SPP Stop Motion- A Very Special Christmas Video

(Available in HD)


Merry Christmas, everyone!!

This video was a killer on the last day. I did a bit of procrastinating during the week (thanks again, Modern Warfare 2) and I was up until 1am editing this Bad Larry.
I hope you all enjoy it! God Bless!

Transformers: RotF Score

Yes, it's floating around the entire internets now, but I have not yet bought the CD. I will reserve my review of it until then. I've embedded it for your listening pleasure.

Please only use this as a preview or something to hold you over the few days until the release.
Please buy the CD when it comes out. It's bad enough that there was no second disc, despite the fact that about 110 minutes of music was recorded for this score, let alone that it's not even an hour long (an inexcusable 44 minutes long!!). So, if you don't buy CDs and soundtracks like this, then they'll stop releasing them at all.
SO BUY IT WHEN IT COMES OUT!!!!

I'll also be changing the main site playlist to start with some songs focusing on The Fallen to set the mood, nice and dark and creepy.

Complete Assessment, Exposition, and Opinion of the TF: RotF Score Samples

Amazon has updated their listing for the Transformers: RotF Score, with some 20 second (why not 30 second?) samples. Check it out, it's amazing! One quick note, why do all the tracks have "(Album Version)" at the end of them?

First of all, the album art is amazing! Buch better than the soundtrack, like last time.

Following is my assessment of the preview of each track, there may be some spoilers, but it's mostly speculation about where the song plays, but still, I reference some plot points that a spoiler free person would not want to hear, so beware. So, Listen to the track preview, and then read my paragraph about it.

1. Prime- Very majestic, like we're used to for the main theme, which I believe this is. This song's name could have another meaning when looking at track #9. But, it seems to be a redo of the first movie's main theme, with some changes, as is customary for sequels, but it also seems to have a flavor of "Optimus" from the first score, which makes sense. But the changes are substantial, such as different background strings, a higher pitched, and predominately female choir, as well as more of an emphasis on the trumpets at the end..

2. Einstein's Wrong- I'm guessing this is the theme for Sam freaking out, but it might also be a more mellow leit-motif for The Fallen, as if it would play whenever some one mentioned him. It has as real feel of anxiety, and the excellent choir work adds quite a lot of suspense.

3. N.E.S.T.- I have mixed feelings about this clip, this song plays in Shanghai, and it features an instrumental clip from New Divide, I think this is the biggest part of what Linkin Park meant when they said they would be working on the score. The clip starts out average, but fitting for NEST, but then something happens half way through, the orchestra starts playing New Divide! The big, African drums replace the drum set, and the trumpets and some strings replace the guitar, I thought that was amazing, and I really can't wait to hear the rest of it.

4. The Shard- I thought that this would be the kind of music that "Einstein's Wrong" was, but it's clearly a battle song, perhaps when Starscream and Megatron capture the kids, but it doesn't seem quite dark enough to have anything to do with The Fallen. It's totally new, but is reminiscent of some of the songs that played during the entire encounter with Barricade in the first movie.

5. The Fallen- This clip is rather tame for the theme of the main bad guy, but it's over 4 minutes long, so it could easily change its pace. It seems to be an appropriate theme for the flashbacks that we saw in the New Divide music video. I would guess that Linkin Park had something to do with this one, too, but, it definitely seems very evil, which I love.

6. Infinite White- What the heck is Infinite White? I would now guess the desert at Cairo, although that's not white sand. This clip features a solo vocalist, and some African drums and stringed instruments, so I would say that it's possibly the introductory theme to Egypt.

7. Heed Our Warning- At 4:26, this is the longest track, and it seems to be a battle theme mostly for Decepticons, or perhaps the theme of when Sam and Mikaela are hiding in the hut while everyone's looking for them in Egypt...

8. The Fallen's Arrival- This one confuses me. Unless The Fallen has a huge, magestic reveal (kind of uncharacteristic for a twisted villain bent on destruction), this track seems way too heroic for the entrance of the big bad guy, especially compared to his other theme. Perhaps he's not the only one arriving at that time, but it just doesn't seem to fit on paper. However, I'm sure it will work great in the movie. It's also a some what long song, so it's not the only theme in that track; but the pulsing, almost footstep-timed drums seem to fit him, but the trumpets just seem too heroic... whatever.

