The first Transformers was released in 2007 and went on to make over 300 million dollars worldwide. It received reviews that labeled it as being a film for children, asked why they would ever base a movie on a line of toys and cartoons and someone even asked “Who is stupid enough to spend 100 million dollars making this garbage?” Michael Bay and the producers of the films are…and the film goers are apparently stupid enough to pay to see it, because Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has made 201 million dollars at the box-office since Wednesday.
Let’s get something straight: I loved the first Transformers unabashedly. If you walk into a movie theater prepared to watch a film about gigantic robots from another planet interacting with humans and blowing things up, please tell me that you do not expect a film on the quality level of a Scorsese motion picture. You have to be willing to open up suspension of disbelief. It was a great popcorn film. Robots beating the hell out of each other and blowing up earth. Awesome! The film was evenly paced and it was fun. There were some Transformers that were neglected brutally and some that fans wished made it into the film, but they made it into the sequel.
The sequel is two and a half hours long. Hopefully you bring a good friend with you, because if you get up to go to the bathroom, you’re going to miss something. There are a lot more robot fights, a lot more Transformers (even one from Beast Wars apparently) and a lot of blatant racism…oh oops did I type that? Yes, blatant racism and bad jokes dominate this film. The first film had it’s share of some racial stereotypes, but “The Twins” take the cake in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
The bad jokes in the first film were occasionally actually humorous. The bad jokes in this one seemed really out there. I don’t know why a robot has to say “fuck”. The mom and dad are two characters that are just there for humor again. The things that they say send shivers down my spine, but that’s what they’re intended to do, and parents exist like that, so I guess that’s fair game. I just really think that Michael Bay should’ve thought before he put twin robots that can’t read and each have a gold tooth in his film. A robot with testicles…really?!
The humans actors are alright. Everyone knows that Shia Lebouf can act. This film isn’t his “I can act” movie. This is about running around and getting paid to be a poster boy and getting recognition. He’s done well in Eagle Eye, Disturbia (basically a Rear Window remake) and even Constantine (Keanu Reeves’ don’t smoke commercial with demons). Megan Fox was alright. I don’t know if she’s a good actress. I’ve only seen her in the Transformers films (in which she plays the hot girl that falls for the nerd) and the movie How to Lose Friends and Alienate People (in which she plays the hot actress that wants to use the socially inept nerd). The Army guys were in it, but not as much even though they had a lot to do with the movie. I liked them in the first and thought that they added to it quite a bit. John Turturro is back…He always does a good job with characters.
I think with this film Michael Bay new that he had to make something a lot more grand than the first one. No one wants to hear “The first one was better”, but this time that’s the truth. He wanted to use a huge budget so he tossed in 40 Transformers for the fanboys to get them off of his back in the hopes that they’d stop making posts bashing him. The fact is, he needs to learn that excess isn’t always better. Sometimes you can clip out a little bit and give us a good story too. I love robot fights and I was all about seeing more, but two and a half hours is a very long time for a robot fight.
The film wasn’t all bad. Like I said. It had robot fights that were bigger and at times more fun. The cg was way better this time around. Industrial Light and Magic is amazing. Some of the humor was great. I liked that Star Scream was in it more…and was just like he was in the cartoons (THANKYOUMICHAELBAYANDWRITERS!) I also liked that he had a perfect ending for this film. Last time the film ended and I sat there thinking “Okay, they dropped him into the ocean, now what?” This time everything is kind of set in stone perfectly for the third. I didn’t love it like I loved Transformers. I liked it though. I don’t think it’s anywhere near as bad as a lot of people are making it out to be. For those reasons I give it 2 1/2 out of 4 stars.
Last edited: Jun 29, 2009 @ 10:56 PM, 262 days ago
