10 Movies You Didn't Know Recycled Footage From Other Films
6. Transformers Lifted An Aircraft Carrier From Pearl Harbor
Here's another example from Michael May and the Transformers franchise, but at least it's his own movies he keeps pillaging for footage.
In the original Transformers, there's a brief establishing shot depicting a massive battleship ahead of the movie's naval scene. Said shot was lifted directly from Bay's war movie Pearl Harbor, with a number of modifications.
Lining the two shots up side by side is like a game of movie-themed spot the difference. There are modern fighter jets and more elaborate equipment on board the battleship to reflect Transformers' present day setting, just for starters.
It seems Bay and his creative team used imagery of a modern aircraft carrier for Pearl Harbor and digitally downgraded it. The same shot was then re-modified for use in Transformers. That's some versatile footage right there.