TRANSFORMERS IMAX PRESCREEN - Dirt on the extra footage

I spotted that there was a free pre-screen of the Transformers movie at the IMAX theatre here in Chicago (at Navy Pier) earlier this week in the Chicago Tribune's RED EYE newspaper and I snagged a pair of tix. Ryan (Seibertron) and I headed there this evening and checked out the IMAX version. He is still headed home and I said I would post the notes here to share with all of you.

First off, there was no more than TWO MINUTES of extra footage, dialouge, etc. NONE of the footage contained new CG. I will list the new scenes in order of appearance.

1. Additional footage with Sam and Miles - (Placed right before arriving at the party on the lake with Sam's friend Miles) Sam arrives at Mile's house with his brand "new" ride. Miles lives on a hill, it looks something like San Francisco. They exchange a few words before jumping in and cutting to the next scene (original scene of Miles and Sam driving up to the lake party)

2. Extended cop interrogation scene - After the 50-cent line and Sam saying "Are you on drugs??" There is about a minute more of dialouge between the cop, Sam's dad, and Sam. There is another kid in the background with a mohawk being held for some other charge. The officer tells Sam's dad he needs to see a video to "get the message". It is the old "Don't do drugs" video of the girl swinging the frying pan around the kitchen. Sam grumbles that he gets the message and they are finally out of the police station. Here is a link to the video they make him watch! It's classic, especially if you are a Robot Chicken fan! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyXFN4ocN_o

3. Extra bits in the Sector Seven Escalade after being taken from Sam's house - After asking the kids about aliens, Simmons attaches some archaic looking device with a tube and eye attachment over Sam's right eye ball. A screen he is holding has a blown up view of Sam's eye. He is using this device to determine how truthful Sam is being. He calls him a liar again and detaches the device. Mikela then says her line about him being a mall cop. Then Simmons gives the line of "Criminals are hot..." but this dialouge is extended and he makes another comment about how he would know from his line of work but not from personal experience or something. Then the ticker goes crazy and Prime stops the car.

4. Hoover Dam briefing - Before Simmons talks about NBE's to everyone outside the dam, he has some lines about Area 51. "You guys have heard of Area 51?" "yeah" "Well this is Area 50!" then continue to NBE lines.

5. Pre AllSpark and "Energizer Bunny From Hell" extended scene - The dialouge "You're about to see our crown jewel..." is extended and the footage is completely different. They are outside of the office where they view the AllSpark from. Simmons goes on some rant about how all the presidents have been in this room since Hoover, and they are going to get the opportunity that only presidents have gotten. He names each president quickly and it is quite humorous. Calls our president "W". Then they go into the room and the scene continues as normal.

6. Rhonda's Pawn Shop revealed - This is the best of all the extra footage. Lennox is pleading with the owner of a pawn shop to give him the short-wave radios Eps uses to radio the Raptors. Lennox is doing a bad job and gets frustrated at which the robust pawn shop owner pulls a gun on him. He flatters the woman and she is charmed. She gives him the radios and the scene cuts back to the regular scene of Lennox handing the radios to Epps.

7. Extended IMAX Credits - I guess this counts? There is a static scene of IMAX Credits at the end of all the other credits.


Worth your time? The scenes are not, however the large scale of the screen and the sound was awesome. Prime's voice rumbled the room. We still know nothing of Barricade's fate and we still are left wondering if Starscream may have fired upon his commander in chief, Megatron.

Enjoy! Ryan will post this once he gets back to his place.

------------------------------------------------

For local IMAX listings, please visit the Transformers IMAX page at IMAX.com. Some theatres will be having midnight showings tomorrow night (such as Chicago's Navy Pier IMAX location). Transformers will be in IMAX theatres for a limited time starting on September 21st, 2007.