Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Yes, I thought the first Michael Bay Transformers was bad. I wasn’t expecting the sequel to be much better, but in the back of my mind I was hoping. Michael Bay apparently decided there wasn’t enough crass humor, overt sexuality, poor character development, useless moving parts, explosions, and nameless robots transforming into formless metallic amoebas in the first movie. So now there is more of all that in this one. Of course, it doesn’t make the movie better, just longer.

Negatives:

1) The twins. I don’t think I need to explain this.

2) Sam’s parents, excessive comic relief, no importance to the story.

3) Mikaela and the Decepticon fem-bot. Ok, I’m a male, yes I think Meghan Fox is hot. I personally, do not mind seeing her wearing skimpy revealing clothes. But come on, give her some depth. First of all, this movie is being used to sell toys to 6-year-olds. There is no need for such overt female objectification in this movie. Seriously, she spends most of the movie with that pouty expression and posing seductively, instead of acting. Same complaint with the “fem-bot”, I felt it was completely unnecessary to the story.

4) Everyone is comic relief. Ok, I’m all for comic relief in action movies. But seriously, you can’t build an action movie around an entire cast of comedians. More than 3 comic relief characters, and you should call it “Giant Robot Movie” (ie. Scary Movie series).

5) Visual effects. Sometimes less is more. The robots are too complex, too many moving parts. It is very hard to follow the action trying to follow these overly detailed monochromatic machines as they fly through cities causing random destruction everywhere. In the original cartoon, the simpler designs were easier to identify and they were distinctively color-coded. Most of the Decepticons look the same.

6) There are no rules. Basically, Michael Bay is telling us that alien robots can do whatever they please. They can change their alt-forms at will or become giant robo-amoebas. If you hack them to pieces, each part can become a completely new Transformer. Robots can transform into people. Mechanical devices can turn into dust, communicate telepathically with humans, then reform themselves from said dust and resurrect dead Transformers. And other mechanical devices or even a tiny piece of them can turn earth machines into robots (complete with machine-guns) or resurrect Transformers.

7) Questionable motivations on both sides. So at the end of episode 1, this autobot declared he would stay with Sam forever and ever. Ah, how touching. Now Sam decides to go to college and he won’t take Bumblebee with him. What a jerk. He saved the world once, but now Optimus Prime asks for his help to do it again, and college is more important. Why does Sam give the All-Spark sliver to his unrealistically hot girlfriend for safe-keeping, instead of Bumblebee, Optimus or any of those government guys? Why do the Decepticons want to destroy the sun? I mean really, Cybertron is supposedly destroyed, do they have another planet to inhabit once this solar system is wiped out?

Positives:

1) Peter Cullen and Frank Welker

2) Explosions

Neutral:

1) The battle with Optimus Prime in the woods was really cool, but it didn’t have nearly the emotional impact of the animated movie from the 80’s because it was decided early on that they could just resurrect him before the end of the movie. And with no “Hot Rod” character, Sam’s episode of feeling guilty seemed pretty shallow.

All in all, a terrible movie from a critical point of view. People will like the movie if they are a big fan of loud booms and not optional things like story. I feel guilty spending money on this disaster, though.
Rating: 1 / 5

If you’re a boy age 12 or below – AND ONLY THEN – you might enjoy this movie. For the rest of us (people over 12 with at least half a brian & up) – it’s probably one of the worst blockbusters you will ever see. In your life! I’m not asking much from a movie like this – really – BUT the plot, and all characters – human & alien alike – are SO shallow & empty – that you can’t help feeling personally insulted watching this trash. I’m someone that enjoyed the new Terminator, Batman & Star Trek – these franchises have evolved, while not sacrificing their Sci-Fi & Comic book roots. They gained depth & respect from audiences of all ages by becoming more – Transformers however, has gone the other direction – by becoming WAY WAY less. Idiotic jive talking robots ala annoying Jar Jar Binks infamy, hysterical overacting, and a feel that reminds you of that awful ‘97 ‘Batman & Robin’ with Mr. Freeze – only worse – numbs your senses for 2 1/2 hours. All the over the top settings & special effects can’t bring this movie up to a 2 star rating. And Megan Fox’ character is about 3 times too hot for Shia LaBeouf, on a side note. But I don’t mind either actors – I actually think they can act way better, than what they’re forced to lower themselves to by director Michael Bay – someone who’s ‘movies’ I will NOT touch again with a ten foot pole as long as I can help it. Such trash is simply offensive – it’s the lowest of all possible denominators a movie can sink to. GO AWAY – MICHAEL BAY!!!
Rating: 1 / 5

I wasn’t a big fan of the first film so, I decided to watch it again before viewing this overblown sequel. I actually liked the first film more this time around, even though I still think it is way too long for the material at hand. The second film ‘Transformers – Revenge Of The Fallen’ takes everything good about the first film and just throws in away! The film is longer with bigger FX, but the FX are so fast that it’s really hard to appreciate them. The film is also plagued with ridiculous humor that is so corny I rolled my eyes so much I thought they might fall out of their sockets! The parents in particular are just awful and serve no purpose at all, except to add some humor (if you can call it that?), but end up being distracting and silly. Megan Fox’s roll has been reduced to shameful sexy eye candy(for a kiddie film)and Shia has reached an all time low here.

If you like films with no character development and tedious storylines, then this might be for you. This is one of the worst films I’ve ever seen and I hope it is the end to the series.Extremely disappointing film that isn’t any fun at all.
Rating: 1 / 5