458 stars in Transformers 3

[70proof]

just got back from the flicks.... one of the autobots transforms into a red 458...

570-4 would have been better!

[ellis427]

funny i just watched that too! the camaro is the car for me, although the 548 did look very elegant.

[BelfastBoy]

MINOR SPOILER FOR TRANSFORMERS 3 BELOW

I thought the 458 looked great in the film, as did the upgraded Bumblebee Camaro. Pity the robot form of the Ferrari spoke with such a silly Italian accent, but at least the 458 got far more screentime than the Audi R8 managed in Revenge of the Fallen (getting shredded in the opening scene). Indeed, the film is a veritable treasure trove of unsubtle product placement (especially the computer systems - could those Cisco Systems and Lenova logos be any more prominent?)! Mercedes does particularly well though, or maybe they just paid Paramount the most for the privilege. Anyway, they get repaid with a visit to their website to check the price of the SLS(!) that's the most gratuitous piece of product placement since Mac And Me; the car itself gets plenty of onscreen time, with a very pretty driver:



I found this photo a few days ago, and thought it must've been from a Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley modelling assignment. But, no, since Michael Bay is the director, this shot is actually a scene from the film. (Rosie HW visibly has problems getting in and out of the car in that dress!) Sadly for poor Carly though, in the world of Transformers, when your boss gives you a suspiciously costly present, he doesn't (just) want to shag you. No, your new car is actually a Decepticon!

[Koing]

BelfastBoy said:

MINOR SPOILER FOR TRANSFORMERS 3 BELOW

I thought the 458 looked great in the film, as did the upgraded Bumblebee Camaro. Pity the robot form of the Ferrari spoke with such a silly Italian accent, but at least the 458 got far more screentime than the Audi R8 managed in Revenge of the Fallen (getting shredded in the opening scene). Indeed, the film is a veritable treasure trove of unsubtle product placement (especially the computer systems - could those Cisco Systems and Lenova logos be any more prominent?)! Mercedes does particularly well though, or maybe they just paid Paramount the most for the privilege. Anyway, they get repaid with a visit to their website to check the price of the SLS(!) that's the most gratuitous piece of product placement since Mac And Me; the car itself gets plenty of onscreen time, with a very pretty driver:



I found this photo a few days ago, and thought it must've been from a Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley modelling assignment. But, no, since Michael Bay is the director, this shot is actually a scene from the film. (Rosie HW visibly has problems getting in and out of the car in that dress!) Sadly for poor Carly though, in the world of Transformers, when your boss gives you a suspiciously costly present, he doesn't (just) want to shag you. No, your new car is actually a Decepticon!

The product placement was obscene.

I didn't realise the 458 was going to be in the film so it was a nice suprise. The SLS sure got a lot of screen time. Do we think Rosie would have been able to close the door herself?

Koing

[Civpilot]

The 458 does get a silly accent indeed... but in Robot form it clearly kicks all kinds of ass, some of the tricks it pulls on the freeway were superb.

Overall I thought it was a great movie.. I don't even take notice of product placement anymore, its so clear in every movie you watch I just tune it out.

[BelfastBoy]

Civpilot said:

The 458 does get a silly accent indeed... but in Robot form it clearly kicks all kinds of ass, some of the tricks it pulls on the freeway were superb.

Overall I thought it was a great movie.. I don't even take notice of product placement anymore, its so clear in every movie you watch I just tune it out.

I'd avoided finding out too much about the film beforehand, and don't remember seeing the 458 in any trailers. So it was an especially nice surprise to see the beautiful car appearing so prominently throughout the film. Also, yes, in robot form, 'Dino' is immense! (Random trivia point - the 458 Autobot was originally called 'Mirage', but the name was changed at the request of Ferrari. Obviously the name Dino has plenty of resonance for the company so that was a nice touch.)

But, and this is just stupid nitpicking - the concept of 'robots in disguise' is hardly appropriate when a 458 has got to be one of the most striking and desirable cars available today! (To a lesser extent that applies to the SLS as well, though I personally dislike the styling.)

[Civpilot]

BelfastBoy said:

I'd avoided finding out too much about the film beforehand, and don't remember seeing the 458 in any trailers. So it was an especially nice surprise to see the beautiful car appearing so prominently throughout the film. Also, yes, in robot form, 'Dino' is immense! (Random trivia point - the 458 Autobot was originally called 'Mirage', but the name was changed at the request of Ferrari. Obviously the name Dino has plenty of resonance for the company so that was a nice touch.)

But, and this is just stupid nitpicking - the concept of 'robots in disguise' is hardly appropriate when a 458 has got to be one of the most striking and desirable cars available today! (To a lesser extent that applies to the SLS as well, though I personally dislike the styling.)

Agree, they are not really in Disguise at all. Optimus is a fracking big flamed Semi that you don't expect to see driving through suburbia in convoy with a Fezza, Camaro, Fire Truck, ambulance etc but hey, even though it's live action, it is still deep down just a 'cartoon'.

I think Bay knows what looks good on Camera so the 458 did get more than it's fair share of 'beauty shots' throught the movie, and I think the fact that the robot is such a badass for me is a very big 'thank you' to the fact that the car was supplied FOC. He knows what sells and knows exactly how to sell it. Manufacturers know this and were probably quing up to supply stuff.

Another few bits of random trivia... most of the military personel featured in the movie who are not main actors are actually serving military. The awacs guys in the second movie for example are actually a real awacs crew who were allowed to script the scene themselves (bay told them what he waned and they basically followed procedure on camera). I think the guys in this movie who operated the spy drones... same thing. Apparently Bay has a military liason officer on speed dial for whenever he needs stuff for his movies.

[v-twins]

I saw that very 458 on set in DC in November.
As well as the might Optimus.. What a day to be a big kid again. Kicked the a55 off Disney.