Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)

2009-06-30T16:40:25Z

UKER: Corrected some translations.

{{nav-rotf}}
'''''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen''''' is the first of two planned sequels to ''[[Transformers (2007)|Transformers]]''. It was released in North America on [[June 24]], 2009.

{{quote|Revenge is mine!|The Fallen, ''[[Revenge of the Fallen]]''}}

:''Japanese title:'' '''''Transformers: Revenge'''''
:''French title:'' '''''Transformers 2: La Revanche''''' (''Transformers 2: The Revenge'')
:''German title:'' '''''Transformers: Die Rache''''' (''Transformers: The Revenge'')
:''Polish title:'' '''''Transformers: Zemsta Upadłych''''' (''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'', except the word "Fallen" is a plural.)
:''Italian title:'' '''''Transformers 2: La Vendetta del Caduto''''' (''Transformers 2: The Revenge Of The Fallen'')
:''Serbian title:'' '''''Transformers 2: Najveće govno ikada''''' (''Transformers 2: The Revenge Of The Fallen'')
:''Spanish title:'' '''''Transformers: La Venganza de los Caídos''''' (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, except the word "Fallen" is a plural.)
:''Russian title:'' '''''Transformery: Mest' Padshikh''''', cyrillic: '''''Трансформеры: Месть падших''''' (''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'', except the word "Fallen" is a plural.)

==Main cast==
{{spoiler|Revenge of the Fallen (film)|July 24, 2009}}

{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] ([[Peter Cullen]]) (6)
*[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] (12)
*[[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] ([[Jess Harnell]]) (4)
*[[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] ([[Robert Foxworth]]) (16)
*[[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] ([[Mark Ryan]]) (37)
*[[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] ([[Grey DeLisle]]) (8)
*[[Chromia (ROTF)|Chromia]] (8)
*[[Purple motorcycle Autobot]] (8)
*[[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] ([[Tom Kenny]]) (10)
*[[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] ([[Reno Wilson]]) (11)
*[[Sideswipe (ROTF)|Sideswipe]] ([[André Sogliuzzo]]) (9)
*[[Jolt (ROTF)|Jolt]] (17)
*[[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] ([[Tom Kenny]]) (14)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] ([[Hugo Weaving]]) (31)
*[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] ([[Charlie Adler]]) (32)
*[[The Fallen]] ([[Tony Todd]]) (1)
*[[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] (19)
*[[Alice]] ([[Isabel Lucas]]) (24)
*[[Grindor (ROTF)|Grindor]] (34)
*[[Scalpel]] ([[John Di Crosta]]) (30)
*[[Reedman]] ([[Frank Welker]]) (20)
*[[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]] (7)
*[[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] (41)
*[[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] ([[Frank Welker]]) (15)
*A [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]] lookalike (42)
*[[Decepticon]] protoform army (41)
*[[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]]s
**[[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]] ([[Frank Welker]]) (38)
**[[Rampage (ROTF)|Rampage]] ([[Kevin Michael Richardson]]) (25)
**[[Mixmaster (ROTF)|Mixmaster]] (26)
**[[Long Haul (ROTF)|Long Haul]] (27)
**[[Scrapper (ROTF)|Scrapper]] (28)
**[[Hightower (ROTF)|Hightower]] (29)
**[[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]] ([[Calvin Wimmer]]) (6)
|c3=
*[[Sam Witwicky]] ([[Shia LaBeouf]]) (9)
*[[Mikaela Banes]] ([[Megan Fox]]) (13)
*[[William Lennox]] ([[Josh Duhamel]]) (2)
*[[Robert Epps]] ([[Tyrese Gibson]]) (3)
*[[Leo Spitz]] ([[Ramon Rodriguez]]) (21)
*[[Seymour Simmons]] ([[John Turturro]]) (36)
*[[Theodore Galloway]] ([[John Benjamin Hickey]]) (18)
*[[Judy Witwicky]] ([[Julie White]]) (10)
*[[Ron Witwicky]] ([[Kevin Dunn]]) (11)
*[[General Morshower]] ([[Glenn Morshower]]) (15)
*[[Professor Colan]] ([[Rainn Wilson]]) (33)
*[[Tova Simmons]] ([[Annie Korzen]]) (35)
*[[Fassbinder]] ([[Jonathon Trent]]) (22)
*[[Sharsky]] ([[Walker Howard]]) (23)
}}

==Technical details==
{{stub}}

==Short synopsis==
[[Image:ROTFteaserposter.jpg|right|250px|thumb|For dry, red eyes, the difference is clear: Clear Eyes.]]

