still more panicked humans, [[Michael Bay|one]] of whom got himself flicked aside by Megatron.

Prime ordered Sam to take shelter behind him and to push the All Spark into his chest if he was unable to defeat Megatron. As the two leaders laid into one another a second time, Lennox's troops moved in on their position. They stopped and observed as Blackout transformed, landed, and moved in to assist his leader. Epps called in a full air strike in on Blackout and Megatron, advising that the targets would be marked. The troops then marked Blackout with green laser light as the F-22s closed in. Meanwhile, Lennox secured a fallen motorcycle.

[[Image:Movie MissionCityBattle5.jpg|left|250px|thumb|WWWWHHHHEEEEEEEE!!!]]
Blackout was about to fire when he noticed the lasers lighting him up, so he instead turned to engage the soldiers, opening fire. Lennox raced at him on his motorcycle, evading Blackout's blasts and purposefully going into a long skid/slide along the ground. As Blackout was hit by fire from the F-22s, Lennox slid past and under him, firing several rounds directly up into the Decepticon's chest and crotch. (''Ow!!'') The Decepticon fell dead to the pavement. Lennox urged his troops onward as Megatron appeared to be getting the upper hand over Optimus.

[[Image:Movie Prime Jazz Ironhide Ratchet battleaftermath.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"Prime, could we maybe discuss this some time when you're not holding a corpse?"]]
As a second wave of F-22s approached the city, Starscream appeared in their midst, destroying three of them before the pilots realized what was happening. The surviving pilots attempted to engage the Decepticon. Several of the F-22s survived to make an attack run on Megatron, firing on him while Lennox's troops also attacked him, damaging his chest. Megatron advanced on Sam, and Prime urged him to push the cube into Prime's chest. Instead, Sam opted to push it into Megatron, killing him.

Ratchet and Ironhide arrived then, carrying the remains of Jazz, and Mikaela and Bumblebee reached the scene soon afterward. Prime thanked the humans for their effort and sacrifice. Bumblebee requested to stay with Sam. Prime granted the request, then extracted a sliver of the All Spark from Megatron's body.

Initial media reports called the attack "so-called alien activity" but the US government denied aliens had caused the Mission City destruction. {{storylink|Transformers (2007)|Transformers (2007)}}

===''Transformers'' film novelization===
{{note|For unknown reasons, here the Battle of Mission City was moved to [[Las Vegas]].<ref>''Bumblebee and Lennox's convoy headed for Las Vegas.'' — [[Movie (books)|Del Rey Books]], [[Transformers (novel)|Transformers]], p249, ([[2007]])</ref>}}
{{storylink|Transformers (novel)|Transformers (novel)}}

===Titan Magazines ''Transformers'' movie comics===
Wow, it sure is lucky for Mission City that all of the above ''didn't'' happen there but happened in [[Los Angeles]] instead! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 7|Starscream's Militia}}

Two years on, and Starscream is still unclear about why Optimus lured the Decepticons to this heavily populated city when he claims to like humans. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 22|#22's Star Screams}}

===IDW ''Revenge of the Fallen'' movie prequel comics===
In the aftermath of the battle, Lennox's soldiers became acquainted with the Autobots whilst they hunted [[Xbox 360 robot|mutated]] [[Dispensor|transformers]] created by the released All Spark energies. Optimus Prime requested Lennox's help in allowing the Autobots to transport Jazz's remains out of Mission City whilst evading untrustworthy humans such as those from Sector Seven. When a suitable abandoned truck trailer found, the assembled soldiers had a moment of silence as Ironhide placed Jazz's body inside. Soon after the Autobots left, [[Seymour Simmons|Agent Simmons]] and Sector Seven arrived to take away the dead Decepticons. {{storylink|Alliance issue 1|Alliance issue 1}}

===''The Veiled Threat''===
According to ''[[The National Enquirer]]'', the battle was caused by Elvis's robot alien offspring. {{storylink|The Veiled Threat}}

===The Real Effing Deal===
The official story is "several biomechanical prototypes by [[Mendelson Robotics]]" went haywire by accident; the government cleared Mendelson of any wrongdoing. The leaked Department of Defence reports also said that the tales of giant robots fightings are ''completely'' unfounded, even though their official story is ''it was big robots''. No wonder certain bloggers worked out the cover story was crap. {{storylink|The Real Effing Deal}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen''===
See above, except replace "Mendelson" with [[McClaren Robotics|''McClaren'' Robotics]].

