Why are people getting mad at Michael Bay?

*Andrew NDB* · 10-18-2013, 03:59 AM

No, he's not the director but anyone of sound mind can clearly tell he's exerting his influence to the nth degree on this production and it's more than a little bit likely that the actual director, Jonathan Liebesman, is serving more in the "puppet director" capacity (ala Anthony Hemingway on Red Tails)... but really, why are people mad at Michael Bay?

TMNT Part 5 isn't some kind of passion project from anyone anywhere with a strong creative vision for their ultimate Turtle movie. It was borne of a studio and financiers and focus groups -- well divorced and free from any sort of veto power from Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird for the first time ever, the creators, it's important to note -- that think they can milk a few extra bucks out of an old tried and true franchise. They have gone over various business models and decided, hey, Michael Bay's guys struck oil with the Transformers movies... let's try and replicate the formula.

So they hired Michael Bay. But again, why is he the bad guy? Is he doing bad by your favorite incarnation of TMNT? Seriously? He's just doing what he's always been doing. If you want to get mad at somebody, get mad at the suits and beancounters at Viacom above his pay grade, I say.

What say you?

10-18-2013, 03:59 AM	#1
Andrew NDB Weed Whacker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 34,464	Why are people getting mad at Michael Bay? No, he's not the director but anyone of sound mind can clearly tell he's exerting his influence to the nth degree on this production and it's more than a little bit likely that the actual director, Jonathan Liebesman, is serving more in the "puppet director" capacity (ala Anthony Hemingway on Red Tails)... but really, why are people mad at Michael Bay? TMNT Part 5 isn't some kind of passion project from anyone anywhere with a strong creative vision for their ultimate Turtle movie. It was borne of a studio and financiers and focus groups -- well divorced and free from any sort of veto power from Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird for the first time ever, the creators, it's important to note -- that think they can milk a few extra bucks out of an old tried and true franchise. They have gone over various business models and decided, hey, Michael Bay's guys struck oil with the Transformers movies... let's try and replicate the formula. So they hired Michael Bay. But again, why is he the bad guy? Is he doing bad by your favorite incarnation of TMNT? Seriously? He's just doing what he's always been doing. If you want to get mad at somebody, get mad at the suits and beancounters at Viacom above his pay grade, I say. What say you? __________________ [ ODYSSEY \| ORIGIN \| THE IMAGE/VOL. 3 CONCLUSION \| THE SHELLSHOCKED PODCAST \| ON FACEBOOK ]