The Autobots have found a home in "NEST", a secret military unit created to seek out and eliminate the remaining Decepticons. All is not well, however. Unbeknownst to them, Soundwave is in orbit, coordinating the Decepticon counterstrike. After Ravage steals the Allspark shard from NEST, a team of Constructicons and The Doctor journey to the bottom of the ocean and use it revive Megatron. The Decepticon leader journeys to the crashed Nemesis, rebukes Starscream, and meets with his master, The Fallen.

The Fallen explains that he had constructed a Solar Harvester on Earth, in violation of the Primes' code to never harm an inhabited planet. The Primes turned on him, banished and imprisoned him. However the Harvester still stands, and only one Prime remains. If Megatron destroys Optimus Prime, The Fallen will be freed to activate the Harvester, which will kill off the humans and provide the Decepticons with enough energon to raise an army. Megatron eagerly agrees, and returns to Earth with a vengeance.

It transpires that the location of the Harvester is hidden within Sam Witwicky, who absorbed the knowledge from another Allspark fragment. The Decepticons begin an all-out war across the Earth as they hunt down the human, and the Autobots and NEST are blamed for the ensuing carnage. Witwicky goes to ground, and must turn to unlikely allies in the race to find a solution. Ultimately, the last of the Primes defeats The Fallen, destroys the Harvester, and proves the Transformers' greatest power is found in their unexpectedly-ancient alliance with the humans.

==Full synopsis==
{{stub}}

==Quotes==


"Ding-a-ling, come out an' get yo' ice cream. Any bad robot out there better get ready for an ass-whoopin'."
:— '''Skids''' and '''Mudflap''' speaking their first line in the movie as the ice cream truck.

"Sam, fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing."
:— '''Optimus Prime'''

"Need parts. Kill ze little one!"
:— '''Scalpel''' instructs the Constructicons to kill one of their own, which they so happily oblige.

"Starscream, I'm home!"
:— '''Megatron'''. And the fangirls go wild!

"I know you’re pissed-I know you’re pissed, I tried to kill you, right? It’s totally understandable. I mean, if you tried to kill me, I’d be pissed, too."
:— '''Sam Witwicky''' tries to relate with '''Megatron'''.

"Is the fate of our race not worth one human life?"<br>
"You'd never stop at just ''one''. '''I'll take you all on!'''"
:— '''Megatron''' tries to justify killing Sam, but '''Optimus Prime''' disapproves based on the potato chip theory. Beatdown ensues.

"What planet am I on?"<br>
"Earth."<br>
"''Earth''? Terrible name for a planet. Might as well call it ''Dirt''. Planet Dirt."
:— '''Jetfire''' asks '''Simmons''' where he is, only to have negative thoughts.

"You know what my father was? [[Scrounge|A wheel]]! The first wheel! And you know what he transformed into? NOTHING! But he did so with honor! Dignity!"
:— '''Jetfire''' tells a story.

"Beginning. Middle. End. Facts. Details. Condense. Plot. Tell it."
:— '''Simmons''' demands more coherent exposition from Jetfire.

"Lemme show ya how we brought the pain in ''my'' day!!"
:—'''Jetfire''' enters the fray to show us young whippersnappers how it's ''really'' done.

"One man, alone, abandoned by the country he loves."
:— '''Agent Simmons''' being, well, Agent Simmons as he bravely charges off to lure the Decepticons away.

"GIVE ME YOUR FACE."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' warns The Fallen of his violent fetish.

"Not to call you a coward, master, but, sometimes, cowards do survive."
:— '''Starscream''' pitches his usual battle plan to an unusually receptive Megatron.

----

==Production staff==
* Writers [[Roberto Orci]] and [[Alex Kurtzman]] recruited [[Ehren Kruger]] to help them write the screenplay. [[Michael Bay]] and producers [[Don Murphy]], [[Tom DeSanto]], and [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]] also returned.<ref>[http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6372 Transformers 2 Writers Confirmed]</ref>
{{stub}}

===Visual effects===
{{stub}}
===Locations department===
{{stub}}

==Prequel material==
===Titan Magazines ''Transformers'' movie comics===
While the Decepticons were disgusted with the pro-Autobot propaganda of Bay's first documentary {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 13|#13's Star Screams}}, they're quite optimistic about the second film. [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] has taken a strong interest in it, going to the trouble of personally convincing [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] to be in the film {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 15|15's Star Screams}}.

