Hollywood director Michael Bay made his first trip to Shanghai on Thursday for a press conference ahead of the Chinese premiere of "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," where he defended criticisms over product placements in the film.

Bay said the product placements – media reports have counted 68 brands, including several from China – added comic elements to the film for the audience's entertainment.

The most controversial placement has been of dairy giant Yili Group's Shuhua milk. In one scene, Asian-American actor Ken Jeong is holding a carton of the milk in an elevator and says, "I'm not talking to you until I finish my Shuhua milk."

Bay said that everything could be a product and that the Chinese milk was used as a comedy tool in the movie.

Bay also addressed a controversy surrounding the replacement of Megan Fox by Rosie Huntington Whiteley as the female lead. Bay defended her acting, which has been criticized and ridiculed by movie critics and audiences.

"She did wonderful job acting, she's got bright future in front of her," Bay was quoted as saying.

"Transformers: Dark of the Moon" has already become the highest-grossing movie of the year, earning $277 million in the U.S. and $697 million worldwide since its release on June 29, according to Box Office Mojo.

It will be released on July 21 in China.

Related

• 'Transformers' nears $400 million at global box office
• 'Transformers 3' smashes N American box office
• 'Transformers: Dark of The Moon' premieres in New York
• Transformers 3 to premiere in China on July 21

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