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WASHINGTON, June 29, 2007
Under the cover of darkness in the nation’s capital last night, servicemembers from all branches deployed into theater -- the movie theater.

About 600 military personnel and family members attended a sneak preview of Transformers, the summer science fiction action-adventure film set for national release July 3.

Audience members cheered as virtuous Autobot transformers fought in concert with their U.S. military allies against the depraved Decepticons, while the clash between good and evil played out in stunning images and bone-rattling sound.

That was without a doubt the best movie I have ever seen, Army Staff Sgt. Mario Youngblood, dressed in his combat uniform, said as he emerged wide-eyed from the theater. The soldier, who grew up watching the early animated version, said the film did justice to the Generation 1 Transformers of his youth.

Transformers features servicemembers from various branches fighting side-by-side in the thick of the action, depicting joint military operations.

Obviously, the military has never fought giant robots, and hopefully we never will. But the way this film is structured, if we ever had to do it, this is probably how we would do it, said Army Lt. Col Paul Sinor, a public affairs officer with that service’s Office of the Chief of Public Affairs.

During one battle scene, members of a joint special operations force are attacked by a Decepticon in the desert of a Middle Eastern country. Using a common cellular phone, the Army commander on the ground dials the Pentagon and tosses the phone to his Air Force combat controller, who directs an Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft to their position. Operators on the AWACS then call in AC-130 Spectres and A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft for air support.

Go, Air Force! an audience member yelled when an AC-130 began firing on enemies with its side-mounted artillery guns. Yeah, Navy! belts out a sailor upon seeing a team of destroyers cutting across the shining sea.

This battle scene illustrates netcentric warfare, the modern military strategy aimed at connecting command centers to airborne control systems to warfighters around the globe.

Liaison officers like Sinor worked with director Michael Bay to ensure the U.S. military’s portrayal -- its core values in addition to its tactics, dialogue and uniforms -- looks and feels authentic. As a testament to the military’s fondness for technical titles, servicemembers refer to the transformer robots as Non-Biological Extraterrestrials, or NBEs.

Try to keep up with the acronyms, one of the film’s characters says during an intelligence briefing.

The resolute secretary of defense, played by Jon Voight, gives a nonverbal plug during the film to America Supports You, a Defense Department program that connects military members to a civilian support network. The lapel of the Defense Secretary’s suit jacket is affixed with a pin bearing the ASY logo.

(Bay) did the Hollywood part of the film, we did the military part, and it was a very cohesive, very easy way of doing things, said Sinor, who has worked with Bay previously on films that include The Rock and Armageddon.

Defense Department officials allowed Paramount Pictures to film at Air Force bases in New Mexico and California, and to rent military equipment such as the CV-22 Osprey and F-22 Raptor, which made their big-screen debuts in Transformers. F-22s run about $25,000 per hour, according to the rental scale established by the department.

You can’t go to Tanks R’ Us and rent a tank or a destroyer, Sinor said. If you need that in the movie, you have to come to the military.

The film promoters, who last night treated guests to free popcorn and soda, stood outside the theater doors after the film, asking for audience members’ reactions in an exit poll fashion. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and one servicemember remarked about the Hollywood’s portrayal of the military, This is the first time they got it right.

The special effects are definitely going to draw the younger crowd, and then they’ll be able to see just how the Air Force operates, said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Mike Gasparetto after the film.

Gasparetto, a career field manager for Air Force Recruiting Service, said moviegoers will get a chance to see some of his service’s more exciting missions.

I think it will be a great branding tool for the Air Force, to let the folks know that the Air Force does more than just move people around in aircraft, he said. Hundreds of airmen appear in the film as extras, and nearly a dozen others have speaking roles.

The military cooperating with the entertainment industry puts a more personal side on what the military does, he said. We’re not just about protecting the nation, although that is our primary job. This film shows that we have a human side to us while we are there to protect and help wherever needed.

source: USDOD/defenselink.mil

This news article contains some minor spoilers from the live action Transfrmers movie, due to a brief description of plot scenes.

Following up on my previous Bloopers in Transformers report (Bumblebee's door, Bumblebee's arm), I had a few more continuity errors for you this time.

