12.18.02
6:30 AM EST

The Bad Boys 2 trailer is up!

CLICK here to download the trailer!

Sorry about my French from yesterday, but this is what happens when you pay $$$ and you get this kind of service. Anyway, the boards are back up—without—the ads.

The company hosting the messageboard has fucked up big time. I apologize to all of you who have had to deal with those fucking annoying ads. Needless to say I'm fuckin' pissed.

I'll get the problem fixed ASAP. For now, I have turn off the link so you won't have to deal with those ads.

Pearl Harbor won as Oscar for best Best Sound Editing!

Congrats to George Watters II & Christopher Boyes, and of course, Michael Bay!

Got some news for you.

Michael told me he will most likely be narrowing it down to doing "Bad Boys 2" this summer and then quickly doing "I am Legend. "

He also has two more Mercedes Benz commercials coming. I'll keep you guys posted.

For those of you asking, Schwartzman shot the "Timeless" commercial.

Click on the link below to see Michael Bay's new Mercedes Benz commercial:

Mercedes Benz SL500 (Timesless) 15MB

New Line has picked up the rights to Michael Bay's remake of the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre."

Click to read the article here.

"Sony Pictures kicked off the last day of ShoWest with a bang Thursday with the announcement that stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence will reteam with producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Michael Bay for "Bad Boys 2."

Asked how it felt to be able to finally announce the long-anticipated sequel to the 1995 hit "Bad Boys," planned for a summer 2003 release, Columbia Pictures chairman Amy Pascal said: "It feels good. We're very, very excited."

Happy 37th birthday Michael!

I've sent Michael the e-mails you all sent. Thank you. He should be getting them today.

Here is an interesting article. Read about Michael venturig into the IMAX & Extreme Sports arena.

Bay Targets Extreme Sports with Giant-Screen Pic.

As some of you might know, February 17 is Michael's birthday. And as a custom in prior years, you can send Michael a little e-mail wishing him Happy Birthday. I usually print these emails and send them to him. Click here to find out when the deadline is and to fill out the b-day form.

And yes, he does read them.

In other news, Michael is will only produce the remake of the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." He will do "Pain & Gain" next year. He's involved in the writing of "Bad Boys 2." And he might do a movie with Will Smith before "Bad Boys 2" gets done (I Am Legend).

'Pain' Is Michael Bay's Gain
By Michael Fleming

By Michael Fleming

NEW YORK (Variety) - ``Pearl Harbor'' director Michael Bay is pumped to shoot ``Pain and Gain,'' a dark film about steroid-abusing bodybuilders who engage in a campaign of kidnapping, extortion and murder in Florida.

The project will mark Bay's first for Paramount Pictures, which optioned a series of investigative articles written by Pete Collins for the Miami New Times about the Sun Gym gang. Much as they used steroids as a shortcut to rippling pecs and six-pack abs, the gang used crime as a shortcut to the high life of fast cars, flashy clothes and strippers.

``I had been looking for a movie with the tone of 'Fargo' for a long time, and even though this is violent, this story has that potential,'' said Bay, who also wanted to make a film with a modest budget after directing only expensive action films, such as ``The Rock'' and ``Armageddon.''

``These guys are knuckleheads who get away with doing very bad things and committing very violent acts. They were greed-obsessed muscleheads who could never be happy with what they had, always wanting more,'' Bay added.

The gang ringleaders seem a mix between the ``Fargo'' characters and ``Saturday Night Live'' duo Hans and Franz. The Sun Gym gang got away with increasingly bolder crimes, even though they were bumblers who left a trail like a caterpillar. The gang finally got caught after murdering a couple, only to discover they hadn't properly fleeced their assets and murdered them for nothing.

Bay will likely direct a film before ``Pain and Gain. Possibilities include a ``Bad Boys'' sequel and the Warner Bros. project ``I Am Legend,'' starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Bay will produce ``Pain and Gain'' with former Disney exec Donald De Line, who has a first-look deal at Paramount.

