Transformers is a movie that is interesting, facile, humorous, and ludicrous. If I were a 10 year old boy I would undoubtedly give it 4 out of 4 stars and think it is the greatest movie ever made. However, since I am a good bit older than that I cannot ignore the movie's flaws.
The plot to the movie is simple enough. Transformers are alien robots that can transform into cars, planes, military hardware, and other items as a means of disguise. As it turns out, there are good Transformers (the Autobots) and evil ones (Decepticons) and they have been battling for millenia to control their home planet. Each side wants the McGuffin (The Spark) which is incredibly powerful and would turn the tide of the war. As it turns out, the Spark is on earth and thus the two sides are going to battle for it here.
The best part of this movie are the action sequences, with robots transforming constantly and all sorts of things going on all over the screen. You really almost can't keep up, partly due to director Michael Bay's proclivity for extreme close-ups and erratic camera views. Despite this, the fight scenes between the US military and the Decepticons are quite good. Also, the movie has some chuckles and is tongue in cheek in an almost campy way, which is a must given how ludicrous the film is at times. Shia LeBouf does a good job as young Sam Witwicky who is befriended by the Autobots. The main problem with the movie is that there is no character development of the various robots. They are the stars of this film, but we have no idea why they act as they do, other than that they are either a good or evil sort of robot and that explains it. Also, the plot is rather ludicrous and has plot threads that could be completely cut from the film and not be missed at all.
Transformers are a line of toys for children that were first introduced in the USA around 1984 by Hasbro, along with an accompanying cartoon that was produced by Marvel Comics. With that as the source material, perhaps it isn't too surprising that what ends up on screen here is essentially a cartoon brought into real life. If you understand that what you are seeing is completely ludicrous and embrace that fact, I think you can enjoy Transformers as a fun movie for its action sequences and spurts of lowbrow humor, taking it all in very tongue in cheek.
RATING: **1/2 of 4 stars (fair to good); **** of 4 stars if you are a young boy.
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