1. Airforce Base - When Blackout approaches it's light. During this time Lennox is on the video phone for just over 16 minutes. When Blackout lands it's night, and once he transforms it's even later.
2. Sam / Mikaela first scene - After the blooper with the door, Sam gives Mikaela a ride home. He states she lives 10 miles from the park where they were. It's light when he and Miles turn up and when Sam and Mikaela leave. When they arrive at Mikaela's house it's night. I guess Bumblebee must break down a few more times
3. Bumblebee / Barricade chase scene. When the scene starts it's light, yet by the time Bumblebee hides from Barricade it's dark.
4. Doughnuts Scene. Whilst Maggie and Glen are waiting to be interrogated the clock at the back room says 9:50. Once Glen finishes the doughnuts the time is still 9:50. I guess the government can't afford new batteries
5. Mission City Scene. When Lenox gives Epps the Radioshack walkie-talkies a woman in the background is on her mobile phone. I though their was a complete satellite blackout and no phones worked. She must have been on a different network to the Secretary of Defense.

As we probably won't be seeing the Transformers Movie for a 6th time on the Cinema, this will probably be the last bloopers we'll be breaking for you.

Last night we went to our 5th screening of the new Transformers Movie, this time it was the VIP Screening at the Apollo Cinema in Piccadilly Circus. The showing was for 170 people made up of reporters from glossy magazines and various celebrities. Transformers At The Moon was was in full-force, thanks to an invite from Paramount Pictures and we can report that the following stars were in attendance (some we saw, thanks to Sarah for pointing them out, others we personally did not).


Natasha Bedingfield
Alesha Dixon (formally part of Mis-Teeq)
Lisa Maffia (originally from So Solid Crew then a solo artist)
Simon Webbe (Blue)
Dave Berry (TV Presenter).
Alfie Allen (actor)
Matt Di Angelo (actor / Eastenders)
Emma Griffiths (presenter / model)
Donald McIntyre (Columist on the Independant)


Various other celebrities from music, film and tv were there (we're hoping to get a list to you all).

As you'd expect security was high, both inside and outside of the cinema, with tons of paparazzi outside the cinema trying to photograph those going in. The VIP guests were photograph in front of a Transformers Movie standee, for advertising shots, and we saw a few people being photograph when leaving.

The screening went well, with the guests seemingly enjoying the film, although less vocal then any of the previous four screenings I've been to. A VIP goody-bag was given to those in attendance, supplied by Forbidden Planet. It contained:-

• Transformers Movie Sticker Book
• 1 pack of Transformers Movie stickers
• Transformers Movie transforming pen
• Transformers Movie notepad
• Transformers Movie wristband
• Various bars of chocolate and Haribo sweets
• Forbidden Planet Transformers logo bag

It was great fun attending the event again, although we were a tad under-dressed for the event (to quote a line from the new film). Megan Fox couldn't make the showing due to late filming, she was due to do an introduction, but was replaced by TV presenter Dave Berry. Although his talk sounded a little pre-written it was pretty funny and entertaining, and from what he was saying before the showing he did sound like a fan when he was younger.

In a follow up story from one posted earlier in the week, where it was announced that at C3 (in Japan) new version of the Transformers Movie Protoform Optimus Prime and Starscream toys would be sold as convention exclusive figures. The first images of these Re-Entry Protoform figures have now surfaced thanks to a magazine scan on ToysKingdom.com. The toys are clear white and clear yellow plastic.

ACToys have yet another discussion thread with more images from the Chineses Transformers Expo. Have a look at them here then look at the older images here.

Hollywood Blogger David Poland has recorded a video interview with Don Murphy, one of the producers on Transformers for a program called Lunch With David for iKlipz.

