Transformers Sequel Soon?

With the success of the recently launch Transformers live action film Paramount and Dreamworks, there is a possibility that the producers will make a sequel for the film. This is according to Hasbro, the owner of Transformers franchise and other toy lines. Another reason to make a sequel for the movie is that the sales of Transformers merchandise based on the film significantly boosted.

During Hasbro's announcement of its July sales, Alfred Verrecchia, CEO of Hasbro Inc., said:
"Transformers has been a unique box office success. Our U.S. retail sales of the new Transformers toys have exceeded our expectations with 3 million units sold since the said. We had a great first-half of the year and we do expect to grow business in the second-half but not at the levels that we did in the first and second quarters."

"It's too soon to say if there's a Transformers 2. No date has been set as yet, but a second movie is possible."

The Transformers movie can be considered as one of the most successful films of all time. In 28 hours, it sold $38 million and gathered 150 million on its first week. The film is extended in other theaters around the world so the producers are expecting for more money.

Meanwhile, the film's director, Michael Bay said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly (EW) that it is really possible to have a Transformers 2.

“I’ve got a lot of ideas for the next one. There’s a lot of really cool, big robot stuff that I had in my head that we didn’t do. I just want to see how this works. You might not grow as much as a director to do a sequel. But it’s kind of like you have your baby and you don’t want someone else to take it.” said Michael Bay.

EW asked Bay if "Will Transformers 2 be the directors next film?", he said:
“I don’t know if it would be ready. It just takes so long to do a script. A couple things are on the horizon, but [maybe] I’ll do my little movie that I can knock out, because we all think we’re going to have a strike.”

I think the Transformers 2 will also hit the box office sales if ever. Just like the Spiderman movie series.

Negative ‘Transformers’?

I have been hearing from my officemates and seeing in the news that “Transformers” really rocks!

I am not fond of watching noisy movies, so I think I am left behind with the whereabouts in the movie scenes. Probably if there is no other choice, I would watch it in a DVD. Nevertheless, I saw the trailer, but still never caught my attention.

I am amazed with how modern individuals think. The movie “Transformers” is one manifestation how imaginative people are.

But just when I thought I was the only one not fond of the movie, I read an online article describing the movie as “assault noise and nonsense”. Well, as for me, it does have sense; it is just that I hate noisy films.

Let me share to you what the “negative” write up says.

According to it, the movie resulted to a partly car commercial and partly military recruitment ad.

Since I have not watched it, I heavy rely on the information I got through research (as it is forms part almost 99 percent of my job).

In the movie, the Autobots turn into American cars and truck - GM products if I am not mistaken. It takes flight with a harsh, confusing attack on an American military base in Qatar. In the country’s desert, muscled and sweaty military types (Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson) clash with an apocalyptic helicopter that transforms into an angry critter with an eloquent tail like that of a scorpion. Back in the US, the secretary of defence played by Jon Voight barks orders at other military types while Sam deals with his weird ride and his mounting fears.

From the trailer, I saw that there were many “running” moments. The robots which transform into cars somewhat always run and chase something or something I do not know. In this case, I wonder which could have been a more fitted car part; a honda timing belt or the GM one.

40 James Bond Vehicles and More to Come

James Bond Movies has a total of 40 vehicles featured starting with the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 up to the 2008 Aston Martin DBS that was used for the Casino Royale.

And here is the list of the 40 high-performance vehicles featured in James Bond’s movies:

