Written by Ehren Kruger & Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman
Directed by Michael Bay
Running Time: 2:30
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, language, some crude and sexual material, and brief drug material.
B-
THE OPENING
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was arguably the most action-packed movie I've ever seen... which also gave me a headache.
THE STORY
Picking up two years after the original, Sam is heading to college leaving his girlfriend Mikaela behind. But before he leaves Sam discovers a chip of the Allspark that was destroyed. The information from that chip is downloaded into Sam's head - and plunges him back into the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons. Except this time a Decepticon which had come to Earth nearly 20,000 years earlier is the one most interested in the information Sam now has. With that knowledge comes the ability to destroy the Sun and with it, all of humankind.
THE REVIEW
I think the biggest change since the original film is that Megan Fox has become a much bigger star than anything else associated with the film - otherwise there isn't really much different in Revenge of the Fallen. There are major action sequences, a plot thrown in just to get from battle to battle, and a lot of good looking people sweating. The story isn't really important since when it comes down to it, who cares? You don't go see this movie looking for a moving drama. You go for the special effects and to see how much skin Fox will show. Sadly, for the women who might want to see this movie, I don't recall any of the guys even taking off their shirts. Happily, I know of a lot of women who are just as attracted to Fox as guys are so it equals out. So don't go in expecting that this time around they've come up with a compelling story line because they haven't.
The action is as fast and furious as it was the first time we saw this movie. The running time is roughly the same but it feels like there's more explosions in this one. I can almost picture it in my head... The original has now crossed the $300M mark domestically and the studio is begging Michael Bay to make a sequel. He smiles to himself and realizes that the studio will give him anything he wants to make another one. So in his mind he envisions a 150 minute film that has about 5 minutes of a story and nearly 2 hours of things blowing up. I swear the last hour plus of the movie was one long battle sequence.
The special effects were once again, tremendous, especially with the few scenes shot specifically for IMAX. You tend to forget just how huge a (real) IMAX screen is (not these new IMAX-lite screens that are now sprouting up everywhere). The IMAX scenes in this film are primarly CGI fight scenes but they are impressive. The picture is so clear it feels like you're standing right on the edge of the battle watching it from up close. It also makes the regular letterboxed parts of the movie feel smaller in comparison. I had the same problem with this film as I did the last one. Whenever the Autobots and Decepticons fight each other, it's very hard to tell them apart. And the fighting is also so fast with the camera feeling like it's on crack, it can make you dizzy and will leave you with a headache by the end. Since there was literally no breaks in action during the last part of the film it was difficult keeping track of what was going on. But as I said, it did look good.
I guess the biggest problem with the film is that there's nothing new about it. There are no new Transformers that really stand out. There is more humor in the movie, care of a couple of new characters (human or otherwise) but it's sophomoric, childish humor designed to make a 10-year-old laugh. And yes, I did laugh a couple of times. But story-wise and action-wise it's pretty much the same as the original, just maybe louder and more obnoxious. Which means that once this one makes a lot of money, the studio will be back, throwing cash at everyone involved to try and finish out the trilogy.
THE BOTTOM LINE
So overall, I thought Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was OK. It wasn't anything new - just a rehash of the original. But the action sequences were still very strong, the CGI was great and of course, Megan Fox should be arrested for looking that good.
The special effects were once again, tremendous, especially with the few scenes shot specifically for IMAX. You tend to forget just how huge a (real) IMAX screen is (not these new IMAX-lite screens that are now sprouting up everywhere). The IMAX scenes in this film are primarly CGI fight scenes but they are impressive. The picture is so clear it feels like you're standing right on the edge of the battle watching it from up close. It also makes the regular letterboxed parts of the movie feel smaller in comparison. I had the same problem with this film as I did the last one. Whenever the Autobots and Decepticons fight each other, it's very hard to tell them apart. And the fighting is also so fast with the camera feeling like it's on crack, it can make you dizzy and will leave you with a headache by the end. Since there was literally no breaks in action during the last part of the film it was difficult keeping track of what was going on. But as I said, it did look good.