Thanks to Seibertron for the initial report

Last night we attended the UKs VIP Screening of Transformers, this invitation only event consisted of stars and glossy publications so the paparazzi were in attendance inside and outside of the cinema. At the event we took the time to speak to Paramount Pictures UK who told us that last weekends preview screening for Transformers within UK and Irish cinemas took in 3 million pounds (6 million dollars). Further previews are this Thursday before the main UK launch on Friday 27th July. Paramount Pictures UK are extremely pleased with the figures showings and reports thus far and have high hopes for a long run and successful for the Transformer movie here within the UK. More on the VIP screening in other news stories

Yahoo! Movies Japan announced yesterday, that they will be covering the Japanese premier of Transformers which takes place at 6:30pm tonight (July 24th) in Japan. The premier will take place in Tokyo, so expect many of the cast and crew to be in attendance, though we know that Megan Fox will NOT be in Japan as she is currently filming here within the UK. Coverage will be over at event.movies.yahoo.co.jp/theater/transformers/

Transformers movie leading lady, Megan Fox, has admitted to UK paper The Daily Star that she finds it strange to be viewed as a sex symbol. The 21-year-old plays Mikaela Banes in the movie, and is currently in the UK working on other projects, insists that she wants to be seen as much more than a pretty face.

"I don't feel sexy like that, especially not when you're getting ready to film and there's a crew of 1,000 men just waiting for you to lean over the hood of a car," Fox said. "But film fans want to see pretty people on the screen. It's a fantasy world. I'm not going to apologise for my looks, but there's a lot more to me than that."

When asked if she gets approached by men more often since starring in Transformers, Megan replied: "I get drive-bys. People will drive past my car and scream at me: 'I'll buy you an airplane if you give me your phone number!' Things like that happen, but nobody will come up and ask me for my number."

I have just received word that the Transformers movie took over 100 million yuan in China in its first week (July 11th through July 17), thats around $13 million putting the international reveune at over 200 million. No word on how the film has done in its second week, in China as well as recently in other international territorties, including the UK, but its quiet possible that international grossing will pass the American domestic revenue by the end of the week.

"Transformers spent the shortest time amassing more than 100 million yuan, compared with other American blockbusters released this year in China," said Gao Jun, spokesman of Beijing's New Film Association last week. PotC3 took 80 million yuan within its first week, with Spider-man 3 taking 70 million.

"It is not surprising that Transformers has done so well at the box office, as the 80s generation has turned out in force and the movie was released during the summer vacation," Gao said. "It was a good sci-fi movie with not only hi-tech and skillful animation, but more importantly flawless story plots,".

When the Movie opened in Beijing at the Wanda Theater on July 11th, there were and whole host of Chinese stars and celebrities in attendance. Amoungst them Tong Yao, Yan Kuan and Chi Shaui were all reported to be die-hard fans of Transformers.

We have added several images from the premier, including the some of the Chinese film stars who were in attendance as well Michael Bay and Josh Duhamel, to our Transformers Press Screening image gallery.

BoxOfficeMojo has been updated showing that Transformers has now grossed a whopping $453,612,650 dollars worldwide thus far. The stats do not include all of the countries where the film has already been released (including China) and also does not include the UK's advance preview weekend. The film will be released generally within both the UK and France this week, with Germany, Japan, Slovakia and Poland releasing the film in August.

Warner Brother records have sent us links to another full audio track from Transformers - The Album. The track is called End Of The World and is by Armor for Sleep. Its track number 9 from the album and was not used during the Transformers Movie. We have links for both high and low quality streams for Windows Media Player and Apple Quicktime

Window Media Player: High Quality - Low Quality

Quick Time: High Quality - Low Quality

Armor For Sleep consist of Ben Jorgensen (lead vocals, guitar), Anthony DiIonno (bass, backing vocals), Nash Breen (drums) and PJ DeCicco (guitar).

We've added two images of the band into our Transformers The Album image gallery which contains high resolution official images sent directly to us from Warner Brothers Records. 

Below you will find the latest bio for the band

"It's been a total reality change." That's what singer Ben Jorgenson of Armor For Sleep said from their tour van shortly before his cell phone cut out somewhere outside of St. Louis.

And who can blame him. In 2003, Armor For Sleep signed onto Equal Vision Records with a five-song demo and a chance to be the best new band in the world. After extensive touring in support of their debut Equal Vision release,Dream To Make Believe, and the two years on the road slashing up the States from coast to coast, they found themselves back in New Jersey armed with the material necessary to blow out the over-the-top sophomore release that would solidify their band in that very important genre of music they themselves have grown up listening to.

