Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen#Printed media
{{Short description|2009 film by Michael Bay}}
{{About|the film|other uses|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
| image = TF2SteelPoster.jpg
| alt = The faces of two robots stand atop a pyramid. A helicopter flies over an industrial facility on the right side of the image, and a young couple is seen in front of the pyramid. The film title and credits are on the bottom of the poster.
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Michael Bay
| producer = {{Plainlist|
}}
| writer = {{Plainlist|
}}
| based_on = {{Based on|Hasbro's Transformers action figures}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
}}
| music = Steve Jablonsky
| cinematography = Ben Seresin
| editing = {{Plainlist|
- Roger Barton
- Donovan Shavis
- Joel Negron
- Thomas A. Muldoon
}}
| studio = {{plainlist|
- Paramount Pictures
- DreamWorks Pictures{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/65010-TRANSFORMERS--REVENGE-OF-THE-FALLEN|title=Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)|work=AFI Catalog of Feature Films|accessdate=July 3, 2023}}
- Di Bonaventura Pictures
- Hasbro
}}
| distributor = Paramount Pictures{{efn|name=Disney|Distributed under the DreamWorks Pictures banner in the United States and Canada, and the Paramount Pictures banner internationally.}}
| released = {{Film date|2009|06|08|Tokyo, Japan|2009|06|24|United States}}
| runtime = 150 minutes{{cite web | url= https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/transformers-revenge-fallen-2009-1 | title=TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN (12A) | work=BBFC | date=June 15, 2009 | access-date=January 19, 2016 |url-status=deviated |archive-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121074412/http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/transformers-revenge-fallen-2009-1}}
| language = English
| budget = $200–210 million{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=transformers2.htm |title=Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=October 17, 2009|archive-date=October 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016071533/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=transformers2.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) - Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Transformers-Revenge-of-the-Fallen#tab=summary |website=The Numbers |access-date=July 18, 2020 |archive-date=November 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124055346/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Transformers-Revenge-of-the-Fallen#tab=summary |url-status=live }}
}}
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a 2009 American science fiction action film based on Hasbro's Transformers toy line. The film is the second installment in the Transformers film series and a sequel to Transformers (2007). The film is directed by Michael Bay and written by Ehren Kruger, Roberto Orci, and Alex Kurtzman. Set two years after the events of Transformers, Revenge of the Fallen recounts the battle between the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen), and the Decepticons, led by Megatron (voiced by Hugo Weaving). The Autobots and Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) ally again to face an ancient Decepticon named the Fallen (voiced by Tony Todd), who pursues revenge on Earth.
Development on a sequel to Transformers began by May 2007. With deadlines jeopardized by possible strikes by the Directors Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild, Bay managed to finish the production on time with the help of previsualization and a scriptment. Shooting took place between May and September 2008, with locations in Egypt, Jordan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California, as well as air bases in New Mexico and Arizona.
It premiered on June 8, 2009, at Roppongi Hills in Tokyo, Japan and was released on June 24 in the United States. The film received generally negative reviews from critics. It won three Golden Raspberry Awards at the 30th Golden Raspberry Awards ceremony and became the highest-grossing film to win the Worst Picture award at the time. The film surpassed its predecessor's box office gross worldwide with $836.5 million, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2009. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing, at the 82nd Academy Awards. With over 11 million home media sales in 2009, it was also the top-selling film of the year in the United States. It was followed by Transformers: Dark of the Moon in 2011.
Plot
In 17,000 B.C., seven Primes—the highest ruling Cybertronians—collect Energon from Star Harvesters, machines that consume stars to harness their energy. The Primes have a sacred rule to never deplete a star that sustains life. One of them violates this rule by ordering the construction of a Star Harvester on Earth, for which he becomes "the Fallen", the original Decepticon, and is defeated by the other Primes.
In the present day, two years after the battle of Mission City,{{efn|As depicted in Transformers (2007)}} the Autobots and the humans have formed NEST (Non-biological Extraterrestrial Species Treaty), a classified joint task force to eliminate the remaining Decepticons. Two Decepticons, Sideways and Demolishor, are defeated in Shanghai, but the latter warns of the Fallen's return before being killed. Meanwhile, the Decepticon Soundwave hacks a military satellite to track and steal the last known piece of the AllSpark shard from a U.S Navy base in Diego Garcia. The Constructicons use it to resurrect Megatron while tearing off parts from one of their own to repair his body, and Megatron returns to the Fallen. The Fallen sends Megatron and his second-in-command, Starscream, to capture Sam Witwicky alive and kill Optimus.
Meanwhile, Sam, now attending college at Princeton University, has been seeing Cybertronian symbols since holding a smaller AllSpark shard; Megatron believes the symbols will lead the Decepticons to a new Energon source. The shard brings many of the kitchen appliances to life, which attempt to kill Sam and his parents, but Bumblebee rescues them. Sam gives the shard to his girlfriend, Mikaela Banes, who later captures the Decepticon Wheelie as he attempts to steal it. After being attacked by Alice, a Decepticon Pretender posing as a college student, Sam, his roommate Leo, and Mikaela are captured by the Decepticon Grindor before the Autobots save them. Optimus fights off Megatron, Starscream, and Grindor before Optimus kills Grindor. Megatron then kills Optimus while he defends Sam. The Decepticons launch devastating attacks around the world, while Megatron and Soundwave hijack Earth's telecommunication systems, which allows the Fallen to send a message to the humans, demanding that Sam be handed over to him.
Sam, Mikaela, and Leo then seek out alien expert and former Sector Seven agent Seymour Simmons, who reveals that Transformers have visited Earth for a long time and some, known as Seekers, have remained hidden on the planet. With help from Wheelie, they track down an elderly Decepticon turned Autobot Seeker named Jetfire at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. They use their shard to revive Jetfire, who teleports the group to Egypt. Along with Jetfire, Wheelie allies with the Autobots, and Jetfire sends them to locate the Matrix of Leadership, the key to the Star Harvester, which could also revive Optimus. The group finds the Matrix, which the Primes sacrificed themselves to conceal but disintegrates into dust.
Meanwhile, NEST forces and the Autobots land near the Giza pyramid complex and are attacked by the Decepticons. The Constructicons combine to form Devastator, who reveal the Star Harvester hidden inside a pyramid before he is destroyed by the Navy’s railgun, as U.S. military reinforcements and Jetfire arrive to assist. The Decepticons are annihilated by multiple airstrikes from the Navy and the U.S Air Force, but Megatron manages to kill Sam. The Primes speak to Sam, saying that the Matrix must be earned, not found, and that he has the right to bear it by sacrificing himself for Optimus. They resurrect Sam and grant him the Matrix, which he uses to resurrect Optimus. The Fallen steals the Matrix from a weakened Optimus and uses it to activate the Star Harvester. Jetfire, whom Scorponok wounded before he killed it, sacrifices himself to allow his parts to be used for additional power and flight for Optimus. Upgraded, Optimus destroys the Star Harvester, severely wounds Megatron, and kills the Fallen. Distraught by his master's death, Megatron retreats with Starscream. The Autobots and their allies return to the United States, and Sam and Leo return to college.
Cast
File:Transformers The Ride at Universal Studios Florida.JPG at Universal Studios Florida]]
{{Main|List of Transformers film series cast and characters|l1=List of Transformers film series cast and characters}}
===Live-action===
- Shia LaBeouf as Sam Witwicky: A recent high school graduate who is unwittingly drawn again into the Autobot cause to unravel an ancient mystery implanted into his mind by the now-destroyed Allspark.
- Megan Fox as Mikaela Banes: Sam's girlfriend whom he trusts as the AllSpark fragments begin to unravel.
- Josh Duhamel as Major William Lennox: A U.S. Army Ranger who establishes NEST to help the Autobots in their battle against the remaining Decepticons.
- Tyrese Gibson as Robert Epps: A U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant and Combat Controller in Lennox's team who leads NEST's SWAT unit.
- John Turturro as Seymour Simmons: A former agent of the recently terminated Sector 7 who now runs a meat shop in New York City with his mother, Tova Simmons (played by Annie Korzen).
- Ramon Rodriguez as Leo Spitz: A college roommate of Sam's who runs an online conspiracy blog and is obsessed with the Transformers. Before Rodríguez was cast, Jonah Hill was in talks to play the role but Seth Rogen advised him to turn it down to focus instead on his own projects. Hill chose to do Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian instead.{{cite magazine | first=Nicole | last=Sperling | url=https://ew.com/article/2008/05/07/jonah-hill/ | title=Jonah Hill no longer in talks for 'Transformers 2' | magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=2008-05-07 | access-date=January 10, 2023 | archive-date=January 10, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110051940/https://ew.com/article/2008/05/07/jonah-hill/ | url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/20/magazine/seth-rogen.html | title=Seth Rogen and the Secret to Happiness | work=The New York Times | date=April 20, 2021 | last1=Weiner | first1=Jonah | access-date=January 10, 2023 | archive-date=January 10, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110051938/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/20/magazine/seth-rogen.html | url-status=live }}
- Kevin Dunn as Ron Witwicky: Sam's father.
- Julie White as Judith Witwicky: Sam's mother.
- Isabel Lucas as Alice: A female pretender sent to spy on Sam in college.
- John Benjamin Hickey as Theodore Galloway: A national security adviser who often chastises NEST and the Autobots for their destructive tactics.
- Glenn Morshower as General Morshower: The supervisor of NEST.
- Matthew Marsden as Captain Graham: a British Army Special Air Service NEST officer.
- Rainn Wilson as Professor R.A. Colan: Sam and Leo's astronomy teacher.
- Michael Papajohn as Colin "Cal" Banes: Mikaela's father.
=Voices=
- Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime: The leader of the Autobots who transforms into a blue and red 1994 Peterbilt 379 semi-trailer truck.
- Tony Todd as The Fallen/Megatronus Prime: A Prime who is the first and founder of the Decepticons, as well as the master of Megatron.
- Mark Ryan as:
- Bumblebee: An Autobot scout and Sam's guardian who transforms into a yellow and black 2009 Chevrolet Camaro.
- Jetfire: A former Decepticon Seeker turned Autobot who transforms into a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.
- Jess Harnell as Ironhide: The Autobot weapons specialist and Optimus's new second-in-command who transforms into a black 2009 GMC Topkick C4500.
- Robert Foxworth as Ratchet: The Autobot medical officer who transforms into a yellow 2009 search and rescue Hummer H2 ambulance.
- Charlie Adler as Starscream: Megatron's second-in-command who transforms into a Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.
- Frank Welker{{efn|Ravage and Grindor are not listed in the credits.}} as:
- Soundwave: The Decepticon communications officer who orbits Earth as a Cybertronian satellite.
- Ravage: A stealthy, jaguar-like Decepticon who transforms into a Cybertronian missile, and is deployed by Soundwave.
- Reedman: A razor-thin Decepticon composed of the "Microcons", thousands of Decepticons who transform into metal beads that are deployed by Ravage.
- Grindor: A large Decepticon who transforms into a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter.
- Devastator: A massive Decepticon who is the combination of ten construction vehicles. In the Transformers lore, these vehicles are meant to be individual Decepticons called the Constructicons. In the film, however, only Mixmaster, Scrapper, Scrapmetal, and Long Haul transform into robots, and they appear separate from Devastator. Concept art was created for the others, but most of them were only featured in the related toy lines.
The named Constructicons are: - Mixmaster: A black and silver Mack concrete mixer truck that transforms into the head.
