Transformers Movie Review

Michael Bay has really outdone himself this time. "The Transformers" have landed and it is all that it is advertised to be. It's a film full of spectacle, explosive action and a dash of style. The movie's strongest points of values, however, are hidden beneath the gloss and are very nearly compromised by Bay's need to make things explode relentlessly. To his credit, however, he holds it all together favorably enough to make a memorable movie out of this blockbuster and potentially setting up a new film franchise in the process.

The movie is about the battle between the heroic Autobots and villainousDecepticons, who have now taken their epic fight to earth. Caught in between this conflict, we meet the young Sam Witwicky, who we eventually find out unknowingly holds the key to the outcome of this war with a family heirloom he is trying to hock on ebay (don't ask). Along the way, there is also a side story of a special forces unit who first encounters the Decepticons while on deployment in the middle east. Further, there is also another subplot featuring a team of brilliant computer analysts who are employed by the government to decode the alien technologies that the military is picking up on. If that is not enough, there is also a Black Ops unit, Sector Seven, that further muddles the story, along with a whole assortment of additional plot strings that threaten to deconstruct the film at its very core. Thankfully, there is a saving grace or two.

Bumblebee -- perhaps the most endearing character in the movie. The film's strongest bond centers between Sam and he and it's a very well executed storyline. There is a definite sense of loyalty and affection that is built up between the two as Bumblebee serves as Sam's protector. One of the funniest scenes from the movie happens early on when Sam, who just received the Bumblebee car as a gift from his father, receives assistance from the vehicle in charming a young lady from his school that he has a crush on. It's a memorable ride home as Bumblebee does all that he can to provide the right mood for Sam to make his move! It's in those early moments that the young Witwicky realizes that there is indeed something very special about his car. Later, as the peril in the film increases, the bond grows stronger between the two and it's an aspect to the story line that is heartwarming.

Another fantastic attribute to this story is the simple but effective aspect of Good versus Evil. For me, the finest special effects driven scene in the film is when the Autobots are seen arriving on earth, coming to our planet as protectors against the evil Decepticons. The heroic music accompanies their arrival from space and I found these moments to be goose bump inducing. The style, the score and the direction all come together in this moment and is delivered with grace. And when the do arrive, they are very cool to look at too! Optimus Prime has a fantastic color scheme and a grand speaking voice. His cohorts all have personalities of their own as well and don't come across as stock 'characters,' which could have been a real concern. As far as the pundits who complain about the simple style of dialogue -- this is a fantasy yarn that many youngsters enjoy, so relax. If it's art house you want, I'm sure you can rent an IFC movie on-demand and skip this type of movie.

The film's final act is the most visually impressive segment but it is also the most damaging. As the Autobots and Decepticons square off in the heart of a city, there is destruction everywhere and the mayhem becomes nearly impossible to follow. I'm not into films where the climax is a series of violent explosions but the only difference here is that there were really cool transforming robots involved and not stock villains and heroes. To that end, the film sustained itself well enough to close the film out with a margin of success. In short, it survived the ending and the thanks for that should go directly to Industrial Light and Magic.

When I take a look at the full scope of this movie, I realize that it is possible to love and hate a movie at the same time. Overall, I hope the best aspects of this movie are put to use in a sequel. While Bay surely has a keen eye when he holds it in check, his compulsion for on-screen action is excessive and nearly provides his undoing here. Ultimately, "Transformers" is worth seeing in theaters and will also be a worthy DVD purchase, but, there was a whole lot more that could have met the eye with this one.