“Transform, and roll out.” (975 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.93 on 39 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Chronic (View user info) at 2005-02-04 04:14:31 EST
Tonight, a link to the past was actualized between a trio of Collegiate boys. It all began last night in a toxin-induced stupor which somehow led us to a discussion of the Transformers, and more specifically, Transformers: The Movie. We discussed how it had affected us as kids and how it was finally time to go back to the movie that had scarred us so deeply. If you have seen this movie, and watched all the characters you knew and loved massacred without regard, you would understand why this movie changed our childhoods. It was a right of passage for all boys who were young when I was young. The story led to the movie, and the movie changed everything. Suddenly, guns were lethal. Mortality was fully realized through the deaths of our heroes.
How can I even type the words? Optimus...gone?
As a child, I remember the tears streaming down my face. I remember the pain of watching the greatest of heroes fall in battle despite all of his valiance and courage. Everything changed. Regardless, I've digressed.
When the topic first arose, we were all giddy in our remembrance of the mighty Transformers. Our favorite characters and battles and quotes. These were things we hadn't thought of for years. Then, some dumb female let loose the following remark and swung the conversation 180 degrees.
"Wasn't there like, a movie or something, too?"
We fell silent. It all came flooding back. I shot her a glance to signify that it wasn't a topic that one should discuss in such a tone. Her oblivious stare was crippling. Our voices lowered and we touched on the subject of the Transformers movie for the first time in years. It fringed on emotional. Our eloquence was magnified as we discussed the finer symbolisms in the warring world of Autobots and Decepticons that were only fully realized in this epic jewel of cinema. A request fell upon our collective ears.
"We need to rent this."
At first, I was outraged.
"We most certainly will not rent this. There's a reason that the Transformers are etched in my brain the way they are. We can't view it again, with mature eyes. Sure, it's a mature movie, but only innocent eyes are meant to view it."
I really thought I was right. Well, at first, anyway. We continued discussing the topic and I slowly began to realize that this movie needed to be seen again, for closure. For the closure of seeing this movie again, through the eyes of a teen on the cusp of adulthood. Some laughed at our ideas, but we made a choice to go rent it the following day; a choice that could not be ignored or forgotten.
The following day was a Thursday, in fact, this Thursday. The Thursday after one of the hardest days of my life. In another post, I discussed the loss of a 20-year old friend over Christmas break. Yesterday would have been his 21st birthday, and god knows I was feeling it. It was also the day for a new round of MRIs for another vulnerable friend I discussed in the same post. I was REALLY feeling it. My friends at school finally got me out of the room around 11 o'clock last night to join the calm and quiet festivities that led to our discussion of the Transformers.
Today was a new day, and so I dealt with it as such. I woke early and went to my classes and tried to live my life. I impatiently awaited the evening planned ahead. A College Thursday with no wild behavior. A quiet night in a quiet dorm room with the Transformers glowing from the television.
He said: "Chron, it's Thursday man. Thursday. You know what that means? Come to this party across town with me."
"Nah man, I got stuff goin' on tonight."
She said.: "Hey you. Wanna come drink with the girls from my floor tonight? I miss hangin' around with you."
"Nah, sorry. I got stuff goin' on tonight."
There were places I could've gone on this night. Great places. Things I could've done. Great things. I don't care what you did or where you did her tonight. What I did was better. We three people walked, stoned, 10 blocks in the rain to get this movie and a complimentary ten blocks back. We arrived back at our monstrosity of housing and got too high for words. We organized ourselves and set up places to recline. We prepared snacks that never got eaten. We were too engrossed to eat. The movie, now available on DVD I might add, flickered onto the screen.
The room fell utterly silent. We stared in wonder and amazement. Over the course of the film, only once or twice my eyes left the screen, but even then, only to send a look of despair or joy to one of my companions. Somehow, every scene was new, as if never seen by my eyes, as if never seen by any human eyes. I knew every swing and plot twist in advance. The scars they left are still imprinted on my mind. Regardless of the scars, I felt as though I was seeing everything for the first time, with different vision.
When the final credits finally rolled, my chest finally dropped a bit. The muscles in my chest had been clenched slightly for the duration of the film. The magnitude of symbolism in the Transformers movie hit me harder than it ever had before, even in my innocent youth.
