Giant Robots Do Battle in Action-Packed 'Transformers: Dark

Giant Robots Do Battle in Action-Packed 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon'

The mechanical toy robots known as Transformers first appeared on store shelves in the 1980s. They spawned¹ TV shows, comic books and finally big, loud motion pictures. The third film in the franchise² is now at theaters worldwide.Here's a behind the scenes look at Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
That's Shia LaBeouf  as the resourceful young hero Sam Witwicky, along with his champion, the giant alien robot Optimus Prime. Like all the Transformers, Optimus can fold himself up into a clever disguise as a vehicle - in this case, a powerful truck.
Once again Optimus and his loyal Autobots are battling the evil Decepticons with the fate of the Earth hanging in the balance.
"You may lose your faith in us, but never in yourselves. From here the fight will be your own."
Like the first two films, Transformers: Dark of the Moon is the work of writer, director and producer Michael Bay, who talked about the challenge at a news conference in Moscow before the film's world premiere.
"You keep trying to push the boundaries," explained Bay. "[Fellow director] James Cameron called me up and he asked me if making the third one was easier or harder. I knew he was asking that because of Avatar 2. I said 'Jim, it's definitely harder because you keep trying to push yourself farther.'"
Often criticized for the manic energy and rapid-fire editing of his films, Bay says he modified his style to shoot this third Transformers adventure in 3D.
"Steven Spielberg and Jim Cameron kept saying I should shoot this movie in 3D," noted³ Bay. "I was a skeptic⁴ because it is new technology. The [camera] systems are a lot bigger and heavier and it's hard to take it into the real world - to the streets, moving around. So we had to invent a lot of stuff like strapping⁵ it on to the skydivers' helmets. I slowed my style down a bit. I made longer wide shots, moving through things in a very cool 3D way. But I think it really works well in this movie."
British lingerie model-turned-actress Rosie Huntington-Whitely joins the Transformers cast as the new love interest for the human hero Sam.
"This being my first film, I feel extremely blessed to have gotten to work alongside, in my opinion, some of the most - if not THE most - talented people in the industry. To get to learn that on my first film and my first chance at ever learning to act, I feel very excited and blessed and thank you everybody," she joked.
Huntington-Whitely got the role when sexpot Megan Fox was fired after co-starring in the first two Transformers. In Moscow, Shia LaBeouf was diplomatic about both co-stars.
"These two people have completely different energies. Rosie is an incredible actress. This is her first one out of the gate and she soared. It takes a lot of strength to be in this. I think they're both very good at the job. I enjoyed Megan, I enjoyed Rosie. I think they are both great actresses," LaBeouf said.
Beautiful, provocative⁶ women are trademarks⁷ of Michael Bay's films as are the explosion-filled action scenes. The director says he knows what his fans want to see
"When we were doing the scene at the end where they kiss, Rosie asked 'Michael, would you like me to take off my heels; I am so much taller than Shia.' And I said 'no, leave them on," Bay recalled. "They will stay on because you are going to give short men hope around the world.'"
Transformers: Dark of the Moon includes an unexpected mix of serious dramatic actors like John Malkovich and Oscar-winner Francis McDormand. But the real stars of the film are the special effects wizards who created the crashing, thundering Transformer robots and the squadrons of stunt⁸ performers who risked injury to provide some of the thrills.

1 spawned   

（鱼、蛙等）大量产（卵）( spawn的过去式和过去分词 )； 大量生产

参考例句：

• The band's album spawned a string of hit singles. 这支乐队的专辑繁衍出一连串走红的单曲唱片。
• The computer industry has spawned a lot of new companies. 由于电脑工业的发展，许多新公司纷纷成立。

2 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 skeptic   

n.怀疑者，怀疑论者，无神论者

参考例句：

• She is a skeptic about the dangers of global warming.她是全球变暖危险的怀疑论者。
• How am I going to convince this skeptic that she should attention to my research?我将如何使怀疑论者确信她应该关注我的研究呢？

5 strapping   

adj. 魁伟的, 身材高大健壮的 n. 皮绳或皮带的材料, 裹伤胶带, 皮鞭 动词strap的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• He's a strapping lad—already bigger than his father. 他是一个魁梧的小伙子——已经比他父亲高了。
• He was a tall strapping boy. 他是一个高大健壮的小伙子。

6 provocative   

adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的

参考例句：

• She wore a very provocative dress.她穿了一件非常性感的裙子。
• His provocative words only fueled the argument further.他的挑衅性讲话只能使争论进一步激化。

7 trademarks   

n.（注册）商标( trademark的名词复数 )；（人的行为或衣着的）特征，标记

参考例句：

• Motrin and Nuprin are trademarks of brands of ibuprofen tablets. Nuprin和Motrin均是布洛芬的商标。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Many goods in China have the trademarks of a panda. 中国的许多商品都带有熊猫的商标。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 stunt   

n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长

参考例句：

• Lack of the right food may stunt growth.缺乏适当的食物会阻碍发育。
• Right up there is where the big stunt is taking place.那边将会有惊人的表演。