Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
News

Michael Bay may not win an Oscar this year, but he's got a damn good chance at taking home a Razzie!

The 30th Annual Razzie Awards have announced their nominations, and sure enough Bay is at the top of the list, with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen leading the curve with the most The Golden Raspberry Award nominations.

From the Razzie press release:

"Leading the pack among this year’s RAZZIE® contenders are one of the year’s biggest money-makers and the year’s biggest money-loser, each with seven nods. RAZZIE® Repeat Offender Michael Bay helped lead the over-loud, over-long, uber-stupid TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN to a huge box office take...and to a huge haul of RAZZIE® nominations as well. In addition to Worst Director and Worst Picture, the film is up for Worst Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel, Worst Screenplay, Worst Supporting Actress (Julie White as the stoned, screaming mother of Shia Le Bouf), Worst Screen Couple (Le Bouf and EITHER Megan Fox OR Any Transformer) and Worst Actress (Fox again, dually nominated for this film and JENNIFER’S BODY)."

Also garnering significant Razzie nominations are Land of the Lost, Old Dogs, and GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

For those of you not in the know, the Razzies are the antithesis of the Academy Awards, where the year's worst films are subject to well-earned ridicule and awarded for sinking to new lows in storytelling. Past winners include Uwe Boll, Paris Hilton, and M. Night Shyamalan. Showgirls is also a notorious Razzie winner of decades past.

The Razzies will be held on March 6, 2010 in Hollywood, the day before the Oscars.

Despite the prospect of having millions of dollars thrown at them, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci have decided to walk away from Transformers 3.

The screenwriting duo behind the first two Transformers films and J.J. Abrams' recent Star Trek reboot have confirmed that they will not be penning the planned third film, leaving Ehren Kruger, who also worked on Revenge of the Fallen, to go toe to toe with the boisterous Bay. 

Bay, who himself had recently told the press he desired a vacation from the world of Optimus Prime, has shown no signs of slowing down production of Transformers 3 since announcing the planned release date of July 1st, 2011 earlier this month. Bay has even invited Megan Fox to join along in the pyrotechnics again, as we reported earlier.

To be honest with you guys, I can't tell if this is a good thing or a bad thing. I've never really been a fan of anything Kurtzman and Orci have done, having loathed the writing in both Transformers films, and found the new Star Trek to be fun but flimsy at best. And as much as I'd like to champion any misfortune that befalls Mr. Bay (c'mon, it's fun!), I don't know if this is a boon or bane for him, let alone the film.

So far, Kruger's record with Revenge of the Fallen isn't looking so hot, but if the creative team has taken anything away from the negative critical reaction to their second outing, maybe they'll learn from their mistakes. Yeah, right. I just hope that Bay and Speilberg see more than dollar signs and finally give us a Transformers film that doesn't piss all over my childhood like Bumblebee on John Turturro.

Hey Michael, you mentioned back in June that you might be interested in making a film that doesn't have explosions in it. I know that film won't be Transformers 3, but I for one would really like to see you keep your word. Just because you hear "cha-ching!" when you make things go "ka-boom!" doesn't mean the rest of us aren't going "zzzzzzzzzzz".

In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura was asked about the future of this franchise.

Would a third movie be made, even if director Michael Bay does not sign on for it?

Here's what di Bonaventura had to say about that possibility:

As the producer I'd certainly love to see him back. I can't imagine Transformers without him. I guess the studio will see it sometime as such a big asset that they are forced to do it, but Michael has never intimated anything like that - the timing is the big question for him, not whether he is going to do it or not.

This just in: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a major hit!

Through Tuesday, the sequel's worldwide box office haul hit $448.4 million. It will soon pass Angels & Demons as the highest-grossing movie on the planet for 2009.

Domestically, the film has grossed $228.4 million in its two-week run. By early next week, it will undoubtedly overtake Up ($255 million through Tuesday) as the biggest movie in the States, as well.

Unsurprisingly, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has crushed the competition.

As Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen continues to rake in serious cash at the box office, buzz is already starting over the inevitable, eventual sequel.

According to an article in The Los Angeles Times, Ramon Rodriguez - who plays Leo Spitz in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - won't simply return for a follow-up; he'll be featured more prominently.

Director Michael Bay, speaking from his office a few weeks before the current movie's release, expressed significant pride to the newspaper in his discovery of Rodriguez.

"I've worked with big stars, people like Will Smith, Sean Connery and Bruce Willis, but casting is a weird thing, it takes you places you don't expect," Bay said. "We went looking for a sidekick in this movie, Shia's sidekick, and we find this new kid who really pops on screen. I think he’s going to have a real bright career. It's great to work with big stars, but it's always fun to discover people."

It may have received terrible reviews, but $200 million later, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is officially a hit.

The sequel grossed $201.2 million over its first five days of release, barely falling behind The Dark Knight's $203.8 million haul as the second-biggest five-day opening in history.

As far as just this weekend went, the film earned $112 million, easily topping the box office. Here's a look at the top five:

1. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: $112 million
2. The Proposal: $18.4 million
3. The Hangover: $17.2 million
4. Up: $13 million
5. My Sister's Keeper: $12 million

First, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen broke the Wednesday midnight showing record with $16 million.  Now it broke the Wednesday opening day record with $60.6 million.

One wonders if it would have beaten The Dark Knight's opening day if it did a weekend opening instead of a Wednesday.  Either way, Revenge of the Fallen is set to make a lot of money for Paramount and company.

The next goal for this juggernaut is to beat Spider-Man 2's $152.4 million it earned over 5 days when it opened on the same Wednesday back in 2004.  Our money is on the autobots.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen opens in theaters today, but it already has been setting records with its midnight showings early this morning.

The sequel to the original blockbuster earned an estimate $16 million, making it the second highest gross midnight run after The Dark Knight's $18.5 million.

So why is this a record?  The Dark Knight had the advantage of opening on a Friday.  Transformers 2 is the highest grossing midnight run for any Wednesday midnight showing.

Don't be so angry.  Second place is still pretty impressive!

From Sam going to college to Sam running for his life to Mikaela and Captain Lennox both looking gorgeous, we've gotten our hands on a few new photos from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

Get an early look at the movie by clicking on each photo below and remember to also check out our slew of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen quotes!

We're still a couple weeks away from the release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

But those that want an early taste of the blockbuster can visit our Transformers quotes section right now and check out a few lines we've ganked from the trailer, uttered by Optimus Prime, Sam and others.

Check out a sample below:

Wheelie: That's my eye, you crazy bitch! Easy warrior goddess, I'm just a little salvage scrap drone.
Mikaela Banes: Then I'm your worst nightmare. | permalink

Sam Witwicky: This isn't my war!
Optimus Prime: I fear it soon will be. | permalink

Optimus Prime: Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing. | permalink

Sam Witwicky: I don't know. I wanna... I wanna be normal, I want to go to college. Everybody has this, and I should be able to experience this. And I can't do that with you. | permalink