Except when it's [[Massive Dynamics]]. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (novel)}}

Some of which claimed the battle took place in [[Los Angeles]]. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)}}

The terrifying thing is that this half-arsed cover-up actually ''worked''.

===Cyber Missions===
[[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] pursued [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]] through Mission City when Lockdown set off some explosives which caused some damage to the roadway that would have to be explained by [[NEST]]. Lockdown got away with Ratchet's [[Electromagnetic pulse|EMP]] blaster. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 3}}

==Related characters==
===Kid on freeway===
:''Actor:'' [[Chip Hormess]]
This young man was riding on the freeway though Mission City when [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|two]] [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|robots]] suddenly fell off the overpass and landed in their lane. His mother barely skidding their car to a halt, the kid watched in shock as one of the robots was struck so hard one of its [[Sensors|eyes]] popped out and it was knocked off the overpass on which they were sitting. As the other robot jumped after it, the kid said that the whole thing was cool.

===SUV driver===
:''Actor:'' [[Odette Yustman]]

This young woman and two of her friends were driving around in her SUV when [[Sam Witwicky|some kid]] nearly ran into her car. Failing to noticed the panicked bystanders running in the opposite direction, the woman asked if "that jerk" had dented her car. This was quickly forgotten as she noticed her [[Steering wheel robot|steering wheel]] had come to life. It proceeded to wrap itself around her face. Her fate is unknown, but [[Kiss Players (franchise)|things are not looking good]].

===Woman in blue===
This woman had the unfortunate circumstance of being caught in the middle of [[Brawl (Movie)|a tank]] firing shells at [[Ironhide (Movie)|a truck]]. As the truck [[Transformation|changed]] into a giant robot, it proceeded to do some questionably useful (but fun to see) somersaults over the missiles being shot at it, landing right near the woman and totally scaring the crap out of her. Of course, this raises another question: If a tank was shelling something, why did she stop right in its line of fire?

===Xbox owner===
:''Actor:'' [[Bob Stephenson]]

This man was proudly carrying his newly purchased [[Xbox 360]] down the street (as you do) when some sort of [[Energon (fuel)|energy]] surged from some [[AllSpark (Movie)|object]] that a kid was carrying. He heard the Xbox activate, he saw that it had [[Xbox 360 robot|sprouted arms]] that were trying to attack him. Despite the fact that it probably cost a great deal of money, the owner threw the Xbox away, deciding that it wasn't worth his life.

Remember that, people: Gaming is not worth your life!