Not that it was easy. Sophomore records are hard to make. There's a lot of pressure and always the anxiety about how a band's already established audience will accept their new release. In 2005, Armor For Sleep shattered that adage with the much-anticipated release ofWhat To Do When You Are Dead.

And what if you did take their album as an instruction manual for death?

Look forward to it. What has happened since then has been nothing less than surreal.

"The CD changed a lot of things for us," Jorgensen said.

The welcome and support thatWhat To Do When You Are Dead received after its release and the subsequent tours in support of The All American Rejects, summer Warped Tour dates and their first headlining tour in 2006 along with a partial tour of Europe has been a big and life-changing alteration for the band from Teaneck, New Jersey.

Pulling into a venue to see lines of kids circling the block just for them, to have fans singing every night every word of the songs they wrote and expressing their true love for the music they make, Armor For Sleep feels they have finally been vindicated and are bringing that support back to their fans with honesty and immediacy.

"We've always sort of felt like the underdog," Jorgensen said. "So we're still getting used to this."

The best part about being on tour, they say, is seeing their hard work pay off. And that is exactly what it's been doing.

In the first eight months touring in support ofWhat To Do When You Are Dead, Armor For Sleep sold over 160,000 copies of the new record and won Fuse TV's Oven Fresh award for their video "The Truth About Heaven" (beating out bands such as Green Day, The Dandy Warhols, System of A Down and Straylight Run). They also headlined their first U.S. tour, selling out 90 percent of the dates, and in November, MTVU held an awards show with "The Truth About Heaven" playing on the Big Screen along with having the band host T-Minus Rock on MTV-2 for a week. Armor For Sleep was also prominently featured on the network's 10 Spot Drop in January and had them perform at MTV's Spring Break 2006.

While on the road playing shows every night, even during the downtime Armor For Sleep is still at work, most notably completing aComprehensive Guide to Touring DVD released in November of last year.

"It's a no holds barred tour of who we are," Jorgensen said. Being in a band, there is always a separation between the musicians and the fans, and Armor For Sleep believes that shouldn't be the case. And never a band to tolerate those borders, their DVD shows their major belief in knocking down those walls.

"It's our way of connecting with our fans," Jorgensen says about the DVD and of each new face they meet every night on tour and the people that have been with them since they started.

Anybody who has seen Armor For Sleep's live show can attest to the fact that though there may be a stage and a dance floor, there is no uncross-able line between their band and their fans.

"[In the DVD] We're bringing our fans on tour withus - this is who weare," Jorgensen said. "Our fans rule… they're so serious about the band. And they genuinely love us…It's a mutual thing. And it's awesome."

Thanks once again to Warner Brothers Records for sending us the links, the bio and images.

Don't forget to visit the official Transformers The Album website at www.transformersalbum.com

Last night we went to watch one of the regular preview showings of the Transformers Movie in our local cinema. This was the fourth time Dave had seen the film, and third for Steve, though the people we went with had not seen it before, nor would be described as Transformers fan .. like you or I. Although we'd seen the film several times before, we'd always planned to watch the film in our local cinema, to see what people's reactions would be. I'd even told Lorenzo Di Bonaventura my plans on seeing the film again (something I usually don't do with films at the Cinema).

Anyway the showing was on at 20:20 and was sold out, luckily I'd pre-ordered, though the queues in the cinema went out the doors! Once we eventually got in we had to sit in the 3rd row, far left, but boy was I happily surprised by people's reactions. Your average Joe, who went to the cinema, clapped the film at the end. I was shocked, I've only seen this twice people at a normal screening, and goes to prove how good, and how popular, the film really is.

Blooper Note:

In addition to the other Transformers Movie Blooper which I've already report, about Bumblebee's door, here's another Bumblebee related blooper I found yesterday.

When Bumblebee is first seen in robot mode, going his Batman signal, this left arm is a gun. Throughout the film, and on all packaging, the gun-arm is actually Bumblebee's right arm.

Snakas updated his website a few days ago with more images of Wedge, the Japanese recolour of the Transformers Classics Dreadwing toy. You can see the images here, here and here.

ebay pre-release Transformers toy seller Paranooid has posted images of a Target exclusive Bumblebee double-pack featuring the Classic Camaro Bumblebee and Battle Damaged Concept Camaro Bumblebee.

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