The Decepticons promise this new documentary will show a glorious Decepticon victory {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 10|#10's Star Screams}} - whether it's in the script or not. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 18|#18's Star Screams}}

Shockingly, even ''they'' are under a non-disclosure agreement regarding the script; Starscream fearfully refers to a greater power keeping him quiet. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 22|#22's Star Screams}} Talking about it could even undermine the Decepticon war effort! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 23|#23's Star Screams}}

In the same week the film came out, the Decepticons suddenly became unhappy with it and the detente period ended. Bay, Kurtzman, and Orci are once again marked for extermination for their propaganda films. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.1|#1's Law and Disorder}}

===IDW ''Transformers'' movie comics===
{{stub}}

==Adaptations==
:''Main article:'' [[Revenge of the Fallen Movie Adaptation]]
{{main|Revenge of the Fallen (novel)}}
'''Children's adaptations'''
{{main|Revenge of the Fallen: The Junior Novel}}
{{main|The Last Prime}}
{{main|Operation Autobot}}
{{main|When Robots Attack!}}
{{main|I Am Optimus Prime (ROTF)}}
{{main|Rise of the Decepticons}}
{{main|Revenge of the Fallen: Sound Like the Transformers}}

==Sequels==
{{stub}}

==Soundtrack==
:''Main article:'' [[Revenge of the Fallen: The Soundtrack]]

==Score==
{{cleanup|June 25, 2009}}
:''Main article:'' [[Revenge of the Fallen: The Score]]
* [[Linkin Park]] and Hans Zimmer worked with Steve Jablonsky on the score of the movie. Linkin Park also wrote a song, called "New Divide". It was one of the theme songs for the movie, and they did several interpretations on that theme. <ref>[http://www.mikeshinoba.com/blog/special_events-recommended_music-in_the_studio-featured-linkin_park_/transformers_2_new_linkin_park_song_and_score]</ref>

==DVD release==

==Theatrical posters==
<center><gallery perrow="3">
Image:ROTFteaserposter.jpg|Teaser poster
Image:ROTF Theatrical poster.jpg|Theatrical poster
Image:ROTF International poster.jpg|International poster
Image:ROTF Prime poster.jpg|Prime poster
Image:ROTF bumblebee poster.jpg|Bumblebee poster
Image:ROTF Starscream poster.jpg|Wait...Starscream gets a poster but Megatron doesn't? That's just wrong.
</gallery></center>

==Reception==
{{quote|Transformers: ROTF has mostly gotten pretty hideous reviews, but that's because people don't understand that this isn't a movie, in the conventional sense.|[http://io9.com/5301898/michael-bay-finally-made-an-art-movie Michael Bay Finally Made An Art Movie], Charlie Jane Anders|[http://i09.com i09.com,] [[June 24]], [[2009]]}}
{{quote|[The critics] never seem to understand that I make movies for people to take a ride and escape.|[http://tinyurl.com/nyscnv forum post] by Michael Bay|[http://shootfortheedit.com shootfortheedit.com,] [[June 25]], [[2009]]}}

In the week leading up to the United States release, while the film had been released in Japan and the United Kingdom, ''Revenge of the Fallen'' was ranking 38% fresh on [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/transformers_revenge_of_the_fallen/ Rotten Tomatoes.com]. As American reviews were added into the ranking on June 24, the movie's freshness slipped slowly to 22%. RottenTomatoes.com's consensus was that "''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'' is a noisy, underplotted, and overlong special effects extravaganza that lacks a human touch." Roger Ebert, who gave the movie one star, remarked that "if you want to save yourself the ticket price, go into the kitchen, cue up a male choir singing the music of hell, and get a kid to start banging pots and pans together." <ref>[http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090623/REVIEWS/906239997 Roger Ebert's ''Revenge of the Fallen'' review] on RogerEbert.com</ref> Todd Gilchrist of Cinematical.com said Michael Bay "has exceeded even the possibilities of sequel-driven 'moreness,' combining his own muscular, high-gloss sensibility with the conventions of blockbusters past, present, and probably future to create a monolithic action masterpiece that feels destined to be the biggest movie of all time." <ref>[http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/22/review-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen/ Review: Transformers Revenge of the Fallen] on Cinematical.com</ref> Michael Phillips from the Chicago Tribune said "the first, comparatively lucid ''Transformers'' was a headache, but I sort of enjoyed it....''Revenge of the Fallen'' is more like listening to rocks in a clothes dryer for 2½ hours." <ref>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/chi-tc-mov-transformers-0623-0624jun23,0,7350387.story 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' stars Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel] on chicagotribune.com </ref> Roger Ebert went back for more in a second article, declaring not only that ''Revenge of the Fallen'' was awful, but that it'd [[Ruined FOREVER|ruined action films FOREVER]]. <ref>[http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/06/the_fall_of_the_revengers.html "The Fall of the Revengers"] on suntimes.com</ref>

