Movie Review - Transformers


Reel rating:						3/5

Reel commentary: ... while most summer action movies fail to entertain AND fulfill, Transformers does both. For flat-out action movie appeal, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything that compares ... full review

Movie Review

By Frank Wilkins

A major battle was just won. And I'm not speaking of a flare up in the 20+ year-old feud between the Decepticons and the Autobots. That one's still going on. Rather, I'm talking about the war between Michael Bay and those who view Pearl Harbor, Bad Boys 2 and The Island as high water marks for the energetic director. Listen up you Michael Bay detractors (this author included)! With Transformers, Bay just landed a deadly volley of "that should shut them up for a while." Not that the movie is going to put him on the fast track to the Kodak Theater next spring, but even in spite of its extreme corniness, it's one of the most entertaining surprises to come along in many summers.

Writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman got off on the right foot by understanding that these kinds of movies never work without a compassionate thread to the story. In other words, they know an audience must find characters to really care about. With a Michael Bay film we knew we'd get plenty of action and explosions, but what we weren't expecting was a good story with a little bit of meat on its bones. And that's exactly why the film works. He takes a mediocre but hugely popular comic-book tale about a legendary battle between robots, and mixes in the touchy-feely undertones of a boy and his first car to create a completely modern spectacle that'll both knock your socks off and warm your little cockles.

We alternate between three main storylines for most of the film's first hour and a half or so, knowing that at some point all three will converge with the mouth of hell purging forth tons of exploding TNT. After all, it is a Michael Bay film. The first storyline features a group of soldiers stationed in the desert of Qatar battling a deadly scorpion-like metallic creature that burrows through the sand when it's not killing with unbridled discretion. A group of surviving soldiers, led by Sergeant Lennox (Josh Duhamel) is desperate to get a report of the deadly arachnid back to the Pentagon. Meanwhile, a typical but somewhat goofy teenage boy named Sam Whitwicky (Shia Lebeouf) is looking to buy his first car. Naturally he wants a Porsche, but he can only afford a beat-up old yellow Camaro. Sam later learns that the car is actually the Autobot Bumblebee who has come to Earth (with other Autobots) to fight the Decipticons in hopes of saving the planet. Finally, a shadowy branch of the government called Sector 7 – of which the Department of Defense is even unaware – is holding a mysterious extraterrestrial cube known as the Allspark while trying to uncover the truth behind its believed-to-be sinister purpose.

AUTOBOTS, an alien race, take on the characteristics of American cars and trucks

All images copyright © 2007 Dreamworks SKG

As the three plotlines eventually come together, the proceedings literally spill out onto the streets of downtown L.A. with a battle of 9/11 proportions between the Autobots and the Decipticons. At the risk of angering the long-time fanboy, this is where the movie will lose a lot of non-Transformers fans. Using shops, cars, and skyscrapers as their little sandbox-of-aggression, the robots spend most of the remainder of the film slamming, stomping, shooting, wrestling and otherwise ripping each other apart. It's a bit too rambunctious and becomes quite difficult to tell the good guys from the bad. I realize this is the one part of the film most Transformers fans have been anticipating ever since it received a greenlight. But for me, having grown up a good piece before the comic book and cartoon rage, this is where it becomes just another Michael Bay "blow-'em-up." I won't complain too much however, because it's also the part of the film where we get to see some of the most spectacular special effects ever put on film. The conversion of these characters into their full battle-ready transmogrifications is flawlessly perfect. No stop-motion effects here! It's clear the wizards at Industrial Light and Magic are the best in the business at fooling filmgoers.

Two acting performances really stand out and are actually quite an integral part of why the whole thing works. First is that of Shia LeBeouf. His Sam is no stud nor is he the prototypical geek. He's just a normal kid who wants the same things every kid wants. His goofy awkwardness makes him instantly likeable. John Turturro also gives a nice turn as agent Simmons of Sector 7. His almost-over-the-top rendition reminds us the filmmakers didn't take things too seriously and neither should we.

