Turnabout: ‘Transformers 2′ Takes a Shot at President Obama?
by John Nolte
To My Obama-Loving Friends:
Please read on, this is fifteen years of experience talking….
You’re excited. Why wouldn’t you be? It’s summertime, it’s Michael Bay, the trailer’s loaded with explosions and hot chicks and mayhem and by gawd you need this – no… you deserve this. You deserve a couple hours in the dark, in the air conditioning, in a place where you’re lifted from the stresses, worries, and hassles of an all-too real world.
And dammit, you paid good money for this escape, this drug, this promise of both. Hell, crack is cheaper … and lasts longer (from what I hear).
The lights dim, the movie starts, and you’re digging it. Sure it’s kinda dumb, but you knew that coming in. But the promise is kept. Mayhem, explosions, crunching metal, political sucker punch. Whoa. Wait…
POLITICAL SUCKER PUNCH?
Whuh-tha-hell?
Now imagine waiting for this to happen … All. The. Time. Oh, it may not happen every time, but it happens enough that no matter what television show you watch or movie you pay good money for, you wait for it. That’s right, anything new that comes out of Hollywood cannot be viewed without waiting for it. You’re always on guard and can never completely relax because the insult, the breaking of the spell, the cheap shot, the sucker punch can come at anytime from anywhere…
If this report is true…
“In this movie, exactly one real-life politician is named: “President Obama.” They went out of their way to make sure they named the craven, obstructionist president as Obama.”
…and I’ll know for sure in less than a couple hours, please do get all “So what gives?” over it, and know that you have our sympathy. Kind of.
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132 Comments
I was all set to skip this movie, especially after Megan Fox made her "white trash" remark, but I may have to reconsider. Seeing a Democrat president portrayed negatively for once might just be worth the price of admission.
John.. sympathy, kind of? HECK NO!
How many movies have taken out-and-out shots at Bush and/or Cheney over the last few years? This si the first one that takes a shot at Obama (reportedly)… so don't expect me to share any "sympathy" with them…
Same here. Hearing Megan prove the stereotype of attractive woman with her lib bashing of Red Staters made me ready to skip too. Also, I remember being in the theater for the last movie in the scene where the US base is attacked in the film, hearing members of the NYC audience clapping and cheering. With all that in mind I wasn't ready to shell $8-$12 on a ticket but thankfully, if Variety is correct, there might be something in this Bay film worth seeing after all – if only to make the libtards in the theater feel our pain. lol
I'll believe it when I see it. When they stop making old, white, bald politicians evil, I'll believe it.
Wow, think Bay will get death threats for this??
agree with the above post; considering the pro-Obama tilt of Hollywood, the producers are risking not getting invited to tony Brentwood and Bel-Air parties- and it also seems unnecessary to boot.
But it would be interesting if it's true…
And of course, this news makes many of the negative reviews suspect, though I'll know more in a couple hours.
UPDATE: Except Christian Toto's
It's not a direct sucker punch – you have to connect some dots to make it. And the film is so incomprehensible I wouldn't tag it with any political subtext.
Great point, John. I have had that same "wait for it" feeling with so many freakin' movies, I have lost count. (I actually used to carry around a list of them in my wallet, just so I could occasionally remind myself of how prevalent it is.)
Most recently, I had to stop watching "There Will Be Blood" because of the unfortunate, but entirely predictable portrayal of the weaselly, smarmy, creepy preacher… and the Christian who demanded that the murderous oil-man be baptized before he'd allow him to run an oil pipeline through his property. (It begs the perpetual question: Was the unfavorable presentation truly necessary to the plot? Or, the secondary question: Would it have killed the producers/directors to counterweight the negative portrayal with one positive portrayal?) *sigh*
As for Transformers 2… I, too, am completely speechless… as I wait to hear confirmation from at least 20 sources (before I'll be convinced) that this is indeed correct… that Obama is identified by name as a less-than-Messianic character! Is it possible!? Is it truly possible that there is some Obama-slight in a contemporary Hollywood production? Did Hollywood beat late-night comedy to the punch? Is Satan buying some ice skates? Is Olberman reconsidering his opinions of President Bush or Rush Limbaugh? What is going on here?
I guess I'll be watching this movie after all! (despite the airhead co-starring opposite Shia).
