NEWS: Zemeckis to Direct \\\\\\\"Transformers\\\\\\\"?

CULTURE: Zemeckis to Direct "Transformers"?

Robert Zemeckis may be tapped to direct the adaptation of the perennial cartoon favorite The Transformers. Inland Empire Strikes Back (via IGN FilmForce) reports that at the Wizard World's Los Angeles convention, producer Tom DeSanto stated that the Back to the Future director would direct and New Line would distribute the live-action feature.

When I first read this, I didn't think Zemeckis could pull this off. Then I remembered the very end of Back to the Future III and I felt positive about the prospects of this new movie.

I dunno, man... live action TFs just don't sound like a very smart move...

I'd say there's more, much more, than meets the eye to this.

I love when they decide to make a live-action film that would end up being 96% computer effects anyway. I'm sure the addition of one very real and very annoying child will make all the difference in the world.

i think it's only a rumor. numerous directors have been tied to this project at one point or another since it was announced they were gonna do it.

transformers are very dear to me... at this point, i don't care who does it, as long as they don't fuck it all up. i am worried though, that the toy aisle will become over saturated just like it is whenever a big name property gets a new movie. batman, even though it was good, ruined itself for the fans... hulk, x-men, spiderman, star wars, even lord of the rings dumped out a bunch of product merchandise when their respective movies hit.

it's kind of like when a band you've been in love with forever finally makes it big, to the point where their t-shirts are being sold everywhere, and you just get sick of them and all the whiny brats you have to beat to the record store before their new cd sells out. then, all your friends laugh at you for ever liking that band in the first place.

the target market for this movie should be people in their twenties who grew up with the property, right? somehow, i think instead they are just gonna dumb it down for the kiddies. it is gonna be based on toys after all.

-bobby

Have I told you lately you're my hero? You've got the touch.

i hope they remember optimus prime is jewish

You've got the poweeeeeeerrrrrr! Yeah!

- Stan Bush

All I can picture are those fight scenes at the end of Power Rangers when they've formed that big-ass robot.

I'm a huge Transfan, but this is gonna be bad. One way or another, this will be bad.

Bad compared to what? The original show that tried really hard to mask the fact that it was painted by starving third world children who couldn't remember if Jazz was red or grey? If the movie can at least keep track of whose voice belongs to what robot, it'll be better than anything the show could ever do.

They've been doing CGI Transformers since the mid 90s, Beast Wars first premiered in 1996. So I don't think the CGI itself will look too bad, it's the interaction between the two and as aforementioned if they get any annoying kids in it. It all depends who they plan to market it to, the Transformers movie was obviously much more adult than the TV series or the following spin offs, but I doubt they will go that route. Despite my belief that "The Bob" can pull it off, he's hit and miss, but usually with sci-fi he's very much a hit (Back to the Future, Contact), I think they will play to a younger audience like Star Wars is doing. That might mean it will suck, but we can't be sure.