Didn't Miss a Thing - Aside from Pure Fucking Bullshit

Last week, my friends at work invited me to go see Transformers when it opened. I'm a purist, so I said no. I'm not having my delightful childhood memories of a damned fine cartoon ruined by live-action malarkey.

Turns out it's a bloody good thing I didn't go, because I would've spent most of my time fuming. My friends tell me there was plenty of not-so-veiled racism. And then there's this:

A reader emailed me the other day to let me know about the political subtexts of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, a big-budget action flick released last week. Reader P.C. told me the movie mentioned President Obama in a less than flattering light.

I haven't seen it, but Matt Yglesias also saw the movie, and noticed its "searing indictment" of the administration.

[O]ne critical turn in the storyline comes when a heroic Major in the United States Army (or possibly Air Force) decides to disobey orders and mutiny against a civilian operative specifically sent by POTUS to take command of the operation. But what's more, this is no rogue special forces officer, he's clearly supported in his action by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who elects to turn a blind eye, and leave President Obama (who's named specifically) in the dark as he cowers in fear in an underground bunker. Obama, you see, has ordered American forces to attempt to appease the Deceptecon threat by halting all collaboration with the Autobots, and agreeing to turn Sam Witwicky over to the forces of evil. By defying Obama and staging what amounts to a coup, the military saves the day.

[snip]

Maybe Michael Bay could stick to explosions and steer clear of political messages? (If we're lucky, he might also stay away from cameras, the movie industry, scripts, actors....)

If only we were so lucky. Hollywood's output would improve a thousand-fold if a Transformer prop were to fall over and end Bay's career. There should be a law against no-talent hacks politicizing movies inspired by iconic childrens' cartoons.

At least we know whose side he would've been on in the cartoon series. It begins with Decepti- and ends in Con.