In a country known to be fairly late on getting the new movies, Japan has scored a coup this time around with being the first country to show the new Transformers movie. Scheduled for June 20th, they even decided to move that up a day to the 19th. And you bet I was there to be one of the first in the world to see it.
PREMISE: In the highly-anticipated sequel, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) again joins with the Autobots against their sworn enemies, the Decepticons. Decepticon forces return to Earth on a mission to take Sam Witwicky prisoner, after the young hero learns the truth about the ancient origins of the Transformers. Joining the mission to protect humankind is Optimus Prime, who forms an alliance with international armies for a second epic battle.
HIGHS: Hmmm, transformers, transformers, and more transfomers? One of the biggest complaints about the first movie was the lack of screen time for the title characters. Well you don’t have to worry much about that in round 2. From an excellent opening sequence, to the fight in the forest, to the shock and awe of the finale, we have all the transformers you could want. Of course, while the transformers are the name of the game, Shea Labeouf jumps back into the role that really kickstarted him in Hollywood, and that he fits in best. He really fits the role of the cynical college kid going off on his own, and is totally believable. But, not to be outdone, this time around mom really steals the show as well with some great lines. Megan Fox is also just damn good looking for the whole movie. And, if our boys in uniform fight and coordinate like they do in this movie, than all the more reason to be proud of them, because damn, they’re good. And Jetfire was an extremely good point of the movie, from the way he acts, talks, and walks, he steals the show in an most unexpected way. Who ever thought there were old senile transformers?
LOWS: Honestely, these are small points. First up, if you want to knock on anything, you could call it a little long, clocking in at about 2 and a half hours. But that’s chock full of transformers, and much more screen time of said transformers than the first movie that you’re wishing it doesn’t end to begin with. Secondly, all the decepticons end of looking alike so outside of Devastator, Starscream and Megatron, it’s kind of hard to really tell the rest of the “grunt transformer fodder” apart and who they are. Lastly, while Optimus and Bumblebee get some prime action time, the rest of the team, while on screen, doesn’t get much action or speaking time. Again though, these are small things, that really don’t detract from the film in my humble opinion. Girlfriends and wives who aren’t fans of giant transforming robots may have other opinions though.
RULING: This movie has come out to knock Star Trek off the top of my list of best movie remakes/reboots/adaptations of shows watched as a child. Honestly, I was smiling from the first moment I heard Optimus Prime’s voice, I was amazed, and stunned during the awesome forest sequence, to smiling again by the end of the movie. It’s honestly a humorous movie, with some great moments, lines and emotions that are brought out well by the transformers, tons of action, a hot Megan Fox (and hotter college lady who takes a liking to Sam). Oh did I mention that there were lots of robots? Oh, and yeah, Jetfire rocks too by the way.
Fanboy spewing aside, I was really impressed in the amount of “life” put into the transformers, from Bee, Optimus, the twins (who have some of the best lines in the movie) to Jetfire (who also has some of the best lines). Some of the most impressive effects seen yet from movies this year, and overall, simply a great movie that serves up an excellent imagining of the toys, and cartoons we all grew up with. I’m already planning to go see it again, next time in IMAX.
G-S-T Ruling: 3.5/5
G-S-T Seal of Approval: GRANTED