PEARL HARBOR Vid & DVD
Hit Big Millions sold on debut day.

The DVD and VHS releases of Michael Bay's PEARL HARBOR have hit big in stores. In its first day of release, combined sales for DVD and VHS were over 3 million units. In addition, the first day of DVD sales broke Buena Vista Home Entertainment's house record recently set by SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS. Industry sources say the disc sold in excess of 1.5M. Going into the weekend, sales are expected to stay steady.

I just finished watching the "Pearl Harbor" DVDs. Real cool stuff. Awesome sound and transfer! I'll post reviews later. Click below to buy them.

Pearl Harbor DVD Gift Set (Feature Film/ Beyond The Movie)	60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

In the news, Michael Bay sued his former stockbroker Tuesday, saying the man made a sneak attack on his portfolio, defrauding the disaster filmmaker of $5 million. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, alleges Win H. Troung, a former employee of Merrill Lynch brokerage firm in Beverly Hills, engaged in excessive trading and defrauded Bay by buying and selling more than $1 billion worth of stock over a 15-month period. Read the complete article below.

''Pearl Harbor'' director sues former stockbroker

AICN has reportedly said that Michael will direct "I Am Legend." At this point, nothing is set. Michael might or might not direct the Richard Matheson novel. I'll keep you guys posted.

Got this article of the LA Times. Great article. It gives you a glimpse into the coming director's commentary for Pearl Harbor.

The Art of DVD Talk Movies

So you ask: where is the new f*cking website!?

And I say: "it's on it's way!" Anyway, the new website is on it's way. I've decided to keep this one until the new one is totally ready. One day you'll wake up and you'll see the new one.

We have a lot of good stuff that's going to be happening around here. Among them:

-Michael will be joining us for chats. He will also be posting on the messageboards.

-We will be auction autographed Pearl Harbor DVDs before 12-04-01. Proceeds will go to charity.

So keep your eyes open. Here are some news I got about Michael's "Platinum Dunes."

Field backs Bay to go Platinum on low budgets

Nov. 09, 2001

Filmmaker Michael Bay has branched out to create a low-budget genre film division titled Platinum Dunes, which will be financed by Ted Field's Radar Pictures. The company, named after Bay's first student film, will be run by producers Brad Fuller and Andrew Form. It aims to produce films in the $5 million-$12 million range and is eyeing projects with plans to be in production on its inaugural feature within the next six months. Platinum's offices are housed temporarily at Radar's offices in Westwood. Bay said that his company met with numerous potential investors during the past six months before narrowing it down to a small group of candidates. "Ted was insistent on us doing a deal," Bay told The Hollywood Reporter. "I met him through dinner parties, and I like the way his mind works. He's smart, he's politically active, he works very hard -- and I respect that. I also consider him a friend, and I love doing business with friends." Fuller and Form also are longtime friends of Bay. Platinum marks a change of pace for Bay, who built a name for himself as a big-budget film director on such projects as "Bad Boys," "The Rock," "Armageddon" and the recent "Pearl Harbor." "Since 'Pearl Harbor,' I've decided to change things up," Bay said. "I've started a commercial division this past summer called -- and we're making fun of ourselves with the name -- the Institute for Development of the Advanced Perceptual Awareness. I'm 37 years old, and it's time to not just be the guy who does huge movies. I want to branch out, expand, and with this low-budget division, be instrumental in the careers of younger directors."

Our prayers are with all those families that lost their loved ones today in New York City, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania.

-Nelson E. Argueta
Designer & maintainer

*Sigh*

Take a look at "Pearl Harbor" DVD packaging. I think I will be buying all three sets. [ Thanks to AJ on the message boards. ]

60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition	VISTA Series: Director's Cut

PEARL HARBOR TOP GROSSING FILM WORLDWIDE

By having taken in a total of $430 million in ticket sales worldwide, Pearl Harbor has now become the top-grossing film of the year, Disney announced Tuesday. (The studio's effort to push the film past the $200-million mark domestically by widening its release last weekend brought another $867,300 into the coffers, pushing the gross-to-date to $196.7 million.)

