Ghost of a flea: More than meets the eye

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January 14, 2008

More than meets the eye

The first episode of Transformers. I often feel like the only man of my generation to have no emotional connection to this show. For example, ok, Megatron is a megalomaniac. But what motivation do the Decepticons have in following him? Does this allow them to feel superior to Autobots or do they constitute some sort of subservient group intelligence? I am also baffled by the appeal of Optimus Prime; he does not strike me to be particularly charismatic. That said, I know two otherwise sensible women who were gushing to me how "sexy" he is both in the animated and film versions of the character.

I enjoyed the recycled photon torpedo and Colonial Viper laser-torpedo blast sound effects. And I do like the idea of storing energy as energon cubes even though I am maddened by not being able to place where their sound effect comes from (at minute 19:05). No wait, it's a light sabre activing... I would have thought Lucas would have come after them for it.

Wow. They really stepped up the animation in Episode 2.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at January 14, 2008 06:03 AM

Comments

Absolutely loved the toys as a kid, but could not stand the show even then. Watched maybe three or four Transformers episodes before I gave up on it. Later on down the road a friend told me about an infinitely cooler show about transformable mecha -- Robotech.

Posted by: Chris Taylor at January 15, 2008 09:51 AM

We did not have cable when I was a kid so a lot of this stuff escapes me. With Transformers I have had the sense I am missing something. I have seen otherwise sensible adults - all men - become visibly upset by someone wearing a Decepticon T-shirt. If we could somehow convince the general public that al Qaeda are worse, or at least on the same side as, the Decepticons this war might finally get underway in earnest.

Posted by: Ghost of a flea at January 15, 2008 09:56 AM

I'm trying to think of a cartoon villain whose visage I would object to seeing on a random civilian's T-shirt. The only one that comes to mind is the Smurfs. I could not stand those little blue commie bastids. This was the episode I have been waiting my whole life to see -- Smurf Village finally getting its just desserts.

Posted by: Chris Taylor at January 15, 2008 10:44 AM

Yes, that has exactly the opposite effect of what UNICEF or whoever was after. No need for smart munitions either; just carpet bomb the place.

Posted by: Ghost of a flea at January 15, 2008 10:51 AM