Autoblog

Click above to view video after the jump

Michael Bay's first attempt at bringing the Autobots into the real world, the 2007 live action Transformers film, has been all over HBO lately. When looking for HD programming to justify the expense of a flat screen and DirecTV to the Mrs., this movie really hits the spot. So in addition to once in the theater, I've seen it about 10 more times at home. Suffice it to say, I'm ready for T2: Revenge of the Fallen. While we've seen plenty of shots from filming and learned that the once mysterious addition to the Autobots is in fact the Corvette Centennial concept, we haven't had so much as a teaser trailer yet to wet our whistle. The video after the jump is a mere sip, but it will have to do for now. Thought to be shot in Long Beach, CA where filming has moved, it features a caravan of Autobots obeying the most famous of all Optimus Prime orders: Roll Out! The group includes Optimus, of course, and Bumblebee and Ironhide, as well as the Chevy Beat and Trax concepts and the Corvette Centennial concept. There's no sign of any Decepticons yet, but you just wait. Follow the jump to watch the video in high-res for yourself.

[Source: TFLiveBlog via eGMCarTech]

click above image to view every nook and cranny of the Optimus Prime Peterbilt

I bought the Transformers on HD-DVD two days ago and have since watched last summer's blockbuster movie three times on a 50-inch plasma. The HD-DVD version on a nice high-def TV is as good or better than the theater experience. What could be better than seeing Optimus Prime in 1080p HD? How about seeing the real thing in person. Or better yet, how about owning a 1:1 scale replica of Prime himself built out of a 1994 Peterbilt? Such a "toy" is now up for auction on eBay Motors (item number 230181106980, auction ends 10/22 18:17:35 EDT), and it's the real deal. If you manage to outbid the 57 others vying for this piece of pop culture awesomeness, you will have a fully functioning Peterbilt outfitted inside with a pimp entertainment system, a voice-activated alarm that speaks in the voice of Prime himself, wooden floors, chrome everywhere, flames on every surface, and the pièce de résistance is the bed in the sleeper cab that's covered in Transformers bed sheets and pillow cases. As the owner says in the vehicle's description, "The only thing it can't do is transform!!". With enough money, we're sure that feature can be added to.

[Source: eBay Motors via Caradisiac]

Yep, Transformers mania is going to be around for a while, and unsurprisingly, some of the nuttiest new stuff is coming out in Japan, in the form of Takara/Tomy's new "Transformers Music Label" line of toys/accessories. The rig above is Convoy (a.k.a. Optimus Prime), and while he converts to his familiar robot form, his trailer does double duty as a portable iPod dock and speaker system. He will go on sale July 27.

Before the new Convoy arrives, a new Soundwave will hit the shelves on July 19. Soundwave, many of you will remember, was a cassette player when we were kids. He's now an MP3 player with an SD card slot. Joining Soundwave are Frenzy and Rumble, who were the cassettes in the old-school days. Now that Soundwave has ditched the analog media, Frenzy and Rumble are the headphones (sold separately, natch) that go nicely with him, and yes, you can still wear listen to your tunes through them even when they're in robot mode. You'll just look weird.

Convoy's price is set at ¥15,570 ($127) , Soundwave goes for ¥10,500 ($85), and Frenzy and Rumble will set buyers back ¥3,150 ($25). Thanks to the web, if you want any of them, you should be able to find a place willing to ship them to you.

[Source: Carview]

To say we've been looking forward to the Transformers movie would be a bit of an understatement. Of course, nobody knows that better than you, our fair readers, as you've seen over two dozen Transformer posts over the past year. Why not, we all used to wage Autobot vs. Decepticon battles in our back yards, and the cartoon was a Saturday morning staple for years. When we got a call from General Motors that they would be holding the world premiere of one of 2007's biggest blockbusters and we were invited, you could imagine the excitement.

Before the movie premiere, GM Design held a special dinner at Flemmings, which is across the street from the Palladium theater in Birmingham, MI. The free food and drinks were great, and the chance to discuss design with some of GM's best and brightest was very cool. We'll post later on a great conversation we had with Camaro interior designer Micah Jones, but the big event was the Transformers movie world premiere, and you can read our impression of the movie after the jump.




[Editor's Note: Although the following account is a brief preview of the movie, it is in no way a serious spoiler review. If you're curious, read on, but if you want to remain totally in the dark, stop here and wait until next Wednesday when Transformers hits cineplexes nationwide.]

Back when Star Wars Episode 1-3 were being made, die-hard fans (read: geeks) were dressing up like their favorite Tatooine character, and making elaborate home-made movies that put themselves in the action. Well, it looks like the upcoming Transformers movie has reached another level of popularity, as shorts are now being made from the comforts of some fans' (or their parents') basements.

