Editorial: Has Transformers Bought The Internet?

By Josh Tyler: 2006-08-28 00:00:00

Editorial: Has Transformers Bought The Internet?

The world of internet reporting is changing folks. There was a time when the net was the one place you could go to get the unfiltered truth. Granted, you'd have to sort through a lot of garbage to get to it, but the net was primarily populated by people making their real opinions heard, without any of the spin of corporate America.

No more.

If you want proof, look no further than Paramount's online marketing campaign for next year's Transformers movie. What, you haven't seen the advertisements? Sure, they aren't running any banner ads or releasing many movie posters or trailers for it yet, but the marketing campaign has already begun. You just don't know you're being marketed to.

A few weeks ago, no a few days ago, the buzz on Michael Bay's upcoming Transformers movie was pretty bad. Fans were in an uproar over recently released pics of what it is that Bay is doing to their beloved robots. Even non-fans had to admit… that Megatron design looks like crap. It looks like a Shrike vomited up a jet.

But over the past few weekends there's been a shift. Paramount's goons have taken control of the situation by pouring a wad of cash into it, and suddenly everything's coming up roses. For instance, go to the once fan populated message board of Transformers producer Don Murphy… and you'll find nothing but popcorn and bubblegum for the film where outrage, disappointment, and calls for boycott once stood.

There's a reason for that. The dissenting voices have been banned and beaten down with threats.

Surf around the internet to those movie sites that were once critical of the film, and in place of their hard hitting reports about how Paramount might be screwing up, you'll find set reports praising the film for being "faithful" and lauding the very things about the film they'd trashed only a few weeks before. It's easy to be positive when you get an all expenses paid vacation to a movie set I guess. I'm not sure I wouldn't have been lured in by it myself. But let's not blame this all on set visits. For some of these offenders the ass-kissing began when they got their first call from Paramount weeks ago. It's only culimated in this.

Yes, Paramount is turning the buzz around for their Transformers project, and they're doing it with a big silencer. Those not already bought and paid for are probably afraid to open their mouths. After all, this is the movie studio that had a website shut down for daring to run an unapproved photo.

Now I'm not suggesting anyone trumpeting positivity for the film is a sellout. I'm simply saying the sudden turnaround is suspicious. Take that for what you will and remember when you read about how Transformers is the most fan-friendly, faithful adaptation of a popular franchise property in the history of film, to take it with a grain of salt. Maybe the movie will be good, maybe it won't (and from what I've heard of the script my bet is on won't), but for now, reader beware. The asking price for integrity might be lower than you think on the internet.

For a recap of all the Transformers set reports being thrown out there, visit our unsullied friends over at FilmRot.

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