Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2020 May 31

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May 31

Film characters whose names aren't mentioned

I watched the film Bumblebee in January last year. In the film, Bumblebee is being pursued by two Decepticons, Shatter and Dropkick. Only, no one ever says either of the names "Shatter" or "Dropkick" during the entire film.

How are we supposed to know the names of the characters even are Shatter and Dropkick? Especially, as this is a film based on a toyline, but neither Shatter or Dropkick ever appeared in the toyline, they were invented solely for the film. What's the purpose of giving them names in the first place? JIP | Talk 22:27, 31 May 2020 (UTC)

[WAG alert] There has to be some way to differentiate them in the script (Decepticons "1" and "2", for example, would be too easy to get mixed up), which may be where their names are specified. Clarityfiend (talk) 23:01, 31 May 2020 (UTC)

Nada needed a name for the credit roll. If these dudes are CGI, maybe not. Were they toys after debuting onscreen? InedibleHulk (talk) 23:07, 31 May 2020 (UTC)

Not that I know of. JIP | Talk 00:21, 1 June 2020 (UTC)

I see a Hasbro Dropkick figure on Amazon, $46.35 (and Shatter for $102.67!). Can't paste a link on this thing. Google it? InedibleHulk (talk) 01:30, 1 June 2020 (UTC)

Both of them have had about half a dozen toys since the movie came out. But, really, their names aren't mentioned in the movie because the names aren't really important. They're just two random Decepticon thugs. --Khajidha (talk) 14:58, 1 June 2020 (UTC)

Not important to the film plot, but quite important to the real plot. A hunk of junk without a trademark goes for like, $6.37, and anybody can sell them. But to name something is to wield the true Power of Grayskull. Like Dio™ says, "words have control" (even from beyond the grave, if peddling songs). Also helps collectors remember which hunks of junk they've already overspent on with a checklist. "Red and black Plymouth" probably describes a hundred "unique" Transformers. Also, nothing has ever been random, just happens for uncountable combinations of unfathomable reasons, so seems random to us foolish humans. InedibleHulk (talk) 22:00, 1 June 2020 (UTC)

And they were named in the toyline, so I'm not sure what your point is. --Khajidha (talk) 14:05, 2 June 2020 (UTC)

The toys are based on, introduced in and marketed through the movie. If they were each labeled vaguely as "new Hasbro Decepticon", generically as "poseable robot figure" or independently as "Javelin and Angela", all the tie-in potential would be lost. Kids (and manchildren) want the Dropkick and Shatter, not some "random" cashgrab knockoff. If the whole licensing symbiosis loses enough revenue, the toyline and "cinematic universe" end (sometimes rebootable, sometimes not). Names/brands/labels are important like that. InedibleHulk (talk) 20:37, 2 June 2020 (UTC)

The toy packaging has "Hasbro", "Decepticon", "Transformers", and the "Bumblebee" movie logo plastered all over it. These toys are quite visibly tied to the specific movie, so there is no confusion about them being "cashgrab knockoffs". --Khajidha (talk) 21:30, 2 June 2020 (UTC)

Yes, and also "Shatter" to distinguish from "Dropkick", because all trademarks matter in this system; if sold vaguely, generically or independently, the synergy wouldn't exist. InedibleHulk (talk) 21:58, 2 June 2020 (UTC)

Did they look alike? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 23:15, 31 May 2020 (UTC)

No, they looked completely different. JIP | Talk 00:21, 1 June 2020 (UTC)

I see - and either way, the credits don't help because you can't tell which is which? Kind of like with Heckle and Jeckle. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 01:25, 1 June 2020 (UTC)

The red one sounds like Angela Bassett, apparently. InedibleHulk (talk) 01:29, 1 June 2020 (UTC)

How are you supposed to know? Presumably you are supposed to have seen it mentioned in publicity (such as talk show appearances by the stars) or fan-written material or whatever. Or else you aren't supposed to know, and they don't care if you do. --76.71.5.208 (talk) 03:30, 1 June 2020 (UTC)

Aye, if you don't have $102.67 to burn on a cheap fragile piece of plastic which couldn't possibly have at least some sort of redeeming sentimental value yet, don't even bother flying out for the convention, much less staying for dinner, attending the gala or passing out backstage with Frank Langella, poser! InedibleHulk (talk) 06:28, 1 June 2020 (UTC)

Frank Langella is doing toy movies now? Eww wake me up in another 25 years 93.136.103.94 (talk) 22:35, 1 June 2020 (UTC)

Don't worry, it was 33 years ago (in real time) and he played Skeletor with far more maturity and humanity than he had any reasonable obligation to. It killed the movie studio that paid him, but it was worth it, see YouTube. Meg Foster nailed it with her "evil eyes", too! InedibleHulk (talk) 22:51, 1 June 2020 (UTC)

This Entertainment Weekly article, in an "exclusive reveal", identifies them by name and car model (Plymouth Satellite and AMC Javelin), and says Shatter "will be voiced by Angela Bassett." Clarityfiend (talk) 08:13, 1 June 2020 (UTC)

Whom Frank Langella hardliners might remember as Linda Thornton from Liberty and nothing else. Transformers fans might recognize that titular character as this bad boy. Bumblebee, Megatron and Optimus Prime once partied pretty hard on her, it seems. InedibleHulk (talk) 08:41, 1 June 2020 (UTC)

See also TV Tropes' "All There in the Script". ---Sluzzelin talk 11:44, 2 June 2020 (UTC)

If it's not in the film, it doesn't count, except maybe to the ardent fans. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 14:28, 2 June 2020 (UTC)

AKA the argent fans, the ones who care enough to "keep the lights on" for the tired poor casual couples who yearn for something to distract the kids for 114 minutes. The whole entertainment world is built on that lunatic "fringe". The huddled masses should salute such attentive dweebs, geeks and weirdos! InedibleHulk (talk) 20:58, 2 June 2020 (UTC)

Give those people a silver dollar each. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 23:07, 2 June 2020 (UTC)

Or, bread and circuses? 107.15.157.44 (talk) 05:42, 3 June 2020 (UTC)

No way, mac, that's accursed nerd bias in disguise! InedibleHulk (talk) 06:20, 3 June 2020 (UTC)