Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Containing some elements of the 1986 animated movie, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is the follow-up to the 2007 Transformers movie. Having been a bit disappointed with the 2007 film, which seemed to serve the role as an introduction to the revamped franchise and some interesting CGI, my expectations going into this film were fairly low. What I encountered was a motion picture that looked to expand the scope of the Transformers universe, but failed to deliver a meaningful, continuous plot.

The Good

The visual effects in this movie were incredible, with some interesting new twists and a lot of melee-type fights involving more than one Transformer. The motion and direction of the CGI were flawless, and added to the excitement of the film when new robots with novel functions were introduced. If you are only interested in seeing visual effects, giant fighting robots, and new applications of the Transformers theme to different scenarios in a modernized way, then this movie is for you.

There were also scenes that made me laugh, and I did love Agent Simmons (John Torturro) and Leo (Ramon Rodriguez). The introduction of new Transformers and the inclusion of a metabot formed by the joining of several Transformers were all positive elements.

The Bad

Unfortunately, no movie is all about the CGI, and the plot has a few holes that remain unfilled at the end of the movie. The dialogue was a bit cheesy at times, as were some of the story elements and extraneous characters. The performances of the main characters are diluted by the sheer number of Transformers and secondary human characters, which makes it a bit difficult to become attached to the heroes and heroine who are supposedly driving the story arc.

Plot holes and unnecessary characters aside, this movie seemed like it was made in part as an advertisement for the United States army, and product placement was rather rampant. I was also less than impressed with the execution of the final fight scene, which combined a plot hole with unmet expectations.

The Ugly

For me, the worst part of seeing Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is the fact that I walked out of this movie with a sense of enjoyment. Perhaps it was the music, the popcorn, or the giant Imax screen that the movie played on, but I felt entertained when I left the theater. As I went over the movie in my mind, however, the faults and flaws glared, and I started to get a headache just thinking about one of the cheesy lines spoken in front of a fire with wind blowing in Megan Fox's hair. Barf. This flick is honest in its appeal to the widest demographic possible, and it does deliver if you leave your brain at the door. Head to the theater if you have money and 180 minutes to burn, but I advise you to skip it if you haven't seen Up, Star Trek, or Night at the Museum 2, as those films are much more enjoyable.

Rating: 6.0/10.0

(Feeling nostalgic? Check out The Transformers: The Complete First Season.)