Indeed, we are always waiting for it on our side. If what's rumored is true, it will be sweet to see it on the other hand for once.
" Is Satan buying some ice skates?"
Just so you know, we have a town here in Michigan named "Hell" and every year it freezes over, so yes, anything can and will happen.
I saw this the other day. It does have a subtle swipe at those who wish to sit and just do nothing when it comes to threats. However there is plenty to dislike about this film. I'm sure plenty of conservatives will write about the all sexual humor that isn't funny.
The thing is that a parody of a President should be part of a movie that's GOOD. The following review indicates Transformers 2 is not:
http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a000...
So, I think I'm saving my money for better acclaimed fare like Up and The Stoning of Soraya M.
It was only a matter of time.
Simply not possible.
I mean, all the bad reviews say its loud, semi-incoherent, dumb, and flashy. That only means it's a Michael Bay movie. The Obama swipe could explain the extra venom.
God knows I'd love to see a slam on the Messiah, but I just can't sit through another Michael Bay movie. I already have a problem with migraines. I don't need this to exacerbate it.
What? So now if a critic doesn't like this film it's because it takes a swipe at the current administration? Please. That's ludicrous beyond words. The negative reviews of the flick pretty much all say the same thing: it's stupid, loud, incomprehensible, poorly written, and too long. I've yet to read one saying anything even remotely close to "well it would have been the movie of the summer, 'cept for that Obama crack."
Christ.
So you mean it might not be worth $12.50 to see a horrible movie just because the filmmakers thumbed their nose at the administration a little bit? Absurd!
So let me get this straight: When Fox denigrated middle America, you guys went crazy denouncing her and the film and talking about how much Michael Bay and the first film sucked… but they squeeze in one (pretty tame-sounding) bit of satire [holy crap did I just use the word "satire" in conjunction with a Michael Bay film?] re: Pres. Obama, and it's enough to make you suffer through what you purportedly hated as of two weeks ago? _Really?_
Obviously not everyone has lost their minds; Toto and some others are still quick to point out that, y'know, it's still a Michael Bay movie.
If you willingly walk into the giant robot movie, you deserve anything that gets hurled at you. Apparently it's somewhat true, but all the reviews seem to also say the movie is surprisingly crude–some robots apparently use bad language (and apparently one has testes), and much is being made in other reviews of two "black" sounding autobots who are portrayed as illiterate fools (I'm not making this up). Shades of Jar Jar Binks, I guess. I was going to pass on this one anyway–2 hours and 20 minutes of robots punching each other seems like waayy more than I need. I'm curious how parents will feel about the language…this film seems marketed quite heavily to small kids.
Uh…..no…..
It's more of a curiosity than actually wanting to see the movie. It's like someone finding a live bigfoot in their yard. You have to see it to believe it.
this does seem a tempest in a teapot- as everyone is pointing out it is a Michael Bay film and as such can only be so good- not to mention the subject matter- but still, the first had an Oohrah! quality (and DOD cooperation)
that is pretty rare from the People's Republic of Hollywood.
So there's THAT…
From my progessive/liberal standpoint:
Lampoon Obama in a summer action flick, you'll get a yawn from me. Maybe a chuckle if it's funny, but usually those are throwaway lines and characters.
Lampoon Obama in a parody, and I'll take it at face value–does it ring true or not (your mileage may vary).
Lampoon Obama in a more "serious:" movie, and I'll evaluate it on its merits. Again, the "does it ring true" test applies.
If it's the point of the film, like in "Wag the Dog" or "Primary Colors" (note that no one wrote an entire movie pointed at Bush the way they did with Clinton, "documentaries" aside), I'll probably not bother to see it. (Though I saw the abovementioned two films, and enjoyed them to some extent.)
Ha!. And the spin starts.
May Bay slipped it in so he can use the perennial conservative strawman of liberal media bias to explain all his terrible reviews!
I'll have to see it to believe it.
Kevin Spacey's "recount" flick don't count, Sojourner? The whole point of that movie was to show the Bushes as 'controlling' the political machine.
Or whatabout the "soon to be?" Stone Biopic on President Bush? You expect anything other than a hatchet job on him?
It's hilarious that you lefty knumbskulls only pop over and chatter on sites that link from Drudge. Other politically motivated stories here and on breitbart.com that would be rife for your wishy-washy blabbiddy blah are comment ghost towns.