Despite the overwhelmingly negative reviews, ''Revenge of the Fallen'' poised itself quickly as a blockbuster maelstrom. It grossed $16 million in its opening midnight showings alone, an all-time record for Wednesday openings and a second-best for openings on any day of the week behind ''The Dark Knight''. After the full Wednesday was over, ''Revenge of the Fallen'' had grossed $55 million in domestic ticket sales, surpassing the previous Wednesday release record, held by ''Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'', by over $10 million. <ref> [http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1614673/story.jhtml 'Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen' Breaks Wednesday Box-Office Record] on MTV.com</ref> By the end of the first five days, ''Revenge of the Fallen'' had taken an estimated $201.2 million in the United States, just shy of ''The Dark Knight's'' record $203.8 million 5-day US total. In the same period, international markets took in $186.1 million, bringing the 5-day worldwide total to $387.3 million.<ref>[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2601&p=.htm BoxOfficeMojo.com - Weekend Report: ‘Revenge of the Fallen' Rises with Optimal Debut, June 28, 2009]</ref>

==Trivia==
*The official title of the film is ''Revenge of the Fallen'' (with a lower-case "t" in "the") even though it is apparently referring to [[The Fallen]] (with a capital "T" in "The").
*Leo's room features posters for [[Wikipedia:Naruto|Naruto]], [[Wikipedia:Cloverfield|Cloverfield]], and [[Wikipedia:Bad Boys 2|Bad Boys 2]].
*During the scenes set in and around the deli in NYC, posters for the bands [[Wikipedia:Catch 22 (band)|Catch Twenty-Two]] and [[wikipedia:Voodoo Glow Skulls|Voodoo Glow Skulls]] are prominently featured.
*[[Frank Welker]] dubbed [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] not only in English but also in Italian, as a result, in the Italian edition of the movie Soundwave speaks with a strange, foreign accent.

==Transformers references==
In addition to carryovers from the previous film, various concepts and characters are derived from previous iterations of Transformers:
* The whole concept of "Transformers disguised as a human" used for [[Alice]] is inspired by the [[Pretender]]s. Roberto Orci even used the term "Pretender" during an interview before the movie release. However, a Transformer with an "organic" alt-mode instead of an external shell is a concept more reminiscent of the [[Beast Era]].
* The Generation 1 iteration of [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] is frequently portrayed as switching from Decepticon to Autobot (he's usually a young and technologically up-to-the-minute 'bot, however.)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and his ejectible minion [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] both have Generation 1 counterparts. Movie Soundwave even has the same voice actor as 1984 cartoon Soundwave, using the same voice, though without the synthetic vocal processing that made the cartoon voice so distinctive.
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] bears little physical resemblance to his Generation 1 namesake, but is a vaguely similar character archetype, and he ''does'' have that characteristic door armor hanging from his elbows.
* Generation 1 [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] was the first female Transformer with a starring role, and was likewise a pink-colored girlbot. The idea of Arcee the pink girlbot as a motorcycle dates back to ''[[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]''.
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], the combined form of the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]], was the first [[combiner]] robot in Generation 1.
* The characters are new, but the names "[[Mudflap]]", "[[Skids]]", "[[Jolt]]", "[[Rampage]]" and "[[Wheelie]]" are not. Likewise for the concept of "[[Seeker]]s".
* Prime dying and coming back to life has been done [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|times beyond counting]].
* Prime combining with another 'bot to increase his power (and often gain flight capabilities) is a trope that has occurred in many recent Transformers series (''Robots in Disguise'', ''Armada'', ''Energon'', ''Cybertron''.) In ''Armada'', a different [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] was his most frequent combination partner. This is the first time the other 'bot had to die for it to happen, though.
* The Fallen is based on a comic book character that made his debut in the 2004 miniseries [[The War Within: The Dark Ages]]. In fact, according to Hasbro, he is the ''exact'' same character!
* The [[Matrix of Leadership]] is one of the franchise's oldest MacGuffins.
* [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]] (mentioned though never seen) is the Transformers' power source in numerous incarnations, beginning with the original cartoon.
* Though it is almost certainly not an actual ''reference'' (it's a pretty generic and predictable sci-fi trope), the [[solar harvester]] is quite similar in function to the [[Solar Needle]] from the Generation 1 episode "[[Changing Gears]]", sucking energy from the [[Sun]] to produce energon. Both devices would have destroyed the Sun if allowed to fulfill their function.
* The same is true for Sam having Cybertronian knowledge pumped directly into his brain via a sacred Transformer talisman, which is reminiscent of [[Buster Witwicky]]'s similar situation in the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] G1 comics.

