Transformers 2 Review: Face-Ripping Robot Action!
I have an undying love for all things Transformers. As I’m writing this, hundreds of figures adorn shelves in my office, Generation 1 DVD sets sit on my bookshelf, the animated movie poster hangs over my desk, and Optimus Prime and Megtron leer at me from the sides of my monitor. I love these things. I can’t say exactly what it is that makes Transformers so significant to me. I know that besides my Care Bear (Cheer Bear specifically), Transformers are the first toy I can remember being excited to play with. Like all children growing up in the 80s, I had Dukes of Hazzard toys, Ninja Turtle figures and LEGOs, but was something about these shape-shifting aliens that I enjoyed more than any other toys. I even made my own Transformers out of LEGOs!
Growing up, I was fascinated by machinery and form. As a young boy, like most boys, I really liked trucks and construction. Monster trucks, bulldozers and heavy farm equipment fascinated me, and I always loved cartoons and characters. When the two met, and I saw a tractor-trailer semi transform into a robot, that was it. Ever since, I’ve been collecting Transformers toys — I have ones that I received as gifts when I was four — and I still look forward to the new figures coming out now. I’m sure a therapist could explain the true, and possibly disturbed, reasons I hold onto and collect these toys, but for me, it reminds me that no matter how old I get, I never have to really grow up.
Okay, enough about me. I just wanted to warn you the the so-called “review” below might not be totally subjective.
After really liking the first movie (twist!) and hearing that more robots, more action, and more Transformers history were promised in the sequel, I couldn’t wait to see Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. I was so excited that I pre-ordered tickets for the 12:01am showing the day of release. I ventured to the theater with my friend Nick and we were met with not only a line for our showing, but the three subsequent showings that were happening before 1am. I think it’s safe to say that this movie should do well in the box office department.
What It’s About
Two years after Megatron was defeated and dumped into the ocean, the Autobots have assimilated themselves into the US Army, creating a new branch called NEST. The Autobots, along with NEST, are tracking down remaining Decepticons to help make the planet safe once again. What they don’t realize is that Starscream has mobilized a new group of Decepticon warriors to search for the remaining shards of the destroyed Allspark. Using these shards, they can reactivate Megatron and continue the mission given to them by the original Decepticon, The Fallen. A mission that doesn’t call for enslavement of the human race, but for the destruction of the planet Earth itself.
What’s Awesome
Killer Robot Battles: The battles in ROTF are frequent and violent. As a Transformers fan, it’s not often that you get to see the brutality of their war. A lot of the comics and cartoons focus on the planning and the politics. ROTF does not. It skips all of the subtlety for outright mayhem. If these were humans, instead of organic robots, there’s no way this film could receive a PG-13 rating. These robots impale, amputate, curb-stop, dismember and out-right rip the faces off of each other. It’s quite a sight.
More Than Cannon Fodder: One of the things truly lacking in the first Transformers movie were the Decepticons. Yes, they were there, but really as nothing more than something for the Autobots to shoot at. In ROTF, you get to see the Decepticons scheme, coordinate, interact and even bicker amongst themselves. There are many colorful Decepticon characters, and it was nice to see some of them get screen time.
Cartoon In Disguise: A lot of people, and I mean a lot are going to hate The Twins. They are over-the-top caricatures of racial stereotypes, and are crude, worthless and annoying. But I like them. There’s something about them — along with the British Jetfire and the New Jersey-sounding Wheelie — that remind me of characters from the sadly defunct Transformers: Animated. The movie itself feels more like a cartoon than a film, too. With its transparent plot, goofy characters, and physical and technological happenings outside the realm of reality, the whole movie feels like one long Transformers cartoon.
One Shall Stand: Optimus Prime was kind of a wuss in Transformers 1. His only real fight was against Bonecrusher, and then he spent the rest of the movie getting tossed around by Megatron until Sam saved the day. Yuck. Luckily, in ROTF, Prime is a bad-ass mother-trucker. Now wielding dual Energon blades, Prime rips through the lower ranks of Decepticons like the fierce warrior he’s supposed to be.
What’s Annoying
Kill All The Humans: I don’t want to see Shia and Megan in any movie, let alone a movie that I’m this excited for. What do you get the kid who ruined Indiana Jones and celebrates drunk-driving? How about a lead role in a $500M+ grossing movie? It makes me sick. He can’t act his way out of a paper bag. And speaking of paper bags, Megan Fox doesn’t even know bags exist. I forget who said it, but some blogger said that the Trix Rabbit has better acting chops. It’s like she’s getting her lines fed to her through an earpiece. Then you have the Army, who gets too much screen time, and a new kid who is the Jar-Jar Binks of Transformers. Stick to the bots from now on. I mean, Sideswipe and Jolt didn’t even get to speak!
Who’s Story Is It?: Continuing from the above point, I thought this movie was about Transformers? I don’t care about two teenagers and their bickering about saying the L-Word. I don’t need to know that Shia’s roommate is a conspiracy-theory pervert. And I really don’t care what formation military jets fly in, how they react to being attacked, or how they coordinate their battles. Critics are complaining about the movie being too long and talk about how Bay should have cut some of the Transformers history to make it shorter. But that’s what we want. Cut down on the kitchen bots, humping dogs, military advertising shots and goofy sidekicks, and you could have this movie come in under two hours.
Still Too Fast: Another complaint I had with the first movie was that the action was too fast and choppy to really tell what’s going on. And while they fixed it some by slowing down the fights to show you the heavy hits, it’s still hard to tell what’s happening a lot of the time. There aren’t a lot of wide shots to show off the Transformers designs and movements and I think I could count the transformation sequences shown on one hand. Once again, removing a lot of the human elements would have allowed for more time to show the Transformers as characters. Maybe they could have even allowed the new Autobots to introduce themselves.
Conclusion
I have a lot to say about this movie because it’s Transformers (as if you couldn’t tell from the previous 1200 words). The subject means a lot to me in the same way that Trekkers, LOTR fans, Harry Potter lovers and other fanboys/fangirls involve themselves in their relative stories. Trying to see the movie as a non-Transformer fan isn’t going to happen, so I’m not going to even try. Were there things I didn’t like about the movie? Yes. Were they nit-picky “those aren’t my Transformers” kinds of crap? No. Speaking as a fan, I would say that if you love action, robots, Transformers, comics and cartoons, give it a shot. And if you enjoyed the first one, you’ll love this one.
Justin says: What do you think? Go see it. Now.
About Movie Reviews: Since I don’t venture out into the theater very often, I don’t see a lot of movies as they are released. The ones that I do manage to watch are ones that I’ve been eagerly anticipating. In no way do I consider myself a true movie critic because I can be quite biased, and my taste is suspect at best. I’m writing these reviews to allow people with similar interests to know if it’s worth their money to check it out.
Thanks for reading.
Comments
Thanks for reading! If you liked, or didn't like, what you read, let me know by leaving a comment.
Drea Posted on 06.25.09 at 11:14
I applaud you on this review!!!!
Rachael Posted on 06.25.09 at 14:39
I’m going to see it tomorrow with Brian and some of his work friends. It seems like it will be much better than the first one, which i liked already.
Lance Posted on 06.28.09 at 01:00
You’re about Transformers how I am G.I. Joe. Too bad that movie is going to suck it hard.
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