Why Does Everyone Hate Michael Bay?
Is it illegal to make films that entertain and excite the masses? Is it a crime to literally give people more “bang” for their buck when sitting in a theater? If the answer is no, why do so many people have a problem with the film-making style of director/producer Michael Bay? For years critics have been dumping on Bay because of his desire to produce big budget films. Explosions and car chases have become his signature, and are easily identifiable by any steady movie goer. Granted he may never direct a film along the lines of Schindler’s List or The English Patient, but then again I wouldn’t want him to. Bay has his own visionary style that was unprecedented until he hit the scene in the mid-nineties with his feature film debut, Bad Boys. For the most part Bay has churned out some pretty entertaining films, so whats with the hard feelings? Why does everyone hate Michael Bay?
I recently came across an article on Cinematical where the author pretty much bashed Michael Bay every other line. He asked the question, “is there room for Michael Bay in the age of Chris Nolan?” My first thought was, what does one have to do with the other? These are two totally different directors, with very different film aesthetics. What’s with the random vendetta? It turns out, Bay made a few statements about his approach to making movies, and it rubbed the writer the wrong way.
It seems that every interview with the man contains a response to his naysayers to the tune of: “I don’t see anything wrong with spending a lot of money to make big action movies to entertain people. Yet somehow, I come under special scrutiny. I mean, why don’t people get upset if Dow spends $300 million to invent some new chemical? Audiences like popcorn movies. What’s wrong with that?” and “What we do is not brain surgery. We are entertainers, plain and simple, and we’re responsible to bring that money back, to make a profit.”
I will admit the Dow comparison was a bit extreme, but for the most part is he wrong? Hollywood is full of actors, musicians, directors, and writers who all want to be creative and make a living off their craft. If the entertainment industry wasn’t a multi-billion dollar business it wouldn’t be so hard to break into. What’s so bad about making “popcorn flicks?” Film’s were created to entertain, so whats wrong with making movies that do? I enjoy a variety of films, no matter the genre or director. I can watch anything from a Busby Berkley musical, to a Hitchcock thriller, to a Judd Apatow comedy. There are bad movies made in every genre for every price. Just give me something that can captivate and hold my attention.
Another issue I had with the article was it’s comparison of Bay to Sam Raimi and Stephen Sommers. Again, totally different directors with different aesthetics.
Google Sam Raimi, and you’ll get quotes about the power of great stories, and his love for his source material. Even Stephen Sommers, who has certainly made some reviled films, talks about his enthusiasm and inspiration; you can sense he’s trying. From Bay, you get: “I’m an entertainer — don’t hold me to any standard.”
Really? Stephen Sommers? I liked the Mummy movies like everybody else, but your going to have to do better than that. Did he see the same trailer for G.I. Joe I did during the Super Bowl? I know I’m not the only one who noticed the Transformer-esque elements in that TV spot. As for Raimi, my fellow Michigan native, I love the guy. Army of Darkness is one of my favorite movies and of course I loved his work on Spiderman (with that being said, I mean films I mean one and two). The quote about Raimi’s love of “source material” may be a bit premature. Let’s not act as if those films stuck to the Marvel comic like glue. I personally wouldn’t expect them too since comic book films unfortunately always lose a little something when transferred to the silver screen.
Michael Bay is Michael Bay, he’s no Sommers, Raimi, or Nolan. He sticks to what he does best, and that’s blowing stuff up. You don’t walk into one of his movies for a thought provoking message, you go for the adrenaline rush.
I’m not writing this article as a campaign for you to become the biggest Bay fan, or to run out and buy all his movies. I’m just stating a point. Bay is good at directing summer blockbusters. He says his goal is to entertain and make a profit, and that is exactly what he does. No false pretenses. He doesn’t think he’s making art, he knows what he’s making and he’s good at it. Once again, isn’t that what everyone in Hollywood is trying to do on one level or another? They may not all be as vocal about it, but it’s true. Everyone wants to do the thing they love and do it well. And as an audience member, when I spend my money for a Bay film, he delivers what he promises everytime. It doesn’t matter if the story’s mediocre, or the acting is so-so, I know I won’t leave my seat without seeing a fire-lit car roll over 5 times, while a helicopter spews out a round of bullets in slow motion. Bay sticks to his guns (literally), and for the most part makes enjoyable, fun films. So again I ask the question…..
Why does everyone hate Michael Bay?
If you want to see Bay at his best, check out the video below. His work speaks for itself.
Friday, February 6, 2009 2:52AM
Nice post. The man makes movies for movie whores and I should know.
Friday, February 6, 2009 1:35PM
If anything, my one big complaint about Michael Bay is that he LOVES the camera flail. I kinda like seeing what's going on in a movie rather than getting a headache from the camera being thrown around.
That said, I've enjoyed most of his movies.
Friday, February 6, 2009 10:08PM
You are both idiots
Friday, February 6, 2009 10:38PM
I like Michael Bay too! People seriously need to lighten up, and just take his movies for what they are. Everyone claims to hate him, yet the majority of his movies still do good at the box office. How is that possible? Maybe cuz its popular to hate him in public, but love him in a dark movie theater.
Saturday, February 7, 2009 1:06AM
I love Michael Bay. He's fantastic at what he does.
