Movie reviews: The Transformers (2007) – Part 36

Like any person from my generation, I got a little excited about the Transformers film coming to theaters. I had my own sweet collection once, spending afternoons in my room pitting Optimus Prime against my G.I. Joes, turning my bedspread into whatever my imagination could create. Everyone loves nostalgia, and I am no different. However, I was skeptical. Michael Bay does not make great movies. He’s the kind of filmmaker who has built his career assuming that action and effects come before story. And for me, this is a lousy way to make movies. It insults the intelligence of your audience. So, I wondered what this film would be like.

Transformers is better than most Michael Bay affairs. The effects are immense, as is the colossal amount of sound. When the vehicles change into the robot identities, it is remarkable and impressive. What made this film better than others, though, is that the main character (played by Shia LaBoeuf) is affable. There is plenty of humour, teenage hormones, awkwardness etc. all mixed in with the action, which makes for good entertainment. Not great, but good.

I think the film was too long. There were plenty of scenes where my mind wandered. And when a film lulls like this, I start looking for problems. And with all the funny moments, there are some bloody awful ones too. Cheap, generic dialogue, especially in the latter half, useless characters, improbable scenarios etc. They’re all there. And yes, I am well aware that we are supposed to suspend our disbelief when we watch these kinds of movies. I try to, but sometimes there has to be consistency too. And when army personnel pull a fully loaded shotgun from a historic display case, all I can do is laugh.

So, as far as bang for your buck is concerned, this film delivers. Most of us will be content to sit through the “eye-rolling” stuff and just ride the assault on our senses. I give this film 7.5 out of 10.