Transformers 2's winning formula

June 23, 7:39 PMAtlanta Movie ExaminerAntonio Gilbert

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AP Transformers  2

While we are waiting for Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen to explode in theaters this Wednesday, June 24th in the US, British critics have already screened this summer’s most anticipated big blockbuster hit. While Transformers 2 will have a minor group that tears its review upside down, the general consensus of it, is nothing short of illustrious. With Transformers 2’s $19.4 million share in the U.K. theaters, it has broken box office record after it’s first 3-day release. This puts Terminator 4 now in second place at $16.4 million. Sales’ records have always illustrated for themselves what the general public’s opinion of it is, regardless of what critics say. Projections for box office sales in the US estimate pulling in $40 to $60 million by Thursday night and could end up with as much as $165 million by the end of the weekend.

Transformers 2 Synopsis:
Two years have passed since Sam Witwicky and the Autobots saved the human race from the invading Decepticons. Now he's preparing for the biggest challenge of his life: leaving home for college. Leaving home is something the Autobots understand only too well. With the destruction of the Allspark, the Transformers home planet of Cybertron is uninhabitable, and the Autobots make the best of their lives on earth, working in league with the military as part of a top-secret team called NEST. Meanwhile, the Decepticons learn what Sam doesn't know: he alone holds the key to the outcome of the struggle between evil and the ultimate power of good. A normal life will have to wait. With the help of the Autobots, the soldiers of NEST, and an old adversary-turned-ally, former Sector 7 Agent Simmons, Sam and his girlfriend Mikaela must uncover the secret history of the Transformers presence on earth, and the sacrifices that have to be made to save it from an ancient threat sworn on returning here for revenge--an ancient Decepticon named The Fallen. See Trailer below.

Transformers 2’s recipe for success?

• - Chose attractive popular actors (keeping the lead actors the same important for continuity.)
• - Lots of great action (Just other ways to physically challenge the characters.)
• - A Good Story and twists to wrap the characters around a story arc and engage the audience to feel for their favorite characters.
• - Explosions galore. (Just more creative ways of blowing things up.)
• - Mind blowing CGI. (Computer Generated Images that are composited over the original film with seamless techniques that drops your jaw with such visual stimulation that the picture’s realistic credibility is not questioned.
• - A large Hollywood budget of $195 million. (With money not being an object, nothing else is impossible.)
• - Being the sequel to a pre-existing success. (The first Transformers banked $319 million domestically in the summer of 2007.)
• - Successful marketing. (Beside CSPAN, Could someone show us a network that isn’t airing the hype that is it trailer.)
• - Experienced director and crew. (Michael Bay! Nothing more needs to be said.)
• - Target market demographic.

MovieTickets.com conducted and posted a poll revealing the following projected demographic that intend to see the fil opening of Transformers 2 this weekend:

•  Males: 68%
•  Females: 62%
•  Under-25: 83%
• Age 25-34: 81%
• Age 35-44: 65%
•  Age 45-59: 59%
•  60-and-over: 7%

While Paramount has released a date for Transformers 3 to open in the US for July 2011, the director, Michael Bay, is resigned from being attached to the project. With claims that the Transformer franchise has run it’s course, Michael has his eyes now set on less action oriented projects which he will obviously have no problem finding.

So hats off to the makers of this successful franchise and it’s well earned fan base.