The Transformers is a strange movie. By any normal standards it should be a mess, but it has a lot of things going for it–not least of which is its awesome depiction of military hardware. The movie includes a bunch of cheesecake shots of the F-22, a satisfying exhibition of the A-10’s 30mm cannon (tearing up a scorpion-like Decepticon), and a Holy Toledo! money shot of the AC-130 Spectre Gunship in action. Now comes an interesting story about the defense industry’s mixed emotions on appearing in the movie–because while some U.S. weapons systems are used for good by the Army and Air Force, others are harnessed in the service of evil. For example, the F-22 is used by the Air Force, but evil Decepticon Starscream also morphs into one, because he has “delusions of grandeur” and the F-22 is the “pinnacle of human technical achievement” says the movie’s website. Another Decepticon turns into a Sikorsky Pave Low helicopter, and a third baddie transforms into a Buffalo MRAP (made by Force Protection). How did these companies come to terms with the movie’s producers?
Wired has another tidbit on how the cooperation between the military and director Michael Bay happened:
The Transformers trailer gives a glimpse of some of the hardware on display in the movie.
