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Transformers
(2007)
 
First came the Japanese comic book, then there
were the toys and a television cartoon series, followed by
an animated feature. Now executive producer Steven Spielberg
presents a live action theatrical film that's the best freakin'
giant robot movie ever.
Quite simply, this may be the most awesome summer movie of 2007
in terms of sheer entertainment value.
After the war between the good Autobots and the evil Decepticons
destroys their home planet, they scatter throughout the universe
looking for a powerful device that was lost to them, which is
eventually located on a little planet called Earth where geeky high
school student Sam (Shia LaBeouf) has just purchased his first car.
It's an old yellow Camaro that's actually the Autobot Bumblebee (voice
of Mark Ryan) in disguise. Bumblebee helps Sam woo popular school
beauty Mikaela (Megan Fox) before Sam finally learns that his car can
transform into a giant robot. Soon they're caught up in a battle
between Autobot leader Optimus Prime (voice of Peter Cullen) and
Decepticon leader Megatron (voice of Hugo Weaving) with the fate of
the world hanging in the balance.
Director Michael Bay (The Rock, Armageddon) is known
for celebrating spectacle and cinematic eye candy, and those are the
traits that serve this film so well. It's a kinetic, edge of your
seat experience with big, bold action scenes that thrill you without
becoming pointlessly bombastic. If you want to see giant robots
fighting and widespread mayhem, Bay delivers both in spades. He also
bring a sense of wonder to the story that will appeal to kids and
adults alike, and will make the latter feel like wide-eyed kids again.
The screenwriting team of Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (Mission: Impossible III) are fans of the original cartoon and their affection for the
material bleeds through in every scene. Even the changes they've made
to the fictional universe feel right in the context of the film.
Their screenplay has it all: humor, action, drama, more action,
sentimental scenes ala Spielberg, and even a little romance, all
wrapped up in a satisfying package. Films like this aren't about deep
exploration of character, but when they work it's because they give us
likable heroes to cheer for and villains we love to hate, and this is
one that works. Even the robots are brought to life as individual
characters in their own right. And how can you not like a film in which
a geek saves the world and gets the beautiful girl?
Cinematographer Mitchell Amundsen (Transporter 2) employs bright
lighting with lots of texture and shading to create a high octane look
for the film. Production designers Jeff Mann (Terminator 3: Rise of
the Machines) and Nigel Phelps (Judge Dredd, Alien: Resurrection)
bring the story's fictional universe to life with a combination of
mind-blowing science fiction imagery and down to Earth settings.
Composer Steve Jablonsky (The Island, television's Desperate
Housewives) provides a suitably rousing score.
Industrial Light & Magic revolutionized the field of visual effects in
1977 with Star Wars, and they and the other effects studios involved
here may have just done so again. The effects are so seamless that
you have to remind yourself that what you're seeing isn't real. The
robots may only be CGI effects, but you'll respond to them just like
the characters in the film do, as real beings.
LaBeouf has the natural charm and comic timing of a young Tom Hanks,
and he puts both traits to good use in making Sam a believable and
compelling lead for the film. At its heart, this is a story about a
boy and his sentient robot car, and LaBeouf's performance sells us on
the reality of that relationship. Fox has the beauty for the role of
Mikaela, but her performance also makes her a strong character who's
more than just the requisite love interest. LaBeouf and Fox have good
on-screen chemistry.
The rest of the cast is just as good, including Jon Voight as the US
Secretary of Defense, Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson as Special Ops
soldiers, John Turturro in a hilarious turn as the head of a secret
government agency, Rachael Taylor as a signal detection and decoding
expert, Anthony Anderson as a master hacker, and even comedian Bernie Mac as a
used car salesman.
The voice cast is also strong. Standing out in particular are Cullen
as he returns to the role he created in the original cartoon, Weaving
as a menacing villain, Ryan as a suitable Bumblebee in limited
speaking time, and Reno Wilson mining laughs as Frenzy.
Motor vehicles that turn into giant robots? Check. Giant robots
fighting and causing mayhem? Check. Cool geek heroes? Check. 144
minutes of non-stop entertainment? Check. There are some people out
there who probably won't like this film. I feel sorry for them,
because Transformers is one awesome thrill ride from start to finish
and is an example of Hollywood summer entertainment at its finest.
Longtime fans may just get teary-eyed when they see their favorite
robotic characters on the big screen for the first time.
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All contents ©
2004-2009 Thoughtsonfilm.com |
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Director:
Michael
Bay
Writer: Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman, John Rogers
Starring: Shia
LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Peter Cullen, Hugo Weaving, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese
Gibson, Anthony Anderson, Jon Voight, John Turturro
Distributor: Paramount
Pictures
Runtime: 144
min
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: July
3, 2007
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