I hope you guys had a good weekend.

You can see Michael's new commercial! It's the latest Pepsi ONE commercial, starring Kim Cattrall. Click below to view it.

Window Media [ 56k | 100k ]

RealAudio [ 56k | 100k ]

Disney will be re-releasing the pg-13 version of "Pearl Harbor" on about 500 theater this Labor Day weekend.

Click here to read the full article.

I am pleased to announce that michaelbay.com will have an online radio station.

Now you can listen to different channels of music we will be having while you browse the site or surf through the internet.

We will be offereing the following channels:

1.- Rock (mostly 80's metal and some 90s)

2.- Techno/Trance

3.- 80's Pop

4.- Movie Sountracks & Scores.

The station will start broadcasting on September 14, 2001.

You will need Winamp installed if you want to listen to the broadcast. If you have a Mac, you need to have MacAmp installed.

This has nothing to do with the usual content of this site, but R&B; singer and actress Aaliyah died after a small plane that was to carry her and eight others back to the United States crashed after takeoff in the Bahamas, authorities said.

Aaliyah, who co-starred with martial artist Jet Li in the 2000 action flick "Romeo Must Die," plays the title role in the film adaptation of the Anne Rice novel "Queen of the Damned" and was cast in "The Matrix 2," both due in 2002.

Rest in peace girl.

I've setup an online petition for the theatrical release of Michael Bay's rated-R version of Pearl Harbor.

Honestly guys, please sign this petition, 'cause I won't send unless we get 1,000+ signatures. So get your families, girl/boyfriends, friends, and their friends to sign it.

Click here to sign the petition.

You can read an article on Michael found in the August 2001 issue of the DGA Magazine.

For those of you that have asked about Michael's Black & Decker commercial, well, he speaks about it for the first time in print. Click below to read it. [ Thanks to Susan B. for the heads up]

DGA August 2001: An in-depth discussion with the director about his feature Pearl Harbor.

Lots of you have been asking me about the intricate details for the "Pearl Harbor" DVD sets coming out in December and January. Click below to read the official Buena Vista Entertainment press release.

"Pearl Harbor" DVD Official Press Release

Pearl Harbor DVD Details

60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition	VISTA Series: Director's Cut

Bummer, get ready to empty your pockets. I guess I will be purchasing all THREE sets...read on.

Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer's PEARL HARBOR will be hitting store shelves three days before the 60th anniversary of the earth shaking event the film was based on.

On December 4th, the film will be available initially in two different packs: the 60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition on both VHS and DVD as well as a 60th Anniversary Commemorative Gift Set in both formats.

In addition, January 15, 2002 will set the film released again as a Vista Series Three-Disc DVD With Director's Cut.

Here are the details of each package:

60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

The two tape VHS set includes a dynamic bonus documentary on the real attack on Pearl Harbor and that fateful day's unsung heroes, as well as the Faith Hill music video "There You'll Be."

The two-disc DVD includes all VHS features as well as an introduction by Director Michael Bay, a documentary on the real life Pearl Harbor veterans and their return to the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial for the film's premiere, and insightful interviews with the cast. PEARL HARBOR on DVD is presented in DTS(R) and Dolby(R) Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with THX(R) Certification, in a widescreen (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation that captures the sweep and drama of this important epic.

The VHS two-tape set will sell for $24.99 (S.R.P.) with the DVD set going for $29.99 (S.R.P.).

The 60th Anniversary Commemorative Gift Set

Each set (either DVD or VHS) contains all the features of the 60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition, plus the fascinating companion movie, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BEYOND THE MOVIE: PEARL HARBOR. The documentary, this fascinating movie brings script, characters and footage from PEARL HARBOR together with a look at the real events, stories, heroes and places of Pearl Harbor.