Either get jobs that force you to use your brain, or start your own country.
hussein obama is an illegal alien muslim imposter , and he is an -hole !!
what sort of FOOL would vote in anyone with a muslim name?
brainwashed IDIOTS!!!!—thats who.!
After seeing that presser yesterday, I do believe the worm is starting to turn on this guy.
"its loud, semi-incoherent, dumb, and flashy".
That describes the last 5 Oscar winners for "Best Movie". All kidding aside though, your probably right about the "extra venom"……………People tend to get upset when you take swipes at the leader of there religion…….
What was "W" if not an entire movie pointed at Bush?
Too funny!
http://tinyurl.com/lv2wjt
Maybe now there'll be a movie character who seeks to criminalize energy use, create an earth based religion, corrupt the world's scientists, tax the poor, ignore his own teachings, and profit from all of this. And in case the audience doesn't get it, they can just name him Al Gore.
Wait a minute. . . you think a Hollywood director would be cynical about the content of their film?!
Why, I never heard such a thing. . .
When old, white, bald politicians stop being evil, I'll make movies without them being evil.
http://www.beabetterproducer.com
Thank you President Obama. . . shouldn't you be running the country or something?
"That's ludicrous beyond words."
I agree that it is ludicrous. But it is also quite common.
So? You come here to be educated by douche bags? What does that say about you?
The first Transformers movie had a "Bush"-esque President who wanted some Chocolate Ding-Dongs on Air Force One. Who cares that Obama is in this one? If McCain won, there would be an old bald President in the movie
He'd need a lot more than a thinly veiled jab for that….
You know something? Me think thou protest too much. Whatsa matter? Can't take it that Obama might have been the butt of a joke made by someone other than a conservative?
I think Miles is actually really bent out of shape over this little poke at his messiah.
You can almost feel the rage simmering beneath his snarky little barbs at conservatives…..
Beat me to it.
I guess if Sojourner didn't remember that hit piece maybe even liberals are sick of Bush Derangement Syndrome….
Your momma….
I know exactly the kind of sucker punches you speak of. I see them all the time. So much so, that when I saw The Proposal last night, where Ryan Reynolds takes Sandra Bullock back home to Alaska, I was so sure that their was going to be a Palin joke. But there wasn't, in fact Craig T. Nelson was married to Mary Steenburgen! Now that's a great fiction movie! Can't wait to hear your review on TRNFRMR2
One of the disorders that coincides with BDS is SMS: Selective Memory Syndrome.
It don't matter much, dumb movie anyhow.
John, I'm sure you misheard. Hollywood taking a shot at Obama is like the Gestapo badmouthing Adolf. Ain't gonna happen.
I'm done with sympathy. Idiots who elected this thug from the back room slime of Chicago radical leftist politics get none, None, and NONE. Putin himself could not have made a better choice if he had somehow been permitted to hand pick the leader most likely to bring the United States of America to it's knees.
hey – leave her out of this! just because the best part of him ran down her leg and all…………
It's usually cured with a sharp blow to the head
not enough of him to suit me….
Aye, it usually comes down to that, they've build up such a resistance to truth.
@John Nolte
Debbie Schlussel didn't like the sequel as much as the original because of all the profanity and sexuality:
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2009/06/t...
So, I think reviews are going to be a mix of "Michael Bay is an evil, anti-Obama infidel" and those by the likes of Schussel who wished it was more kid-friendly.
Megan Fox looks like a man.
[...] Turnabout: ‘Transformers 2′ Takes a Shot at President Obama? by John Nolte [...]
Four words and one letter for you:
Death of a President.
W.
Yes and one of the side effects is a really thick skull
If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer.
Amen to that
Well it was there. The President (he is referred to as such in an early scene of the film) appoints a new go-to guy to deal with the military force that's hunting Decepticons around the world, and later the go-to guy claims that the President wants to try a new tactic of diplomacy to deal with the Decepticons. After basically telling the Autobots to leave Earth, Megatron calls in Decepticon reinforcements, and it's mentioned that "President Obama has been flown to a secret bunker"
So yeah. Guns and bombs are how you deal with external threats, not pretty words and idiots in suits.
Woo hOO! Finally someone has nominated me for biggest douche in the universe! Now I can be on South Park.
and there are far too many in this world.
