Jun 30 2009
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - A Review
The newest Transformers film has garnered good, bad, and mediocre reviews all across the board from critics and fans alike. I, myself, grew up watching the 80s cartoon, and had a fit in the movie theater (quite literally jumping out of my seat) three years ago when I saw the teaser trailer for the first Transformers film. I saw the first film opening night and left the theater wowed. The transforming sequences were immaculate, streaming flawlessly from vehicle to giant robot without missing a beat, while still looking incredibly realistic and just plain cool. The story was really interesting, and aside from some unnecessary sexual references, this first live action Transformers film was awesome! I loved it.
Revenge of the Fallen picks up with Sam Witwicky (Shia LeBeouf) leaving for college and in pursuit of a “normal” life, since freshmen aren’t allowed cars on his college campus, thus leaving Bumblebee at home. Sam, however, soon learns that a “normal” life is something that he’ll never have. Sam discovers a shard of the Allspark that was still stuck to his clothes from the final battle of the last movie. Upon touching it, Sam has a similar experience to his grandfather, Captain Archibald Witwicky, gaining knowledge of the ancient history of the Transformers, and causing him to see visions and have fits where all he can do is write the letters and signs he sees in his visions. With the added pressure of a long distance relationship with Mikaela (Megan Fox), (let’s forget about being hunted down by the Decepticons), Sam’s first few days in college become the toughest of his life.
While the first Transformers combines a great story with flawless action sequences and epic battles, creating a movie that could’ve been incredibly corny, but is instead AWESOME, Revenge of the Fallen has a lot of explosions, a choppy story, and a ridiculous and unnecessary amount of sexual references and crude language. Quite frankly, I could’ve handled the former two a lot better if the latter hadn’t been so gratuitous. I simply don’t understand how Megan Fox’s front or backside advances the plot, nor the excessive lewd jokes made by nearly everyone throughout the film. The action sequences in this installment weren’t quite as exciting as the previous film, and maybe my Transformers knowledge is rusty, but I didn’t recognize several of the new Autobots and Decepticons introduced. I think they could’ve introduced the new characters a little better. Character development (even just a little bit) isn’t a bad thing, people.
Highlights of the film for me were Peter Cullen, the original voice of Optimus Prime in the 80s cartoon, reprising his role as the leader of the Autobots (gotta love that deep, booming voice), as well as Rainn Wilson (Dwight from The Office) making an appearance as Professor Colan, although the sexually charged introduction to his Astronomy class could’ve been skipped (for real, it’s not even a Biology or Human A&P class!). Still, watching Wilson assume the role of a college professor was quite funny. Overall, the basic storyline was interesting, but all the bathroom humor and explosions got in the way of developing a good storyline. The final rating on the Nerdy Blogger Scale:
A “Huh?”
This is the rating I’ll be giving for film, books, television, music, and pocasts I’m not quite sure what to do with. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen could’ve been a lot better, but it wasn’t the worst film I’ve ever seen either. I hope the third installment (due in 2012 according to IMDB.com) is a lot better. It can only go up from here, right?
Blessings,
Nerdy Blogger
Coming from one who is not easily shocked, I still have to agree about some of the humor in it…while I laughed through the entire movie, I couldn’t help but think about the sheer amount of kids that won’t be able to (or shouldn’t be allowed to) see the movie. After all, even though Marvel comics essentially created a slightly more adult storyline to follow with their original comic series (I’m thinking way back here) all of this is STILL based on a toyline that originated in Japan by Takara.
I’m all for more mature reinterpretations of our childhood favorites; after all, the 23-30 age bracket is really the target audience for 80s throw-back films. Bryan Singer did an excellent job with the first two Xmen movies IMHO. However, they should still attempt to curb a bit of the sexual humor…adult themes, dark themes, sure…completely persistent non-relevant frat humor, not so much.
Transformers is by and large my favorite franchise ever so I’m a bit hard on the movies. The plot was awful. Yet again, the Decepticons plotted to end the world and Sam stopped it just in the nick of time. With “the original primes” storyline used up and the Matrix of Leadership (or at least Bay’s blasphemic incarnation of) idea used there’s only one usable plot device left to pay homage to the original series - Unicron…good luck with that.
I did like the depiction of Bumblebee and Prime as being totally hardened by this point though, as both were uncharacteristically bloodthirsty in battle - something that hasn’t really been seen before.
You have a lot clearer memories of the original than I do. I just remember watching it, but not a lot of the characters or storylines. I’m not really offended by dark themes or anything like that, I think kids need to have an understanding of those things, but it just seems ridiculous to have so so many crude jokes and references in a movie that I KNOW a lot of kids will be seeing. Really, I was in Wal-Mart right before I saw the movie and I saw all kinds of action figures and toys from the new movie. If they’re not going to leave out a lot of the junk, why are they marketing the movie to little kids? Irresponsible, if you ask me.
This also comes from me as a youth worker, who feels responsible to shield her kids from bad influences. Pardon me if I come down a little harder than most.