Also included is National Geographic's 60th Anniversary Commemorative map: one side of the map provides a detailed overview of what happened at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The other side of the map is an authentic replica of a world map from this time period, displaying political boundaries.

The VHS gift set will sell for $39.99 (S.R.P.) with the DVD gift set priced at $49.99.

VISTA Series: Director's Cut

PEARL HARBOR will be available as a three-disc VISTA (Vision, Imagination, Style, Theme, Artistry) series DVD, presenting the director's cut of the film, which differs from what was presented in theaters, and all the special programs, documentaries and featurettes from the 60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition.

In addition, the VISTA DVD offers filmmaker audio commentaries and "making of" featurettes that bring the viewer behind-the-scenes and into the filmmaking process. The creation of the incredible battle scenes in the movie are covered, from the on-set pyrotechnics to the computer-animated wizardry that brought these gripping scenes to life.

The Vista DVD will be priced at $39.99 (S.R.P.).

The Pearl Harbor DVD will be out on January 15, 2002. And it will be a DIRECTOR'S CUT. USAToday reports the following:

"When a DVD of the director's cut of the successful yet critically bombarded war epic Pearl Harbor reaches store shelves on Jan. 15, perhaps it should be retitled "Michael Bay's Retribution." An R-rated version of the story behind the Japanese air attack that launched U.S. involvement in World War II will be contained in a deluxe three-DVD set ($39.99). It's the one Bay wishes could have played in theaters. When Harbor opened in May, he expressed regret that the horrors were muffled by a mandated PG-13, the family-friendly rating required by his agreement with Disney. He said then, 'I would have liked to have made this movie more violent.'"

Read the whole article here.

Spoke to Michael today.

I asked him if he had anything in the works and he said he is still looking at stuff and hasn't commited to anything. He is still with CAA. And for all of those of you that ask "does he read the message boards," the answer is: yes.

Hey guys. Not much news on Michael these days. He is taking some time off (who wouldn't after working on Pearl Harbor?). As some of you know, Michael has made a coupe of commercials for Victoria's Secret and Pepsi. They be around soon.

For now, here is an interesting article about Michael and his movies. Believe it or not, it's titled "Bay Watch" (yes, it's the third article that has that header). This journalist seems to like Michael's movies.

Click here to read it. Thanks to Susan K. for the heads up.

Hi guys & gals. Sorry for the lack of updates, but I've been busy this summer.

I'll start off with the Japan's reaction of Pearl Harbor. Although I've received a couple of FUs in Japanese, the majority of people have liked it.

-Read this article of Japan's reaction here. (Thanks to Adam Lloyd for the heads-up)

-I'm almost done transcribing a lengthy article that appeared in July's Esquire Magazine. It interviews Michael, and tells a lot of good stuff. I'll post it as soon as I'm done.

Ok, I'm back from vacation. Montreal was good.

Below you can see pictures of Michael at the Pearl Harbor premiere at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. Click on the pic below to see the gallery.

I will be taking some time off in Canada. So I won't be updating michaelbay.com often for the next couple of weeks. If anything happens, I will post it on the message board.

Want to read a good article on Michael Bay. Want to know what he did with his bar-mitzvah money? Or the only two traumas stick out in his mind? Or at what age he lost his virginity? Click below to read the article featured in Rollingstone.com.

Michael Bay: Daredevil Ace

So Bay fans in Europe, don't blink. Anyone sees anything (pictures or articles) or records something on TV, email me at nelson@michaelbay.com

A Michael Bay film.

Those words have a entire new meaning. Click below to see what I thought of Pearl Harbor.

My Thoughts on 'Pearl Harbor.'

May 25, 2001.

Memorial Day.

As we hit the lakes, rivers and backyard spas this weekend, don't forget to remember those, their families, who fought and died to give us the freedom we enjoy.