==Development details==
===Cast and crew signing on===
On may 30, 2007, a month before the official release of ''[[Transformers (2007)|Transformers]]'', [[DreamWorks]] announced that two sequels were already being planned.<ref name="spy">[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/a58430/two-transformers-sequels-in-pipeline.html Digital Spy article from May 2007, confirming that two sequels were being planned]</ref> [[Megan Fox]] had already been confirmed for the first of those sequels twelve days eaerlier<ref name="foxcon">[http://www.mtvmoviesblog.com/2007/05/18/megan-fox-confirmed-for-transformers-sequel/ MTV confirming Megan Fox for the sequel]</ref>, while [[Shia LaBeouf]] had already confirmed his participation in an–at that time still theoretical–sequel in November 2006.<ref name="shias">Rebecca Murray: [http://movies.about.com/od/bobby/a/bobbysl111006_4.htm Interview with Shia LaBeouf from 2006, confirming his participation in a theoretical sequel]</ref> Director [[Michael Bay]], meanwhile, only once briefly questioned his involvement in a sequel in August 2007, when [[Paramount Pictures]] announced that ''Transformers'' would be released on HD DVD, but not on Blu-ray Disc.<ref name="bayhd">[http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/08/21/michael-bay-responds-to-paramounts-abandonment-of-blu-ray-no/ One of many sites reporting Michael Bay's announcement that he would not direct the sequel if the first movie wouldn't be released on Blu-ray]. Bay deleted his original post after changing his mind.</ref> Bay quickly changed his mind, however, and Paramount would later release the first movie on Blu-ray anyway, after the HD DVD had been abandoned.

In September of 2007, Paramount officially announced the first sequel for June 2009.<ref name="reldat">[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117972852.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1 Variety reporting Paramount's official announcement of the first sequel]</ref> Bay was given a budget of $200 million, and ultimately managed to come in $4 million below that.<ref name="showest">[http://www.collider.com/entertainment/interviews/article.asp/aid/11461/tcid/1 Michael Bay talking the ''Transformers'' sequel at ShoWest“]</ref>

The ''Transformers'' screenwriters, [[Roberto Orci]] and [[Alex Kurtzman]], initially hesitated writing the sequel, but ultimately had a change of mind.<ref name="sciforc">[http://scifiwire.com/2009/03/orci-kurtzman-reveal-tran.php Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman talking to Sci Fi Wire.]</ref> In October 2007, [[Ehren Kruger]] was confirmed as a third writer, who, according to Kurtzman, brought in a "fresh perspective"<ref name="kickoff">[http://www.firstshowing.net/2009/01/14/kicking-off-2009-with-writers-alex-kurtzman-and-roberto-orci-part-two-transformers-2/ Another interview with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci]</ref>, and who reportedly impressed both director Michael Bay and [[Hasbro]] CEO [[Brian Goldner]] with his knowledge of ''Transformers'' mythology.<ref name="writersr">[http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/zap-transformers2writers,0,1938976.story Zap2it story about the ROTF writers]</ref>

In April 2009, Roberto Orci confirmed that cartoon voice actor [[Frank Welker]] would voice Soundwave.<ref name="welkers">[http://www.cinemablend.com/new.php?id=12917 Roberto orci confirming Welker as Soundwave]</ref> Welker had previously been considered as [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron's]] voice actor in the first movie, but ultimately Michael Bay had given that part to [[Hugo Weaving]] instead. Both Bay and the writers were also hoping that [[leonard Nimoy]] could voice a character in the movie.<ref name="sciforc"> Bay later stated that he was nervous of asking his relative Leonard Nimoy to voice The Fallen for fear of offending him with the relatively low pay allotted to voice actors.<ref name="nimoy1">[http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/04/21/michael-bay-afraid-to-offend-leonard-nimoy-with-transformers-family-reunion-offer/ ''Michael Bay Afraid To Offend Leonard Nimoy With ‘Transformers’ Family Reunion Offer'', MTV.com Movies blog, April 21, 2009]</ref> Even though Leonard Nimoy openly asked Bay to simply give him a call<ref name="nimoy2">[http://www.latinoreview.com/news/leonard-nimoy-to-michael-bay-call-me-6682 Leonard Nimoy To Michael Bay: "Call Me!"], Latino Review</ref>, and The Fallen was voiced by [[Tony Todd]] in the movie instead.

===Writing and production===
For the movie, Orci and Kurtzman searched the various ''Transformers'' comics and cartoons for "the most elemental bad guy", and eventually found one in [[The Fallen]].<ref name="sciforc"/>

In addition to that, they wanted to include many things in the sequel that hadn't made it into the first movie, including the Decepticon [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]]. Likewise, the [[Matrix of Leadership]] had initially been intended to be used in the first movie, but for fear of confusion with the ''Matrix'' movies, the cube had been renamed into [[All Spark]]. In return, the Matrix in ''Revenge of the Fallen'' bears more resemblance to the ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] Matrix.

