Claims aren’t facts –Transformers 3 “
A commercial just ran for the blue ray release of Transformers 3. In the commercial it states Transformers 3, as being the best action movie of all time. That commercial is brainwashing the children of the 21st century, and solidifying my place as an old man, when I eventually have to argue that Transformers 3, is not the best action movie of all time.
“I say and I say it again, you’ve been had. You’ve been took. You’ve been HOODWINKED, BAMBOOZLED, led astray, run amok.” – Malcolm X
You see even Malcolm agrees with me. Usually people’s views of films are lopsided. They approach a film with certain expectations, and are inevitably let down when these expectations aren’t met.
The problem with the Transformers franchise for me was I never liked the movies. I tried, believe me, I tried. I followed the Transformers franchise when I was younger. I still remember when Megatron would transform into a gun, which was unbelievably awesome. The idea that a villain could transform into a weapon, that couldn’t be operated unless another villain fired it, always blew my mind as a child.
When Megatron turned into a gun there was always the possibility that someone could die. Unfortunately, the action figure would prove that statement to be true, as a young boy was shot and killed while possessing, possibly the coolest transformer ever “Megatron”. Megatron would transform into what supposedly looked like a realistic Walther P38, a small pistol, at least that’s what the officer’s defense was.
In Transformers the movie (Animated) released in 1986, Megatron shot and killed many autobots in his transformed state in his first scene. He eventually kills off Optimus Prime, because Prime wants to talk smack, and then Megatron lets him have it, villain style. After their epic fight which leads to Prime’s death, which he would not return from until later on in a televised special. Megatron now battered and bruised from the fight, is hurled into space by Starscream, who attempts to take control of the discepticons . After floating in space Megatron comes across another sentient robotic being, who reconfigures his entire system, and transforms Megatron into Galvatron. Instead of transforming into a weapon that would be wielded, Galvatron would turn into a Plasma Canon, which he could fire at will. At Starscream’s make-shift coronation, where he was to be declared ruler of all discepticons, Galvatron would make an appearance. Starscream recognized Galvatron(former Megatron) seconds before he had been disintegrated by a plasma canon shot.
What does any of that have to do with Transformers 3, right?
Optimus Prime’s greatest Villain was treated like a second rate character, throughout the entire franchise. The first film built Megatron up, only for a teenager to single handedly stop a Villain, who had brought destruction to his own planet
Still, what does any of this have to do with Transformers 3?
After the first film there was no doubt that the hero would prevail. Sure, Optimus died in the sequel, only to be brought back in the same film. However, to be called the greatest action film of all time is one of the few things a commercial cannot claim to be. The method to be the best is not just special effects; it’s not all the obstacles a hero must endure, to be the best action film there must be a moment where the audience believes a hero will not be able to achieve his goal. This was not achieved in any of the three lackluster films put out by Bay, especially the third.
The two movies that I believe to have a legitimate shot at being called “The best action movie of all time” is either “Terminator 2” or “Aliens”.
Students are asked to interpret works of art and give their opinion from time to time. This is one of those times.
What film do you think is the best action movie of all time?