- Scrapper: A yellow Caterpillar 992G scoop loader that transforms into the right arm.
- Scrapmetal: A yellow Volvo EC700C crawler excavator fitted with a Stanley UP 45SV attachment that transforms into the left hand.
- Long Haul: A green Caterpillar 773B dump truck that transforms into the right leg.
- Scavenger: A red and white Terex O&K RH 400 excavator, like Demolishor, that transforms into the upper torso and shoulders.
- Hightower: A yellow Kobelco CKE2500 II crawler crane that transforms into the left arm.
- Overload: A red KW Dart D4661 Tractor Truck articulated dump truck that transforms into the lower torso and thighs.
- André Sogliuzzo as Sideswipe: The Autobot combat instructor who transforms into a silver 2009 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray concept car.
- Tom Kenny as:
- Wheelie: A former Decepticon spy, later turned Autobot, who transforms into a blue radio-controlled toy monster truck, based on a Ford F-350.
- Skids: An Autobot infiltrator and Mudflap's twin who first transforms into the front half of a custom-built ice cream truck, and later, a green 2007 Chevrolet Beat.
- Reno Wilson as Mudflap: An Autobot infiltrator and Skids' twin who first transforms into the back half of a custom-built ice cream truck, and later, a red 2007 Chevrolet Trax.
- Grey DeLisle as Arcee, Chromia, and Elita-One: A trio of female Autobot sisters who transforms into a pink Ducati 848, a blue Suzuki B-King, and a purple MV Agusta F4, respectively.{{efn|Chromia and Elita-One are not listed in the credits.}}
- Calvin Wimmer as Demolishor: A massive Constructicon who transforms into a red and white Terex O&K RH 400 excavator.
- John DiCrosta as Scalpel: A spider-like Decepticon who transforms into a 1938 American Optical 603 lensmeter.
- Michael York as Prime #1: One of the seven Primes.
- Kevin Michael Richardson as:
- Prime #2: One of the seven Primes.
- Rampage: A Constructicon who transforms into a red Caterpillar D9T bulldozer and serves as the left leg of Devastator.
- Robin Atkin Downes as Prime #3: One of the seven Primes
- Hugo Weaving as Megatron: The Fallen's apprentice and the leader of the Decepticons who transforms into a flying Cybertronian tank.
=Non-speaking characters=
- Bumblebee: An Autobot scout and Sam's guardian who transforms into a yellow and black 2009 Chevrolet Camaro.
- Jolt: An Autobot technician who transforms into a blue 2009 Chevrolet Volt.
- Sideways: A Decepticon surveillance agent who transforms into a silver 2009 Audi R8; he hides out in Shanghai alongside Demolishor.
- Scorponok: A scorpion-like Decepticon who was a minion of Blackout in the previous film.
- Bonecrusher: A Decepticon soldier who transforms into a Buffalo H Mine-Protected vehicle, and was killed in the previous film.
Production
=Development=
Before the release of Transformers (2007), Paramount Pictures began developing two sequels.{{Cite web |last=West |first=Dave |date=May 30, 2007 |title=Two Transformers sequels in pipeline |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a58430/two-transformers-sequels-in-pipeline/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024010434/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a58430/two-transformers-sequels-in-pipeline/ |archive-date=October 24, 2020 |access-date=August 27, 2024 |website=Digital Spy}} Major hurdles for the film's initial production stages included the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike as well as the threat of strikes by other guilds. Prior to a potential Directors Guild of America strike, director Michael Bay began creating animatics of action sequences featuring characters rejected for the 2007 film. This would allow animators to complete sequences if the Directors Guild of America went on strike in July 2008, which ultimately did not happen.{{Cite news|last=Fernandez|first=Jay|title=Heavy Metal for Sequel|work=Los Angeles Times|date=2007-10-10|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-oct-10-et-scriptland10-story.html|access-date=2008-09-28|archive-date=October 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018213733/http://articles.latimes.com/2007/oct/10/entertainment/et-scriptland10|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|title=Writer's Strike Continues; DGA Signs Deal; Awards Questioned |first=Danielle |last=Davidson |work=The West Georgian |date=2008-01-23 |url=http://www.thewestgeorgian.com/2.917/writer-s-strike-continues-dga-signs-deal-awards-questioned-1.40941 |access-date=2008-09-28 | url-status = dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090628112717/http://www.thewestgeorgian.com/2.917/writer-s-strike-continues-dga-signs-deal-awards-questioned-1.40941 |archive-date= June 28, 2009 }} When asked about directing a sequel while promoting the first Transformers film, Bay said "you have your baby and you don't want someone else to take it".{{Cite magazine |first=Adam B. |last=Vary |title=Optimus Prime Time |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=July 4, 2007 |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20035285_20035331_20044598,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221044543/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20035285_20035331_20044598_3,00.html |archive-date=February 21, 2008 |access-date=February 21, 2008}}
Screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, who had written the first film, originally passed on the opportunity to write a sequel due to schedule conflicts. The studio began courting other writers in May 2007, but were unimpressed with other pitches and eventually convinced Orci and Kurtzman to return. The studio also hired Ehren Kruger, who had impressed Bay and Hasbro president Brian Goldner with his knowledge of the Transformers mythology.{{Cite news|first=Borys |last=Kit|title=Writing Team Built Fast for Transformers 2|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=2007-10-04|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i298d60247271e2fe1722233a840531a6|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071011080933/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i298d60247271e2fe1722233a840531a6 |archive-date= October 11, 2007 |access-date=2007-10-04}} The writing trio were paid $8 million. Screenwriting was interrupted by the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike, but to avoid production delays, the writers spent two weeks writing a treatment, which they handed in the night before the strike began.{{Cite news|first=Alex|last=Billington|title=Kicking Off 2009 with Writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci – Part Two: Transformers 2|work=FirstShowing.net|date=2009-01-14|url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2009/01/14/kicking-off-2009-with-writers-alex-kurtzman-and-roberto-orci-part-two-transformers-2/|access-date=2009-01-14|archive-date=January 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116231830/http://www.firstshowing.net/2009/01/14/kicking-off-2009-with-writers-alex-kurtzman-and-roberto-orci-part-two-transformers-2/|url-status=live}} Bay then expanded the outline into a 60-page scriptment,{{Cite news|first=Anne |last=Thompson |title=Oscar Watch: Bay Hosts Transformers Tech Show |work=Variety |date=2008-02-08 |url=http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2008/02/oscar-watch-bay.html |access-date=2008-02-19 |author-link=Anne Thompson (film critic) | url-status = dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080321095128/http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2008/02/oscar-watch-bay.html |archive-date= March 21, 2008 }} which included more action, humor, and characters.{{Cite news|url=http://blastr.com/2009/03/orci-kurtzman-reveal-tran.php|first=Patrick|last=Lee|title=Orci & Kurtzman Reveal Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Details|work=Sci Fi Wire|date=2009-03-31|access-date=2009-03-31|archive-date=July 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708013109/http://blastr.com/2009/03/orci-kurtzman-reveal-tran.php|url-status=dead}} The three writers spent four months finishing the screenplay while "locked" in two hotel rooms by Bay; Kruger wrote in his own room and the trio would check on each other's work twice a day.{{Cite news|first=Stephanie|last=Sanchez|title=IESB Exclusive: Kurtzman and Orci on Transformers 2!|work=IESB|date=2008-09-17|url=http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_ezine&task=read&page=1&category=2&article=5481|access-date=2008-09-17|archive-date=January 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121074412/http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_ezine&task=read&page=1&category=2&article=5481|url-status=live}}
Orci described the film's theme as "being away from home", with the Autobots contemplating living on Earth as they cannot restore Cybertron, while Sam goes to college.{{Cite news|url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/07/24/writers-reveal-theme-of-transformers-sequel-the-bad-news-no-dinobots/|first=Josh|last=Horowitz|title=Writers Reveal Theme Of Transformers Sequel. The Bad News? No Dinobots|work=MTV Movies Blog|date=2008-07-24|access-date=2008-07-25| url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080828151829/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/07/24/writers-reveal-theme-of-transformers-sequel-the-bad-news-no-dinobots/|archive-date= August 28, 2008|df=mdy-all}} He wanted the focus between the robots and humans "much more evenly balanced",{{cite web|url=http://www.donmurphy.net/board/showpost.php?p=1126991&postcount=4975|title=The Official "Hey Roberto" Thread|last=Orci|first=Roberto|publisher=Don Murphy|date=2008-05-25|access-date=2010-08-01|archive-date=July 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723102819/http://www.donmurphy.net/board/showpost.php?p=1126991&postcount=4975|url-status=live}} "the stakes [to] be higher", and more focused on the science fiction elements.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/transformers_revenge_of_the_fallen/news/1742756/transformers_2_scribe_sets_record_straight/|title=Transformers 2 Scribe Sets Record Straight|last=Topel|first=Fred|date=2008-07-21|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=2010-08-01|archive-date=November 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105202056/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/transformers_revenge_of_the_fallen/news/1742756/transformers_2_scribe_sets_record_straight/|url-status=live}} Orci added he wanted to "modulate" the humor more,{{Cite web|title=More on Transformers 2 From Writer Roberto Orci|publisher=Seibertron.com|date=2008-02-18|url=http://www.seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=12448|access-date=2008-02-19|archive-date=February 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219173627/http://www.seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=12448|url-status=live}} {{Better source needed|reason=WP:FANSITE|date=December 2022}} and felt he managed the more "outrageous" jokes by balancing them with a more serious plot approach to the Transformers{{'}} mythology.{{Cite news|url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/944/944836p1.html|first=Eric|last=Goldman|title=Transformers 2 Rumor Confirmed|work=IGN|date=2009-01-14|access-date=2009-01-14| url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090119015740/http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/944/944836p1.html|archive-date= January 19, 2009|df=mdy-all}} Bay concurred that he wanted to please fans by making the tone darker,{{cite web|title=Exclusive Video: Director Michael Bay talks Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen|website=Collider|date=2009-02-09|url=https://www.collider.com/entertainment/interviews/article.asp/aid/10866/tcid/1|access-date=2009-02-09|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110920003747/http://collider.com/entertainment/interviews/article.asp/aid/10866/tcid/1|archive-date= September 20, 2011 | url-status = dead }} and that "mums will think it[']s safe enough to bring the kids back out to the movies."{{cite web |url= http://www.transformersclub.com/tfrof-intv09.cfm |title= Q&A With Michael Bay |location= New York City |year= 2009 |access-date= 2011-07-07 |archive-date= May 28, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130528051946/http://www.transformersclub.com/tfrof-intv09.cfm |url-status= live }} Two elements were added late into the film: the Autobot Jolt—as General Motors wanted to advertise the Chevrolet Volt—and the railgun that kills Devastator, a new acquisition by the United States military.{{cite web|title=ROUNDTABLE: The Writers Behind Summer's Biggest Blockbusters (Exclusive Video)|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=2011-04-11|last=Fernandez|first=Jay A.|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/roundtable-writers-summers-biggest-blockbusters-177491?page=3|access-date=2011-12-22|archive-date=May 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514100429/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/roundtable-writers-summers-biggest-blockbusters-177491?page=3|url-status=live}}