In late 2007, during pre-production for then-untitled ''Transformers'' sequel, the [[wikipedia:2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike|Writers Guild of America went on strike]], but according to all parties involved, this didn't slow down preparations of the movie much in the long run. Screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci turned in their first outline of the script the night before the strike officially began. During the strike, director Michael Bay used the script as a basis for preparing the movie. After the strike had ended, Kurtzman, Orci and Ehren Kruger continued their work on the script, based on Bay's changes.<ref name="kickoff"/> One consequence of this development was that Michael Bay and Hasbro had selected some of the new Transformers characters that were to would appear in the movie during the strike, because of the long production run of the toys, while they had legally not been allowed to consult with the screenwriters.<ref name="sciforc"/> The "Twins", [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]], are Bay's creation.<ref name="jive">[http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2009-06-24-transformers_N.htm?csp=34 USA Today article on accusations of racism with the "Twins", and Michael Bay's response.]</ref>

Principal shooting began in June 2008 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.<ref name="pennlive">[http://blog.pennlive.com/lvbreakingnews/2008/06/shooting_starts_today_on_trans_1.html Pennlive story about the beginning of ROTF's principal shooting in Bethlehem]</ref> Other shooting sites were Philadelphia, the Campus of Princeton University, Long Beach, the Holloman Air Force Base and the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Some scenes were also shot in other countries, at the [[Wikipedia:Egyptian pyramids|Pyramids of Giza]] and in Luxor, Egypt, in Jordan and in Paris.

According to director Michael Bay, ''Revenge of ther Fallen'' is the first movie in abour 30 years to be given permission to shoot at the Pyramids of Giza, and the first movie ''ever'' to film on top of [[Wikipedia:Petra|Petra]].<ref name="bayclub">[http://www.transformersclub.com/tfrof-intv09.cfm Transformers Collectors' Club interview with Michael Bay]</ref> He obtained permission to film in Egypt by contacting Zahi Hawass, secretary general of Egypt's council of antiquities, who turned out to be a fan of the 2007 ''Transformers'' movie.<ref>[http://www.collider.com/entertainment/interviews/article.asp/aid/10866/tcid/1 The Collider article and video interview with Michael Bay, February 9, 2009]</ref>

During the time of shooting, actor Shia LaBeouf suffered a severe injury of his left hand in a car accident. Ultimately, however, filming was only briefly halted, and his injury worked into the film, thereby not adversely affecting the filming schedule.<ref name="TheList2008">[http://www.list.co.uk/article/10788-shia-labeoufs-transformers-hand/ The List 1 August 2008]</ref> For the movie, director Michael Bay earned himself an entry in the Guiness Book of Records for the "biggest explosion on film with actors present".<ref name="guiness">[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10579085 New zealand Herald article mentioning Bay' Guiness Book entry]</ref>

===Sponsors and partners===
====Hasbro====
[[Hasbro]] once again acted both as a licensor and actively participated in the development of the movie. Together with the first ''Transformers'' movie, the ''[[G.I. Joe]]'' movie ''Rise of the Cobra'' and several other planned movie projects such as ''Monopoly'', ''Stretch Armstrong'' and ''Battleships'', ''Revenge of the Fallen'' marks the beginning of a new company policy for Hasbro, believing that the new "the movie of the toy" strategy will be more lucrative than the old "the toy of the movie" concept, which involves hefty licensing fees.<ref name="brandweek">[http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jun2009/db20090611_333306.htm Brandweek article on Hasbro's new movie-related business strategy]</ref> Still, director [[Michael Bay]] receives an 8% cut of all toy sales from the ''Transformers'' movies.<ref name="forbesbay">[http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0622/celebrity-09-transformers-michael-bay-making-movies-enemies-money.html Michael Bay article on Forbes.com June 4, 2009]</ref> During the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, when nobody was legally allowed to consult with the screenwriters, Hasbro and Bay selected several of the new Transformers characters that were to appear in the movie.<ref name="sciforc"/>

====US military====
The [[United States military]] also supported the movie again, providing vehicles, shooting locations and military personnel that appear as extras in the movie.<ref name="milit">[http://www.military.com/entertainment/movies/movie-news/military-unites-with-hollywood-on-transformers?wh=entertainment American Forces Press Service press relase about the US military's contribution to ROTF]</ref> Due to scheduling coincidences, ''Revenge of the Fallen'' was given a larger support by the US Department of Defense than ''G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra'', which was produced at the same time. <ref name="dod">Jeff Schogol: [http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=62955 Stars and Stripes article about DOD support for ''revenge of the Fallen'' and ''G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra'']</ref> Initially, Bay had intended to include German soldiers in the movie (presumably as members of [[NEST]]), but even though the soldiers were eager to participate, the German government denied the request.<ref name="szpremiere">[http://newsticker.sueddeutsche.de/list/id/657558 Report from the German press conference (in German laguage)]</ref>

