Transformers Film Movie Review

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20/20 Filmsight - June 2007

Transformers

June 22nd 2007 12:45

Transformers is an all-out robot deathmatch of epic scope, grandiose enough to melt your eyeballs after viewing the Ark of the Covenant.

It's simple. Do you like robots fighting and breaking stuff? Then you'll love Transformers, a movie about two races of transforming robots, the Autobots and the Decepticons, fighting over the fate of Earth.

Transformers is based on the 80s toy and cartoon series... nearly every male of my demographic (24-29) grew up desperately wishing to be taken away by the Transformers and converted into a transforming robot. I wanted this so bad that I used to 'practise' transforming into the few shapes that I could manage, ie. a chair, a mat, part of the wall, etc.

Needless to say, this ultra-violent movie scratches a more-than-seven year old itch that has been festering with dreams and nostalgia. No expense has been spared, neither on the filmmaking nor the marketing side, ensuring that this 4th of July release will be the hit of the summer.

Skeptics were fretfully worried that Michael Bay would drop the ball on this, and packs of fanboys sharpened their canines in preparation for a deadly advance on Bay's studio. They can rest assured, however, that Transformers will live up to the hype.

Robots fighting. And breaking stuff.

In fact, this review is pointless. You're already going to see this, aren't you? I probably couldn't even convince you otherwise. I went to a cafe after the movie to reflect on what I'd seen, and the barista was stunned that I had already seen it, 'You've seen it? How fantastic was it? This movie is basically the reason for my existence.'

Heavy words from a coffee-slinger, but it echoes a common sentiment in the English speaking world.

Michael Bay directed movies such as Armageddon, Bad Boys and The Rock, and you'll see tinges of the same sentiments in Transformers. He's a big budget director, a rock star among artists. I wouldn't say that he added anything special to the film, other than the heavy doses of pro-American military moments, and a thick layer of fromage.

What he does bring to the show, or at least enables, is the stunning special effects.

Every summer, there's a one-up on the special effects, with Lord of the Rings having a chokehold on the belt for a couple of years. Lately, it was 300 that brought people to their knees in the throes of CGI-ecstasy.

Myself, I couldn't give a damn about the effects, but I have to admit that Transformers comes out real nice. REAL nice. The violence and carnage looks very realistic and is seemlessly blended in with the human actors, giving the audience a desperate appreciation for how dangerous the Transformers really are.

This is a good looking show, and Bay uses his trademark fast-editing techniques to dramatize the production, like his music videos.

In fact, this is an MTV generation movie, and it shows. There's hardly a slow moment before something blows up or gets shot, and Transformers succeeds in driving the audience to adrenaline-soaked levels. The premiere audience cheered raucously at Optimus Prime's appearance, and the boo-yah! beatdown he brings on the Decepticons.

There's a certain magic to be appreciated when you first see a robot transform on the big screen. Your body virtually regresses backwards through puberty, leaving you in awe in a childlike state, gaping at the screen. We've waited a long time, and it's finally here.

I say: Definitely an experience on the big screen. Bring an extra shirt - mine was soaked with sweat by the end.

See it for: John Turturro, one of the best bit-actors, plays a Sector 7 agent, and nails his role. For that matter, Shia LaBoeuf brings some life to a role that could have otherwise been dry. Great casting brought a lot of light into the movie during the parts with no robots.

* * *

P.S.

I feel compelled to offer some criticisms, though, if you're familiar with Bay's previous work, I think you'll guess it off the bat.

It's a little too epic. I'll leave it at that. Think Pearl Harbour/Armageddon all over again, with robots.

There's the token love side-story, totally irrelevant and jarring. The tender moments hit you like a wet, dirty sock in the face. On a related note, there's 'hot' girls interspersed throughout the entire feature.

The music, especially the new Transformers theme, all retro-80'd up, is awful. The audience screamed for them to turn it off before the movie started rolling.

I'm not sure what kind of computer Michael Bay uses, but I'm going to assume it's a Fisher Price animal-sounds one. His idea of what 'hacking' is, is ridiculous. All of the scenes where they analyze the alien signal are bordering on lunacy. Real hacking is dull and tedious. Please leave it out of your movies in the future.

