Is Michael Bay actually a bad director?

George Alvarez3 said:Look, call it subjective if you want, but here’s how I see it:

Transformers: 4/10
The Island: 4/10
Bad Boys II: 3/10
Pearl Harbor: 1/10
Armageddon: 9/10
Dwayne Johnson: 5/10
Bad Boys: 6/10

Total: 4.6

My bar for a decent director: 8.5.

So…

😂

So, what exactly earned it a nine in your book?

Samuel Smith5 said:😂

So, what exactly earned it a nine in your book?

Are you going to play Liv Tyler?

Michael Bay is exactly the kind of director where you know exactly what you’re getting into—high-budget productions packed with incredible action sequences, even if he doesn't put much effort into the actual plot or character development. That doesn't necessarily make him a bad director, though; I've never found any of his movies completely unwatchable to the point where I couldn't finish them. In fact, I actually consider The Rock one of my favorite films. At the end of the day, he's a solid director, but I wouldn't go so far as to call him anything more than that.

Kate Torres said:Babbling White. At least try to back up your argument.

Why don't you explain your own theory about how they were never actually products.

redowl90 said:Why don't you explain your own theory about how they were never actually products.

I’ll give you this much: since movies are expensive art forms, they definitely have plenty of commercial traits because investors expect a return. But not every filmmaker treats their work like a mere commodity, unlike how everyone handles blockbusters these days. My point was simply that it isn't all black and white.🙂

Kate Torres said:I’ll give you this much: since movies are expensive art forms, they definitely have plenty of commercial traits because investors expect a return. But not every filmmaker treats their work like a mere commodity, unlike how everyone handles blockbusters these days. My point was simply that it isn't all black and white.🙂

Unfortunately, it all boils down to a black-and-white reality. Even when major studios decide to greenlight projects that aren't aimed at being massive blockbusters or turning a quick profit, they usually pivot toward the festival circuit and awards season. At the end of the day, it’s still just about the product.

We went a little overboard there. 😉

In short, the old rule still applies here. There's no sense in arguing over taste.

And while we're on the subject of massive budgets—*Bad Boys* actually only cost about $20 million, yet it turned out to be much more than just "good."

John Peterson3 said:In short, the old rule still applies here. There's no sense in arguing over taste.

You're dead wrong if you think this is actually about a matter of taste.

I'm not mistaken... Everyone has their own taste in movies. Most people here clearly aren't fans of anything directed by Michael Bay, which is perfectly fine—they have every right to feel that way.

John Peterson3 said:I'm not mistaken... Everyone has their own taste in movies. Most people here clearly aren't fans of anything directed by Michael Bay, which is perfectly fine—they have every right to feel that way.

Exactly! I’ve got my taste, you’ve got yours, he’s got his. We all respect each other, everyone is right in their own way, and we’re all happy just acknowledging that. Everything in this world works out because what’s good for one person is perfectly fine for someone else.

nimblemarlin6 said:Exactly! I’ve got my taste, you’ve got yours, he’s got his. We all respect each other, everyone is right in their own way, and we’re all happy just acknowledging that. Everything in this world works out because what’s good for one person is perfectly fine for someone else.

Exactly what you mean, right? Like, is mining diamonds in Africa a good thing? Sure, for a jeweler in New York, it’s great, and since they’re happy, we just call it a win. I guess nobody really gives a damn about the poor souls actually digging those stones out of the dirt, right?

Navigating life based solely on your own narrow metrics is a massive mistake, mostly because it aligns perfectly with that "every man for himself" mentality. If something works for you personally, fine, that's your business, but if you start broadcasting your opinions publicly and using the logic that "it's good because it benefits me," then you just look ridiculous...

I knew that quartet made a great movie! Always knew...

Samuel Smith5 said:😂

So, what exactly earned it a nine in your book?

Because it’s a perfectly packaged movie that’s just going to be total garbage to those people who think their "understanding" of cinema means they've moved past basic storytelling—you know, the types who think a good film has to be some meta-intellectual puzzle, or just people who don't actually respect film as an art form. On my own list of stuff I actually enjoyed, Armageddon would be one of the last things I'd ever suggest to someone, but the movie is so brilliantly woven into its own... let's call it "simplicity"... that it honestly deserves to be called a good piece of work. Regardless, it sits right at the top of the disaster movie genre, whether people want to admit it or not.

Matthew Gomez5 said:Exactly what you mean, right? Like, is mining diamonds in Africa a good thing? Sure, for a jeweler in New York, it’s great, and since they’re happy, we just call it a win. I guess nobody really gives a damn about the poor souls actually digging those stones out of the dirt, right?

Navigating life based solely on your own narrow metrics is a massive mistake, mostly because it aligns perfectly with that "every man for himself" mentality. If something works for you personally, fine, that's your business, but if you start broadcasting your opinions publicly and using the logic that "it's good because it benefits me," then you just look ridiculous...

And here I was thinking my cynicism would come across clearly without needing a mountain of emojis.

I absolutely HATE the phrase "there's no accounting for taste."
If someone drops that line during an online debate about movies, they should automatically be branded a loser in the argument... Honestly, they should just be banned from the thread entirely. 😁

George Alvarez3 said:Because it’s a perfectly packaged movie that’s just going to be total garbage to those people who think their "understanding" of cinema means they've moved past basic storytelling—you know, the types who think a good film has to be some meta-intellectual puzzle, or just people who don't actually respect film as an art form. On my own list of stuff I actually enjoyed, Armageddon would be one of the last things I'd ever suggest to someone, but the movie is so brilliantly woven into its own... let's call it "simplicity"... that it honestly deserves to be called a good piece of work. Regardless, it sits right at the top of the disaster movie genre, whether people want to admit it or not.

The same logic applies to Pearl Harbor. It's so incredibly stupid that it circles back around to being good. I mean, you rarely see this level of pure pathos packed into a single film.

Like... nah, you've got it all wrong.

Is he average? Yeah.
Is he any good? I mean, sure.
But can he basically ruin almost every movie he touches? Oh, he can...

I’m not sure if it’s actually true, but I heard The Rock didn't even direct it, even though his name is right there at the top of the credits?
I guess you could call it his "best film" by default...

nimblemarlin6 said:And here I was thinking my cynicism would come across clearly without needing a mountain of emojis.

I absolutely HATE the phrase "there's no accounting for taste."
If someone drops that line during an online debate about movies, they should automatically be branded a loser in the argument... Honestly, they should just be banned from the thread entirely. 😁

my bad

nimblemarlin6 said:And here I was thinking my cynicism would come across clearly without needing a mountain of emojis.

I absolutely HATE the phrase "there's no accounting for taste."
If someone drops that line during an online debate about movies, they should automatically be branded a loser in the argument... Honestly, they should just be banned from the thread entirely. 😁

😂