====General Motors====
American car manufacturer General Motors once again provided vehicles that were used by the Autobots as their [[alternate mode]]s. Returning from the first movie were the GMC Topkick ([[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]), the Hummer H2 ([[ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]) and the new Chevrolet Camaro ([[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]), the latter this time as a slightly updated Z/28 model as compared to the first movie's concept car model. Newcomers for ''Revenge of the Fallen'' are all from the Chevrolet brand, namely the Chevrolet Beat ([[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]]), the Chevrolet Trax ([[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]]), a new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray concept car ([[Sideswipe (ROTF)|Sideswipe]]) and, as a last minute addition, the new Chevrolet Volt electric car ([[Jolt (ROTF)|Jolt]]).

In total, General Motors provided 67 vehicles, 52 of them being prototypes not intended for sale.<ref name="chevytroubles">[http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2009-06-15-gm-transformers_N.htm USA Tosday story on Chevrolet's participation in the movie]</ref> as a consequence of the 2007-onwards financial crisis, however,
General Motors reduced their financial support for ''Revenge of the Fallen]] in April of 2009.<ref name="horsep">[http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cotown-transformers6-2009apr06,0,5419006.story LA Times story on General Motors cutting their support for ''Revenge of the Fallen'']</ref>

Director Michael Bay estimates that, without the support of general Motors and the military, production of the movie would have cost $10 million more than the $195 million ultimate spent.<ref name="forbesbay"/> Coinciding with the release of ''Revenge of the Fallen'', General Motors reported that sales of the new Chevrolet Camaro were so strong that orders were outrunning the supply, even though the car was being sold above MSRP in many places. A direct connection to the movie, however, could not be proven.<ref name="camarosells">[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aZCnXEtqqTcc Bloomberg reporting on strong sales for the new Chevrolet Camaro</ref>

====Product placement====
Like in the first movie, numerous companies signed a deal with the filmmakers with allowed for their product being included in prominent places in the movie. A Mountain Dew vvending machine can be seen in [[Leo Spitz|Leo's]] room, computer screens feature visible Cisco logos, [[Sam Witwicky|Sam]] and [[Mikaela Banes|Mikaela]] intend to communicate via iChat, a huge HSBC logo is seen at Times Squre in New York City, a Budweiser bottle is prominently featured in one of the Paris scenes, CNN is everyone's preferred news channel, and a giant IMAX logo is seen inside the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. In return, Mars heavily advertized ''Revenge of the Fallen'' with their chocolate candy brand M&M's.

{{cleanup|June 25, 2009}}
* Also on January 29, 2009, Simon Furman commented on MTV Movie Blog about how the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] wouldn't fit very well into the movie's universe, and that he is glad they were dropped from the cast very early in development.<ref>[http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/01/29/no-dinobots-in-transformers-2-revenge-of-the-fallen-original-film-consultant-explains-why/ MTV Movie Blog interview with Simon Furman, January 29, 2009.]</ref>
* On June 8th, 2009, the movie had its world premiere in Japan. Michael Bay, Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Isabel Lucas and Ramon Rodriguez attended.<ref>[http://www.michaelbay.com/newsblog/files/47a23fdbb6ddc8ece6a0a6c87ccc2bbe-499.html Japanese Premiere photos at Michael Bay.com, June 8, 2009]</ref>. Other countries such as South Korea<ref>[http://www.michaelbay.com/newsblog/files/f7a7af7e754cfa877a635b95d8908eea-506.html Korean Premiere photos at Michael Bay.com, June 9, 2009]</ref>, the United Kingdom and Germany followed over the course of the next few days.

