When Did Michael Bay Become So Hated? : Michael David
Since the first Transformers came out I’ve heard critics and movie aficionados rail against Michael Bay as if he were a murderer. I am by no means a huge fan of Bay’s nor have I even seen many of his films but the vicious and sometimes personal attacks on the man are just beyond all logic. Many of the people attacking Bay will praise sociopaths like Woody Allen and Roman Polanski because of their artistic merits. I have enjoyed some of Woody Allen’s work but let’s be honest he went through a stretch where he basically made the same film over and over again. Because Polanski and Allen are part of artistic Hollywood they garner a respect that is not afforded to Bay, a man who has not raped a fourteen year old nor has he married his wife’s daughter.
Yes, Pearl Harbor was terrible and Transformers was only okay but millions of people seem to be entertained by his films, why is that wrong? Not every song is great art, neither is every painting or sculpture, so 
why should movies be different? Many people just go to the movies to escape. Its two hours that they don’t have to think. If every action blockbuster had a great story then none of them would be seen as exceptional. The Dark Knight is exceptional because it does both. Not every film is The Dark Knight, nor was every film in the 1940’s Citizen Kane.
The reason we have so many different genres of movie is to appeal to the varying tastes of the public. I completely understand the people who love the art of film making and feel that Michael Bay is putting out a substandard product. But film lovers must realize that not everyone thinks of film as art. I look at Michael Bay as the CEO of a company that for the most part exceeds monetary expectations. His job is to make profits and by doing so he keeps many people in Hollywood employed. Is what he does art? I don’t know but if it isn’t does that mean he deserves to be the subject of hatred. Michael Bay makes movies that millions go to see and enjoy, why is that so bad?
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So you disagree with the personal attacks on Micheal Bay, but then bring up Polanski’s and Allen’s dubious activities as a way of hacking them down and proving your point about….what exactly? And besides, what does that have to do with their film making ability? You do realize that Polanski and Allen have never ever heard the end about the rape case or the marrying of his stepdaughter? Roman Polanski cannot step foot in the USA as a result and Allen is a pariah in many circles.
The reason Michael Bay is disdained by so many is that he shows no sign of escaping his “Rock Video” past. Armageddon demonstrated this with the constant moving camera, over quick editing, frenetic pacing that denies the brain the ability to process what just happened. Whether the criticism is justified or not doesn’t alter the fact that this is his style. And if you don’t want that style, your shit out of luck if you go to a Michael Bay film.
The whole “Every film doesn’t have to be a masterpiece” line is getting so tired. It should be paraphrased with “But it doesn’t make sense to put out shoddy product knowingly”. Why do you think there are film critics? Why write an opinion piece about pop culture if you are so blindly accepting of poor product?
KER-BLAM.
That’s the sound of modern cinema dying.
Michael Bay is a great director of terrible movies. But check out his commercials and music videos, too! Those were amazing!
I think the reason you can’t hate Michael Bay is because he makes no excuses or apologies for the movies he puts out. He doesn’t position himself as a director on par with Spielberg or that he’s going to win Oscars for his work (other than perhaps in the technical fields). My friend worked on the set of ‘Transformers: ROTF’ when they filmed in Bethlehem, PA (the opening scene in “Hong Kong”) and he told me that someone on set pointed out a possible continuity error to Michael Bay who responded, “Fuck continuity!” That story makes me laugh.
I don’t pay and see Michael Bay movies for the acting or for the strength of their plot; I go for the spectacle. I know that his movies will be full of explosions and impossible stunts according to the laws of physics and I eat it all up!
Also, I saw ‘Transfomers: ROTF’ in IMAX and I was blown away by the use of surround sound alone. Michael Bay gets the advances in the movie watching experience and knows how to take advantage of them to maximize his movies while other directors still don’t know how to make that leap. For example, I saw ‘Half-Blood Prince’ for the second time last week, this time in IMAX, and was sorely disappointed by it (not the movie, but seeing it in IMAX). Aside from the 3D (which was criminally underused in only the first 12 minutes) and the larger screen, there was no difference from seeing it in a regular theater. With ‘Transformers: ROTF,’ the difference was immediately noticeable as I struggled to hear what was going on in a regular theater . . . and I already knew what had happened from seeing it in IMAX the first time!
Michael Bay, is a director, who you pretty much know what you are going to get when you go see his movies. But I have to say I enjoy what he brings to the screen. You can make a checklist to what you are going to see in each of his films, but you can say that for most directors. I being a huge movie fan can appreciate his films just as much as great independent films. My favorite movies from the last two years were Wall-E and Up. For those attacking Michael Bay, there is a simple solution, don’t see the movie. That’s the great thing about movies and pretty much everything else, there is something out there for everyone
Neil, for a second I read your “Also, I saw ‘Transfomers: ROTF’ in IMAX and I was blown away by the use of surround sound alone” statement as “Also, I saw ‘Transformers: ROTFLMAO”. I had to read it a second time before it clicked on what you meant haha
When I go see a movie with Adam Sandler I’m not looking for some great philosophical enlightenment. Same goes for Transformers, I was a kid who grew up with the original, but this isn’t what he was going for. He went for something millions would enjoy over something that only the fans of the original movie and/or cartoons would enjoy.
