Jazz (Transformers) - Transformers

Transformers

Jazz appears in the 2007 Transformers live-action film directed by Michael Bay. When the movie producers unveiled the final list of Transformers characters appearing in the movie, Jazz was described as having a love of style, with a hip-hop personality. Jazz is a trickster who manipulates everyone including the Decepticon leader. Jazz first appears in the film arriving to Earth in his Protoform state, and searches for a suitable alternate mode to proceed unnoticed. Afterwards, using a fluid capoeira inspired style, he can be seen transforming using a windmill dance move in his first scene and dialogue, Optimus Prime describes him as his first lieutenant, as he was in the G1 animated series. Apparently, he assumed a new name upon arriving on Earth, different from his Cybertronian name, as according to Optimus Prime, his "designation" is Jazz, clearly a word originated in Earth, reflecting his appreciation of human culture from his Generation 1 incarnation.

Along with Optimus Prime, Jazz is the Autobot who retains most of his original Generation 1 design in the film, among his iconic features, his trademark "visor", which is retractable in the movie, as well as front-chassis chest and wheel wells in his feet. Also, his transformation to vehicle mode, although in the film his alternate mode is not a Porsche 935, a similar looking model was chosen, as Jazz's alternate mode in the film is a silver/gray customized hardtop Pontiac Solstice GXP, similar to the weekend racer concept car. Jazz's weapons include a shield and a shield-mounted machine gun. He also possesses a type of electro-magnet in his right arm, which he uses to disarm humans of their guns without causing them injury, curiously leaving jewellery and electronics unaffected. One weapon considered for Jazz was a plasma cannon that combined with his shield, shown in concept art by Hasbro at BotCon 2007.

Jazz is the smallest of the Autobots. Michael Bay stated in an early interview that Jazz stands 13 feet tall, however the scale of his Deluxe toy suggests he would stand closer to 15 feet tall. This is confirmed by his profile in the second issue of the Transformers U.K. Magazine, where it is stated he stands 15 feet 7 inches tall, weighs 1.8 tons and has a maximum speed of 400 miles per hour. The official guide to the Transformers video game also says he's 15 feet tall. Despite his small stature, Jazz was fearless, and would not hesitate to attack a much larger foe. Jazz engages Megatron, defying him to the end, but is overwhelmed by the Decepticon, and Jazz is caught in his grip, asking him whether he wanted a piece of him. Megatron responds "No, I want TWO!", ripping Jazz in half. The vehicles used for Bumblebee, Ironhide, Jazz and Ratchet were put on display by General Motors at the 2007 Detroit River Walk Festival a little over a week before the U.S. release of the film.