===Disinformation===
{{cleanup|June 25, 2009}}
* Michael Bay has claimed that the studio is putting out deliberate misinformation, to obscure real leaks.<ref>[http://io9.com/382919/michael-bay-plays-internet-punkd Michael Bay Plays Internet Punk'd]</ref> (Like our jobs weren't hard enough.)
* During San Diego Comic-Con 2008, in an interview on July 25th, [[Simon Furman]] claimed that the film would feature a character called [[The Fallen]], which was a character they created for [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''[[The War Within: The Dark Ages]]''<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17412 Simon Furman confirms The Fallen is a character in an interview with Comic Book Resources]</ref> Three days later, [[IDW Publishing]] writer [[Chris Mowry]] corroborated the claim in an interview with MTV Splash Page, calling "The Fallen" the main villain of ''Revenge'' ([[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] was also confirmed in the same interview, but the reference to her was mysteriously removed shortly after publication). <ref>[http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/07/28/exclusive-transformers-2-prequel-comic-gives-inside-scoop-on-2009-movie/ MTV Splash Page interviews Chris Mowry]</ref> Less than a week after this, however, Michael Bay reiterated that everything leaked thus far is part of their misinformation campaign and that only a handful of people involved with the production of ''Revenge'' have seen the script, contradicting IDW's interviews where their representatives confirm that they have the script. Additionally, Bay claimed the only truth about the film was Sam going to college.<ref>[http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum/showpost.php?p=44729&postcount=2 A post made by Michael Bay on his forum]</ref> Curiously, on August 5th 2008, after a fan posted on Michael Bay's forum pointing out the contradiction, all references to the Fallen were removed from the aforementioned interviews, as well as any references to IDW Publishing having the script.
* ''Empire'' magazine's February 2009 issue features information on the role of the Egyptian Pyramids in the Movieverse's backstory. Michael Bay also confirmed The Fallen and denied Megatron would be resurrected (this later turned out to be untrue). Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics resembling helicopters will be revealed to be depictions of Transformers who visited Earth before the pyramids were built.<ref name="EmpireFeb2009">''Empire'' article entitled "20 to watch in 2009", written by Nick de Semelyn, dated February 2009, pages 68 and 69, issue 236</ref>
* After a short and poorly excuted "misinformation campaign" on the part of Michael Bay, Paramount and their licensees where they claimed that Megatron was not in the movie despite all ''officially released'' evidence to the contrary (including Megatron's brief appearance in the February 1 Superbowl tv spot and the February teaser trailer), Roberto Orci confirmed that Megatron does indeed return.<ref name="Megatron returns">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-movie-discussion/180451-welcome-mr-roberto-orci-you-may-ask-him-questions-211.html#post3333713 Roberto Orci confirms Megatron's return on TFW2005.com - February 22, 2009]</ref>
* On March 6, due to the reports of Weaving's return, Michael Bay finally admitted Megatron was back, but claimed that Megatron would only appear briefly in a flashback to the past, despite the fact Megatron can be seen pinning Sam Witwicky to the ground in ''Revenge's'' tv spot and teaser trailer. One can assume that the director was trying to salvage some form of audience surprise in seeing Megatron return in the movie. In other news of a presumably legitimate kind, Bay said that the movie would go into the distant past and explain the history of the [[Prime]]s.<ref>[http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum/showpost.php?p=66825&postcount=4 Michael Bay on his forum - March 6, 2009]</ref>

==Errors==
*Bumblebee picks up Sam at a frat party in the evening. He then takes him to a graveyard where it's daytime.

*During Sam's campus freakout, when he drops his notes on the steps, a blonde woman in a suit can be seen coming down the steps to his left, nearly reaching him. However, when the camera angle shifts, the woman is suddenly at the top of the stairs again.

*On the sonar, there are "five contacts" diving down to Megatron's location, and "six contacts" going up after his resurrection. Since one Constructicon was killed to repair Megatron, shouldn't there be only five contacts going up as well? Keep in mind, Scalpel is too small to register on sonar, but Ravage is just large enough.

*When the [[Wikipedia:USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)|USS ''Theodore Roosevelt'']] is sunk by Decepticon [[transition form]]s, the hull number of 74 can clearly be seen.{{fact}} CVN-74 belongs to the [[Wikipedia:USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)|USS ''John C. Stennis'']], a carrier that shows up later in the film and was also the carrier used for filming.

*Simmons has [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy's]] head in a glass case, but Frenzy's head was shattered completely in the previous film.

*When Jetfire is activated at the [[Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum]] (actually the [[Wikipedia:Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center|Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]], an annex of the Smithsonian) in Washington, he leaves the exhibition center and exits into the desert location of the [[Wikipedia:309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group|309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (aka The Boneyard)]], which is in Tuscon, Arizona. When Jetfire breaks out of the building, we can see a composited image of the Boneyard's rows of planes, so it's arguable that in this universe the middle of Washington DC happens to be a desert full of old planes, and no buildings and uh... heh heh. Given that this and the Transformers are the ''only'' changes between this universe and ours, that's a stretch.

==External links==
*[http://www.transformersmovie.com Dreamworks/Paramount's ''Transformers'' Movie website]
*[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/ Hasbro's ''Transformers'' homepage]
*[http://www.collider.com/entertainment/interviews/article.asp/aid/10866/tcid/1 Interview with Michael Bay 02/09/2009] — Collider.com

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

[[Category:Films]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen]]

MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)