In September 2007, Paramount announced a release date for the sequel to Transformers in late June 2009.{{Cite news|first=Pamela|last=McClintock|title=Transformers Sequel Sets 2009 Date|work=Variety|date=2007-09-26|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/features/transformers-sequel-sets-2009-date-2-1117972852/|access-date=2007-09-27|archive-date=November 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107174350/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117972852|url-status=live}} The film was given a $200 million budget, which was $50 million more than the first film, although Variety put the budget spend at over $210 million, after rebates.{{cite web |date=25 June 2014 |last=Lang |first=Brent |title='Transformers': The Anatomy of a Cross-Platform Money Maker |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/transformers-the-anatomy-of-a-cross-platform-money-maker-1201245881/ |website=Variety |quote=With a pricetag north of $210 million after rebates, it’s one of the summer’s most expensive titles. |access-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420104948/https://variety.com/2014/film/news/transformers-the-anatomy-of-a-cross-platform-money-maker-1201245881/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last= Khatchatourian |first= Maane |title= 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' Has Year's Biggest Opening Day, Set for $104 Million Weekend |url= https://variety.com/2014/film/box-office/transformers-age-of-extinction-2014-best-opening-day-1201253873/ |website= Variety |date= 28 June 2014 |access-date= July 18, 2020 |archive-date= July 18, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200718182821/https://variety.com/2014/film/box-office/transformers-age-of-extinction-2014-best-opening-day-1201253873/ |url-status= live }} Some of the action scenes rejected from the first film were written into the sequel.{{cite web|title=Transformers: Behind the Scenes|work=The Hollywood Reporter|format=Video|url=http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid17054225001?bclid=18291076001&bctid=18271280001|access-date=2009-04-03|archive-date=April 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415040603/http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid17054225001?bclid=18291076001&bctid=18271280001|url-status=live}} Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura later stated the studio proposed filming two sequels simultaneously, but he and Bay agreed that the idea was not the right direction for the series.{{Cite news|first=Brian|last=Savage|title=TCC Exclusive: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen at Toy Fair 2009|work=Transformers Collectors Club|url=http://www.transformersclub.com/tfrof-intv09.cfm|access-date=2011-07-07|archive-date=May 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528051946/http://www.transformersclub.com/tfrof-intv09.cfm|url-status=live}}
Prior to the first film's release, producer Tom DeSanto had "a very cool idea" to introduce the Dinobots,{{Cite news|title=Transformer Producer Wants Dinobots in TF2|work=UGO Networks|date=2007-06-05|url=http://movieblog.ugo.com/index.php/movieblog/more/scoop_transformer_producer_wants_dinobots_in_tf2/|access-date=2007-12-16| url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071214185401/http://movieblog.ugo.com/index.php/movieblog/more/scoop_transformer_producer_wants_dinobots_in_tf2/|archive-date= December 14, 2007|df=mdy-all}} while Bay was interested in including a Transformer who transforms into an aircraft carrier, a concept which was dropped from the 2007 film.{{Cite news|first=Patrick|last=Kolan|title=Transformers Roundtable with Michael Bay|work=IGN|date=2007-06-13|url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/796/796057p2.html|access-date=2007-06-13| url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090122062726/http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/796/796057p2.html|archive-date= January 22, 2009|df=mdy-all}} Orci claimed they did not incorporate these characters into Revenge of the Fallen because they could not think of a way to justify the Dinobots' choice of form, and were unable to fit in the aircraft carrier. Orci later admitted that he was dismissive of the Dinobots because he does not like dinosaurs, saying "I recognize I am weird in that department."{{cite web |author-link=Roberto Orci |first=Roberto |last=Orci |title=he All New "Hey Roberto" Thread |publisher=Don Murphy |date=2008-10-20 |url=http://www.donmurphy.net/board/showpost.php?p=1262447&postcount=16453 |access-date=2009-03-17 |archive-date=June 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629061440/http://www.donmurphy.net/board/showpost.php?p=1262447&postcount=16453 |url-status=live }} However, he became fonder of them during filming because of their popularity with fans.{{cite web | author-link = Roberto Orci | first = Roberto | last = Orci | title = The All New "Hey Roberto" Thread | publisher = Don Murphy | date = 2008-06-19 | url = http://www.donmurphy.net/board/showpost.php?p=1189637&postcount=13182 | access-date = 2008-06-25 | archive-date = June 26, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080626185522/http://www.donmurphy.net/board/showpost.php?p=1189637&postcount=13182 | url-status = live }} He added "I couldn't see why a Transformer would feel the need to disguise himself in front of a bunch of lizards. Movie-wise, I mean. Once the general audience is fully on board with the whole thing, maybe Dinobots in the future."{{Cite news |author-link=Roberto Orci |first=Roberto |last=Orci |title=Welcome Mr. Roberto Orci, You May Ask Him Questions |work=TFW2005 |date=2008-08-08 |url=http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-movie-discussion/180451-welcome-mr-roberto-orci-you-may-ask-him-questions-52.html#post2285336 |access-date=2009-03-24 |archive-date=April 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421151910/http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-movie-discussion/180451-welcome-mr-roberto-orci-you-may-ask-him-questions-52.html#post2285336 |url-status=live }} When asked on the subject, Michael Bay said he hated the Dinobots and they had never been in consideration for being featured in the movies.{{Cite news|url=http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/michael-bay-on-the-dinobots-i-hate-them/16618/|title=Michael Bay on the Dinobots: "I hate them."|date=2009-07-27|access-date=2009-07-27|work=Seibertron.com|archive-date=July 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090730011113/http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/michael-bay-on-the-dinobots-i-hate-them/16618/|url-status=live}} {{Better source needed|reason=WP:FANSITE|date=December 2022}}
During production, Bay attempted to create a misinformation campaign to increase debate over what Transformers would be appearing in the film, as well as to try to throw fans off from the story of the film; however, Orci confessed it was generally unsuccessful.{{Cite news| title=Roberto Orci – Soundwave Will Not be a Pick Up In Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen| publisher=TFW2005| date=2008-10-18| url=http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-movie-9/roberto-orci---soundwave-will-not-be-a-pick-up-in-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-166024/| access-date=2008-10-19| archive-date=October 20, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020195628/http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-movie-9/roberto-orci---soundwave-will-not-be-a-pick-up-in-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-166024/| url-status=live}} The studio went as far as to censor MTV and Comic Book Resources interviews with Mowry and Furman, who confirmed Arcee and The Fallen would be in the picture.{{Cite web|url=http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-2-the-fallen-falling-off-the-radar/13698/|title=Transformers 2: Did The Fallen Fall Off The Radar?|publisher=Seibertron|date=2008-08-05|access-date=2008-08-06|archive-date=August 26, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080826020452/http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-2-the-fallen-falling-off-the-radar/13698/|url-status=live}} {{Better source needed|reason=WP:FANSITE|date=December 2022}} Bay told Empire that Megatron would not be resurrected, claiming his new tank form was a toy-only character, only for Orci to confirm Megatron would return in the film in February 2009.{{Cite news| title=Megatron's Return in Transformers 2 is Confirmed| publisher=Worst Previews| date=2009-02-22| url=http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=12189| access-date=2009-02-22| archive-date=October 11, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011235230/http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=12189| url-status=dead}} Bay also claimed he faked the leaking of daily call sheets from the first week of filming, that revealed Ramón Rodríguez's casting,{{Cite news |title=Re: Transformers Script |publisher=Shoot For The Edit: The Official Michael Bay Forums |date=2008-07-31 |url=http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum/showthread.php?2720-Transformers-script.&s=0d8aef4a9d891606371f432a8b704244&p=44729#post44729 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111002000342/http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum/showthread.php?2720-Transformers-script.&s=0d8aef4a9d891606371f432a8b704244&p=44729#post44729 |archive-date= 2011-10-02 |url-status=dead |access-date=2008-09-28}} and the appearance of Jetfire and the twins.{{cite news|title=Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen Call Sheet Reveals Major Spoilers|work=MovieWeb|date=2008-06-06|url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/transformers-2-revenge-of-the-fallen-call-sheet-reveals-major-spoilers|access-date=2008-06-06|archive-date=September 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930073828/http://www.movieweb.com/news/transformers-2-revenge-of-the-fallen-call-sheet-reveals-major-spoilers|url-status=dead}}
=Filming=
Principal photography lasted from roughly June to November, 2008. Inspired by its use in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, three action sequences in Revenge of the Fallen were shot using IMAX cameras. Although screenwriter Roberto Orci suggested that the IMAX footage would be 3-D,{{Cite news|author-link=Roberto Orci|first=Robert|last=Orci|title=Welcome Mr. Roberto Orci, You May Ask Questions|publisher=TFW2005|date=2008-09-24|url=http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/2384404-post1356.html|access-date=2008-09-24|quote=Some sequences will be in IMAX 3D| url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160121074414/http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/2384404-post1356.html|archive-date= January 21, 2016|df=mdy-all}} Bay later said he found 3D too "gimmicky". Bay added that shooting in IMAX was easier than using IMAX stereoscopic 3-D cameras.{{Cite news|title=Michael Bay Talks Transformers 2 and 3 at ShoWest|work=Collider|date=2009-04-02|url=https://www.collider.com/entertainment/interviews/article.asp/aid/11461/tcid/1|access-date=2009-04-03|archive-date=October 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010215316/http://collider.com/entertainment/interviews/article.asp/aid/11461/tcid/1|url-status=dead}}
The majority of interior scenes for the film were shot in the former Hughes Aircraft soundstages at Playa Vista.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2009/legit/markets-festivals/who-made-the-movie-transformers-ii-1118001937/|first=Peter|last=Debruge|title=Who Made the Movie: Transformers II|work=Variety|date=2009-03-31|access-date=2009-04-01| url-status = live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110317140831/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118001937|archive-date= March 17, 2011|df=mdy-all}} From June 2–4, the production filmed an action sequence at the Bethlehem Steel site in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which was used to represent a portion of Shanghai.{{Cite news|first=Michael |last=Duck|url=https://www.mcall.com/2008/05/17/officials-fired-up-for-bethlehem-filming-mayor-says-filmmakers-will-put-500000-into-local-economy/|title=Officials Fired up for Bethlehem Filming|work=The Morning Call|date=2008-01-17|access-date=2024-06-14}} Afterwards, they shot at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.{{Cite news|first=Keith|last=Knight|title=More High-Fliers at Air & Space|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=2008-06-07|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/06/AR2008060603921.html|access-date=2008-06-09|archive-date=June 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607102304/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/06/AR2008060603921.html|url-status=live}}
The crew moved to Philadelphia on June 9, where they shot at a defunct PECO Richmond power station, the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, the Eastern State Penitentiary, Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia City Hall, Rittenhouse Square, Wanamaker's, and historic Chancellor Street, which represents a street near Place de la Concorde in Paris.{{Cite news|first=Michael |last=Klein|title=Roll 'em|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=2008-06-08 |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/19637659.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080611234128/http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/19637659.html |archive-date= 2008-06-11|access-date=2008-06-09}}{{Cite news|first=Michael |last=Klein |title=Inqlings: The big Reach for an Anchor|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=2008-06-17|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20080617_Inqlings__The_big_reach_for_an_anchor.html | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080622140716/http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20080617_Inqlings__The_big_reach_for_an_anchor.html |archive-date=2008-06-22 |access-date=2008-06-17}}
The production moved to Princeton University on June 22.{{Cite news|first=Tashin|last=Shamma|title=Transformers: Revenge of the FallenCrash Lands on Campus|work=The Daily Princetonian|date=2008-06-24|url=http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/06/24/21271/|access-date=2008-06-24|archive-date=2013-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518223640/http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/06/24/21271/|url-status=dead}} Filming there angered some students at the University of Pennsylvania, believing Bay had chosen to reshoot scenes at Princeton and script Princeton's name in the film. One shot that was filmed in the University of Pennsylvania was the party scene, filmed at what students call "The Castle". "The Castle" is home to the Psi Upsilon fraternity. However, neither the University of Pennsylvania nor Princeton gave Bay permission to be named in the film because of a scene that both institutions felt "did not represent the school" in which Sam's mother ingests marijuana-laced brownies.{{cite web|title=Regarding Penn's Open Letter to Michael Bay|publisher=Michael Bay|date=2009-10-30|url=https://michaelbay.com/newsblog/files/d56f71572ffbeb023c7bea941830a529-226.php|access-date=2008-06-27| url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101126015132/https://michaelbay.com/newsblog/files/d56f71572ffbeb023c7bea941830a529-226.php|archive-date= November 26, 2010|df=mdy-all}}
File:PyramidsofGiza at night.jpg.|alt=A complex of ruins, including two pyramids and the statue of the Sphinx.]]