Take a minute to drop a line to a friend, family member, or acquaintance who has chosen to defend our nation at home and abroad. Pick up a tab, send over a round of drinks, or just go a few steps out of your way to shake the hand of a serviceman in uniform. It will make your weekend more enjoyable.

Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.
           -Troy W. Vincent
            American

...

It's finally here. I've been waiting for this film since the summer of 1999. Pearl Harbor opens today nationwide.

I will post my initial reaction tonight. I will post a small review tomorrow.

For now, enjoy the Michael Bay experience.

Garth Franklin had a small interview with Michael at the premeire of Pearl Harbor. In it he speaks about studio interference, tales from survivors, what was cut & added to the final version, how he prepared for the job, and those pesky "Phone Booth" and "Red Dragon" stories. Click below to read the interview.

Director Michael Bay Talks "Pearl Harbor" By Garth Franklin.

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Click here to read a spoiler-free review of "Pearl Harbor" by Nate. Very good and objective.

Watch Michael Bay's new music video featuring Faith Hill by clicking here.

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Click below to see the coverage for the Pearl Harbor premiere.

WMP [ Hi | Med | Lo ]

QuickTime [ Hi | Med | Lo ]

RealAudio [ Hi | Med | Lo ]

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Click below to see the "Making of Pearl Harbor."

WMP [ Hi | Med | Lo ]

QuickTime [ Hi | Med | Lo ]

RealAudio [ Hi | Med | Lo ]

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Read the article from the May 2001 issue of Premeire.

In Love And War

Here is another personal & introspective article about Michael Bay. This article featured in the NY Times is the 10th in a series of discussions with noted directors, actors, screenwriters, cinematographers and others in the film industry.

Watching Movies With Michael Bay

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The Pearl Harbor Soundtrack is out. Gotta tell you, tracks "December 7th" & "War" are very amazing, and they are my favorites. Buy it amazon by clicking the picture above.

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I've added more premeire pictures. Click here to view them.

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Read an article about the premiere done by the Hollywood Reporter here.

Read about the events that took place at the Pearl Harbor premiere.

Pearl Harbor Survivors Steal Show at Film Premiere

'Pearl Harbor' Unites Stars, History

View some pictures of Michael at the premiere by clicking here (including one with his girlfriend Lisa Dergan ).

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View some exclusive clips (courtesy of ABC) of Pearl Harbor. In them you can catch a scene with Ben Affleck and Alec Baldwin (you can also see Michael's dog Mason on a couple of shots).

Doolittle & Rafe ( Hi | Low | RealAudio)

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Download some cool Japanese "Pearl Harbor" wallpapers like the one below.

Josh Hartnett ( 800x600 | 1024x768 )

Ben Affleck ( 800x600 | 1024x768 )

Kate Beckinsale ( 800x600 | 1024x768 )

Ben & Kate ( 800x600 | 1024x768 )

Panoramic ( 800x600 | 1024x768 )

You have to read this article. I must say it is one of the best articles I've ever read about Michael. It appeared in the Sunday edition of the LA Times.

Marshaling All of His Forces


There are also two articles that appeared in the Orange County Register. You can read the articles by clicking below.

Fighting the good fight

Love story with a battle plan

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You can view some pictures of Michael & the cast of "Pearl Harbor" aboard the USS Stennis by clicking here.

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You can catch Michael's new music video for "Pearl Harbor" featuring faith Hill:

VH1
Show: Video Premiere
Date: Tuesday - May 22, 2001 Time: 07:00 pm - 07:05 pm ET

MTV
Show: Total Request Live (TRL)
Date: Thursday - May 24, 2001 Time: 04:00 pm - 05:00 pm ET CMT

I don't have a specific time for the CMT debut, but CMT has been debuting all of its major new videos during Request Line, so I suspect it will debut on Tuesday's show. Request Line is on at 8:00 pm ET.

