Gamercyrus’s Blog

Transformers 2, intense yet empty

Yes, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen has even more explosions than the first film.

In what is sure to be one of the biggest blockbuster movies of the year, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen is bigger and more intense than the original film while also carrying over some of the same issues as well as adding a few new ones.

The major issue with this movie is the way the plot is handled. You never really get a clear understanding of what is going on. Director Michael Bay needs to learn that you can’t just mash up a bunch of action scenes with a series of close-up shots, slow-mos, and one-liners and call it a complete package.  You need to have a functional story too.

There’s no real emotional connection to the characters in this movie either. The new ones are only there to fill some stereotype whether it’s the frantic womanizing panic freak or the wise-cracking transformer, or the tech geek, it’s all part of a cookie-cutter formula.

Even the returning characters are particularly one-dimensional and shallow.

The two lead characters Sam (Shia LaBeouf) and Mikaela (Megan Fox) have lost most of the chemistry they had in the first movie, only to be replaced by a teenaged struggle to say “I love you” to one another.

One of the characters that played such an important role in both films (I won’t reveal who) is sadly not rewarded with an emotionally gripping finale when this person meets their end.

Two new transfomers introduced in the sequel play a comedic role similar to that of Jar-Jar Binks (but not nearly as bad) from Star Wars Episode I. The twin transformer bots pummel the audience with clichés and racial stereotyping antics that gets annoying quite early into the film.

It seems that every major blockbuster action flick has to be ridden with extensive one-liners and Transformers Revenge of the Fallen is no different. You’ll see the typical lines and cheesiness in the action moments but as well you’ll see it used as comical relief. These comedy one-liners are relatively funny yet shallow.

But all that doesn’t really matter because the main reason many people will enjoy this movie is the over-the-top special effects and intense action. The full-on action scenes are phenomenal and are choreographed with some of the best animation and fight scenes ever displayed. It’s truly a sight to see.

If you leave this movie with just one thought, it will be the notion that no other movie will be able to top the excitement and wow-factor that Transformers Revenge of the Fallen does.

Add in the near perfect use of music and sound effects and you get a beautiful display of action harmony—this is what Michael Bay does best.

Overall the movie is slightly too long as it feels worn out by the end. Several scenes could have been cut and it would have not made a difference in the plot.

Nevertheless the movie is still worth seeing if you can forgive the lack of anything but spectacular battle scenes.

See it in theatres because this movie is meant to have a big-screen and high-wattage surround sound.

Even better, see it in Imax.

2.5 Stars

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