Bay scheduled a break for filming beginning on June 30, turning his attention to animation and second unit scenes because of the potential guild strike.{{Cite news |first=Gwladys |last=Fouché |title=Hollywood Prepares for the Actors' Strike |work=The Guardian |date=2008-06-17 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/jun/17/news.culture2 |access-date=2011-07-07 |location=London |archive-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121074412/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/jun/17/news.culture2 |url-status=live }} Shooting for the Shanghai battle later continued in Long Beach, California.{{Cite news|first=Peter|last=Sciretta|title=Optimus Prime Spotted in Long Beach|work=Slash Film|date=2008-08-27|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/optimus-prime-spotted-in-long-beach/|access-date=2008-08-27|archive-date=April 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415233221/https://www.slashfilm.com/optimus-prime-spotted-in-long-beach/|url-status=live}} In September, the crew shot at Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The two locations were used for Qatar in Transformers and stood in for Egypt in this film.{{Cite news |title=Tyrese Gibson Talks Transformers 2, Partying in El Pas |publisher=What's Up Weekly |date=2008-10-08 |url=http://www.whatsuppub.com/showArticle.asp?articleId=6366 |access-date=2008-10-08 | url-status = dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110724052822/http://www.whatsuppub.com/showArticle.asp?articleId=6366 |archive-date= July 24, 2011 |df=mdy-all }} A scale model in Los Angeles was also used for some close-ups of the pyramids.{{Cite news|first=Nick |last=de Semelyn|title=20 to Watch in 2009 |work=Empire|date=February 2009|pages=67–69}} Shooting at Tucson International Airport and the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group's aircraft boneyard took place in October under the fake working title Prime Directive (a reference to Star Trek).{{Cite news |first=Phil |last=Villarreal |title=Moviemaking at Local Resort Provides Glitz, Economic Lift |work=Arizona Daily Star |date=2008-06-05 |url=http://azstarnet.com/news/local/article_060f031f-47dd-5e9c-bf5c-4693d995e5e2.html |access-date=2008-06-05 |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708042240/http://azstarnet.com/news/local/article_060f031f-47dd-5e9c-bf5c-4693d995e5e2.html |url-status=live }} Filming also took place at Camp Pendleton, Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Imperial Beach, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Naval Base Point Loma and San Diego Bay.{{Cite web |date=2009-07-07 |title=San Diego Bay Plays Role in 'Transformers' Summer Blockbuster |url=http://www.portofsandiego.org/recreation/1633-san-diego-bay-plays-role-in-transformers-summer-blockbuster.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303194912/http://www.portofsandiego.org/recreation/1633-san-diego-bay-plays-role-in-transformers-summer-blockbuster.html |archive-date=2018-03-03 |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=Port of San Diego}}
The first unit then shot for three days in Egypt at the Giza pyramid complex and Luxor. The shoot was highly secretive, but according to producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, a crew of 150 Americans and "several dozen local Egyptians" ensured a "remarkably smooth" shoot.{{Cite news |author-link=Sharon Waxman |first=Sharon |last=Waxman |title=Hollywood Steps Lightly: Spielberg and Soft Diplomacy in the Middle East |work=WaxWord |date=2008-10-21 |url=http://sharonwaxman.typepad.com/waxword/2008/10/hollywood-steps.html |access-date=2008-10-22 |archive-date=October 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025072739/http://sharonwaxman.typepad.com/waxword/2008/10/hollywood-steps.html |url-status=live }} Bay earned the Egyptian government's approval to film at the pyramids by contacting Zahi Hawass, whom Bay said "put his arm around me and said, 'Don't hurt my pyramids.{{'"}} A {{convert|50|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} camera crane was used at the location. Bay stated he found the climax of the first film to be weak, partly because it was shot across five different city blocks, making the action confusing and hard to follow. On this film, the final battle in Egypt was devised to make it easier to follow the action.{{cite web|title=Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen Trailer Breakdown|work=Empire Online|url=https://www.empireonline.com/features/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-trailer-breakdown/|access-date=2009-05-02|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924064120/http://www.empireonline.com/features/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-trailer-breakdown/|url-status=live}}
Four days were then spent in Jordan; the Royal Jordanian Air Force aided in filming at Petra, Wadi Rum and Salt because King Abdullah II is a big fan of science fiction movies.{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/features/jordan-hosts-transformers-shoot-1117999584/ |title=Jordan Hosts Transformers shoot |first=Ali |last=Jafaar |work=Variety |date=2009-02-04 |access-date=2009-02-05 | url-status = live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110629162826/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117999584 |archive-date= June 29, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}{{Cite news |first=Geoff |last=Boucher |title=Michael Bay, Master of the 'Huge Canvas' |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2009-05-24 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-may-24-ca-transformers24-story.html |access-date=2011-07-07 |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306032001/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/24/entertainment/ca-transformers24 |url-status=live }} Filming continued at the Place de la Concorde in Paris with second unit shots of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.{{Cite news|title=Revenge of the Fallen Primary Shooting Completed, Second Unit Shooting in Paris|publisher=TFW2005|date=2008-10-28|url=http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-movie-9/revenge-of-the-fallen-primary-shooting-completed-second-unit-shooting-in-paris-166092/|access-date=2008-10-28|archive-date=October 31, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031143618/http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-movie-9/revenge-of-the-fallen-primary-shooting-completed-second-unit-shooting-in-paris-166092/|url-status=live}} The cast and crew finished principal photography on the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis on November 2, 2008.{{Cite web|title=Transformers 2 Wrap Filming on USS John C Stennis|publisher=Seibertron.com|date=2008-11-07|url=http://www.seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=14408|access-date=2008-11-07|archive-date=December 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228084658/http://www.seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=14408|url-status=live}} {{Better source needed|reason=WP:FANSITE|date=December 2022}}
=Visual effects=
File:Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Decepticon and Sam.jpg said he wanted more close-ups of the robots for the sequel.|alt=A large human-like robot stands in front of a man in a warehouse.]]
Hasbro became more involved in the designs of the robots than the company was for the first film. The company, along with Takara Tomy, suggested to the filmmakers that combining robots be the main draw for the sequel.{{Cite news |title=Making of Transformers: Shogo Hasui |publisher=akara Tomy |date=2009-05-17 |url=http://tf.takaratomy.co.jp/toy/products/TF/products/movie2/02_making.html |access-date=2011-08-12 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329042027/http://tf.takaratomy.co.jp/toy/products/TF/products/movie2/02_making.html |archive-date=March 29, 2012 |df=mdy-all }} [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/233718-takaratomy-staff-interview-translation-mr-starscream.html (translation)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626131659/http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/233718-takaratomy-staff-interview-translation-mr-starscream.html |date=June 26, 2009 }} They insisted on keeping the alternate modes of some of the returning characters similar so that consumers would not have to buy toys of the same characters.{{Cite news |author-link=Roberto Orci |first=Roberto |last=Orci |title=Welcome Mr. Roberto Orci, You May Ask Him Questions |publisher=TFW2005 |date=2008-06-27 |url=http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-movie-discussion/180451-welcome-mr-roberto-orci-you-may-ask-him-questions-18.html#post2186879 |access-date=2011-07-07 |archive-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121074414/http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-movie-discussion/180451-welcome-mr-roberto-orci-you-may-ask-him-questions-18.html#post2186879 |url-status=live }} Bay used a real F-16 Fighting Falcon and tank fire when filming the battles. Many of the new Autobot cars supplied by General Motors were brightly colored to look distinctive on screen.{{Cite news |title=Behind the Bots |work=Fox News |date=2009-02-13 |url=http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=3569672&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/index.html |format=Video interview |access-date=2009-02-23 |archive-date=February 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226223151/http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=3569672&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/index.html |url-status=live }} Revenge of the Fallen features 46 robots, while the original movie had 14.{{cite news |url=http://www.awn.com/articles/profiles/escalating-vfx-new-itransformersi |title=Escalating VFX for New Transformers |last=Desowitz |first=Bill |newspaper=Animation World Network |date=2009-06-30 |access-date=2010-11-05 |archive-date=July 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721061005/http://www.awn.com/articles/profiles/escalating-vfx-new-itransformersi |url-status=live }}
Scott Farrar returned as visual effects supervisor and anticipated moodier use of lighting as well as deeper roles for the Decepticons.{{Clarify|date=October 2012}} He stated that with the bigger deadline, post-production would become a "circus".{{Cite news|first=Cindy |last=White |title=Transformers 2 More Ambitious |work=Sci Fi Wire |date=2007-10-01 |url=http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=44393 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080609220512/http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=44393 |archive-date= 2008-06-09 |access-date=2007-10-01}} The producers expected that with a bigger budget and with the special effects having worked out, the Transformers would have a larger role. Peter Cullen recalled, "Don Murphy mentioned to me, 'Only because of the tremendous expense to animate Optimus Prime, he'll be in just a certain amount of [Transformers].' But he said, 'Next time, if the movie is a success, you're gonna be in it a ton.'"{{Cite news |first=Anthony |last=Breznican |title=Fan Buzz: Flesh out Those 'Bots |work=USA Today |date=2007-07-12 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2007-07-11-transformers-bots_N.htm?csp=34 |access-date=2007-07-12 |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628200437/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2007-07-11-transformers-bots_N.htm?csp=34 |url-status=live }} Michael Bay hoped to include more close-ups of the robots' faces.Michael Bay's DVD audio commentary for Transformers, 2007, Paramount The heads had to be designed with more pieces in order to express emotions in a more convincing way. Farrar said the animators implemented more "splashes and the hits and the fighting on dirt or moving, banging into trees, [...] things splinter and break, [the robots] spit, they outgas, they sweat, they snort." Shooting in the higher resolution of IMAX required up to 72 hours to render a single frame of animation.{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/2009/digital/markets-festivals/michael-bay-keeps-vfx-shops-busy-1118001940/ |title=Michael Bay Keeps VFX Shops Busy |work=Variety |first=David S. |last=Cohen |date=2009-03-31 |access-date=2009-04-01 |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107174422/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118001940 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://michaelbay.com/newsblog/files/3e4c18d680b4b259ce0c3c8b0566ace4-521.html |title=Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Fun Facts |work=michaelbay.com |date=2009-06-17 |access-date=2009-06-29 | url-status = dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090622030004/http://michaelbay.com/newsblog/files/3e4c18d680b4b259ce0c3c8b0566ace4-521.html |archive-date= June 22, 2009 |df=mdy-all }} While ILM used 15 terabytes for Transformers, they used 140 for the sequel. Particularly problematic effects were the lighting, with scenes such as Jetfire inside the Smithsonian requiring 41 light sources, and the destruction of the pyramid, which appears in about five shots and required seven months to simulate the behavior of the blocks. Orci hinted the majority of the Decepticons were entirely computer-generated in both robot and alternate modes, making it easier to write additional scenes for them in post-production.{{Cite news|title=Roberto Orci Discusses Scene Additions, Fan Love, Starscream, and 40 Robots|work=TFW2005|date=2009-01-27|url=http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-movie-just-movie-31/roberto-orci-discusses-scene-additions-fan-love-starscream-and-40-robots-166683/|access-date=2009-01-27|archive-date=June 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607002545/http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-movie-just-movie-31/roberto-orci-discusses-scene-additions-fan-love-starscream-and-40-robots-166683/|url-status=live}} Rendering the Devastator took over 85% of ILM's render farm capacity, and the complexity of the scene and having to render it at IMAX resolution caused one computer to "explode".{{cite web |url=http://blastr.com/2009/06/how-the-giant-robot-fx-in.php |title=How the Giant-robot F/X in Transformers 2 nearly broke ILM. Seriously |publisher=Blastr |access-date=2011-07-04 |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915104423/http://blastr.com/2009/06/how-the-giant-robot-fx-in.php |url-status=dead }} Digital Domain handled work on secondary characters, including the transformation of Alice from her human disguise to her robot self. The beginning showing a close-up of her face as the skin broke apart took five animators three months to finish.{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/why-just-2-seconds-of-transformers-2-took-3-months-to-c-5305809|title=Why Just 2 Seconds of Transformers 2 Took 3 Months to Complete|author=Mark Wilson|publisher=Gizmodo|date=July 7, 2009|access-date=May 28, 2023|archive-date=March 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310071227/https://gizmodo.com/why-just-2-seconds-of-transformers-2-took-3-months-to-c-5305809|url-status=live}}