"...Oh my..."
"...I know..."
"...Speechless..."
Three comments shook the room. That was the best we could muster in such a moment. Long live the legacy of the Transformers, of the Matrix, of Optimus' saving sacrifice, of dozens of fallen heroes, of the flawlessly designed inter-dynamics of the Decepticons and Autobots among their own ranks, of the resilience of survivors, of the final defeat of Unicron.
I consistently end my posts with a movie quote that I feel embodies some aspect or theme of the pieces I write. Tonight is different. Originally, I wrote a huge series of dialogue; twenty or so quotes that could clearly guide you through the movie whether you have seen it or not. It was well thought out, artistic even. After more thought, I realized that no matter the quality of the written words, it would do no justice to the way things were actually said and what they really meant in their wider context of the Transformer universe.
To close tonight instead, I leave a request for all those who knew the world of the Transformers. Go rent/buy/steal this movie. If for nothing else, do it to experience Orson Welles' final performance.
And make sure someone in the group has a membership to the movie store you're going to. Seriously. We filled out a complicated application through the mental haze of being blazed. We could have signed away our souls for all I know. Yeah, think about that.
---
Chroniclysmically Conceptualized
User Reviews
Submitted by Calios (user info) at 2007-06-09 02:15:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by PerkMan (user info) at 2006-08-01 18:15:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I remember watching this with my fat friend Adam. We both kind of cried when Optimus prime died.
I mean I felt tears come to my eyes during that part. That was part of the innocence of being a child back then in the 90's. I remember so much of those carefree days. ahahhaha I try to smoke once in a while to capture that time. I need to make a post about being a kid in the late 80's, early 90's. The shit in so many ways...
And they showed Starscream's badassness. Megatron barely alive asks for help and he could live. StarScream evil, and cold dumps him into outerspace to die. What did this show you as a kid?
That there is no honor among theives. And also how evil and cunning Starscream was. Fuck yeah. That movie is the greatest work for any cartoon series ever invented. Please take me back to a time when movies were real, stories strong, and movies are good. That are riddled with life, and laws of the world, shown to children through a cartoon.....
Submitted by Calios (user info) at 2006-05-09 06:23:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
in the words of Optimal Optimus Primal:
"Die-cast construction. It's a lost art."
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-01-22 19:12:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I've been saying this for years and I'm sick of the looks I get. IT IS AN IMMENSE FILM - PLEASE WITNESS MY REVIEW BELOW IN TWO PARTS. Thank you.
http://www.ubersite.com/m/79435 - part 1
http://www.ubersite.com/m/79439 - part 2
http://www.ubersite.com/m/78637 - just a general rambling about which transformers are the hardest
Submitted by Dead_0hi0_Sky (user info) at 2006-01-22 17:31:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"Untill the Day, Till All are One"
Submitted by Dead_0hi0_Sky (user info) at 2006-01-22 17:06:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
anyone remember the GI Joe movie?
didnt Cobra commander die in the end? or did Hawk try to save him?
its been so long, i cant remember anymore.
Submitted by coley (user info) at 2006-01-22 16:41:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I never knew there was a movie..
What about Thundercats?
Submitted by Rads_wife (user info) at 2005-06-14 00:22:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.ubersite.com/m/68315
WINNER!!!
Submitted by Rads_wife (user info) at 2005-06-04 03:12:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Chroniclysm (user info) at 2005-02-04 15:11:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
This place is moving quick today. I'm already half way down the second page.
Submitted by joefu007 (user info) at 2005-02-04 14:23:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Thanks for bringing up all of those childhood memories. I will have to dust off the DVD and watch it tonight.
Long Live Megatron..... Fuck that Galvatron guy!
Submitted by Chroniclysm (user info) at 2005-02-04 11:58:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
You're thinking of Soundwave.
Soundwave: Superior. Constructicons: Inferior.
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2005-02-04 11:27:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Ah yes, loved the cassette tape transformer...
Submitted by Chroniclysm (user info) at 2005-02-04 11:23:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
It was quite an s-bomb.
Submitted by d_prime (user info) at 2005-02-04 11:16:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I love it when a quality writer produces some work, and does so with seriousness, even though it's about transformers.
I just called my mom, who happens to work at Blockbuster. I'll have it tonight. I also called my friend, who works in the alley behind Blockbuster. Me and him will have another valuble thing tonight.
