Transformers Movie (2007) Review

Transformers The Movie Review
Originally uploaded by docfiles.

OK I have just seen it and am now officially late for work! In short the movie is great! The story is simple but flows well with the characters well played, and many funny moments. The graphics are fantastic, blending in the robots very realistically. Sometimes there is just too much that meets the eye.

The build up was very tangible as we were all waiting for the first robot to transform. And when the first transformation finally came with Blackout obliterating the base, it was very menacing.

Worth watching even if you are not a Transformers fan. For fans, a must. 10x better than Fantastic 4, Doc gives is 8 stethescopes out of 10.

A more detailed report ahead (ie.I've reached my workplace and will write in between patients!)

The Story (Spoilers ahead!)
In the beginning was the AllSpark cube (which looks a lot like a Borg cube) which gives life to mechanical beings. Amidst the civil war in Cybertron amongst the Decepticons ad the Autobots, the cube is lost. The transformers are looking for the Allspark which just happens to land on Earth. Megatron gets there first but crash lands in the Arctic circle and lies frozen and dormant. Sam Witwicky's (Shia LaBoeuf) grandpa, an explorer finds Megatron and the location of the Allspark gets imprinted on his glasses.

Sam is selling the glasses on ebay to make money to buy his first car...which happens to be Bumblebee who is assigned to protect Sam. Sams love interest is the sexy Mikaela (Megan Fox) who has a lot of nice curves, and can fix a car too! The chemistry between them and Bumblebee as a matchmaker works quite well.

OK so in between the Decepticons are trying to download the location of the Allspark which is under a top top top secret Sector 7 section of the government. Apparently they discovered Megatron and the Allspark long ago and were using it to create cars,lasers,microvaves etc. Megatron is under deep freeze (of course he thaws out later)

Both sides learn that Sam has the glasses and battles ensue to get to it. Bumblebee summons backup with his batsignal...oops...I mean autobot signal. Prime arrives with backup and takes on GM vehicles (Thank God they didn't come across a Proton showcase!). The decepticons get cooler vehicle modes aka F22 jets, tanks, scorpions and Blackhawk helicopters.

Everybody wants to get their hands on the allspark which ends up miniaturised in Sams hands and a battle royal ensues in the city between the giant robots. Megatron gets the upper hand as Optimus tries to protect the puny fleshlings. He is willing to sacrifice himself to destroy the Allspark so that Megatron cannot use it for evil. But fortunately Sam has a better idea and destroys Megatron with the Allspark instead.

The Autobots settle on earth and Bumblebee decides to stay with Sam. The Decepticons are deep sixed in the sea (we'll see how long they stay there!) and Prime issues a message to the remaining Autobots to come to Earth (I smell a sequel...).

The Characters
Though there are not as many transformers in this movie, but the main characters are done well. I just get that tingly feeling when Optimus Prime rolls up and speaks his familiar (Peter Cullen aka Eeyore!) deep compassionate voice : Autobots Roll Out!
Megatron doesn't get as much air time but he is decidedly evil. Poor Jazz gets bisected.

The Special Effects
Whoa.. the last time I was impressed was LOTR! The robots blend in well and give the feeling that we humans are really puny, ready to be squashed! The in-city fighting was amazing, street level fighting and air fights were equally impressive. The transformations were a bit slow and complicated, but very impressive none the less. Gigantic robots fighting in close range can be hard to follow with debris and explosions everywhere.

Gripes & Complaints

The Allspark was a bit confusing. In the original series it was supposed to bring life and transformation, not death. Hotrod was transformed into Rodimus Prime via the Matrix, but here it destroyed Megatron. Also all life it makes seems to be evil. Anyway just a small gripe.
The story and acting got a bit cheesy at the end as they tried to get to the main battle, but the build up to it was excellent.

Will I see it more than once?

Yes, thats for sure! The battle scenes themselves are too much to take in one sitting! But generally it's quite an enjoyable show. The audience laughed at many stages and cheered as Optimus arrived to turn the tide. We all liked the nerdy Sam and wanted him to get the girl. All in all a show worth watching.