=Music=
{{See also|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – The Album|l1=Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – The Album|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – The Score|l2=Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – The Score}}
The score to Revenge of the Fallen was composed and produced by Steve Jablonsky, who reunited with director Michael Bay to record his score with a 71-piece ensemble of the Hollywood Studio Symphony at the Sony Scoring Stage.{{Cite news|author=Dan Goldwasser|url=http://www.scoringsessions.com/news/191/|title=Steve Jablonsky scores Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen|publisher=ScoringSessions.com|date=2009-06-18|access-date=2009-06-18|archive-date=June 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621181153/http://scoringsessions.com/news/191|url-status=live}} Jablonsky and his score producer Hans Zimmer composed various interpretations of a song by Linkin Park called "New Divide" for the score.{{Cite news|title=Transformers 2 song is 'New Divide'|work=The Linkin Park Times|date=2009-05-06|url=http://lptimes.com/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1241654007&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&|access-date=2009-05-07| url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090712072235/http://lptimes.com/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1241654007&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&|archive-date= July 12, 2009|df=mdy-all}} Rapper Kid Cudi’s 2009 single “Sky Might Fall” appears in the extended trailer.{{Cite web |date=2015-07-19 |title=Kid Cudi Has 'Eureka' Moment With 'Transformers' Trailer - MTV |website=MTV |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1606279/kid-cudi-has-eureka-moment-with-transformers-trailer/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150719095604/http://www.mtv.com/news/1606279/kid-cudi-has-eureka-moment-with-transformers-trailer/ |archive-date=July 19, 2015 }}
Marketing
The marketing campaign for Revenge of the Fallen cost $150 million.{{Cite news|title=Transformers: ROTF Premiere, LaBeouf's Wild Life |work=Variety |url=http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/06/transformers-rotf-premiere-party-labeouf-news.html |date=2009-06-23 |access-date=2009-07-28 |first=Anne |last=Thompson | url-status = dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090627125249/http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/06/transformers-rotf-premiere-party-labeouf-news.html |archive-date= June 27, 2009 }} Hasbro's Revenge of the Fallen toy line included new molds of new and returning characters, as well as 2007 figures with new mold elements or new paint schemes.{{cite web|title=Transformers at Toy Fair 2009|work=Transformers Collectors Club|url=http://www.transformersclub.com/toyfair09/TFmainline09.html|access-date=2009-02-14|archive-date=February 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217221144/http://transformersclub.com/toyfair09/TFmainline09.html|url-status=live}} The first wave was released on May 30, although Bumblebee and Soundwave debuted beforehand.{{Cite news|title=Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Coverage from Toyfare #140|work=TFW2005|date=2009-02-11|url=http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-movie-toys--products-30/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-coverage-from-toyfare-140-166791/|access-date=2009-02-11|archive-date=February 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213233830/http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-movie-toys--products-30/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-coverage-from-toyfare-140-166791/|url-status=live}} The second wave came in August 2009, which introduced toys such as 2¼-inch human action figures that fit inside the transforming robots, and non-transforming replicas of the cars that can be used on a race track. Product placement partners on the film include Burger King, 7-Eleven, LG Phones, Kmart, Papa John's, Walmart, YouTube, Nike, Inc., M&M's, and Snickers. General Motors' financial troubles limited its involvement in promotion of the sequel, although Paramount acknowledged that with or without GM, their marketing campaign was still very large and had the foundation of the 2007 film's success.{{Cite news|author=Claudia Eller|title=GM's troubles deprive 'Transformers 2' of crucial horsepower|work=Los Angeles Times|date=2009-04-06|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cotown-transformers6-2009apr06,0,5419006.story|access-date=2009-04-06|archive-date=April 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409115224/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cotown-transformers6-2009apr06,0,5419006.story|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|title=Transformers 2 Product Placement|work=Product Placement News|date=2008-09-04|url=http://www.productplacement.biz/200809042432/News/Product-Placement/Transformers-2-Product-Placement.html|access-date=2008-09-04|archive-date=2009-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091023143042/http://www.productplacement.biz/200809042432/News/Product-Placement/Transformers-2-Product-Placement.html|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|author=Josh Modell|title=Taste Test Special Report: The National Association Of Convenience Stores Convention|work=The A.V. Club|date=2008-10-07|url=https://www.avclub.com/content/feature/taste_test_special_report_the|access-date=2008-10-10|archive-date=January 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101161249/http://www.avclub.com/content/feature/taste_test_special_report_the|url-status=live}} Kyle Busch drove a Revenge of the Fallen decorated car at Infineon Raceway on June 21, 2009,{{cite web|title=Kyle Busch #18 Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen / M&M's 2009 Firebird Diecast|work=Planet Diecast|url=http://www.transformersaction.com/dvd/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-two-disc-special-edition/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141130062111/http://www.transformersaction.com/dvd/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-two-disc-special-edition/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=November 30, 2014|date=January 2012}} while Josh Duhamel drove a 2010 Camaro at the Indianapolis 500.{{Cite news|title=Actor Duhamel To Drive Indy 500 Pace Car|work=The Indy Channel|date=2009-04-30|url=http://www.theindychannel.com/entertainment/19333697/detail.html|access-date=2009-04-30|archive-date=2009-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503223403/http://www.theindychannel.com/entertainment/19333697/detail.html|url-status=dead}} At the movie's launch in China, a version of Bumblebee was constructed using a Volkswagen Jetta.{{cite web |last=Ramsey |first=Jonathon |url=http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/16/beijing-mall-builds-its-own-transformer-out-of-vw-jetta/ |title=Beijing mall builds its own Transformer out of VW Jetta |publisher=Autoblog.com |date=2009-07-16 |access-date=2009-07-22 |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410140523/https://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/16/beijing-mall-builds-its-own-transformer-out-of-vw-jetta/ |url-status=live }}
=Printed media=
Chris Mowry and artist Alex Milne, who had collaborated on The Reign of Starscream comic book, reunited for IDW Publishing's prequel to the film. Originally set to be a five-part series entitled Destiny,{{Cite news|author=Brian Jacks|title=EXCLUSIVE: 'Transformers 2' Prequel Comic Gives Inside Scoop On 2009 Movie|work=MTV Splash Page|date=2008-08-01|url=http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/07/28/exclusive-transformers-2-prequel-comic-gives-inside-scoop-on-2009-movie/|access-date=2008-08-01| url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080828090928/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/07/28/exclusive-transformers-2-prequel-comic-gives-inside-scoop-on-2009-movie/|archive-date= August 28, 2008|df=mdy-all}} it was split into two simultaneously published series, titled Alliance and Defiance. Alliance is drawn by Milne and began in December 2008; it focuses on the human and Autobot perspectives.{{cite comic|writer=Chris Mowry|penciller=Alex Milne|title=Transformers: Alliance|publisher=IDW Publishing|date=December 2008 to March 2009}} Defiance, which started the following month, is drawn by Dan Khanna and is set before either film, showing the beginnings of the war.{{cite comic|writer=Chris Mowry|title=Transformers: Defiance|publisher=IDW Publishing|date=January–April 2009}}
After the 2007 film, and serving as a bridge between the two films, Alan Dean Foster wrote Transformers: The Veiled Threat,{{Cite book|author=Alan Dean Foster|title=Transformers: The Veiled Threat|publisher=Del Rey Books|page=[https://archive.org/details/transformersveil0000fost/page/288 288]|date=April 2009|url=https://archive.org/details/transformersveil0000fost/page/288|isbn=978-0-345-51592-6|author-link=Alan Dean Foster}} originally titled Infiltration. During the writing, Foster collaborated with IDW to make sure their stories did not contradict each other.{{cite web|author=Alan Dean Foster|title=Updates|date=2008-11-01|url=http://www.alandeanfoster.com/version2.0/frameset.htm|access-date=2008-12-10|author-link=Alan Dean Foster|archive-date=December 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227181345/http://www.alandeanfoster.com/version2.0/frameset.htm|url-status=live}}
The first printed media directly related to the second film was a 32-page coloring and activity book by publisher HarperCollins, which became available on May 5, 2009 and was the first official source to openly give out key plot points to the film.{{cite web|url=http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2009/03/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-spoiled-by-coloring-book.html|title='Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' spoiled by coloring book?|first=Andy|last=Grieser|publisher=Zap2it|date=2009-03-17|access-date=2010-11-05| url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100117125752/http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2009/03/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-spoiled-by-coloring-book.html|archive-date= January 17, 2010|df=mdy-all}} On June 1, 2009 DK Publishing published a 96-page book entitled Transformers: The Movie Universe, which intended to provide factual data on the characters of the film.{{cite web|url=http://www.transformersaction.com/books/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-i-am-optimus-prime-i-can-read-book-2/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141130062200/http://www.transformersaction.com/books/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-i-am-optimus-prime-i-can-read-book-2/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=November 30, 2014|title=Transformers: The Movie Universe|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|access-date=2010-11-05}}
On June 10, 2009, the comic book adaptation of the film, written by Simon Furman was released.{{cite web|title=Preview: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Official Movie Adaptation|work=Comic Book Resources|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=2806|access-date=2009-06-21|date=2009-06-09|archive-date=June 29, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629215649/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=2806|url-status=live}} Additionally, Alan Dean Foster also wrote the novelization for the film.{{Cite news|title=Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen by Alan Dean Foster — Paperback|work=Del Rey Books|date=2008-11-20|url=http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345515933|access-date=2010-11-05|archive-date=November 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106232622/http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345515933|url-status=live}} Meanwhile, Dan Jolley wrote Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: The Junior Novel, a 144-page book oriented at a younger audience than the one by Foster.{{cite web|url=http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Transformers-Revenge-Fallen-Junior-Novel-Dan-Jolley/?isbn=9780061729737|title=Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen: The Junior Novel by Dan Jolley|publisher=HarperCollins|access-date=2010-11-05|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110628204107/http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Transformers-Revenge-Fallen-Junior-Novel-Dan-Jolley/?isbn=9780061729737|archive-date= June 28, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} Lastly, a book titled Transformers: The Art of the Movies was released, documenting behind-the scenes aspects of the making of the film.