Perhaps the worst part is the Optimus Prime monologue. Oh God. Cheese dripping from the ceiling into your mouth.

*this image is from the IMDb page on Transformers

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Posted By: Cibbuano - Category: Americanas

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Comments

52 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by JohnDoe

April 11th 2007 21:51

Film & TV on DVD

Thats sounds like fun, Im still skeptical about the final version but you have put some of my fears to rest.

Where did you see the 20 minute preview?

Comment by Cibbuano

April 11th 2007 21:59

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There was a high security preview last night at Fox Studios in Moore Park. We were shown Disturbia afterwards.

John, I was really skeptical about the whole thing, but the 20 minutes I saw wasn't just mindless violence - there was a lot of plot building and human interest. We'll see if the entire thing holds together, but it looked good.

It wasn't the final version, either... they've still got color correction and special effects to fine tune.

Comment by yoda76

April 11th 2007 22:44

The Tube Blog

I'll sit through anything Michael Bay's name is on - but as for subtlety in character development etc, probably still a touch skeptical.

He makes seriously fun and entertaining films though. His use of the camera is awesome, I think. I keep thinking of the slo-mo steadicam shot in Bad Boys where Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are getting up off the road after having been through some serious crap - makes me smile everytime ;o) There's a glimpse in the trailer...

It ain't high art but geez it's great fun!

Comment by Filmpeeker

April 11th 2007 22:49

Film Peek
Gizmo Peek
Film Peek Forum

Wow, I envy you right now.

I'm glad it was good since I also didn't know what to think. It felt too plain. But I guess it isn't.

Good dialogue is really important and I'm happy it has it.

Thanks for the insight!

Comment by Cibbuano

April 11th 2007 23:24

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yoda, after seeing Hot Fuzz, I'd really like to revisit Bad Boys!

Filmpeek, you'll love it!

Comment by charles

April 12th 2007 00:26

FanFootball
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Ponderous

I'm very jealous, Cibby!

I can't wait 'til this movie is released in July.

Charles.

Comment by JoshZ

April 12th 2007 01:46

A Simple Christian

Dude, I am immensely psyched to see Transformers. IS it true that they got the original voice?

JZ

Comment by Always Eighteen

April 12th 2007 04:22

Always Eighteen

Did you ever watch the original movie? How awesome was the soundtrack?? So many of my favourite autobots died

Comment by Cibbuano

April 12th 2007 04:29

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JZ, I heard that too... in the preview, the sound quality of the voices was dirty, so it was really tough to understand what they were saying...

AE, I loved the original movie... the soundtrack sounds terrible to me today, though. Leonard Nimoy did one of the voices, right?

Comment by Miswanderlust

April 12th 2007 05:00

Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy

You are one lucky .......
I am so relieved to hear this movie didn't suck. We are really anticpating this movie........ All of our action figures are standing at attention...
Mis

Comment by Jonathon

April 12th 2007 06:15

Anthroblogogy

you just made it feel like the night before christmas. how many sleeps left until it is released?

Comment by Nathan P. Mahney

April 12th 2007 09:45

NerdBlog
The Comic Nerd

Pfft. Gobots movie.

Comment by Ahmed

April 12th 2007 10:58

techy.Bytes
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Qwerk
Cinema Three

The "It's awesomeness made solid, then cut into cubes, then re-melted and forged into a giant sword that chops up all the little inferior movies around it" cracked me up, I submitted it to Digg Really Long Link just because of it.

So if you get 40,000 hits and knock orble's servers offline you know who to hate.

Comment by Paul

April 12th 2007 20:13

Surreal Short Stories

Your definition of 'awesomeness' is ace!

Comment by Adrian

April 12th 2007 21:05

Philosophy Blog

Damn, Cibby. I thought this was going to be a post about drag queens.

Comment by Cibbuano

April 12th 2007 22:30

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jon, I think it's coming out on the 4th of July in the States, according to the website.

nathan, I had Gobots, too.

Ahmed, thanks man! We'll see if it catches on...

paul, awesome is awesome.

adrian, who says that isn't the subtext in the Transformers movie?

Comment by Anonymous

April 24th 2007 00:25

Did you know that there is an awesome Transformers movie site?

