Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Michael Bay’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has grossed over $200 million in its first week, drawing millions to see high octane action scenes with GM robots and enough balls of fire to keep Jerry Lee Lewis happy for weeks. Aside from the amazing graphics, the two and a half hour movie falls flat on its face in areas where the first film tried to succeed.

The dorky and awkward Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) is going off to college, but not before he discovers a fragment of the All Spark – a device that killed Megatron – in his old hoodie, which imparts valuable knowledge to the enemy that is burned into his mind. He drops the hot shard that burns a hole through the house, turning household appliances into killing machines. Bumblebee, a 2009 Chevy Camaro and Sam’s robot protector, blasts through the home destroying all but one of the evil miniature robots. A sultry Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox) is working at her father’s automotive garage and drives over to Sam’s house on her motorcycle when she hears about the predicament. He gives her the shard as he leaves for college, unexpectedly placing himself, his girlfriend and his family in danger.

The film seems like an afterthought, especially when the All Spark, the alien cube in the first film that would supposedly be gone forever after killing Megatron, is not completely destroyed. Ironically, the pieces of the All Spark are the only things that can revive the Decepticon leader. Conveniently, two shards of the All Spark are left behind that somehow resurrect the main villain from his watery grave at the bottom of the ocean. With episodes like this, the plot becomes more of an afterthought as the film progresses, causing the story to continuously invent ways to resolve itself. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is an action movie, but that doesn’t excuse it from having a plot that flows sensibly.

When the story falters, the impressive computer graphics rescue the movie from the garbage bin. Who doesn’t want to see 20 ton robots duke it out, destroying huge ships and pyramids in a matter of seconds? Despite their bloodlust, the machines do have a personality underneath all the metal. The movie infuses each robot with a bit of character of their own providing the occasional comedic relief, especially with the introduction of the twins, Skids and Mudflap. Optimus Prime is as stoic and heroic as ever, as he and his team of Autobots fight the Decepticon threat on Earth. To make matters worse, the U.S. government has requested Optimus and his team leave the planet on suspicion that the Decepticons are on Earth because of the presence of the Autobots. Although there are new friends and foes, most characters from the previous film are back, which nicely ties the two films together.

The novelty found in the first Transformers film was threaded together with a story line driven by justified motives and believable emotion. Bay certainly has missed his mark this time with a plot that is frequently derailed by nonsense. The film attempts to make up for a disjointed storyline by exploding robots, buildings, tanks, helicopters, jets and anything else that goes, “boom” with breath-taking CGI. Although making warring and talking robots believable is a difficult task, it still can be done. Spielberg has already created captivating tales of fictitious creatures, such as giant sharks, aliens and dinosaurs, so there’s no excuse for a weak story.

Despite the beautiful computer graphics, the human element is trumped by overacting. Sam is probably the most believable character, as Bay makes a hero out of an unsure and awkward teen who learns to believe in himself and tackle an immense challenge – a character most audiences can relate to. Despite his realistic character, Sam’s romance with Mikaela is less than a sizzle and often amounts to cinematic shots that capture her curves. When things aren’t exploding, Bay relies on Mikaela’s sex appeal by placing her in suggestive poses as she bends over a motorcycle or runs in slow motion, her bosoms bouncing across the screen.

At times, the movie often comes off as an epic ad for GM and the United States military. Nearly every robot transforms into some form of GM vehicle, and the film drives home that good old fashioned American recklessness saves the day. The film attempts to convey that even the most unlikely people can be heroes, but that sentiment falls short underneath the increasing absurdity in the film, such as a sexy female who is really a disguised robot sent to assassinate Sam. There are several moments that will have the viewer questioning why something happened, drawing attention to the story’s flaws and causing the movie to drift away from the realm of believability.

Because of the success of the first film, the second installment of the Transformers series seems like an afterthought and just another opportunity for Bay to cash in on the popularity that the first movie created. The characters – sometimes over acted, while at other times entertaining – supplement a weak plot to form a movie that will be enjoyable for die-hard fans, while the casual moviegoer may want to catch another flick. The film’s plot is not believable, but for those who enjoy Megan Fox, masterful CGI and an array of explosions, for them, Bay’s latest creation may transform into a worthwhile summer movie.

Related posts:

1. Eagle Eye

Tagged as: Michael Bay, Shia Labeouf

blog comments powered by Disqus