Other minor tie-in publications include Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: The Last Prime, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: The Reusable Sticker Book, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Made You Look!, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Rise of the Decepticons, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Spot the 'Bots{{'}}, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Mix and Match, Operation Autobot, When Robots Attack and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen 2010 Wall Calendar.
=Video games=
{{Main|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (video game)|l1=Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (video game)}}
On June 23, 2009, Activision published a video game based on the film for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Nintendo DS, and Games for Windows.
- The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were developed by Luxoflux and published by Activision.{{cite web|title=Transform and roll out against Luxoflux this Friday|first=Xav|last=de Matos|date=2009-09-02|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/02/transform-and-roll-out-against-luxoflux-this-friday/|publisher=Joystiq|access-date=2010-11-05|archive-date=June 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629123638/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/02/transform-and-roll-out-against-luxoflux-this-friday/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|author=César A. Berardini|title=X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Movie Tie-ins Announced|work=TeamXbox|date=2008-07-15|url=http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/17079/XMen-Origins-Wolverine-and-Transformers-Revenge-of-the-Fallen-Movie-Tieins-Announced/|access-date=2008-07-15| url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080717164712/http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/17079/XMen-Origins-Wolverine-and-Transformers-Revenge-of-the-Fallen-Movie-Tieins-Announced/|archive-date= July 17, 2008|df=mdy-all}}
- The Games for Windows version was developed by Beenox, which is similar to the PS3 and Xbox 360 version{{cite web|title=Vengeance Has Arrived as Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Game Hits Retail Shelves Nationwide|url=http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/press-releases/vengeance-has-arrived-as-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-game-hits-retail-shelves-nationwide/|first=Kristofer|last=Brozio|date=2009-06-23|publisher=Test freaks|access-date=2009-06-27|archive-date=2009-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090624164408/http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/press-releases/vengeance-has-arrived-as-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-game-hits-retail-shelves-nationwide/|url-status=dead}}
- The Wii and PlayStation 2 versions were developed by Krome Studios.{{cite web|title=Exclusive Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Game Interview|url=http://www.superherohype.com/news/transformersnews.php?id=8453|date=2009-06-23|publisher=Superhero Hype|access-date=2009-06-27|archive-date=June 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626043303/http://www.superherohype.com/news/transformersnews.php?id=8453|url-status=dead}}
- The PlayStation Portable version was developed by Savage Entertainment.{{cite web|title="TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN" GAME HITS SHELVES NATIONWIDE|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=21737|date=2009-06-23|website=Comic Book Resources|access-date=2009-06-27|archive-date=June 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628083403/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=21737|url-status=live}}
- The Nintendo DS version was developed by Vicarious Visions, which is separated into two games, Autobots and Decepticons.{{cite web|url=http://au.ds.ign.com/articles/972/972885p1.html|title=Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen First Look|last=Harris|first=Craig|website=IGN|date=2009-04-15|access-date=2011-07-07|archive-date=September 30, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930110304/http://au.ds.ign.com/articles/972/972885p1.html|url-status=live}}
Release
=Theatrical=
Revenge of the Fallen premiered on June 8, 2009, in Tokyo, Japan.{{Cite news|title='Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen' Premieres In Japan|publisher=MTV|date=2009-06-08|url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/06/08/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-premieres-in-japan/|first=Rachel|last=Josue|access-date=2010-11-24| url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101006112818/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/06/08/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-premieres-in-japan|archive-date= October 6, 2010|df=mdy-all}} After its UK release on June 19, it was released in regular and IMAX theaters in North America on June 24,{{Cite news|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=52843|title=Transformers Moved Up Two Days|publisher=ComingSoon.net|date=2009-02-12|access-date=2009-02-12|archive-date=September 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906023326/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=52843|url-status=dead}} although some theaters held limited-access advance screenings on June 22. Linkin Park held a special show after the premiere at the Fox Theater, Westwood Village on June 22, during which they performed "New Divide" live for the first time. The IMAX release featured additional scenes of extended robot fighting sequences, which were not seen in the regular theater version.{{Cite news|title=IMAX Cameras To Feature Longer Cut of Transformers 2 With "More Robot Fighting"|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/imax-to-feature-longer-cut-of-transformers-2-with-more-robot-fighting/|publisher=/Film|date=2011-07-07|access-date=2015-10-26|archive-date=July 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717124838/https://www.slashfilm.com/imax-to-feature-longer-cut-of-transformers-2-with-more-robot-fighting/|url-status=live}}
=Home media=
The film was released in two-disc Blu-ray and DVD editions, and a single-disc DVD version on October 20, 2009, in North America.{{Cite news|url=https://michaelbay.com/newsblog/files/a53a5998351fdb940b16e2823ddc71f3-558.html|title=Revenge of The Fallen DVD/Blu-ray: October 20th|date=2009-08-20|access-date=2009-08-21|work=MichaelBay.com| url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090826225701/http://www.michaelbay.com/newsblog/files/a53a5998351fdb940b16e2823ddc71f3-558.html|archive-date= August 26, 2009|df=mdy-all}} Michael Bay has revealed that the Blu-ray release of the film, produced by Charles de Lauzirika, features variable aspect ratio for the scenes shot in IMAX format. A special “Big Screen” IMAX edition was available exclusively at Walmart.{{cite web|url=http://www.film.com/movies/interview-michael-bay-talks-transformers-ii-the-dvd-extra-imax-footage-and-the-autobot-twins|title=Interview: Michael Bay Talks Transformers II, The DVD, Extra IMAX Footage, and the "Autobot Twins"|work=Film.com|date=2009-06-24|access-date=2011-07-07| url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110813025131/http://www.film.com/movies/interview-michael-bay-talks-transformers-ii-the-dvd-extra-imax-footage-and-the-autobot-twins|archive-date= August 13, 2011|df=mdy-all}}
Home versions include over three hours of bonus content and several interactive features, including "The AllSpark Experiment", which reveals Michael Bay's plans for a third movie in the series. At Target, the DVD and Blu-ray versions includes a transformable Bumblebee case. Both two-disc editions are the first to include Paramount's augmented reality feature, which allows the user to handle a 3-D model of Optimus Prime on a computer by moving the package in front of a webcam.{{Cite news|url=http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6671607.html|title=Star Trek flies out with space-age box|date=2009-07-06|access-date=2009-08-21|work=VideoBusiness|archive-date=January 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121074412/http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6671607.html|url-status=live}} First-week sales of the DVD reached 7.5 million copies, making it the best-selling DVD of 2009. The Blu-ray version had the best first-week sales of 2009, with 1.2 million units.{{Cite news|title=Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Transformers-Revenge-of-the-Fallen#tab=video-sales|access-date=May 28, 2023|archive-date=November 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124055346/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Transformers-Revenge-of-the-Fallen#tab=video-sales|url-status=live}} Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was released on 4K UHD Blu-ray on December 5, 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/2881/Transformers.html|title=Transformers DVD Release Date October 16, 2007|website=DVDs Release Dates|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-04|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504225614/https://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/2881/Transformers.html|url-status=live}} The film grossed $276 million in home sales.{{Cite web |title=Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) - Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Transformers-Revenge-of-the-Fallen |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=The Numbers}}
Reception
=Box office=
Revenge of the Fallen was a box office success, earning $402.1 million in the U.S. and Canada and $434.2 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $836.5 million, being the 37th-highest-grossing film of all time domestically. Revenge of the Fallen grossed $16 million from midnight showings, at the time the most ever for a Wednesday midnight debut.{{cite magazine|url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2009/06/24/transformers-midnight-grosses/|title='Transformers 2' racks up record $16 million in Wednesday midnight shows|date=2009-06-29|first=Nicole|last=Sperling|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=2010-11-03|archive-date=May 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520222345/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2009/06/24/transformers-midnight-grosses/|url-status=live}} For 13 years, it achieved the biggest previews for a Paramount film until 2022 when Top Gun: Maverick ($19.3 million) took it.{{cite web|url=https://movieweb.com/top-gun-maverick-breaks-preview-record-paramount/|title=Top Gun: Maverick Breaks Preview Record for Paramount|date=May 27, 2022|access-date=May 28, 2023|archive-date=December 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204185354/https://movieweb.com/top-gun-maverick-breaks-preview-record-paramount/|url-status=live}} The film proceeded to beat Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix{{'}}s record ($44.2 million) for the biggest Wednesday opening in history,{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2598&p=.htm |title='Transformers' Sequel Blasts Off on First Day |publisher=Boxofficemojo.com |access-date=2011-07-04 |archive-date=November 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106223536/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2598&p=.htm |url-status=live }} bringing in $62 million in total receipts on its first day (until The Twilight Saga: Eclipse topped this record with $68.5 million in 2010),{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2845&p=.htm|title='Eclipse' Breaks Wednesday Record But Falls Short of 'New Moon'|last=Gray|first=Brandon|website=Box Office Mojo|date=2010-07-01|access-date=2010-11-03|archive-date=November 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106222622/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2845&p=.htm|url-status=live}} additionally ranking it as the second biggest opening day ever at the time, behind The Dark Knight.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/days/?page=open&p.htm|title=Opening Day Records at the Box Office|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=2010-11-03|archive-date=July 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720184916/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/days/?page=open&p.htm|url-status=live}} The film grossed $109 million on its first weekend, the seventh-largest in history at the time, and brought in $200 million in its first five days, putting it in second place behind The Dark Knight{{'}}s $203.7 million for the all-time biggest five-day opening.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2601&p=.htm|title=Weekend Report: 'Revenge of the Fallen' Rises with Optimal Debut|last=Gray|first=Brandon|website=Box Office Mojo|date=2009-06-29|access-date=2010-11-03|archive-date=July 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709154355/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2601&p=.htm|url-status=live}} It would hold the record for having the highest five-day Wednesday opening gross until it was taken by The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($204.6 million) in 2023.{{Cite news |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=April 10, 2023 |title=Super Mario Bros. Movie Box Office: All the Records Smashed on Opening Weekend |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/super-mario-bros-movie-box-office-records-opening-weekend-1235577764/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410141558/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/super-mario-bros-movie-box-office-records-opening-weekend-1235577764/ |archive-date=April 10, 2023}} Its gross from Friday to Sunday was also the biggest June opening weekend for one year, breaking Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban's record ($93.7 million), until Toy Story 3 claimed that record the following year ($110.3 million).{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2826&p=.htm|title=Weekend Report: Pixar Pounds Its 'Toy' Chest|last=Gray|first=Brandon|website=Box Office Mojo|date=2010-06-21|access-date=2010-11-03|archive-date=December 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209165457/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2826|url-status=live}}