30-year-old newbie filmmaker Ruben Martinez made a very well produced and written stop-motion Transformers movie that he's showing on YouTube, and we can honestly say we're quite impressed. The production was created using a few TF toys, a Logitech web cam, and some free stop-motion software. The end result is a clever four minute clip with some genuine Transformers comedy, and interaction reminiscent of the old cartoon. Ruben even has a MySpace page dedicated to his favorite toy. He says he's planning on doing more movies, too. We're looking forward to seeing what else he comes up with. Follow the jump to see his first effort.

We're still a few weeks shy of the premiere of Transformers, and our favorite robots are everywhere, from Autoblog to YouTube to MySpace, where you'll find a cover of the Transformers theme song from the movie soundtrack by Mute Math.

[Source: YouTube]

If you're starting to get the feeling that you may see the entire Transformers movie if you just sit down to watch all the trailers and scenes, we're with you and we're not complaining. We've been peppering you with any clip from the upcoming movie that we can find, this time we're bringing you a quick glimpse of the 2009 Camaro, followed by part of an epic battle between Optimus Prime and Bone Crusher.

Transformers is now officially only one month away, but we've been psyched for this movie for months. From the clips we've seen so far, Michael Bay's imagination is way cooler than the stuff that we came up with in our back yard. If you're a fan of the movie like we are, Mr. Bay's website has lots of good info, so check it out. And you can watch the newest clip after the jump.

[Source: michaelbay.com]

click above image for new shots from the Transformers movie

As excited as we all are for the release of the new Transformers movie on July 4th, the Autobot faithful are at the same time extremely nervous about what director Michael Bay will do with their beloved franchise of alien robots. We reported a week or so back on a new TV spot that showed Optimus Prime speaking, and while it was great to hear the gruff, digitized voice of our favorite semi truck, fans were shocked when they saw Prime without his faceplate. The spot showed what appeared to be mechanical lips of all things!

Sources close to Bay report that the TV spot was actually a European test not meant for release. The lips were something added by the European studios and won't be in the film, which means Optimus Prime's vocal instruments will remain nicely shrouded by that stainless steel faceplate. Phew, close call.

In the meantime, more pics from the movie were released, which we've assembled in our Transformers gallery. We're particularly amped by the one above, which shows a freshly waxed and polished Prime laying the smack down on a Decepticon. You know where we'll be at midnight on July 4th. Waiting in line at the googleplex like everyone else.

[Source: Michaelbay.com via Jalopnik]

click above image to view desktop wallpaper-sized versions

Before the new Transformers movie opens on July 4th, the film's producers thought it would be a good idea to round up the cast and take a friendly family portrait before all hell breaks loose and it's robot against robot. Let's see, we've got Optimus Prime on the far left sporting his new flames (uggo), Ironhide and Ratchet in the middle, and Barricade on the far right. The front row is, of course, occupied by Bumblebee and Jazz. That guy in the back? Oh, that's Starscream, a.k.a. an F-22 Raptor. You don't really want to mess with him. Clearly you want this as your desktop wallpaper, and we're happy to oblige. This image and the ones below in our high-res gallery are currently watermarked, though we're in contact with Paramount to get you the full, unadulterated versions real soon.

[Source: TFW2005]

Click image for hires photo gallery

The Autoblog staff is waiting with bated breath for the Fourth of July weekend to get here so that we can wave the flag, watch some fireworks, eat and drink too much, and take in the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons in Michael Bay's big-budget big-screen interpretation of Transformers. Regular readers know that we're really pumped up for this and since Toy Fair 2007 is underway in New York this week, Hasbro has provided some new imagery of the TF toys they're releasing in conjunction with the film. Check out the gallery to see full shots of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee in both robot and vehicle modes, as well as a shot of Optimus Prime in his retail packaging. Is it just us, or does Bumblebee look a little startled?

As cool as these two figures are, we think that the forthcoming Mr. Potato Head Optimash Prime may take the cake. Damn you, Hasbro, for making such appealing-sounding desk trinkets! That's 10 bucks as good as gone right there...

UPDATE: Gallery updated to include the Optimus Prime Arm Blaster and the Optimus Prime Voice Changer helmet. Oh, to be an 8-year-old...

Press release after the jump

[Source: Hasbro]

Brit film mag Empire has the goods, with a full-on cover shot Optimus Prime as he'll appear in this summer's Transformers big-screen blockbuster. Now, the trailer that was released last week (which we still watch with regularity) hinted at what the look would be when it showed him transforming from a high rear angle. In that shot, you saw that his head was pretty much in tune with the one we all know and love from the old toys and cartoon.

This cover shot solidifies that, showing a face that, while obviously modernized, is unmistakably that of Optimus Prime. And we dig his flame job, too. Friends, this is what badass looks like.

If you're looking for any of us on 4th of July weekend, we'll be in darkened theaters throughout the country, preferably ones equipped with DLP systems.

Thanks for the tip, Adil!

[Source: Empire via TFW2005]

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Bumblebee transforming on the Transformers set