==Notes==
*[[Roberto Orci]] confirmed they had considered having the film climax at the [[Grand Canyon]], which is close to the [[Hoover Dam]] and would've endangered a lot less civilians. [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-movie-discussion/180451-welcome-mr-roberto-orci-you-may-ask-him-questions-221.html#post3399075]
*At [[BotCon 2007]], at one of the movie's writers' panels, they explained that the original intent behind taking the All Spark to the city was not to "hide" it there, but simply to use the city as a rendezvous point—someplace relatively near the dam that might have a working radio they could use to call for help.
* [[Transformers: The Junior Novel]] set the final battle in the ostensibly nonfictional city of [[Las Vegas]] instead of Mission City, since it was set there in early drafts of the script. [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-movie-discussion/180451-welcome-mr-roberto-orci-you-may-ask-him-questions-220.html#post3395250]
*Most of the city skyline shots clearly show Los Angeles. The downtown street scenes were primarily filmed there as well. No wonder [[Fassbinder]] was confused.
* The abandoned building that Sam runs into, however, is actually the [[wikipedia:Michigan Central Station|Michigan Central Depot]], located in [[Detroit]].
* And because things weren't muddled enough, the Mission City diorama backdrop in the [[Longarm (Movie)|Final]] [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Stand]] Screen Battles set is actually a Photoshopped version of Scranton, Pennsylvania. <ref>[http://www.oafe.net/yo/tfm_sbfs.php OAFE review of The Final Stand Screen Battles set]</ref>
* The battle of Mission City, portrayed in ''Transformers'', contains several editing and plot errors, as well as some confusing editing choices (over and above Michael Bay's characteristic Shakey Cam point of view):
** During Optimus and Bonecrusher's fight as Bonecrusher skates through the bus causing it to burst into flames, no one is actually in the bus.
** It's not entirely clear where some of the Decepticons go during the battle, or why. Starscream defeats Ratchet and Ironhide, but then flies away instead of making a grab for Sam and the All Spark. Blackout is nearby at this point and would also seem to have an opportunity to secure the human, but he disappears after slicing up the street outside the diner, not reappearing until Megatron and Optimus begin their final fight.
** There's a long period where Jazz is not doing ''anything''. He's standing around in vehicle mode when Ironhide notices that the F-22 flying above the city is Starscream, stays in vehicle mode when Ironhide and Bumblebee pick up a Furby delivery truck for cover, ''still'' remains in vehicle mode when Starscream blasts them, and after Sam discovers that Bumblebee has lost his legs, all Jazz does is pull back for a few feet to give Bumblebee space to crawl. In the end, Jazz doesn't really join the battle ''at all'' until Brawl shows up.
** For that matter, the fact that Starscream completely incapacitates Ironhide and Ratchet (they're absent from the last eleven minutes of the fight) is not made clear. When we last see them, they are falling down, but Ironhide is still talking and moving.
** [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]], meanwhile, never shows up at all. Presumably he was fighting Optimus Prime off-screen, accounting for the Autobot leader's late arrival; Prime's delay seems too long to be accounted for solely by his very short fight with [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]].
** Why didn't Bumblebee use the All Spark to restore himself as Frenzy had done? Most likely because he was unaware the Allspark had such healing properties.
** Also unclear is why the military thought they could smuggle the All Spark out of town on a slow-moving helicopter, when fast-flying guys like Starscream and Megatron were around and well aware of the cube's location.
** Fans have speculated that Starscream actually participated in the F-22 attack run on Megatron. While there's no concrete evidence either way, it doesn't make much sense for him to be destroying the jets beforehand if he's just going to turn around and help them in their mission a few seconds later. When asked about it, screenwriter Roberto Orci explicitly refused to address this theory since it would pose a plot thread for the sequel. Meanwhile, IDW's [[The Reign of Starscream issue 1]] has Starscream consider this an option, but soon has the decision taken from his hands.
** Epps emphatically states that F-22 pilots would ''never'' fly between buildings, as they'd just observed Starscream doing. Yet a few minutes later, that's exactly what the real F-22s do. (However, it's possible that with Megatron and the other Decepticons currently battling in the streets, protocol was wavered for the missile strikes.)
** At the end of the Jazz/Megatron battle, Megatron rips Jazz in half. After several minutes, Optimus Prime walks up to Megatron, who is still holding Jazz's corpse. Why he was holding said corpse for such a long period of time is not made clear, but evidence from the movie's novelisation and in several other media suggests that Megatron could have been consuming Jazz's spark.
** The denizens of Mission City are remarkably well-composed considering that global communications networks have been shut down. You'd think there'd be a bit more "panic in the streets"... especially with all the audible explosions, and people fleeing from previous battlegrounds. Yet nobody ''ever'' panics until those freaking giant robots come literally crashing into the next nearby building. You'd think the girl whose steering wheel is brought to life by the Allspark would have bigger problems than Sam denting her car... such as those giant robots fighting everywhere. [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WeirdnessCensor Weirdness censor] doesn't even ''begin'' to describe this.

==Footnotes==
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[[Category:Battles]]
[[Category:Cities in the United States]]
[[Category:Movie locations]]