Transformers…Mount up!
by Donna Cooper, Jr. Copywriter
So, I went to see Transformers recently, which I guess really isn’t much of a surprise. I didn’t have high hopes for this film though. Considering that the majority of the time they butcher classic cartoons, books, and comic books when they turn them in to full-length, live action films, I kept my excitement at bay (no pun intended). It didn’t take long once the lights dimmed and the chatter died down for me to start buzzing with excitement and planning my next trip to the theater to watch it again.
Viewers barely had a chance to get settled in their seats and start munching on their popcorn before the insanity ensued. From beginning to end, there was never a dull moment. From the opening scenes at the military base in Qatar, to the Autobot/Decepticon death match at the end, it was great. The CGI and Michael Bay’s attempt to make the action sequences look more real (thanks to spending 150 million on practical action sequences instead of CGI) make this movie a visual pleasure.
Probably the most surprise part of the whole movie was the brilliantly executed use of humor. Shia LaBeouf (Sam Witwicky), though funny, is essentially the same character he has been in all his films thus far. I can’t complain though, since I’ve liked him in everything I’ve seen him in. He’s just a funny, likeable guy. The entire movie is peppered with oddball characters played by John Turturro and Bernie Mac, and witty one-liners.
Other notables in the film were Josh Duhamel (from Las Vegas), who played Captain Lennox and Tyrese Gibson (used to be a model, right?). They were part of the military presence in the movie, but that was about it. They looked cool, and it was clear (via the humorous, but intense exchange between Captain Lennox and Agent Simmons, played by John Turturro) that they meant business and were there to get the job done. But, they were lacking a little in character development. At this moment, I’m sure the meat of their characters are laying lifeless on the cutting room floor, which is a shame because I do so like Josh Duhamel.
Considering how much I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, it’s hard to imagine that I found anything to dislike about it. But, sadly, the movie was not perfect. The main complaint being that it seemed like a GM car ad since all the Autobots (with the exception of Optimus Prime) were GM models. Producers have said that this is because the Autobot alternate modes are now owned by GM as part of a tie-in deal. It reinforces my previous blog about product placement, as this is a prime example of it. I just think in this case, it slightly detracted from the integrity of the original Transformers.
My only other complaint was that some of the battle scenes were a little drawn out. I started to get board after the first 3 minutes of the Decepticons and the Autobots destroying the city. Otherwise, it was one helluva movie! Great example of the summer blockbuster.
This one gets 4.5 golden pens. ½ a pen subtracted for product placement and drawn out battle scenes. I loved it!