Really Long Link

Its about to be transformed in May into the mother of all sites and gaming and comps?

If you loved the 20 mins footage - your gonna love what comes next with the site and what you are going to be able to do.

Comment by Anonymous

April 24th 2007 00:30

the Australian website is AWESOME

transformers the movie . com.au

Comment by Sarah White

May 3rd 2007 14:15

coolgirlsar to the rescue
One Too Many Chocolate Bars

My 3.5 year old son keeps talking about Transformers at the moment, every morning he has his Daddy telling him all the names. I'm probably being blind but I'll ask anyway, does anyone know the age certificate for this please?

Comment by Ahmed

May 3rd 2007 14:18

techy.Bytes
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Qwerk
Cinema Three

pg or m15... probably pg.

Not that it matters, I mean it's a movie about giant robots, it's not like they're gonna suddenly start having sex...

Comment by Sarah White

May 3rd 2007 14:47

coolgirlsar to the rescue
One Too Many Chocolate Bars

Thank you Ahmed. And you're right it's giant robots and giant robots from a children's programme at that.

I must say I'm intrigued to see this just to see what they have actually done with the Transformers themselves.

Comment by Ahmed

June 22nd 2007 13:19

techy.Bytes
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Qwerk
Cinema Three

Well from the trailer it's pretty clear - they've lost their defined edges and specific transformations, they look more like clangy bits of sharp metal stuck together that reassemble themselves.

Umm, is it just me ooor, is this post A LOT older than June 22nd?

Comment by Winston

June 22nd 2007 23:59

Small Thoughts on Big Questions

Cibb, let me be clear: I loathe Michael Bay. Seeing his name attached to a movie induces dry heaves. It was to my dismay that I learned he was directing Transformers (the coolest show of my childhood -- alas that I got rid of my Optimus Prime toy *sigh*)

Still, you've given me some faint hope. Maybe, just maybe, Bay can make a movie that I don't think completely sucks. It's hard to screw up giant robots smashing things....

Even so, this film is going to have to pull out all the stops to top the original Transformers: The Movie, the craziest 90-minute acid trip for kids ever committed to celluloid.

Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner

June 23rd 2007 05:17

Cibby,

great review! You're a lucky guy lol Now I'll have to break down and have peek...

Take care,

Nick

Comment by yoda76

June 24th 2007 00:06

The Tube Blog

Umm, is it just me ooor, is this post A LOT older than June 22nd?

I think Cib's added some comments at the end that are new... maybe that's why the bump?

Comment by Cibbuano

June 24th 2007 23:32

20/20 Filmsight
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I've inserted my new post into the old post, since it's already in the google database...

Transformers!

You'll love it, if you can get past the Bay-isms.

The first time I saw the robot transform, the audience erupted into cheers.

The first time Optimus appears on screen, cheers.

It was very rousing...

Comment by tashman

June 27th 2007 11:23

i like robots i likle the spark plugs can you get me some energon i dont like megatron he touched me when i was boy

Comment by yoda76

June 27th 2007 22:25

The Tube Blog

You'll love it, if you can get past the Bay-isms.

It's precisely what I'm hanging out for, my dear boy!

Comment by Anonymous

June 28th 2007 12:07

Just watched it. Been reading the early reviews, honestly have been very skeptical. I grew up with G1, and I was afraid of a newer commercialized sell out version of what I grew up loving... Also had immensely high expectations of the movie.

With that said, the movie was just great. Everything I hoped for and more. There were a bunch of guys around me, late 20s, early 30s cheering like a bunch of toddlers. Brought back old memories, the '86 movie is the first movie I remember watching. Revamped for a younger more technologically savvy generation, but enough elements from the old stuff to keep everyone happy. I think it'll start over with the younger gen what G1 was for us.

Hope you guys love it as much as me, oh, and the cheesy parts will feel just like the old stuff. cheers

Comment by Anonymous

June 28th 2007 14:59

Although taken into account, i think the criticism given was a bit contradictory. You say it was 'a little too epic' then you go on to say that the love element given to the movie is 'totally irrelevant and jarring'. Take into consideration the movie without either of these, it would either be, MUCH too epic, or not epic enough.