...

You can also read an article featured in Yahoo.com:

'Pearl Harbor' May Be Big in Japan

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You can view clips containing interviews with Michael Bay, Jerry Bruckheimer and others by clicking on the following links (thanks to Kevin Hicks for the heads-up on that real cool footage):

Pearl Harbor: Back to Pearl Harbor (quicktime)

Pearl Harbor: The Event

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Click here to view a "behind the scenes" for the music video for Pearl Harbor directed by Michael Bay.

'Pearl Harbor' Hits Home for Navy Sailors

HONOLULU (Reuters) - It may be only a movie, but for sailors in the modern-day U.S. Navy at a preview screening late on Thursday, "Pearl Harbor'' really hit home. "Those were our shipmates who died,'' said Draftsman Second Class Robert Smith, after gently patting his crisp white uniform just over his heart.

You can read the complete article by clicking here.

Well... there are some rumors going around that Michael might direct "Red Dragon," which is the third installment to the Hannibal Lecter trilogy.

Turns out that indeed Michael Bay has taken a meeting and read the script for Ted Tally's RED DRAGON. However, no negotiations are going on between Dino DeLaurentis and Michael because as of yet, Michael has not decided if he wants to do this film. Michael has GORY DETAILS and that King Arthur project on his plate at the moment, and might want to do those first, which would mean passing on RED DRAGON... but as of yet he hasn't decided. (Courtesy of AICN)

I asked Michael about the falling bomb shot (whether it was all CGI or a composite, and man, are we in for a ride), and this is what he had to say:

Michael: Let me say that we have about 30 of those shots. There is stuff no one has seen on any trailer or any commercial. That shot...it's great, but we have ones that are much better. And yes, it was shot from a helicopter at different altitudes We melded the film together, and those were digital battleships.

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Chat for a special video interview and live chat with Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay. Watch the live webcast from the deck of the USS Stennis and then stick around as Jerry and Michael answer your questions about this summer's biggest blockbuster!

Click here to access the chat!

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The press junket for "Pearl Harbor" took place in Honolulu over the weekend, with the cast and crew, including Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Kate Beckinsdale, Jon Voight, Michael Bay, and Jerry Bruckheimer in attendance, to talk about next week's release of the anticipated "Pearl Harbor" film. These audio clips are in MP3 format.

Ben Affleck on Filming 'Pearl Harbor'
Ben Affleck on Doing His Stunt Work
Alec Baldwin on the Importance of 'Pearl Harbor' Today
Josh Hartnett on the Scale of the Movie
Kate Beckinsdale on Michael Bay
Jon Voight on the Film's Accuracy
Director Michael Bay on the Honor of Making 'Pearl Harbor'
Jerry Bruckhemier on the Reality of Pearl Harbor
Jerry Bruckheimer on the Survivors of Pearl Harbor

(Courtesy of Cinecon.com)

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Here is a THE high resolution trailer from Pearl Harbor. This is the 2nd trailer without the Zimmer music.

Pearl Harbor 2nd Trailer

You can read an interview with Michael that appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle. Click here to read it.

You can read the lyrics for Faith Hill's song for Pearl Harbor "There You'll Be" by clicking here.

You can listen to a 1:20min mp3 of the song by clicking below.

There You'll Be (1.3Mbs Mp3)

Got the following from PearlHarborfilm.com:

"Some fans are claiming that the Pearl Harbor love song, sang by Faith Hill, has been released in the Los Angeles radio station, KIIS FM. Furthurmore, it has been reported that the song has "made the entire radio studio cry" after listening. Other reports are that the song is "extremely moving and emotional". Also, you can catch the Michael Bay directed Faith Hill video a week from this Sunday on MTV!!"

Also, you can view the 3rd TV spot by clicking here (Thanks to the AICN crew).

You can read this Newsweek article entitled "The Road to Pearl Harbor." Click here.