9. Tomb of the Primes- I'm predicting this one to be my favorite, because it's a redo of my favorite from the last score "Optimus", the song that makes me cry. Although, this clip really makes me feel like something big is gonna happen in that tomb...

10. Forest Battle- Seeing as this is the epic battle that early reviewers are saying rivals the T-Rex fight in Peter Jackson's King Kong, and is the most exciting part of the movie, I was hoping this song to be 5-7 minutes, but it's actually the 2nd shortest song. But I think Michael Bay will go the Bourne route and not play music for the whole fight. I sense some Linkin Park in this one, but the clip is mostly reminiscent of Megatron's action theme from the first movie. It's thumping beat gives a really sense that the 3 Decepticons are just continually pushing up against Prime, creating some real tension.

11. Precious Cargo- This is the shortest song, I'm guessing it's the theme for the Matrix, probably a musical translation of the quote "Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing". Perhaps the formation of Devastator (although I think that that scene will be music-less to focus on the amazing sound design of the shocking Transformation) or the appearance of the sun harvester. This track seems to reek of Sam's destiny, and his having to do something with the Matrix. But, the "Autobots" choir and trumpets return for this one, which is great.

12. Matrix of Leadership- Yes, I just said that "Precious Cargo" sounds like the Matrix theme, and it does, the theme in these clips are exactly the same, this one just seem much more heroic and successful. Kind of like "No Sacrifice, No Victory" from the last one. Perhaps the Matrix has something to do with the tomb? But, the trumpets are the same, and the choir is slightly higher, but it's a longer song, so that's not all there is to it.

13. I Claim Your Sun- It seems obvious what this is. More Linkin Park in this one, as well as my favorite sound from a soundtrack ever, from an instrument that I have no clue what it is: the deep, bass sound, played once every 4 or 5 seconds. Almost like a simple pluck on the world's largest cello, first heard in "Downtown Battle" which most of this song sounds a lot like. Also, at the very end of the clip, we get a little bit of the creepy strings from "Cybertron", the flashback scene where Papa Witwicky first meets Megatron in the ice cave. It's also a 3 minute song, and is shaping up to be quite an epic battle piece.

14. I Rise, You Fall- A very sad song, with hints of the Matrix and Prime themes, which leads me to believe we might have some mis-information on our hands regarding the fate of some characters. There is some heroic sounds in there, but it's shrouded in failure, and The Fallen's darkness. I honestly don't know what to expect as far as an ending for this movie.

I think the whole thing is about 69 minutes long, which isn't bad, but I'm still quite aggravated that there's not a second disc, nor will I probably ever find the extra songs on the web somewhere like last time. It's especially frustrating that the crap soundtrack is getting a special edition, and not this one.
But, is it bad that I'm more excited about this than the actual movie? Probably. Writing this out was more exciting and heart stopping than watching any of the trailers, for me anyways...

SPP Toy Review- RotF Deluxe Class Sideswipe

(Available in High Quality)


So, first review of an actual Transformer. You can see the start of some new features, like stop motion instructions, although this won't become very prominent until the Optimus Prime review next.

RotF Toy Haul- Week 1

So, this week I got Leader Class Optimus Prime and Sideswipe. Reviews of each of them should be up sometime during the week. These toys are amazing!!! Sideswipe can stand fine if you just take your time and do it right, and Prime is perfect (other than some small paint issues, but that's really picking nits). There is a much higher attention to detail this time around, and it's about time.
Also, my custom Halo 3 Spartan came in, but more on that in a few/several weeks.

Stay tuned for the reviews, and for updates on the figures I'll be picking up.

RotF News- Leader Prime and Megatron In and Out of Box Pics!

These have been put up on eBay by seller 'yayabeee'. These figures are selling at $1,000 each with another two put up for auction. YouTube user peaugh will probably be buying them, and we should see a review from him soon.

Click the pictures to see a full size version.



Read the Bio for a little back story...



Tank mode looks better than his last jet mode, but it's still a little weird.




He definitely looks deformed, but after reading his bio, he seems to really fit the part and make sense.






