‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’ 3-D Blu-ray review
If you’ve been holding out for the ultimate edition of “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” it’s available in a four-disc set that includes a 3-D Blu-ray.
This edition contains more than three hours of bonus content.
“Dark of the Moon” may be the most technically adept of the robot-fighting series, and director Michael Bay has proved himself with this film as one of the directors who has a handle on how to use 3-D filmmaking. If you’re looking for a film to show off your new 3-D television with, this could be a good choice, as the movie starts off with a strong 3-D element. Unfortunately, the plot is labyrinthine, and the film’s ending drags on for too long, overshadowing the strong beginning.
Transformers Prime: Darkness Rising DVD review
The five-part miniseries that preceded the “Transformers Prime” computer-animated series is edited together and collected on the DVD “Transformers Prime: Darkness Rising.” Less clanky than the feature films but more mature than the original 1980s cartoons, “Darkness Rising” is a hybrid that should appeal to both younger and older, nostalgic fans.
ComiXology adds IDW
IDW and ComiXology have teamed up to bring the IDW library to the comiXology app. Titles including Transformers, Star Trek, and Locke & Key will be available. Click past the cut for the full release.
- Matt Price
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Captain America secrets; Man of Steel cast grows; favorite Transformers
News on “Man of Steel,” secrets of Captain America and a “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” report are on this week’s Planet 46/NewsOK comics podcast.
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Don Jeanes makes a giant leap into “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon" actor Don Jeanes. Photo by Dana Patrick
Texas-born actor Don Jeanes takes on the role of American hero Neil Armstrong in Michael Bay’s “Transformers: The Dark of the Moon,” releasing this week in theaters.
“When I first found out that that’s who I’m playing, I just wanted to do him justice,” Jeanes said in a telephone interview with The Oklahoman. “It’s an honor just to even be mentioned in the same breath as the first man who walked on the moon.”
Movie review – Transformers: Dark of the Moon
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon” will likely be seen as a return to form for the franchise, though Michael Bay’s robot-battling epic does still go on too long and has some serious problems with making sense. But there are some great technical moments interspersed, and there is some fun to be had along the way.
Josh Duhamel aims for military accuracy in “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
Josh Duhamel in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon"
While the “Transformers” films feature epic, explosive action involving robotic aliens from beyond our solar system, actor Josh Duhamel, who plays Lt. Colonel William Lennox, aims to keep his part as grounded as possible, given the circumstances.
“I think in a movie like this, when you’re dealing with something as far out as alien robots from outer space that turn into vehicles and cars, it’s such a far-fetched idea that you have to, especially in my case, playing the leader of this military team, to play it as real as we can,” Duhamel said in a phone interview promoting the film. “And as accurate and tactical as the military would.”
Transformers celebrated in movie, comics, museum event
The alien robots the Autobots and Decepticons will again battle on movie screens next week when “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” is released.
Fans can dive deeper into the world, based on the Hasbro action figures, with comics from IDW Publishing and an event at the Toy & Action Figure Museum this weekend.
“Transformers Weekend” at the Toy & Action Figure Museum, 111 S Chickasaw St. in Pauls Valley, will feature movie memorabilia, scavenger hunts and a chance to see classic “Transformers” toys from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information about “Transformers Weekend,” call the museum at (405) 238-6300 or go to www.actionfiguremuseum.com.
In the film, the Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the moon and race against the Decepticons to reach it first, according to imdb.com. The Transformer Shockwave will appear for the first time in the movies in “Transformers 3.”
Shockwave first appeared in comics in 1985′s “Transformers” No. 5. The Transformers had been introduced into comics in a four-issue limited series from Marvel; it was expanded to an ongoing series with No. 5. Shockwave for a time usurps Megatron’s leadership of the Decepticons. Shockwave transforms into a laser cannon and is a highly logical, cunning robot. The Shockwave toy was introduced in the second year of the “Transformers” action figures, 1985. Shockwave was recently introduced in the IDW comic books set in the movie universe.
Dirk Wood, IDW’s retail marketing director, talked about “Transformers” at the recent ComicsPRO annual membership meeting in Dallas.
Two “Transformers 3” film prequels, “Foundation” and “Rising Storm,” have been released by IDW. “Rising Storm” introduces Shockwave into the movie continuity, and “Foundation” explores the past of Megatron and Optimus Prime.
“We want to take the perennial licenses that obviously do great for us, but we want to give people a fair chance of getting in and getting excited about it,” he said. He noted that “Transformers” comics sold well during each of the previous two summers that featured a “Transformers” movie.
- By Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Peter Cullen: Nerdage’s #16 actor with geek appeal
Peter Cullen (AP)
The longtime voice of Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen, comes in at No. 16 on Nerdage’s top 25 actors with geek appeal.
Cullen will reprise the role of Optimus Prime in the third “Transformers” film, “Dark of the Moon,” set for release on June 29. Cullen can also be heard in the animated series “Transformers Prime” on the Hub network.
Cullen originated the role of the heroic Autobot in the 1980s TV series.
I talked to Cullen in 2006 about voicing the character.
“The character breakdown for Optimus Prime was pretty straightforward,” Cullen said. “The writers were … excellent. I got a sense of Optimus Prime having integrity and honor and courage and conviction.”
That courage and conviction, as evidenced in Cullen’s vocal portrayal, was inspired by Cullen’s brother Larry, a former Marine captain who served in Vietnam.
“I think I got a lot of Optimus Prime from my brother. Certainly, the control and the honor and definitely the spirit of command. Soft-spoken, sensitive but willing to kick a- – like a Marine can do.” Cullen said. “I tried to keep him cool under all conditions, and authoritative and convincingly powerful.”
- Matt Price
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon” releases new trailer
Via THR, here’s the latest trailer for Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
The movie releases June 29 – so recent of a change that it’s still July 1 in the trailer – and stars Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Wiley, Tyrese Gibson and Josh Duhamel.
- Matt Price