If the film's trailer doesn't do anything for you, then the movie probably won't either. After all, it is a summer blockbuster in every sense of the word. But, while most summer action movies fail to entertain AND fulfill, Transformers does both. For flat-out action movie appeal, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything that compares.

Frank Wilkins

Your Ad Here

Comments

Frank says:
July 2, 2007 at 09:19
More memorables quotes:
"Gentlemen... let me introduce you to my friend: Optimus Prime! "
"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings."
"We're facing war against a technological civilization far superior to our own! Our enemy can take any shape! They could be anywhere! "
"Not so tough without your head, are ya?"
"Have your crew step out, OR WE WILL KILL YOU!"
"Okay, listen. You got to listen to me. If my parents come out here and see you, they're going to freak out. My mother's got a temper. "
"That killer robot is really distracting!"

Jennifer says:
July 6, 2007 at 20:13
In my opinion Hollywood has completely lost touch with reality. It has strayed so far away from its roots in arts and culture it has become a cash cow for big production companies in the u.s. It does this by producing movies like transformers to rake in money from all the teenagers that are sucked in by the alure of blockbuster movies. Movies such as transformers lack any kind of originality and are over loaded with violence. Transformers lacked any focus on one theme. In fact it was all over the place. One minute we were introduced to the grandfather who made the discovery to a boy who got a new car and then conspiracy within the government. Real original! Then to sci fi with a distored description of a far off planet where the robots began their war. The writing itself screamed teenager. I mean who would really talk this way. Movies used to appeal to specific age groups but in an attempt to fill theatres movies are produced to appeal to everyone at the expense of writing. Transformers could have been salvaged if the writing was tightened up. Drop the government conspiracies, drop the uncomfortable parental advice in front of the girl, drop the teenagers can save the world angle. And for god sake stop leading us straight to the door of a sequel. A good movie should have a beginning middle and end in one story told well enough it doesnt need to be explained in 20 more movies.

Darrius says:
July 7, 2007 at 14:07
All of the most action-packed and visually stunning movies are released in the summer months. For the movie studios, this is the perfect time to cash in on the many anxious viewers. Students have time off from school and parents are in search for something to entertain their offsprings. The Summer Blockbuster satisfies all the aforementioned needs.

There have been numerous movies released in the last few months. Some have been disappointing while some pretty amazing. Transformers is nearly perfect.

For those unfamiliar with the 80 s cartoon series, Transformers is about a race of alien robots who have come to Earth with two different agendas. The autobots, the good guys, have come in search of a cube that will stop the warring between themselves. They wish to live in peace among mankind. The decepticons have a different agenda. They too hope to find the cube, but wish to use its incredible power to enslave and maybe even to eliminate humanity. These opposing goals set the stage for nonstop battle with us humans in the middle.

Whether you are a newcomer or already a fan of the series, you will be pleased with the remake. Peter Cullen, the original voice actor for Optimus Prime, reprises his role. For men ages 21-32 this is very nostalgic. During some moments in the movie, I found myself smiling while remembering the countless hours my brother and I spent watching the show and playing with the transformer toys. For those viewers who are looking for non-stop action and dazzling special effects, this movie fits the bill.

Transformers is not without its faults however. The storyline has been altered somewhat and there are quite a few corny moments. One scene in particular, which involves the autobots crouching behind a home in order to avoid being detected, comes to mind. For twenty minutes the autobots joke around and play while the world is left to deal with the chaos the decepticons have wrought. There is also a poorly developed love story and gross misinterpretation of the United States military.

With that being said, I would still recommend this movie to anyone. It is very entertaining, fast-paced, and kids will love it. Go see it!

DVD Information

Screen Formats: 1.85:1

Subtitles: English; French; Spanish

Language and Sound: English: English: Dolby Digital 5.1; French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo

Other Features: Color; interactive menus; scene access. The bonus material for Michael Bay's ode to the '80s animated series includes the following featurettes: "The Story Sparks," "Human Allies," "I Fight Giant Robots," "Battleground," "Rise of the Robots," "Autobots Roll Out," "Decepticons Strike," "Inside the AllSpark," "More Than Meets the Eye," " From Script to Sand: The Skorponok Desert Attack" and more.