Certainly reminiscent of the first movie's design, but still different.

But, as usual, let's focus on Prime!



I hate to say this, but I think the truck mode looks a little stale and uninteresting. It may just be the way the figure is photographed, but the red on the hood and the blue on the top looks bland. It looks like a lighter shade of blue, too. But it's good that the flames on the side of the hood are still there. But it may just be that it looks plain in comparison to my Premium one that's covered in stickers.





His transformation is really complex, but that's a good thing. The more pieces that move, the more accurate and detailed each mode will be.


Looks like battery replacement instructions, so we'll be getting some lights and sounds.


It appears that the swords cannot be removed, instead, they flip out from under the plates on his forearms.


Not much of a backpack, and lots of leg and ankle articulation means good balance and an opportunity for a wide range of poses. Plus stability, which is good for stop motions.







I dare say that this will be the best Prime ever, and, as you know, I have the 20th Anniversary one. This may even be the best Transformer ever, because obviously the best one will be a Prime. :)
But the level of detail and the amount of articulation is just breathtaking. I've already started saving up for this figure so I'll have the $40- $50 to buy him as soon as he comes out.

RotF News- Toy Fair Image Dump: Creme of the Crop!!

That's right, Optimus Prime, baby!!

Torso looks really accurate:


The detail on his head is absolutely outstanding:


His legs look rather awkward and rigid when they're straight. Some more action poses would be nice, but the accurate details (knee pads, tires, feet) are fantastic.


Two Swords!!!!!


Gorgeous truck mode:


The accuracy on this figure is amazing:



These two swords are sure to kick some serious ass, and he's going to need them, because here's what he's up against:



This picture obviously confirms Megatron's appearance in the film, but I don't think there was much doubt about it. Bay and his minions kept denying it, but I'm sure that they just wanted it to be a big reveal.


A quick word about the new "Mech-Alive" feature in these figures. Some thought that it was the new name for the first movie's "Automorph Technology" but it's not. Although Automorph is still present, it's not being advertised as much. Here's the difference:

Automorph: Moving one piece would cause others to move with a practical purpose, i.e. making transformations easier and faster.

Mech-Alive: Moving one piece causes others to move with an aesthetic purpose, i.e. making gears in the chest or arm move to make it look like a realistic robot.

RotF News- Trailer Screen Caps

Three Arcee combiners chasing Sideways:


Sam pulling apart a possible Insecticon drone:


Scorponok attacking a cane-wielding Jetfire:


The Fallen against some Marines right when he teleports at Giza.

RotF News- Toy Fair Image Dump: Everyone Else

Here's some more Toy Fair pics:

Breakaway:





I don't know what it is about this Autobot jet, but I just love how his head looks.

Sideswipe:

This vehicle mode is absolutely beautiful.


Yay! More melee weapons!!



This, of course, is the preview figure of Soundwave in Cybertron satellite mode:


I'm not crazy about his big cartoony hands, but he's still pretty good.

Here's Starscream:


Here's the "Audi R8"

So, he's not called Barricade, but that doesn't mean that it's not him. They still look very similar, and he may have just changed his identity.

Now, The Fallen:



Kinda like a cross between Alien and Bionicle...

Here's his CGI model:

RotF News- Toy Fair Image Dump: Devastator

Ok, so it seems there are two versions of Devastator. One is all of the separate vehicles, that transform into individual robots. There are 4 Voyager Class figures, and 2 Deluxe Class figures, totaling around $100. Then there's the Devastator set, which is also around $100, and includes all of the vehicles that transform into combining parts. This is to keep up the quality, as it would be very difficult to make a figure that could go from vehicle, to robot, to arm, and have it look good... at the price of $200.

Here's Demolisher, the really big guy from the teaser trailer:




His transformation is really cool, and I really like the look of his non-humanoid anatomy.

Bonecrusher's brother, Rampage:


Now, here are the vehicle combiner figures, and the body part that they form, judging on their colors:

Demolisher, torso and shoulders:


Scrapper, right arm:


Mixmaster, head and neck:


Long Haul, right leg:


Hightower, left arm:


Rampage, left leg:


Here's Devastator




This is a leaked CGI model of him.