“I’ll take some of the criticism,” says Michael Bay. “It was very hard to put (the sequel) together that quickly after the writers’ strike (of 2007-08).” Sure, whatever.

I’m pretty sure you all remember Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen. I’m sure you remember that even though some of it looked really cool, the movie was a two and a half hour mess of proportions rivaling that of it’s main stars. And because it was the number two movie last year, it got another sequel and a slightly ridiculous cast. Check this out: John Malkovich, Frances McDormand, Ken Jeong, Alan Tudyk (win!), Patrick Dempsy. Victoria’s Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley will replace Megan Fox as Sam Witwicky’s love-interest. I’m honestly not even sure where to begin.

Among other changes, Bay wants to get rid of what he calls the dorky comedy. The twins are “basically gone”, though John Turturro returns for comic relief. Turturro is absolutely my most loathed thing about both sequels, and the addition of Ken Jeong seems to go against his “no dorky comedy” ethos. Jeong, while funny, has always been a bit of overkill for me.

The third and final film in the trilogy (if you want to call it that) is said to involve the space race between the U.S.S.R. and the USA, suggesting there was a hidden Transformers role in it all that remains one of the planet’s most dangerous secrets. “The movie is more of a mystery,” Bay says. “It ties in what we know as history growing up as kids with what really happened.” Remember how well that worked with the pre-historic Transformers? Something about a macguffin buried under the…yeah, whatever.

Bay also announced that the villain for the third film will be fan-favorite, Shockwave. The robot cyclops-turned-laser-cannon became dictator of their home world of Cybertron after the other Autobots and Decepticons journeyed to Earth. I suppose that means no Unicron. And what of Bay’s previous plans for Tidal Wave, the aircraft carrier transformer? Only time well tell. Bay insists that this is the final film in the trilogy, but you know what? I’m not totally against Paramount pulling a Spider-Man 4 after it’s all said and done.

- Brian G

Source: USA Today