James, the point was that two men, one a convicted felon who evaded the law and the other had a very questionable relationship with his de facto daughter, and yet they are not villified nearly as harsh as Bay is by critics and movie lovers. Polanski is allowed to come back to America as long as he goes to prison for his crime. Allen is beloved in Hollywood in spite of his less than ethical behavior. Allen and Polanski have earned whatever personal attacks they incurr while Bay has not.
Michael, if you’re going to use Roman Polanski and Woody Allen’s scandals in a defense of Michael Bay, please remember that Bay used Megan Fox in a stripclub scene in Bad Boys 2 when she was 16. Also, her audition for the first Transformers was for her to wash his Ferarri and let him film it. That oozes “sleazebag” to me.
As for his movie-making reputation, I have been a Michael Bay apologist until Transformers 2. I even liked The Island (although I think it was due to the fact that I saw it on vacation in Cape Cod and was already having fun anyway). But ROTF(lmao Colleen) was such an insult to movie fans. The jokes were dumbed down to a third grader’s level (dogs humping, a close-up of John Tuturro’s buttocks, Shia’s mom tackling college kids).
The script could have been written on a piece of toilet paper, it had that much value. The action was epic, but didn’t make me worry about the stakes at all. One great fight in the woods does not make a good movie. The length of this movie made Pearl Harbor feel like a short film. Also, he makes a film that has its roots in children’s cartoons and toys, and he fills it with “Jackass” humor and bad language.
Why beat on Michael Bay so badly? Because he made a shit movie and it’s being constantly excused with everyone saying “Well, what did you expect with giant robots?” We expected better. And it’s sad that so many people bought in to the hype.
Robin, I’ve been waiting to hear what you’d have to say since the first time this post came in haha. Knew you’d love it.
I’m a little partial to Polanski anyway since he made my favorite movie ever “Chinatown”. That doesn’t excuse anything he did though.
But yeah, F Michael Bay.
Michael Bay is NOT a film maker, he makes explosion movies; and damn well-produced ones at that. Woody Allen and Roman Polanski are both genius film makers. Talking about Allen and Polanski’s personal lives when discussing Bay’s vilification with regards to his professional life is a sign that you fail to see the merits of the criticism against Michael Bay.
Woody Allen and Roman Polanski could be mass-murdering satanists and it wouldn’t make a difference; Michael Bay would still be making “lowest common denominator” movies.
The problem with Michael Bay, as I see it, is that he demands respect but fails to earn it with the drivel he produces. It’s like asking for a standing ovation at a piano recital when all you’ve done is play “Chopsticks” topless. It’s like a porn actor/actress demanding to be taken seriously. It’s like going to McDonald’s expecting a healthy meal.
Michael Bay makes fun, action-packed, intellectually-bereft movies. whether or not he married an adopted step-daughter or is alleged to have had sex with an under-age girl does not make him a better (or worse) artist.
The attacks on Bay have gone far beyond professional criticism. Woody Allen has done some terrific films but he also went through a stretch where he made plenty of bad films. Polanski is a crminal and that does not change the merits of his films but I find the rape of a minor and cowardess of fleeing the country kind of overshadows movie making ability. My issue is not with critique of Bay’s work but of the personal villification of him.
He’s being vilified because people THINK his movies are shit. How is that personal?
What’s alleged to have happened with Polanski might overshadow his films in YOUR eyes, but not everyone’s.
How many Polanski films have you seen? Or, did you bring him up just to sensationalize your post with the words “child rape?”
What we’re saying is that not only is Michael Bay a sleazebag (see above comments), he also made a ridiculously over-the-top shitty movie that he deserves every bit of criticism for. The thing is, we can totally make it a personal thing because this is the type of movie he makes. Just recently (now that he’s not under Jerry Bruckheimer’s supervision), he’s gone completely overboard with it. And what does over 350 million dollars box office get us? More shitty movies bolstering the confidence of this hack to think that Transformers 2 is the kind of movie we want.
Once again let me be clear, attacking Bay’s films is fine. I am ONLY speaking to the personal attacks that I heard directed at Bay that I felt were over the top. As far as Polanski goes there is NOTHING alleged about what happened. Film wise I can not support someone who has raped a teenager, so no I have not nor will I ever see one of Polanski’s films. What does 350 million get you? It gets a lot of jobs for people in Hollywood who are in desperate need of work. Apparently Trans 2 was a film that plenty of people wanted. If you want to call him sleazy for his actions with Megan Fox, then I agree but to act like he is destroying some pristine art form is ridiculous.
Also I would quote some of the attacks I heard but it has been several weeks since I heard them and I just don’t have the time to go back and check every podcast heard or article read.
I don’t know what we’re arguing about if you don’t remember what it is you heard. lol
And maybe the reason you haven’t heard Polanski or Allen vilified as much as you may have heard Bay vilified is because these cases are 20-30 years old. Polanski certainly isn’t off the hook for the statutory rape charges.
And Allen, well, the Woodman did something totally legal, even though it was kinda weird and sleazy. In his case, I suggest you take your own advice, which was regarding people hating on Michael Jackson in your previous blog entry: “Just because someone has been convicted in the court of public opinion does not mean they are actually guilty.”
And if you refuse to see Chinatown because of the director’s crimes, well you’re missing out on some great work that Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and John Huston put in. And there were no giant robots or explosions either!
Very good point about Allen and Jackson. I do and have watched Allen’s films and enjoy quite a few but I’ll pass on Roman. I really enjoyed the back and forth.
Me too! I love a good civil debate!
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