Except for that cinematic masterpiece "Death of a President" where Bush is assassinated.
Won't believe it till I see it. The last obvious cheap shot was the Cheney clone stuck in Day After Tomorrow.
Let's hope that somebody is taking shots at B. Hussein O. Jr.
How about every time some limp wrist makes a joke about getting beat up and how much fun it was, especially when it comes to sex, we write stories about how it is a swipe at heteros?
I saw he movie at a midnight showing. The "Obama" thing is widely blown out of proportion. What happens is (this isn't a spoiler) that robots attack various places including the US (you could see that in the trailers) and the news (faithfully reported by CNN, not a fake network) said that:
"President Obama has been taken to a secure location in the middle of the country." (Or something close to it.)
I didn't think anything of it, except that they actually named him, rather than having a generic "President." Bay had a Bush-soundalike in the first one asking for Ding Dongs on AF1 (and the stewardess being subsequently disgusted by it). I wasn't surprised to hear that Obama was "moved to a safe location." It was a terrorist attack after all. Was it another swipe as Bush? Was it a way to get Obama's name into the movie? Was it just pointless? (I think it's the last.)
On the other hand… (possible spoiler)
…there's the obligatory bureaucrat trying to gum up the works, and since he's there by "orders of the President"… but that could be read into as the bureaucrat just displaying zealotry, a la Richard Atherton in Ghostbusters or John Turturro in the first movie. The fact that he has backing from the Prez doesn't mean much to me really. Oh, and that character was introduced a lot earlier than the Obama reference.
Read into it as you will. I think Obama came off better than Bush did in the last one.
Megan Fox is so damn hot. Too bad Michael Bay ruined the Transformers name. All the robots don't even look like robots. They all look like trees from Spooky Hallow.
Megan Fox is so damn hot. Too bad Michael Bay ruined the Transformers name. All the robots don't even look like robots. They all look like trees from Spooky Hallow.
You guys give me way too much credit; I'm far too cynical to believe Obama is anything other than a slick opportunist who just happens to have a few policy positions that coincide with mine. I could really care less if someone wants to lampoon him–if it's funny, I'll laugh. If it's not, I won't. If it's couched in a 150 minute long Michael Bay picture, I'll never get the chance to do either because like anyone else with an IQ higher than 75 an no professional obligation to do so, I won't be seeing it.
Man, I'd give anything to want to see a movie that trashes the Messiah – even if only for one sentence. But if this film is anything like the trailers, that's not going to happen. If those trailers are anything to go by, this film has no story. Just booms, Megan's boobs, and more booms. And then a few more booms. And – did I mention, there's some booms in Egypt on top of a pyramid and some booms in Paris and some booms over here and over there and…you get the picture. There's no story. I want to watch a story. Booms are nothing but booms.
Okay, I didn't see "W", so I forgot about it (and besides, that was a biopic which is kinda like a "documentary", not a parody). and I've never even heard of the Kevin Spacey film. Sorry for the omissions.
But D@MN she is HOT!!
Which movies named Bush by name and took a shot at him? You ask 'how many' but I assume that implies you believe there have been a lot. Can you name 3 without using any of Michael Moore's trash?
Don't forget the assassination fantasies directed at Bush in plays, etc.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy; Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle; Death of a President
"entirely predictable portrayal of the weaselly, smarmy, creepy preacher… and the Christian who demanded that the murderous oil-man be baptized before he'd allow him to run an oil pipeline through his property. (It begs the perpetual question: Was the unfavorable presentation truly necessary to the plot?"
Maybe its entirely predictable because we intuitively recognize the historical truth that there were such types. Maybe that is part of the point of this story. It shouldn't need to be necessary to the plot, necessarily. Its necessary to the subject matter of the story, which is about morality and depravity. And, yes, Jenny, there are those among us who pretend to be moral inorder to disguise their depravity. This is, again, part of the point of the movie.
what sort of fool thinks Obama is actually a Muslim? What sort of fool thinks Obama is an illegal alien? folks I think we got one right here.
Carolyn–go see "Up!" Or if you can, find the docs "Pressure Cooker" or "Every Little Step." I even enjoyed "Pelham 123," and if you want to be put off processed food for a few days, try another doc, "Food, Inc."
