Fans still divided over Transformers 4 Super Bowl reveal and 'First Edition' Prime toy

Long after the big reveal, Transformers fans are still talking about the 30-second Transformers 4: Age of Extinction Super Bowl trailer, the first long good look at the upcoming movie:

 

 

 

 

Aside from Grimlock in robo T-Rex mode, other points of interest include the possible return of Megatron (as newly resurrected Galvatron, perhaps?), and a two-headed flying monster thing.

 

The identity of the flying behemoth has yet to be confirmed, but some fans have already concluded that it is the Autobot Swoop, a fellow Dinobot like Grimlock. This does not, however, explain why a mechanical pterosaur would be having two heads.

 

The fact is, there are many such two-headed beasts in Transformers lore.

 

One such creature is the Decepticon, Hun-Gurr, who is the leader of the Terrorcons. The Terrorcons, whose monster-inspired alt modes include a two-headed dragon, a land shark, and a pterosaur, are “combiners” – a group of five or more robots that merge into an even larger and more powerful one. The Terrorcons assemble into the fearsome Abominus.

 

There is also the Autobot, Doublecross, a supply procurer whose two heads are never quite in agreement.

 

Interestingly, in the Transformers Beast Wars toy line, Megatron himself transformed into a two-headed dragon. So is it possible the flying monstrosity we see in the trailer is none other than the Decepticon leader himself?

 

It appears fans will have to wait a little longer for the answers.

 

The story itself is still under wraps. Only tidbits of information have been revealed; for one, the film will take place four years after Chicago’s destruction in Transformers: Dark of the Moon. An inventor, Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg), inadvertently activates a piece of Cybertronian technology. Throw in Cade’s daughter, Tessa (Nicola Peltz), her boyfriend Shane (Jack Reynor), government agents, an alien bounty hunter, and a bunch of angry, rampaging robots, and you have a recipe for disaster of epic proportions.

 

The movie also stars Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Sophia Myles and Titus Welliver.

 

As a soft reboot, Transformers: Age of Extinction is meant to reinvigorate the franchise by exploring the previously untouched corners of the expansive Transformers mythos. Whether this means future movies will see the inclusion of the planet-sized, planet-eating Transformer god, Unicron, remains to be seen.

 

Reactions

 

Despite the revelation of unique-looking new robots and an entirely new cast of actors, the trailer has received mixed reactions.

 

Luke Plunkett of Kotaku sums up his disappointment in three short sentences: “I don’t know how they did it. I didn’t think anything could scrape under that bar. RIP, Dinobots.”

 

One commenter sounded cautiously optimistic. “This actually looks like it could be good, but then again it could suck even worse than the third. But, Mark Wahlberg does look great?,” he said.

 

Others, however, were totally blown away by the trailer. “Giant robots riding giant robot dinosaurs. I am unable to resist watching this,” remarked one fan.

 

“It’s hard to watch this ‘Transformers 4’ trailer and not get a little excited,” echoed Mike Sampson of Screencrush. “We mean, c’mon, Optimus Prime with a sword riding on the back of a giant Dinobot. It’s all your geeky kid dreams come true. Whether the movie is any good is almost an afterthought.”

 

Despite the previous trilogy being the constant source of fan outrage, the franchise is one of the most financially successful in film history. The movies have earned well over $2.7 billion worldwide, a figure that does not even include the sales of merchandise such as toys, video games, clothes, and costumes.

 

'First Edition' Optimus Prime

 

In celebration of the Super Bowl reveal, Hasbro, in collaboration with Amazon, is introducing the very first official merchandise for the Transformers: Age of Extinction: the “First Edition” Optimus Prime action figure.

 

“First Edition” Optimus Prime is now available for purchase, exclusively on Amazon.com US’ “Transformers Headquarters Shop”, making the figure a premium collector’s item.

 

Optimus Prime stands 10 inches tall in robot mode. He transforms into a semi-truck and back, with each conversion taking 15 steps. His accessories include the “Sword of Judgment”, and the “Sentinel Shield”.

 

The figure comes with tons of intricate detail. His paint apps bring his new deco, which includes metallic embellishes, to life.

 

Expect more Age of Extinction toys to be revealed in the months leading to the movie’s June 27 release. — TJD, GMA News