In the Transformers movie, one of the defining action moments occurs during the battle between Autobots and Decepticons in a densely populated urban area. Let’s focus on a scene where Optimus Prime engages in combat with Megatron amidst crumbling skyscrapers. In terms of violence, the scene depicts high levels of destruction, with buildings crumbling and explosions engulfing the surroundings. Despite the chaotic nature of the action, the editing maintains clear spatial coherence, allowing the audience to follow the progression of the battle. The destruction of urban infrastructure underscores the collateral damage caused by the war between Autobots and Decepticons, highlighting the human cost of their struggle. Overall, the action moment in “Transformers” exemplifies the spectacle-driven approach of contemporary action cinema, characterized by high levels of violence, rapid editing, and immersive visual effects.
The mise en scene in this action sequence is meticulously crafted to heighten the intensity of the battle. The destruction of the urban environment creates a sense of urgency and danger. The degree of violence is high, with explosions and combat maneuvers dominating the frame. The gender representation is primarily male, with the Autobots and Decepticons portrayed as masculine figures. Racial diversity is limited within the robotic characters, but the human characters in the background display a diverse range of ethnicities. The mise en scene is marked by the juxtaposition of the towering structures of the city skyline with the massive scale of the transformed robots. This visual contrast emphasizes the magnitude of the conflict and the stakes involved.
The editing in this sequence is rapid and dynamic, with quick cuts between different angles and characters. The pace is frenetic, mirroring the chaotic nature of the battle. The camera movement is often shaky and erratic, placing the viewer right in the action. The edits are seamless, blending to create a continuous flow of movement. However, the audience is still aware of the edits due to the rapid changes in perspective and focal points. As the camera shifts from close-ups of Optimus Prime to wide shots of the battlefield, the viewer’s point of view constantly changes, providing a multi-dimensional view of the action. The action portrayed in the scene is edited together with other shots of explosions, gunfire, and close-ups of human characters fleeing the chaos. The editing is fast-paced, with quick cuts between different perspectives to heighten the sense of urgency and tension. This rapid editing style is characteristic of Michael Bay’s directorial approach in the “Transformers” franchise, aiming to keep the audience on the edge of their seats throughout the action sequences. From a technical standpoint, the scene features numerous edits to create a sense of kinetic energy and momentum. Close analysis reveals approximately twenty edits within a minute-long sequence, with each cut serving to shift the viewer’s perspective and maintain visual interest. The camera movement is often fluid and dynamic, tracking the movements of the transforming robots and capturing the chaos of the battle from various angles.
In contemporary action films, the qualities and situations identified in “Transformers” are prevalent. According to scholars such as David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson, action cinema is concerned with transforming the audience into a visceral experience through rapid cutting and dynamic camerawork, highlighting the genre’s focus on spectacle and sensation. Additionally, theorists like Laura Mulvey examine gender representation in film, noting the predominance of male protagonists and the objectification of female characters in action narratives. These critical analyses shed light on the stylistic and thematic conventions within the genre of contemporary action cinema. They argue that contemporary action films, such as “Transformers,” prioritize visceral thrills and visual spectacle over narrative coherence or character development.
“Transformers” achieved considerable success at the box office, grossing over $700 million worldwide. Its blend of high-octane action, cutting-edge visual effects, and nostalgic appeal resonated with audiences, leading to multiple sequels and spin-offs. According to Box Office Mojo, the “Transformers” franchise has been highly successful at the box office, with each installment grossing hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide. The films’ commercial success can be attributed to their wide appeal and ability to attract audiences with their blend of action, spectacle, and visual effects.
The intense violence and spectacle of films like “Transformers” can have real-life consequences for viewers, particularly young audiences who may be influenced by the glorification of aggression and destruction. Research has shown that exposure to violent media can desensitize individuals to real-world violence and contribute to aggressive behaviour. Furthermore, the portrayal of gender, race, and ability in action films can reinforce societal norms and biases, shaping audience attitudes toward diversity and representation.
In conclusion, “Transformers” exemplifies the conventions of contemporary action cinema through its dynamic mise en scene, rapid editing, and explosive set pieces. Scholarly analyses provide insights into the stylistic and thematic elements of the genre, while the film’s box office success underscores its cultural impact. Having said that, it is essential to critically examine the real-life consequences of consuming such media, considering its potential effect on audience perceptions and behaviour.
References:
“Transformers (Film).” 2022. Wikipedia. May 11, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers_(film).
“Transformers.” n.d. Box Office Mojo. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3010954753/.
Ledger, American Public. 2023. “Transforming Cinema: The Blockbuster Impact of the 2007 Transformers Movie.” Medium. October 21, 2023. https://medium.com/@americanpublicledger/transforming-cinema-the-blockbuster-impact-of-the-2007-transformers-movie-f831fcea93db.
“Transformers (Film) – Transformers Wiki.” n.d. Tfwiki.net. https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers_(film).
Justin Komljenovich
Review in progress.
-Justin
Justin Komljenovich
This person has done a very thorough job of analyzing the shot they chose. They were explaining the camera movements and how this links to scholarly sources on action film sequences. The writer did focus a lot on the explosions that occur in this franchise, which is a cornerstone of the productions. I think one aspect that could have possibly been mentioned more was how the movie is grittier to the animated television program that ran for years. I have always found personally that I never wanted to watch the movies because there was too much violence, and the characters were too automated or mechanized. I felt this made me have less of an “emotional hook” to the transformer characters. The original goal of the cartoons was to sell toys to young kids and the disturbing thing is that it is still the goal, but now the movies are extremely violent. I looked up the rating for one of the movies and it is PG13. Thirteen-year-olds are not buying Transformer toys and young kids, who the toys are being marketed to, can’t technically go to see the films. The writer did do some good research on violence and desensitization of it on viewers, but mentioning more the link to children and marketing something so violent to a young demographic could have been linked more clearly.
I also found that the image was from a movie poster, and I was expecting a frame from the movie or the scene that the individual was writing about. I felt there was a missed opportunity to reinforce more the experience of the scene they chose by linking it to a still frame from the movie. That said, I was really impressed with their overall analysis of the movie franchise. They gave a lot of information on the gender bias in action films and a lack of racial diversity in the form of the key protagonist. I felt they had a lot of sources and took their time to link their sources to their arguments.