Film director reminds us to edit our e-mails

Courtesy of Michael Bay, director of such percussive films as "Bad Boys," "The Rock," and "Transformers," comes the latest reminder to read over e-mails before hitting send.

Apparently Bay was disappointed with the way his latest film, "Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen," was being marketed, so he sent a nasty note to Paramount Pictures bosses. Someone leaked the e-mail to gossip hub TMZ and Bay's image has now taken some dings.

First, for a maker of macho-man movies, Bay sounds a tad whiny. Then, there's the problem with the way he writes. One critic at New York magazine called Bay's note "grammatically horrifying."

Here's a sample: (For extra credit, feel free to correct the sentences in the comments section.)

• "I'm sure the Yahoo downloads of the trailer are far lower than last movie--I would of got something saying how we broke download records like last time."

• "I still run into so many people even this weekend with kids that ask 'is that movie coming out this year?'"

• "So far our print has been in my opinion and abject failure."

Bay is a college graduate (Wesleyan University), according to his Wikipedia page. His father was an accountant and his mother, ironically, was a book store owner.

I, for one, have left a modifier or two dangling. Who hasn't? But while Bay makes truckloads of cash as a filmmaker, he obviously needs help bumping words together.

No problem. If Bay is like most of Hollywood's elite, he has his own cook, fitness trainer, publicist, and stylist. Why not add a copy editor to the mix?

[rrod182]

He's a hack and all of his films recycle exactly the same techniques, over and over. Lack of intelligence is of no surprise.

[Raabscuttle]

Kind of like any book from Nicholas Sparks

[Chapmaniac]

We can all overlook the occasional grammatical error but there are some entries (in comments and by Cnet's own writers) that make me cringe. How many times have I seen "their, there or they're" used incorrectly? It's really not that hard once you take the time to understand their simple rules. How many times have I seen "definitely" spelled "definately" and by more than one person commenting throughout the thread? It really does taint the effectiveness of your statement when your written argument reveals that you actually aren't smarter than a fifth grade student.

[C0mmanderB0nd]

Maybe is his films go downhill he can get a job as a writer here......

Sure he would have to improve his grammer/writing a bit but he would only have to be solid for a paragraph or whatever passes for an "article" on this site.

Or maybe he was just ranting in an email after a few drinks with Hollywood friends who made fun of his lack of publicity for a movie that starts this week so he pulls out his blackberry/iphone/whatever mobile device he has, types up thoughts and fired it off not intending it for to be disected by the grammar nazis.

It's the dumbing down of culture, mind numbed txting bleeds over to emails, soaking into articles and infecting the interwebzzz.

[nixermac]

the mail is not horribly wrong. I have seen worse and from people who are not whining or drunk or using Blackberry, iPhone, G1 etc. They use good tools that check grammar and also has spell-checker. But what does a tool do when you write "I will seat with you and resolve the i sues" ?

[Thad Boyd]

"His father was an accountant and his mother, ironically, was a book store owner."

In what way is that ironic? Are you suggesting it's ironic that a bookstore owner's son would have lousy grammar, or that he would make popcorn entertainment widely enjoyed by the sort of people who don't read books? Because I can see some irony in the latter, but to call the former "ironic" is a bit of a stretch.

[Heebee Jeebies]

On the other hand and unlike some writers for cnet and those that passed this along thinking it was news Mr. Bay has far more important things to do than to waste time fussing over a note sent to people who probably aren't going to give a rats rear anyways.

If anything we can thank the internet for the decline in good writing, spelling and grammer. LOL! :) ;) 8^) with all of this cr@p you would think everyone were three year olds now. What does the iPhone come with an IQ sucking application now? LOL ROTFL!!!!!!!

Oh, and yes this note has issues. I did it on purpose. I want to fit in with all of the other people who's IQ are dropping sharply.

God, what passes for news on this cnet is a joke.

[Dalkorian]

Did you read the email? I did. Now I'm far from someone who claims he's perfect, I make many mistakes myself, but come on. This email was the ultimate Wesleyan University fail! He writes like a whiney 6th grader on drugs. Of course that shouldn't be a surprise after seeing the drivel he calls a blockbuster movie. The first Transformers movie was the most pathetic 2 hour General Motors commercial I have ever seen and I honestly couldn't care less about this self absorbed sequel to that pathetic drivel.

Maybe that's why he's crying so much, he realizes he sucks and won't be remembered in 10 years.

[Heebee Jeebies]

And apparently knowing that your don't like this man or who movies you watched it. I am not sure what that says about your but I don't think it means your a brain trust.

[thisnamestoolong]

Yeah I think the bigger news story is that there are still people stupid enough to actually be able to sit through a Michael Bay film without vomiting. I mean, seriously, Transformers? Did anybody actually enjoy that turd? The word 'hack' doesn't even begin to describe Michael Bay. Why are you idiots still watching this drivel?! Stop it now and maybe Hollywood will come out with something that is actually watchable!!