[...] Iran; O’s obligatory press conference and Caution: ACORN thugs at work John Nolte, Big Hollywood: Turnabout: ‘Transformers 2′ Takes a Shot at President Obama? Politico: Obama calls on HuffPost for Iran question UPDATE (question rigging) Frugal Café [...]
Nick put some in.. but I'l add "Day after Tomorrow" (that actor was specifically chosen because he looked like Cheney), "W" (as noted), "Recount", "Syriana" (oh no, George says it's against hte system, not the President.. Yeah right!)
The swipe at the Obama foreign policy is definitely there. I think it slaps you in the face — it's almost so obvious that it really has no other purpose but to be directed at Barry Hussein and his appeasement-loving policy.
Actually I agree. Hell, even Debbie Schlussel (!!) called it "stupid, loud, incomprehensible, poorly written, and too long."
Unfortunately, dammit, our side needs much better vehicles than this or American Carol.
Hey – they can't all be "Lions for Lambs", Miles.
Sometimes Hollywood has to lower itself to actually making money…
"and the Christian who demanded that the murderous oil-man be baptized before he'd allow him to run an oil pipeline through his property"
At least the old guy actually seemed concerned for Plainview, whereas the preacher mainly wanted to humiliate him.
My big problem with the movie was that the preacher was a weasely nerd, lacked the sort of charisma you expect from a fiery evangelical. Couldn't care less that he was greedy and corruptible. It was a movie about bad people. The preacher didn't stand in for all of religion, and the oilman didn't stand in for all of capitalism. Not for me, anyway.
Yes, something else I didn't see or care about, so again got filed in the "quickly forget" column.
Point is, I'm not going to wring my hands or gnash my teeth because Obama gets lampooned in a movie. It also won't by itself decide whether I see or don't see a movie.
Point is, you were wrong in a key point of your comment.
A little reverse psychology Fred. If there is a attack on a 'cowardly' Obama, wouldn't the liberal movie reviewers go out of their way to trash it? As to make sure people don't watch it?
I wouldn't put it past them.
He'll be kicked out of the HollyWeird community to be sure.
*All.The.Time.*
Whoah!!!!!!! You nailed it.
The first one took a minor hit at GWB. When that idiotic little Transformer was on Air Force 1, the President–who sounded just like Bush–called for some Twinkies. I don't remember if they did any more than make him look silly, because I'm trying to block out the whole thing.
It is to the point where I simply don't watch most comedies, movies or TV anymore, because I am so sick to death of constantly waiting for the "sucker punch" ( well termed!!)
It is getting the same way with what used to be my favorite mystery authors..they have taken the dumb pill and decided that they can inject their silly take on what they believe to be true into their latest novels.The dumb stuff they say about Iraq, Christians and Republicans would be laughable except that the bigotry and ignorance is so blatant, and they dont' even know they are being ignorant bigots. The latest one I read went so far as to insist calling the baby being born a fetus…until literally the head came out, then suddenly she called her a baby. So, of course, her portrayal of the protagonist as a "tough on immigration" governor wanna be told me that the governor wanna be was going to be the bad guy in this book…and sho nuff, it came true! Was a white woman, not a white male, at least..in a nod to feminism I gues.
Unbelievably ridiculous.
So, there goes a lot of my former entertainment!
I still won't be going, that little twat Megan Foxx ruined any movies she stars in forever.
What kind of fool? I guess the kind of fool who witness Obama say, "My Muslim faith" last summer during an interview with Stephanopolous? Does that make Obama a fool for saying it? Me a fool for not believing him? Or Stephanopolous a fool for immediately correcting Obama and saying, "…you mean your Christian faith, right?' …"
If only the comedians were not cowards. What stress relief this nation could have…..
Remember Miles, you're dealing with the rah-rah-Rush crowd of conservative idiots. These people are incredibly easy to confuse, and you really can't expect them to possibly remember what they were thinking on an issue two whole weeks ago. They're also easily amused by cheap shots and bumpersticker philosophy, so this type of wishy-washy mentality should be expected.
Sorry slick, the only idiot I'm reading here is you.
So according to Variety, the mention of President Obama as craven and obstructionist in Transformers 2 is a "swipe" at the President and the onscreen murder of President Bush in Death Of A President is "skillful docudrama" and "exceptional" (review posted 09/11/06)? Interesting…
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