Certain elements are a must have in a modern box office movie that has any hope of succeeding and unfortunately, somewhat of a love story implemented throughout the movie is practically a must.

Also, my comments may be void and your views may have changed after seeing the full screening of the film. I've just come back from seeing it with 3 friends and I've taken a lot of the hype home with me. There was not one single thing i would change about this movie, it was (motion) picture perfect in every aspect in my opinion (which doesn't really matter anyway

Comment by Anonymous

June 28th 2007 17:12

I just saw this movie an hour ago, it's showing now in my country the Philippines since yesterday June 28 (we often have early runs this side of the world), well what I can say.....YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT! people were clapping when the movie ended! GREAT MOVIE. AWESOME EVERYTHING!

Comment by crazymiks

June 28th 2007 18:14

if you love robots, go watch this movie. don't expect to much just enjoy the ride. you'll be amazed after the show promise!

Comment by hanxthre

June 28th 2007 23:59

I don't understand your review...First passage "it was great", second passage "Plenty parts sucked though" (Like Armagedden and Pearl Harbor)..WTF is that?

It's an MTV genration movie eh? Which translates into it's a souless music video slash commercial with explosions...To hell with this movie and to hell with Micheal Bay for turning my childhood into 2 hrs of souless explosions...It's sad that you have to preface a movie review with "Don't expect too much" or "It's all about robots breaking stuff"...Obviously a movie can't be more than this...Keep on supporting anything Hollywood throws at you clones...As for me I refuse to give a penny to a hack of a director like Bay who clearly can give less than damn about the real Transformers fanbase...

Comment by whileyouweregrazing

June 29th 2007 10:17

I doubt, at the time of the review, that you had even seen the movie. The amount of 'human interest' was beyond excessive, the camera couldn't stay still during the majority of the limited transformer fighting scenes, and the physics (token Government agents killing Decepticons while sliding between transformer legs, while transformer missiles were sometimes catastrophic, other times petty) needed much more consideration. I completely agree with hanxthre, there was a total disregard for the Transformers fan base. Such a disappointment; shame on Hollywood.

Comment by Hollywood

June 29th 2007 10:26

I'm just doin mah job

Comment by charles

July 1st 2007 23:34

FanFootball
ZCars
Ponderous

I saw this over the weekend and it was awesome! Absolute carnage and destruction and I loved every minute of it...

And don't even get me started on Megan Fox

Charles.

Comment by Cibbuano

July 2nd 2007 00:21

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enjoyable, isn't it charles?

You're a Fox fan, eh? Maybe you should have gone to the premiere!

She's a lot shorter in real life...

Comment by Anonymous

July 2nd 2007 05:20

I saw it last night... and i hated it. the reviews said it was going to be entertaining... but it was just 2 hours of cringe inducing crap. not as bad as "Spawn," but hey... and what was with the Ebay add? what was with the General Motors ads? and does anyone know that the cold war finished in the late 80s? "The only people that could do this are the North Koreans, the Russians, and maybe the Chinese? WTF?

this film = stereotypes token nationalities buzzwords random fight scenes that made no sense (they were pretty, though, just absolutely nonsensical) plot holes extra cheese. all together - a waste of my time.

I'm no transformers fanboy, though i do remember the cartoons and loved them, as stupid as they were - but come on people, this is getting ridiculous. I should have listened to the South Park guys with their "pearl harbour sucks - and i miss you" song from Team America - why does Michael Bay get to keep making movies?

Comment by Aimzster

July 3rd 2007 03:03

Health and Beauty
Reality TV
The Jeepney Stop

My hubby made me watch this. I wasn't expecting much and I felt the beginning just plodded along and I was beginning to get restless, thinking it was going to be another Independence Day - which I totally hated. There were too many secondary characters whom I felt shouldn't even be there, it just made the movie longer than it should have been. The romantic element would probably have been disastrous if it wasn't for the guy who played Sam - totally hilarious. Also, it was hard to follow when the robots were fighting each other. But in the end, the plot picked up and it was only then that I really enjoyed it.

Comment by charles

July 3rd 2007 03:10

FanFootball
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Enjoyable? The movie or ogling Megan Fox?