1. DB5: Goldfinger
2. Aston Martin Vanquish: Die Another Day
3. Lotus Esprit: The Spy Who Loved Me
4. BMW Z8: The World Is Not Enough
5. Citroen 2CV: For Your Eyes Only
6. Jag XKR: Die Another Day
7. Toyota 2000: You Only Live Twice
8. Lotus Esprit Turbo: For Your Eyes Only
9. BMW Z3: GoldenEye
10. Ferrari 355: GoldenEye
11. DB5: Thunderball
12. Aston Martin DBS: On Her Majesty's Secret Service
13. Mustang Mach 1: Diamonds Are Forever
14. Aston Martin V8: The Living Daylights
15. BMW 750i: Tomorrow Never Dies
16. Lotus Esprit: The Spy Who Loved Me
17. Sunbeam Alpine: Dr No
18. Triumph Stag: Diamonds Are Forever
19. MGB: The Man With The Golden Gun
20. Aston Martin DBS: Casino Royale
21. Cadillac Eldorado: Live And Let Die
22. Cougar: On Her Majesty's Secret Service
23. AMC Hornet: The Man With The Golden Gun
24. Bentley IV convertible: From Russia With Love
25. Tuk Tuk taxi: Octopussy
26. Mini Moke: Live And Let Die
27. Aston Martin DB5: Casino Royale
28. Moon Buggy: Diamonds Are Forever
29. Lada 1500 police car: The Living Daylights
30. Mercedes 250SE: Octopussy
31. Hispano Suiza: Moonraker
32. Ford Mustang convertible: Thunderball
33. Mercedes Benz 600: On Her Majesty's Secret Service
34. Daimler limo: Tomorrow Never Dies
35. Chevrolet Corvette: A View To A Kill
36. Willy's jeep: Octopussy
37. Range Rover convertible: Casino Royale
38. Ford Thunderbird: Die Another Day
39. Maserati Biturbo: Licence To Kill
40. Aston Martin DB5: Goldfinger

By the way I have gotten this list from www.mi6.co.uk where you can get loads of news and articles on James Bond.

List of vices require fancy cars

One of summer’s hottest movies, Miami Vice, has an opening scene wherein a twitchy informant arranges a swift meeting with undercover cops Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs. As the informant arrives, a Bentley car is revealed. And in a Ferrari car, the cops roll up.

Since Don Johnson first donned a white linen jacket over a pink T-shirt, automotive style has been a part of Miami Vice, where cars definitely haven't taken a back seat. Johnson's Sonny Crockett drove a black Ferrari Daytona, a car that is at par today as it did in 1984. Paul Ferriss of the National Post writes that the sense of timelessness is roughly repaying “by Crockett's use of a portable phone the size of his forearm and by the fact that, on the way to the climactic meeting with a drug lord, he pulls his Ferrari up at a phone booth to call his ex-wife.”

According to the Internet Movie Database, the Daytona was not a Ferrari at all but a modified Corvette. This was a fact verified by a Ferrari North America spokesman who affirms that the disguised car has taken on near-legend status among both movie and car eccentrics. Ferrari executives were so angered by this - they offered the use of a new Testarossa to replace what they considered to be a hate. Complete with its camper van-sized driver's mirror, the white Testarossa resides at the Swap Shop Flea Market in Sunrise, Fla. But calls to the swap shop weren't returned.

The Ferrari F430 that appeared in the movie version of Miami Vice is the result of a product placement deal designed to enhance Ferrari's image in North America.

Marco Mattiacci, vice-president of marketing for Ferrari North America, said their company believes it never hurts to show its cars in a positive light, driven as only God and Enzo intended aggressively by Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx. He added Ferrari has used product placement in movies (Charlie's Angels 2) and TV shows (Desperate Housewives, The Sopranos) to help indorse its products for the past three to four years. He further said Ferrari has an important relationship with the entertainment industry; proofs are company's previous relationship with the TV show and Michael Mann, the series' executive producer and the movie's co-writer and director, is a Ferrari owner and duff.

But Ferrari was not the only automaker that was exhibited in the movie. SUVs are the vehicles of the drug runners and neo-Nazis that battle against Crockett and Tubbs. As the film opens, two white Range Rovers dropped off some bad guys at a disco. Later, to do some showdown with the cops, some villains drive their GMC Yukons and Cadillac Escalades, while the cops roll up in a white BMW 6 Series and a black Dodge Charger.

Robert Thompson, director of The Center for the Study of Popular Television at Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y., said that cool cars can make an impression but have a limited amount of screen time in movies, whereas, on TV, they can develop over time.

Low Rider Show

Low Rider Show at Coast Mesa, California

GM Wants to "Transform Your Ride"

General Motors Corp., in conjunction with the upcoming Transformers live action film has announced their pleasant offer for customers. Starting June 26 up to July 9, 2007, GM will offer the "Transform Your Ride Sale" promo that will enable qualified buyers to obtain 0% ARP for 36 months and $1,000 gift cash on some selected GM models.

"People who have recently switched to a GM vehicle tell us we’ve really changed their previous perceptions about our products. They love their new car or truck.” said Jim Campbell, GM’s director of Customer Relationship Management.