Thanks!
Submitted by big_wigger (user info) at 2005-02-04 11:12:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I remember seeing it in the theatre when it came out but all I can remember now is that we thought it was hilarious when the kid character said "shit"
Submitted by Chroniclysm (user info) at 2005-02-04 10:57:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I knew I wasn't alone in this. Anyone who watched the Transformers and then saw the movie got blown the fuck away.
Submitted by Calvinhobbes (user info) at 2005-02-04 10:08:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
And megatron. We finally see him in his true light.
We see him mercilessly slaughter long-time autobots in some scenes where it is so brutal that the animated camera actually pans away from it.
The legacy lives on.
Submitted by Adamdidit2u (user info) at 2005-02-04 09:25:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.ubersite.com/m/57949 <----- TRANSFORMERS!
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-02-04 09:22:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I have the original VHS release. My kid watches it regularly, with me of course.
Submitted by The_taste_of_Monkeys (user info) at 2005-02-04 09:21:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Word
Submitted by knucklesnelson (user info) at 2005-02-04 09:19:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
transformer's more than meet's the eye's
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2005-02-04 08:31:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
niiice.
Submitted by Hadooken (user info) at 2005-02-04 08:18:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
optimus prime dead? thanks for ruining the movie for me ass!
just playin, that movie indeed brought ass kicking to levels our childhood minds could not yet comprehend. should have attached a photo though.
Submitted by MrRottenTreats (user info) at 2005-02-04 08:17:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I bought the DVD at Christmas and watched it with my brother. I felt like crying all over again. Ohhh Transformers <3
Submitted by ess-arr (user info) at 2005-02-04 08:02:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Word has it a new big budget CG movie is in the works.
ahhh more than meets the eye. +2
Submitted by Teephphah (user info) at 2005-02-04 08:00:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
<flicks lighter and holds the flame aloft whilst simultaneously wiping tears from eyes>
I know, man. I know.
Submitted by creep_firebombing (user info) at 2005-02-04 06:31:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
PS - I'm buying the Transformers DVD today. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT MOTHERFUCKER WAS ON DVD!
LOOK FUCK YOU! I'VE BEEN UP SINCE 8AM YESTERDAY AND I FINALLY GET TO LEAVE WORK IN A HALF AN HOUR SO I CAN MAKE MY ONE HOUR DRIVE HOME AND GET THERE JUST IN TIME TO GO TO THE FUCKING DENTIST!
AND IT'S MY FUCKING 25TH BIRTHDAY!!!1one![capslock]
Submitted by creep_firebombing (user info) at 2005-02-04 06:18:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Did you know Rambo was supposed to die at the end of the first movie?
Combine that with Optimus Prime and Terminator sinking into the molten steel and our entire generation would have committed suicide.
=========================================
Don't you know that all my heros died?
I guess I'd rather die than fade away.
Submitted by screamfeeder (user info) at 2005-02-04 06:00:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2005-02-04 05:40:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by pen_name (user info) at 2005-02-04 05:21:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I can barely type the words optimus prime without getting goosepimples. Magnificent sacrfice for the greater good.
Kinda makes frodo look like he works in walmart huh?
...............
reminds me of when the Terminator gave the thumbs up as he sunk into the molten metal. I was choked up like you wouldn't believe.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-02-04 05:15:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I can barely type the words optimus prime without getting goosepimples. Magnificent sacrfice for the greater good.
Kinda makes frodo look like he works in walmart huh?
Submitted by etbeliever (user info) at 2005-02-04 05:01:22 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I recently re-watched the transformers movie and had to re-live the terror having repressed the earlier memories...
Submitted by mrwolf (user info) at 2005-02-04 04:52:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I watched transformers recently/. Thought it sucked now I'm grown up, I know that's blasphemy.
Submitted by FelizJbirth (user info) at 2005-02-04 04:37:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You got the touch! You got the power!
Submitted by hidden101 (user info) at 2005-02-04 04:37:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Transformers The Movie rules.
Submitted by pen_name (user info) at 2005-02-04 04:34:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
ok, you made the transformers touching. that takes skill.
Submitted by garyhal (user info) at 2005-02-04 04:27:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Those were the days!! Robotech was also the Bomb!!