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| Michael Bay |
| Born: 1965, Los Angeles, California, USA |
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| Previous Films |
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| Armageddon (1998) Average Critic review: 5.1/10 stars Click Here for Full Reviews IMDB review: 5.8/10 stars (66,352 votes) After the decimation of New York City by hundreds of small meteors, NASA realizes that the worst is yet to come. An asteroid the size of Texas is hurtling towards the earth, threatening to destroy all life on the planet with its impact in 18 days. When a plan is devised to drill into the asteroid and set a charge, some of the world�s best drillers are hired to save the human race. Unfortunately, they�ll have to overcome their own personal eccentricities if they wish to get the job done. Not one of the great movies of our time, it is definitely one of the most entertaining. |
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| Pearl Harbor (2001) Average Critic review: 4.3/10 stars Click Here for Full Reviews IMDB review: 5.3/10 stars (51,291 votes) The classic story of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is told through the eyes of two boyhood friends, now serving as officers in the Army Air Corps. Rafe is an energetic young pilot who is selected to fly with the British in Europe while America is still not at war. After Rafe is shot down and presumed killed, however, Danny comforts Rafe's former lover, Evelyn, and the two draw closer. But, when Rafe turns up alive, the two former friends become enemies, and it is through the turmoil of Pearl Harbor that the two may reconcile their differences. |
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| Michael Bay - Transformers With a following of both children and young adults with Saturday morning cartoon nostalgia, the opening of Transformers on July 4th promises to be a major box office boost. It is director Michael Bay who has been asked to transform this project into a summer blockbuster, and it seems like he has a decent shot at getting the job done. After all, with the director of such films as Armageddon (1998) and Pearl Harbor (2001) leading the Transformers� move to the big screen, the movie promises to at least be entertaining, if not pure film gold. Starting with such movies as Armageddon and Pearl Harbor, Bay proves that he can direct an action packed movie with dramas and tensions that run high. After all, what can be more dramatic and suspenseful than the destruction of the world itself along with every living creature on it, including bacteria? Such a background fits in perfectly with the idea of the Transformers, two races of aliens that choose to carry out their war against each other here on earth, leaving mankind to weather the storm between them. So, it is again a threat to mankind�s very survival from above, but this time the action will take place on Earth itself. It is in Armageddon that Bay displays the emotional side of action, juxtaposing fast shots of the action occurring on the face of the asteroid as the drill team frantically races to finish their work by the deadline with slower, more meaningful shots of everyday people on the street dealing with their uncertain doom in various ways. Overall, Armageddon has the action that is to be expected, but it also pays careful attention to the emotional side of the story that is most of the human race waiting around to either live another day or face their demise. The shots of a space station blowing up and a seemingly sentient asteroid fighting for its life gain levels of meaning when Bay splices in shots of people crying for loved ones, praying in churches, staring at the clock, or just sitting in silent reflection. In Pearl Harbor, Bay studies the dramatic side of action in much the same way, juxtaposing the violence and massacre that is Pearl Harbor with a love triangle between two childhood friends and the girl that both of them love. The entire movie, apart from being visually dazzling, is a testament to the idea that, though war movies are usually about violence, hatred, and slaughter, to truly understand why such an act happens, one must also understand the ideas of honor, valor, and love. With this brand of mixing visually spectacular action and fast paced editing with slower shots of emotion, drama, and suspense, it is safe to say that those who opt to see Transformers will not be disappointed in Bay�s style of directing and adding layers of meaning to an otherwise flat action flick. As shown by the reviews, Bay does not seem to come out with films that will change the history of movie going as we know it, but if nothing else can be said for his movies, let it be said they are sure to entertain. Fans of the Transformers world can expect to see Transformers in theaters July 4th, 2007. There is no talk yet of a second Transformers movie, but Michael Bay is currently heading the project Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, expected to hit theaters in 2008. -Insigzilla |