Revenge of the Fallen remained #1 at the box office for two weeks straight by a close margin before being overtaken by Bruno ($30 million) and the second weekend of Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs ($28 million). Initial studio estimates showed a tie between it and that weekend's new release Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, but the actual totals showed Revenge of the Fallen taking the #1 spot yet again with $42.3 million.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?view=&yr=2009&wknd=27&p=.htm |title=Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Weekend Chart |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=2009-07-22 |archive-date=October 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023160731/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?view=&yr=2009&wknd=27&p=.htm |url-status=live }} Also, it was the first film of 2009 to reach the $300 million mark in North America.{{Cite news|url=http://www.newsarama.com/film/070908-Transformers2300.html|title=Transformers 2 Passes $600 Million Worldwide Box Office|date=2009-07-08|access-date=2015-10-26|work=Newsarama|archive-date=October 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002113515/http://www.newsarama.com/film/070908-Transformers2300.html|url-status=live}} On July 27, a month after its release, the movie reached $379.2 million in the US, which brought it into the top 10 highest-grossing movies ever in that country as of August 2009.{{Cite news|url=http://www.transformers-movie-buzz.com/featured/945/revenge-of-the-fallen-cracks-the-top-10-all-time-list.html|title='Revenge of the Fallen' Cracks the Top 10 All-Time List|date=2009-07-27|access-date=2009-07-28|work=Movie Buzz|archive-date=May 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514110824/http://www.transformers-movie-buzz.com/featured/945/revenge-of-the-fallen-cracks-the-top-10-all-time-list.html|url-status=dead}} Among 2009 films, it was the second-highest-grossing in the United States and Canada, behind Avatar,{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2009&p=.htm |title=2009 Yearly Box Office Results |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=June 1, 2010 |archive-date=June 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612141400/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2009 |url-status=live }} and fourth globally behind Avatar, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2009&p=.htm |title=2009 Worldwide Grosses |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=July 11, 2010 |archive-date=February 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209125250/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2009&p=.htm |url-status=live }} Box Office Mojo estimates that the film sold over 53 million tickets in the US.{{cite web|access-date=May 31, 2016|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=transformers2.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm|title=Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116030736/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=transformers2.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm|url-status=live}}
=Critical response=
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's critical consensus reads, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a noisy, underplotted, and overlong special effects extravaganza that lacks a human touch."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/transformers_revenge_of_the_fallen|title=Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-date=May 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529205626/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/transformers_revenge_of_the_fallen/|url-status=live}}{{RT data|edit}} On Metacritic, the film has an average score of 35 out of 100, based on 32 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen|title=Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)|website=Metacritic|access-date=2011-07-07|archive-date=September 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926094832/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen|url-status=live}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.{{Cite magazine |date= 2009-06-29 |author= Pamela McClintock |title= 'Transformers' on top with $390.4 mil |url= https://variety.com/2009/film/box-office/transformers-tops-with-390-4-mil-1118005468/ |magazine=Variety |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703063140/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118005468.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1|archive-date= July 3, 2009|df= mdy-all|access-date= 2018-12-30 }}
According to The Washington Post, Revenge of the Fallen was Bay's worst-reviewed film at the time of release, faring even worse than Pearl Harbor (2001).{{Cite news|last=Zak|first=Dan|date=2009-07-01|title=Reaching Critical Mess|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/30/AR2009063004206.html|access-date=2010-11-03|archive-date=December 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212115550/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/30/AR2009063004206.html|url-status=live}} Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times described the film as "in-your-face, ear-splitting and unrelenting. It's easy to walk away feeling like you've spent 2 hours in the mad, wild, hydraulic embrace of a car compactor".{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jun-24-et-transformers24-story.html|title=Entertainment: 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'|date=2009-06-24|first=Betsy|last=Sharkey|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 20, 2020|archive-date=March 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190309104051/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jun/24/entertainment/et-transformers24|url-status=live}}
Roger Ebert, who had given the 2007 film three stars,{{cite news |title= Transformers |last= Ebert |first= Roger |author-link= Roger Ebert |work= Chicago Sun-Times |date= 5 July 2007 |url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/transformers-2007 |access-date= 11 October 2016 |archive-date= April 18, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200418050510/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/transformers-2007 |url-status= live }} gave the sequel only one, calling it "...a horrible experience of unbearable length", a phrase which later became the title of his third bad-movie-reviews collection. Later in his review, Ebert discouraged movie-goers from seeing the film by saying "If you want to save yourself the ticket price, go into the kitchen, cue up a male choir singing the music of hell, and get a kid to start banging pots and pans together. Then close your eyes and use your imagination."{{Cite news |last= Ebert |first= Roger |author-link= Roger Ebert |title= Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews |work= The Chicago Sun-Times |url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-2009 |access-date= 2009-06-24 |archive-date= April 3, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230403220001/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-2009 |url-status= live }} He later wrote on his blog about the film, "The day will come when Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will be studied in film classes and shown at cult film festivals. It will be seen, in retrospect, as marking the end of an era. Of course there will be many more CGI-based action epics, but never again one this bloated, excessive, incomprehensible, long (149 minutes) or expensive ($200 million)."{{Cite news |url= http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/06/the_fall_of_the_revengers.html |title=The Fall of the Revengers|work= Chicago Sun-Times |date= June 24, 2009 |first=Roger|last=Ebert| url-status = dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090626222720/http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/06/the_fall_of_the_revengers.html |archive-date= June 26, 2009 |access-date= October 28, 2019 }} Ebert would continue to lambast the film (and, sometimes, the Transformers franchise in general) in other movie reviews and responses to letters and emails sent to him.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}} Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers called it "beyond bad, it carves out its own category of godawfulness" and did not give the film any stars, considering that "Revenge of the Fallen has a shot at the title 'Worst Movie of the Decade'."{{cite magazine |date=June 24, 2009 |author=Peter Travers |author-link=Peter Travers |title=Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-122384/ |access-date=2020-12-01 |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125233846/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-122384/ |url-status=live }} He later named it as the "worst film of the decade".{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}} Other reviewers, while still critical, were less damning of the film, The A.V. Club gave the film a "C−", complaining about the writing and length, but mentioning the effects and action scenes were impressive.{{cite web |date= 2009-06-23 |last= Robinson |first= Tasha |url= https://www.avclub.com/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-1798206452 |title= Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen |publisher= The Onion |work= The A.V. Club |access-date= 2009-07-22 |archive-date= October 26, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131026143402/http://www.avclub.com/articles/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen,29564/ |url-status= live }} Among positive reviews, Amy Biancolli of the Houston Chronicle called it "a well-oiled, loudly revving summer action vehicle that does all that's required, and then some",{{cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/movies/reviews/6493938.html|title=No real changes in new Transformers|work=The Houston Chronicle|date=2006-06-23|access-date=2010-11-03|first=Amy|last=Biancolli|archive-date=June 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628194912/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/movies/reviews/6493938.html|url-status=live}} Jordan Mintzer from Variety said it "takes the franchise to a vastly superior level of artificial intelligence",{{cite news |date= 2009-06-15 |first= Jordan |last= Mintzer |title= Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen |work=Variety |url= https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117940483 |access-date= 2019-09-28 }} and Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly wrote that "Revenge of the Fallen may be a massive overdose of popcorn greased with motor oil. But it knows how to feed your inner 10-year-old's appetite for destruction."{{cite magazine |date= 2009-06-26 |first= Owen |last= Gleiberman |author-link= Owen Gleiberman |title= Movie Review: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen |magazine= Entertainment Weekly |url= https://ew.com/article/2009/06/26/transformers-revenge-fallen-2/ |access-date= 2010-11-03 |archive-date= April 11, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230411091444/https://ew.com/article/2009/06/26/transformers-revenge-fallen-2/ |url-status= live }} A review from Empire said :"What saves it, just about, are the effects. At times the frame is so packed with whirring cogs and twirling cranks that you could replicate the effect by staring at the innards of a domestic appliance, but when these CGI moto-men from another world duke it out, the images are often so screwy it’s impossible to do anything but sit and stare."{{Cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/transformers-revenge-fallen-review/|title=Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen|date=2007-09-25|website=Empire|access-date=2020-02-28|archive-date=November 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128072033/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/transformers-revenge-fallen-review/|url-status=live}}
There was considerable negative reaction to the characters Mudflap and Skids, who some perceived as embodying racist stereotypes. Manohla Dargis of The New York Times said that "the characters [...] indicate that minstrelsy remains as much in fashion in Hollywood as when, well, Jar Jar Binks was set loose by George Lucas".{{Cite news |first=Manohla |last=Dargis |author-link=Manohla Dargis |url=http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/movies/24transform.html?hpw |title=Movie Review — Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen — Invasion of the Robot Toys, Redux |work=The New York Times |access-date=2009-06-24 |date=2009-06-24 |archive-date=June 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627124259/http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/movies/24transform.html?hpw |url-status=live }} Critic Scott Mendelson said "To say that these two are the most astonishingly racist caricatures that I've ever seen in a mainstream motion picture would be an understatement."{{cite news|author=Scott Mendelson|author-link=Scott Mendelson|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-mendelson/huff-post-review---transf_b_219510.html|title=Scott Mendelson: Huff Post Review: Transformers Revenge of the Fallen: The IMAX 3-D Experience(2009)|work=The Huffington Post|date=2009-06-23|access-date=2009-06-24|archive-date=March 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319192144/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-mendelson/huff-post-review---transf_b_219510.html|url-status=live}} Harry Knowles, founder of Ain't It Cool News, went further, asking his readers "not to support this film" because "you'll be taking [your children] to see a film with the lowest forms of humor, stereotypes, and racism around."{{cite web|url=https://www.aintitcool.com/node/41512|title=Harry says TRANSFORMERS 2 is foul mouthed, racist & misogynistic! It also runs an hour too long!|publisher=Ain't It Cool News|date=2009-06-23|access-date=2009-06-24|archive-date=October 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003184802/http://www.aintitcool.com/node/41512|url-status=live}} Bay (the director) has attempted to defend the film as "good clean fun" and insisted that "We're just putting more personality in."{{cite news|author=Sandy Cohen, The Associated Press|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2009-06-24-transformers_N.htm|title=Jive-talking twin Transformers raise race issues|newspaper=USA Today|access-date=2010-10-17|date=2009-06-24|archive-date=June 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628200527/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2009-06-24-transformers_N.htm|url-status=live}} Writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman responded to the controversy with "It's really hard for us to sit here and try to justify it. I think that would be very foolish, and if someone wants to be offended by it, it's their right. We were very surprised when we saw it, too, and it's a choice that was made. If anything, it just shows you that we don't control every aspect of the movie."{{cite web|url=https://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/orci-and-kurtzman-respond-to-claims-of-racism-in-transformers-2.php|title=Orci and Kurtzman Respond to Claims of Racism in 'Transformers 2′|publisher=Film School Rejects|date=2009-06-24|access-date=2009-06-27| url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090627124144/http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/orci-and-kurtzman-respond-to-claims-of-racism-in-transformers-2.php|archive-date= June 27, 2009|df=mdy-all}} Tom Kenny stated in a late 2020 interview that he was hired as a placeholder for the role of Skids, but that Michael Bay ended up using his voice in the final version of the film; a decision that Kenny admitted he was embarrassed by.{{cite web|url=https://doubletoasted.com/shows/tom-kenny-interview-live-200-pm-cst/|title=Tom Kenny Interview LIVE @ 2:00 PM CST|website=Double Toasted|last=Coleman|first=Korey|date=December 21, 2020|access-date=December 29, 2020|archive-date=January 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118163649/https://doubletoasted.com/shows/tom-kenny-interview-live-200-pm-cst/|url-status=live}}
