Monday, June 29, 2009

REVIEW: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Powerd by IMDb

Title: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Distributor: DreamWorks SKG
Director: Michael Bay
Writer(s): Ehren Kruger, Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman
Staring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Ramon Rodriguez, Autobots (voices), and Decepticon (voices)
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, language, some crude and sexual material, and brief drug material.
Running Time: 150 min (2 hr and 30 min)
Synopsis: 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.
Other Reviews

Critics:

Roger Ebert: 1 Star
Michael Phillips: 1 ½ Stars
EW: Owen Gleiberman: B

Other Sites:

At The Movies: Ben Mankiewicz: Skip It, Ben Lyons: See It
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 20% (Rotten), Top Critics: 18% (Rotten), RT Community: 68% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 35 out of 100, Users: 6.0 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 38: (0.0% A, 11.5% B, 40.1% C, 37.0% D, and 10.7% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: C- Users: B+

My Review
Source Material: Based on the Transformers toys by Hasbro.
Acting and Dialogue: C: It lacked the cleverness of the first but there were a few one-liners that made me laugh. As far as the acting goes Megan Fox is the definition of eye candy but she a horrible actress.

Art Direction: B-: What makes this film art direction half way good is it visual effects.
Cinematography: B-: Some nice areal shoots and great visual effects

Direction: B: It’s a Michael Bay film so there everything “hot” in it including the following: fire (explosions), cars, and babes (Megan Fox). So it has everything for a summer blockbuster but some of the story aspects fall short.

Sound and Music: A: The sound track is good and score components the film. The sound design could very well be Oscar worthy again this year, like the first film.

VFX: A+: “More that meets the eye”

Overall: C+: There is more: robot on robot fighting, Autobots, Decepticon, action, transformations, visual stimuli, ect. These things are great but give me substance like story and acting.