I might watch this again on a cheap Tuesday with a couple of other friends that haven't seen it...

Oh, I didn't know she was going to be at the premiere - I know you went so picsorban Cibby!!!

Failing that, she'll be back over for the premiere of the sequel and third movie - I can so see this being a trilogy.

Charles.

Comment by Cibbuano

July 3rd 2007 03:20

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aimster, Shia Laboeuf is a very watchable young actor... we'll see how he does in the new Indiana Jones thing...

charles, I didn't take any photos, sadly...

Comment by Marv

July 5th 2007 06:53

So disappointed in this movie.

I'm from the first generation Transformers and when the first Transformers the Movie came out (1986?) I had that "WOW" feeling. Not with this one...I had the "What the heck was that?" feeling.

This new TF movie just had too much going on! Too much characters, and the fighting sequence between the robots were just too much...too fast! You can't even follow and appreciate the fighting sequence unless they do the slow motion which they did with some of the scenes. It was just overly done to the point were I was getting irritated with the fight/battle scenes....too darn fast.

There were parts where I thought the details were overly done. And then there were parts where it lost the details because it's just too damn fast...like a damn blur!

I'm just so disappointed.

Dear Michael Bay: K.I.S.S - Keep It Simple Stupid!

Comment by Anonymous

July 6th 2007 10:44

The ending was pretty crappy in my opinion. Why was Optimus so keen in sacrifising himself if the solution was just to stuff the cube in...better not continue as it is a spoiler but come on! The ending was the spoiler for me and the human touch was a little silly if not for the simply hilarious hero.

Comment by Trina

July 10th 2007 02:12

Hiphop
Confessions of a Serial Dancer
Competitions
Clubbing

Wow Cibby, what a post and what a whole bunch of responses. Short version - I really really liked it, I agree with you for the most part about the cheesy love story and well they can't please everyone and I know the die-hard Transformers fans are very disappointed with the movie. Not a fan of Megan Fox, I prefer Rachael Taylor...

Comment by Cibbuano

July 10th 2007 03:00

20/20 Filmsight
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Trina, Rachael Taylor was at the preview, too... she looked less waifish and plasticked than Megan Fox, but the scenes with her 'cracking' the transmission? Ridiculous!

Comment by South-africa

July 23rd 2007 14:18

]NOT WHAT IT SHOULD BE!!! [/SIZE] I watched it last night... hmmmm not impressed, the interaction between the robot hand picking up the human was flawless BUT... they were unable to get the fight scene's to seem realistic. Also the faces of the bots were overdone. too much detail and it looked shit... also when they transform... I want to see it in slow mo... not the whoop whaaap and it's done. the real toy could transform in a way where you can see where everything fits. Spielberg Prob though if they do it quick enough we won't be able to see that parts don't fit. I'm sorry about this... really I was looking forward to this movie and for some reason something was not right... I even sang the theme song the whole week. I'll have to watch the animation again.

Comment by EEP

July 31st 2007 10:00

Just saw it, liked it. Something Id never seen explained till now was how/why extraterestrial beings would take on car forms - especially with the cartoon movie where theyre back in space.

few things didnt make sense to me, they were monotoring ebay but everyone decided its easier to smash up crap than to bid on key item. Or bumblebee being implanted alongside the hooman but unable to do anything to get said item.....transform and write something geeze.

Funny thing is i think this movie perpetuates alot of the errors made by the US military - A10s shooting up the oasis village - DU shells? or the crew heading into a populated area - we all know how well US troops do in those. Or the dumping at the end? Heh - thats nothing new, and has hurt before.

So anyway much more solid than any preceding transformers thing ive seen, visually spectacular, even if it did seem autobots all went for wuusmobiles.

Comment by Anonymous

August 14th 2007 13:40

Anyone have any idea how long it will take to come out on DVD? I have three kids and can't get to the movies but I really really really want to see it.

Comment by Anonymous

September 7th 2007 06:02

hahaha

Comment by bumblebee

October 22nd 2007 19:46

omg....bumble bee almost died :'( hes my fav char. hes sick

Comment by bumblebee

October 22nd 2007 19:47

omg....bumble bee almost died :'( hes my fav char. hes sick

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