Actor Shia LaBeouf was unimpressed with the film, stating "We got lost. We tried to get bigger. It's what happens to sequels. It's like, how do you top the first one? You've got to go bigger. Michael Bay went so big that it became too big, and I think you lost the anchor of the movie...You lost a bit of the relationship. Unless you have those relationships, then the movie doesn't matter. Then it's just a bunch of robots fighting each other."{{Cite news |url=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37134743/ns/today-entertainment/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516035449/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37134743/ns/today-entertainment |url-status=dead|archive-date=May 16, 2010|title=LaBeouf says next 'Transformers' will be better|agency=Associated Press|date=May 13, 2010|access-date=May 17, 2010}} Bay has admitted his disappointment with the film and has apologized, saying the film was "crap" and blaming the 2007–08 Writers' strike, saying "It was very hard to put (the sequel) together that quickly after the writers' strike (of 2007–08)".{{cite web|url=http://www.reelzchannel.com/movie-news/6829/michael-bay-apologizes-for-transformers-2-promises-a-better-transformers-3/|title=Michael Bay Apologizes For Transformers 2, Promises a Better Transformers 3|date=June 11, 2010|access-date=May 29, 2011| url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110520072902/http://www.reelzchannel.com/movie-news/6829/michael-bay-apologizes-for-transformers-2-promises-a-better-transformers-3/|archive-date= May 20, 2011|df=mdy-all}}{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/mar/07/writers-strike-transformers-2-michael-bay | title=Writers' strike ruined Transformers 2, says Michael Bay | newspaper=The Guardian | date=March 7, 2011 | last1=Child | first1=Ben | access-date=January 29, 2023 | archive-date=January 29, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129160420/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/mar/07/writers-strike-transformers-2-michael-bay | url-status=live }}
=Accolades=
In a year-end poll administered by Moviefone, the film won in both the best and worst categories. It was voted the "worst film of 2009" by 24% of those surveyed, while also winning the vote for "best action movie" again with 24% of the vote. Fox's performance was voted the worst by an actress that year, and she was also voted the year's sexiest star.{{cite web |title= Year-End Movies Poll Results |publisher= Moviefone |url= http://blog.moviefone.com/2009/12/18/year-end-movie-poll/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130128011838/http://blog.moviefone.com/2009/12/18/year-end-movie-poll/ |archive-date= January 28, 2013 |url-status= dead |access-date= 2019-10-28 }} Comcast ranked the film as the 4th-worst sequel of all time.{{cite web |title= Worst Sequels of All Time |publisher= Comcast |url= http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/entertainment-worstsequels/47/ | url-status = dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110811022049/http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/entertainment-worstsequels/47/ |archive-date= August 11, 2011 |access-date= 2011-07-07 }} Empire named the film the 25th-worst movie ever made.{{cite web |date= 4 Feb 2010 |author= Willow Green |url= https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/50-worst-movies-ever-2/ |title= Empire's The 50 Worst Movies Ever |publisher= Empire magazine |quote= Redeeming feature John Turturro, who appeared to be in a different movie from everyone else - again. |access-date= September 19, 2019 |archive-date= July 14, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150714020104/http://www.empireonline.com/features/50-worst-movies-ever/default.asp?film=34 |url-status= live }} In June 2009, David Germain from the Associated Press called the film the "worst-reviewed $400 million hit ever".{{cite web|title= Transformers: Worst-Reviewed $400 Million Hit?|url= http://www.accesshollywood.com/movies/transformers-worst-reviewed-400-million-hit_article_19879|publisher= Access Hollywood|access-date= July 4, 2010|archive-date= May 27, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100527185511/http://www.accesshollywood.com/movies/transformers-worst-reviewed-400-million-hit_article_19879|url-status= live}}
Revenge of the Fallen was nominated for Best Sound Mixing (Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, and Geoffrey Patterson) at the 82nd Academy Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/82/index.html|title=Nominees & Winners for the 82nd Academy Awards|publisher=AMPAS|access-date=2010-11-03|archive-date=2010-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100907213347/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/82/index.html|url-status=dead}} The film won five Scream Awards, for Best Actress (Megan Fox), Breakout Performance-Female (Isabel Lucas), Best Sequel, Best F/X, and Scream Song of the Year ("New Divide");{{cite web|url=http://movies.about.com/od/awards/a/scream-2009.htm|title=Spike TV's SCREAM 2009 Awards Nominees and Winners|first=Rebecca|last=Murray|publisher=About.com|access-date=2010-11-03| url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090905084207/http://movies.about.com/od/awards/a/scream-2009.htm|archive-date= September 5, 2009|df=mdy-all}} and two Teen Choice Awards, for Choice Summer Movie Star: Female (Megan Fox) and Choice Summer Movie Star: Male (Shia LaBeouf).{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/teen-choice-award-winners/|title=Teen Choice Award Winners|date=2009-08-10|agency=Associated Press|access-date=2010-11-03|work=CBS News|archive-date=August 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813112758/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/10/entertainment/main5229758.shtml|url-status=live}} Revenge of the Fallen was also nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film but lost to Avatar,{{cite web|url=http://www.saturnawards.org/Nominations_36th.doc|title=The 36th Saturn Award Nominations|publisher=Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films|date=2010-11-03| url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110501130239/http://www.saturnawards.org/Nominations_36th.doc|archive-date= May 1, 2011|df=mdy-all}} Satellite Awards for Best Visual Effects and Best Sound,{{cite web|url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2009.shtml |title=2009 14th Annual SATELLITE AWARDS |access-date=2010-11-03 |publisher=International Press Academy | url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100928163211/http://pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2009.shtml |archive-date=September 28, 2010 }} a VES Award for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Feature Motion Picture,{{cite web|url=http://www.visualeffectssociety.com/group/ves-member/ves-announces-nominees-8th-annual-ves-awards|title=VES Announces Nominees for 8th Annual VES Awards|publisher=Visual Effects Society|date=2010-01-18|access-date=2010-11-03| url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100507083206/http://www.visualeffectssociety.com/group/ves-member/ves-announces-nominees-8th-annual-ves-awards|archive-date= May 7, 2010|df=mdy-all}} a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble,{{cite web|url=http://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/16th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards|title=The 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards|publisher=Screen Actors Guild|access-date=2010-11-03|archive-date=November 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101205005/http://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/16th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards|url-status=live}} and an MTV Movie Award for Best WTF Moment (Isabel Lucas turning into a Decepticon).{{Cite web |last=Finke |first=Nikki |author-link=Nikki Finke |date=May 12, 2010 |title=2010 MTV Movie Awards: Avatar vs The Hangover vs Twilight Saga: New Moon |url=https://deadline.com/2010/05/2010-mtv-movie-awards-avatar-vs-the-hangover-vs-twilight-saga-new-moon-40243/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227225852/https://deadline.com/2010/05/2010-mtv-movie-awards-avatar-vs-the-hangover-vs-twilight-saga-new-moon-40243/ |archive-date=December 27, 2022 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}{{Cite web |date=June 7, 2010 |title=2010 MTV Movie Awards Winners |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/2010-mtv-movie-awards-winners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715112703/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/2010-mtv-movie-awards-winners/ |archive-date=July 15, 2020 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=CBS News}} Shia LaBeouf, the film and Megan Fox was nominated for a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards for Favorite Movie Actor, Favorite Movie and Favorite Movie Actress.{{Cite web |date=March 29, 2010 |title=In Full: Kids' Choice 2010 - Winners |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a211226/in-full-kids-choice-2010-winners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004022853/https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a211226/in-full-kids-choice-2010-winners/ |archive-date=October 4, 2022 |access-date=August 24, 2023 |website=Digital Spy}} Revenge of the Fallen received each nomination at two Golden Trailer Awards ceremonies: Best Teaser (2009) and Best Animation/Family TV Spot (2010).{{Cite web |title=10th Annual Golden Trailer Award Nominees |url=http://www.goldentrailer.com/awards.gta10.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091220041917/http://www.goldentrailer.com/awards.gta10.php |archive-date=December 20, 2009 |access-date=August 31, 2023 |publisher=Golden Trailer Awards }}{{Cite web |title=11th Annual Golden Trailer Award Nominees |url=http://www.goldentrailer.com/awards.gta11.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616140447/http://www.goldentrailer.com/awards.gta11.php |archive-date=June 16, 2010 |access-date=August 31, 2023 |publisher=Golden Trailer Awards }}
It was nominated for seven Razzie Awards including Worst Actress for Megan Fox (also for Jennifer's Body), Worst Supporting Actress for Julie White, Worst Screen Couple (for Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox) and Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel,{{cite web |title= Box Office Hits, Remakes and Sequels Dominate This Year's RAZZIE Nominations |publisher= Golden Raspberry Foundation |url= http://www.razzies.com/history/30thNoms.asp |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100204074134/http://www.razzies.com/history/30thNoms.asp |archive-date= 2010-02-04 }} winning three in the Worst Picture, Worst Director, and Worst Screenplay categories at the 30th Golden Raspberry Awards.{{cite news |url= http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2010/03/razzie-awards-razzies-winners-sandra-bullock-news-story-article.html |title= Sandra Bullock wins TWO Razzie Awards; 'Transformers 2' nabs THREE |newspaper= Los Angeles Times |access-date= 2010-03-07 |date= 2010-03-06 |archive-date= 2010-03-09 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100309042754/http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2010/03/razzie-awards-razzies-winners-sandra-bullock-news-story-article.html |url-status= dead }}
Sequel
{{Further|Transformers (film series)|l1=Transformers (film series)}}
The third film, Transformers: Dark of the Moon was released on June 29, 2011. The fourth film, Transformers: Age of Extinction was released on June 27, 2014. The fifth film, Transformers: The Last Knight was released on June 21, 2017. A spin-off, titled Bumblebee was released on December 21, 2018. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts was released on June 9, 2023.
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb title|1055369|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen}}
- {{TCMDb title|740527|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen}}
{{Transformers film series}}
{{Michael Bay}}
{{Alex Kurtzman}}
{{Ehren Kruger}}
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Category:Cultural depictions of George W. Bush
Category:Di Bonaventura Pictures films
Category:DreamWorks Pictures films
Category:Films about ancient astronauts
Category:Films about the United States Army
Category:Films scored by Steve Jablonsky
Category:Films adapted into comics
Category:Films directed by Michael Bay
Category:Films produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura
Category:Films set in the United States
Category:Films set in Los Angeles
Category:Films set in New York City
Category:Films set in Philadelphia
Category:Films set in Shanghai
Category:Films set in universities and colleges
Category:Films set in Virginia
Category:Films set in Washington, D.C.
Category:Films shot in Arizona
Category:Films shot in California
Category:Films shot in the Lehigh Valley
Category:Films shot in Los Angeles
Category:Films shot in Lone Pine, California
Category:Films shot in New York City
Category:Films shot in San Diego
Category:Films shot in Shanghai
Category:Films shot in Virginia
Category:Films shot in New Jersey
Category:Films shot in New Mexico
Category:Films shot in Tucson, Arizona
Category:Films shot in Philadelphia
Category:Films shot in Washington, D.C.
Category:Films with screenplays by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci
Category:Films with screenplays by Ehren Kruger
Category:Golden Raspberry Award–winning films
Category:Films about impact events
Category:Live-action films based on animated series
Category:Paramount Pictures films
Category:Prehistoric people in popular culture
Category:Teen Choice Award winning films
Category:Films about treasure hunting
Category:Films produced by Tom DeSanto
Category:Films produced by Don Murphy
Category:Films produced by Ian Bryce
Category:Casting controversies in film
Category:Race-related controversies in film
Category:English-language science fiction comedy films
Category:English-language science fiction adventure films