Saturday, February 7, 2009 8:58AM
[...] Did he see the same trailer for G.I. Joe I did during the Super Bowl ? I know I’m not the only one who noticed the Transformer-esque elements in that TV spot. As for Raimi, my fellow Michigan native, I love the guy. …Next Page [...]
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 5:29PM
People don't hate Michael Bay because he makes profitable films. They hate him because he makes terrible films. "Pearl Harbor" sucked. "The Island" (ripped of directly from an MST3K special, BTW) sucked. When you get past the glitz of the CGI, "Transformers" sucked. Now, I'm the first to admit that I love "Armageddon," despite the fact that deep down I know it sucks, so I'm willing to give people their guilty pleasures.
It is possible to make big, beautiful, popcorn spectacles that are actually good movies. Look at "Spiderman," "Spiderman 2," the new Batman franchise, particularly "The Dark Knight," etc. You don't have to make crap FULL of product placements (i.e. "The Island"), plastic people, (Megan Fox's character in "Transformers"), and ham-fisted scripts (all of them, but especially "Pearl Harbor"). People hate Michael Bay because he has no artistic integrity. He's like the guy who splashes a gallon of Glidden on a wall and wants to have his "painting" hung up next to a Jackson Pollock. he might protest that he isn't an artist, but he's getting paid on the same scale as the artists, not on the scale of the set designer.
Friday, February 13, 2009 7:02PM
[...] Why Does Everyone Hate Michael Bay? [...]
Sunday, February 22, 2009 10:38PM
That's what I was looking for when I typed in "Why does everyone hate Michael Bay".
Good to see that the world isn't full of haters.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 3:20PM
as published after transformers 1 michael bay IS the cinematic antichrist
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 9:53AM
[...] being an over-hyped and over-paid director. I actually wrote an article examining this entitled, “Why Does Everyone Hate Michael Bay?” After watching Transformers ROTF, paired with my past viewing experience of Pearl Harbor I [...]
Thursday, July 2, 2009 12:26AM
The only Michael Bay film i did not enjoy is Pearl Harbor. One movie out of so many cannot be cause for people to hate him.
I think he is a fantastic director…
ROTF was awesome too!
Thursday, July 2, 2009 3:21AM
I agree. I like movies with a unique and interesting story, but sometimes I just like "popcorn movies". And if I want to see a movie like that, I'll watch Transformers or The Island. Because they are entertaining and I enjoy the action and the effects. He can make good popcorn movies, apart from other film-makers. At least he is good at making entertaining movies – I've seen so many movies that aren't. So many bad movies (mostly horror) that try to copy the better ones. His inspiration seems to be to entertain and surprise people with action and effects – some others are inspired to make people feel compassion with touching and sad stories, some are inspired to shock people with horror and blood, some inspired to make people think and try to solve mysteries… It's just what makes him feel passionated, I think, and passion is good. As long as people have passion when they do something, it doesn't matter so much if it's not exactly what you wanted – because it wouldn't be worth anything if someone did something without passion just because other people weren't satisfied. Some movies I like, some I dislike, but the only thing I really dislike (and think is really bad) is when a movie is a cheap copy of another better movie because of lack of creativity and true inspiration. But I never felt that with Micheal Bay. I think his movies are surprising and exciting. But I don't know how much he's copied – I only saw someone write that The Island was copied from MST3K.
Friday, July 17, 2009 6:03PM
you are right,, he always delivers what he promises, actually that is the best thing in a person. thats y i love michael bay. generally i prefer drama come action movies like The Dark Knight, but this feeling was different for bay movies, he always delivers what i expect. i watched Transformers 2, 6 times till and counting on…because i like that stuff. i also seen dark knight 10+ times. i don't compare both movie,because one is thrilling and another is exciting. So i liked both movies.
Love you michael bay.
Saturday, July 18, 2009 10:52AM
I love films with plot and acting. But Sometimes I just wanna watch a movie with giant robots blowing each other up.
People bring up Batman. Whats the difference, a dude running around in a Bat suit and a machine that can hear voices from cellphones and remote controlled cars, right? Yeah thats overflowing with character development.
The original transformers cartoons was hammy as hell, what do you expect, Shakespeare ? You go into the movie knowing its action, any real man with a Pair will love it. Stop being Pansies
I could care less about Sam Raimi and his dumbass spiderman movies, they suck as does every other Comic book film, but I hate comic books anyway so Im biased.
Real Men(young) like to see Guns shooting and Babes running half naked. All you other dudes go watch Macbeth or Benjamin Button if you want freaking acting.
Saturday, July 18, 2009 10:56AM
I love films with plot and acting. But Sometimes I just wanna watch a movie with giant robots blowing each other up.
People bring up Batman. Whats the difference, a dude running around in a Bat suit and a machine that can hear voices from cellphones and remote controlled cars, right? Yeah thats overflowing with character development.
The original transformers cartoons was hammy as hell, what do you expect, Shakespeare ? You go into the movie knowing its action, any real man with a Pair will love it. Stop being Pansies
Saturday, October 24, 2009 8:32PM
wow…
yeah the scene with the mom eating the pot brownie was a cinematic masterpiece.