“We’ve enhanced the value of our cars and trucks with features like OnStar, XM Radio, superior quality and the best coverage in the business with a 5 year / 100,000 mile powertrain warranty plus roadside assistance and courtesy transportation. Just look at the award-winning Chevrolet Silverado or hot HHR. The “Transform Your Ride Sale” gives everyone the opportunity to buy a new car or truck with outstanding style, great fuel economy, performance and value.” he added.
GM vehicle models eligible for the "Transform Your Ride Sale" include:

Chevrolet: 2006 and 2007 Cobalt, Monte Carlo, Impala, HHR, TrailBlazer, Tahoe, Suburban, Avalanche and 2007 900-series Silverado.
Buick: 2006 and 2007 Lacrosse, Lucerne and Rainier
Pontiac : 2006 and 2007 G5, G6, Grand Prix and Torrent
GMC: Envoy, Yukon, Yukon Denali, Yukon XL, Yukon XL Denali and 2007 900-series Sierra

Go to your nearest GM dealerships to avail this promo. Meanwhile, the Transformers movie, released by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures is scheduled to arrive in theaters this coming July 3rd. The film stars four GM vehicles including:

* Bumblebee (1974/2008 Chevrolet Camaro): Rendered mute in battle, Bumblebee is an honest and friendly soldier who befriends humanity, namely Sam, in his efforts to find the Allspark.

* Jazz (Pontiac Solstice): The smallest and feistiest of the Autobots, Jazz is one of Optimus' best warriors, talented at learning new cultures.

* Ironhide (GMC Topkick pick-up truck): A tough, weathered soldier, Ironhide is one of Optimus' oldest friends, and is always the first in battle.

* Ratchet (Search & Rescue Hummer H2): The medic and scientist, Ratchet has a strong sense of duty to protect life.

Some Cars Trivia

Remember the post I made last June 8th featuring the characters of the 2006 animated film Cars? Well, here is something to add up to that.

While browsing the web about the recent cars featured in movies, I bumped into this section in Internet Movie Database (IMDb) where it features some trivia about the movie Cars. There are really lots of interesting facts that I have read and I decided to share it with you guys.

Check them out!

• This movie was originally titled "Route 66". The name was changed to "Cars" so as not to imply a connection with the TV show "Route 66" (1960).
• The music that opens the teaser trailer of this movie is the main theme to A Bug's Life (1998).
• The film's animators drew up over 43,000 sketches for designs of the cars.
• Mia and Tia are modeled after the first-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata.
• The rock formations in the distance beyond Radiator Springs resemble Cadillac Ranch, and is actually named Cadillac Range on the maps shown during montages. Cadillac Ranch is an art exhibit consisting of 10 Cadillacs half-buried in a line outside Amarillo, Texas, near where Route 66 once ran. Additionally, when seen from "above", the hills around Radiator Springs resemble the hoods and fenders (complete with ornaments) of classic cars.
• Instead of making the cars' headlights the eyes, as is done on most cartoons, the Pixar artists decided to put the eyes up on the windshield, because that made the characters more expressive. This idea was largely influenced by the Disney cartoon Susie the Little Blue Coupe (1952), one of director John Lasseter's favorite cartoons.
• Flo isn't based on any single car but shares elements of the 1951 Buick LeSabre, the 1951 Buick XP-300, and the 1957 Chrysler Dart--all actual show cars.
• One of the bumper stickers on Fillmore reads 'Save 2D Animation.'
• The neon lights on Flo's V8 Cafe in the movie flash in the proper firing order for a Ford flathead V8.
• The number on the train that Lightning out runs is A113, a reference to California Institute of the Arts, where many Pixar animators studied.
• Lightning McQueen's original number was to be 57, director John Lasseter's birth year. It was later changed to 95 to represent the year that Toy Story (1995) was released. The car in the final film who has the number 57 (who wins the race in the first teaser) vaguely resembles McQueen, and is probably an earlier production design for that character.
• The tires of Lightning McQueen are Buzzard models manufactured by Lightyear, a reference both to the real Goodyear "Eagle" tires used in NASCAR and character Buzz Lightyear from John Lasseter's previous 'Toy Story' films.