Transformers!! (spoilers)

[Kordolin]

Got back from seeing it in IMAX a little while ago. Two words come to mind...

FUCKING AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some general thoughts, I'm still a bit on overdrive atm though:
(There are some mild spoilers in this mini-review though - they are mild in the sense that most of it you could figure out from the trailers and TV spots. Regardless, some spoiler space first... you've been warned)



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FINAL SPOILER WARNING!!!



Bayhem reigns supreme... The forest scene was AMAZING.

Optimus Prime gets to shine in this film (mostly the forest battle)... "I'll take you all on!" ... "Pull over!" - absolutely epic.

The special effects were truly special; they deserve to sweep every award in that category.

Of course the critics are bashing the movie, but honestly it's the perfect summer popcorn action flick. The most common complaints are that it's too long and that you feel sensory overload. However, as I was walking out to my car I still wanted more and personally don't feel the action sequences were disorienting, but maybe they were a bit hard to follow at some points, at least the first time seeing it. The other common complaint is the plot: I didn't see any glaring inconsistencies in this one (besides some Constructicons who I thought were part of Devastor fighting after he combined, but I think they are just supposed to be different bots probably to satisfy Hasbro), whereas the first time I saw the first one I caught several; and on the other hand, the action is so great and carries the movie so well most people don't care that much.

The only things I'd say were worse, when compared to the first film, were 1) the music/score/soundtrack. Personally, I like 'What I've Done' better than 'New Divide,' not to mention 'Scorponok' from the first film's score (which also featured in the second half of the theatrical trailers for this one). And 2) this seemed to have less of Spielberg's touch than the first.

I wasn't a 'Transfan' before the first film came out, so I can't speak to the lore much. I read that a lot of fans were pumped up for Soundwave and had high expectations for him - IMO, he came off as pretty slick considering the role they used him in.

Isabel Lucas as Alice is spine-shivering, and you can honestly feel the build up to the climactic scene involving her. She's basically a Terminator though. Courtesy of this review, I'm gonna be calling her the 'Deceptinator chick.'

I'm SO GLAD they brought Jon Turturro back as Agent Simmons because he was probably the best human character in the first movie, and they give him an expanded role in this one... taking # 42 at the deli gave me a laugh even though no one else sitting near me caught it or got it.

Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson have probably the best human-Autobot interaction scenes in this one, but most of it is early in the film.

They also retconned in an off the cuff comment regarding Swine Flu and a mention of Obama as the President.

Sideswipe is probably my new favorite Autobot (and his alt form kicks ass too and is probably my dream car atm)... but there honestly wasn't enough of him OR Ironhide in the movie, IMO. Like I said I was left wanting more when it was over.

The twins were pretty funny... "In your face!" "he's just a pussy" "it's an ass-kicking, it's supposed to [hurt]!"... The humor overall was on par with the first film, maybe slightly more or less funny depending on your individual sense of humor. Some of it is a little juvenile and some of it could have been cut out to tighten up the film: mainly some of the scenes with Sam's mom at college - like the weed brownies - but honestly I can just picture my mom doing some of that stuff, like trying to chat up chicks (maybe not the brownies though).

All in all, Transformers ROTF and The Hangover are my two favorite movies this summer... and the only reason I can't pick one is that they are just two totally different kinds of movies.

If you like action flicks or are a movie buff, GO SEE THIS MOVIE!

[Thine]

good job on the review, i didnt read it till today cause i just got back from seeing it on IMAX I kinda wish they would of left optimus dead a little longer or maybe even do a LOTR kinda deal, make one big ass long movie, split it in a twoish year release type of deal...was good, i really want to seee it again..

[Kordolin]

Yeah I felt similarly about Prime. The movie would have been better plot-wise had they structured it such that his death was near the end and his resurrection was left as a cliff hanger. I realize this would have been a complete retooling of what they did, yet it would have been very 'Empire Strikes Back'-ish to have this second film of what's inevitably a trilogy be a 'loss' for the good side.