Having seen it, I can say without a doubt that Transformers is Michael Bay's best movie. Whether that's good or bad is up to you to figure out.
The good:
1) Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime. 'Nuff said.
2) Bumblebee. For most of the first & second reels he's the only Transformer we have any serious interaction with, and for almost all of that he doesn't have any lines. Despite this, he comes off as a pretty cool character.
3) The action sequences. Particularly Starscream vs. the USAF. It's like half dogfight, half Parkour run. Seriously badass.
4) Frenzy. For a spindly little cybernetic maniac, he's actually better comic relief than the human comic relief (see below).
5) Did I mention Peter Cullen? Right then.
6) The score. Steve Jablonsky finds all the right buttons and smashes 'em with big fucking hammers. Combined with the right visuals, the effect is brilliant.
The bad:
1) Insufficient giant robotage. I understand that the human element is important, and it works well enough for the first reel, but eventually you want to get away from the human cast & back to more Cybertronian mayhem.
2) The action sequences. Like I said above, there's some brilliant action pieces. The problem is, Michael Bay's so addicted to shakycam that you can barely see half the fights.
3) The "comic relief." Way too much and not nearly funny enough.
4) Megatron. Don't get me wrong, the design worked better on screen than in the stills, and Hugo Weaving did a good job on the voice, but there just wasn't enough of him. Pity, really.
5) Remember that brilliant score I mentioned? Well, apparently Dreamworks decided to release a "from and inspired by" soundtrack that didn't have a single track from that score on it. I am well vexed.
(Incidentally, that "soundtrack"? Isn't worth it. Only four of the tracks are actually any good, and one of 'em is Linkin Park. That shit just ain't right.)
So, to sum up: Giant robots kick ass, should've kicked more, hopefully they will in the sequel. Moderately Recommended.---
Mr. Fnord
http://fnord.sandwich.net/
http://www.jihad.net/
Mr. Fnord interdimensional man of mystery
FenWiki - Your One-Stop Shop for Fenspace Information
"I. Drink. Your. NERDRAGE!"
The good:
1) Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime. 'Nuff said.
2) Bumblebee. For most of the first & second reels he's the only Transformer we have any serious interaction with, and for almost all of that he doesn't have any lines. Despite this, he comes off as a pretty cool character.
3) The action sequences. Particularly Starscream vs. the USAF. It's like half dogfight, half Parkour run. Seriously badass.
4) Frenzy. For a spindly little cybernetic maniac, he's actually better comic relief than the human comic relief (see below).
5) Did I mention Peter Cullen? Right then.
6) The score. Steve Jablonsky finds all the right buttons and smashes 'em with big fucking hammers. Combined with the right visuals, the effect is brilliant.
The bad:
1) Insufficient giant robotage. I understand that the human element is important, and it works well enough for the first reel, but eventually you want to get away from the human cast & back to more Cybertronian mayhem.
2) The action sequences. Like I said above, there's some brilliant action pieces. The problem is, Michael Bay's so addicted to shakycam that you can barely see half the fights.
3) The "comic relief." Way too much and not nearly funny enough.
4) Megatron. Don't get me wrong, the design worked better on screen than in the stills, and Hugo Weaving did a good job on the voice, but there just wasn't enough of him. Pity, really.
5) Remember that brilliant score I mentioned? Well, apparently Dreamworks decided to release a "from and inspired by" soundtrack that didn't have a single track from that score on it. I am well vexed.
(Incidentally, that "soundtrack"? Isn't worth it. Only four of the tracks are actually any good, and one of 'em is Linkin Park. That shit just ain't right.)
So, to sum up: Giant robots kick ass, should've kicked more, hopefully they will in the sequel. Moderately Recommended.---
Mr. Fnord
http://fnord.sandwich.net/
http://www.jihad.net/
Mr. Fnord interdimensional man of mystery
FenWiki - Your One-Stop Shop for Fenspace Information
"I. Drink. Your. NERDRAGE!"