Right up there with the first two.

Rating: 7/10 (21 May 2009)

I cannot stress how surprised I was walking out of the theatre tonight. I am a fan of the series and have been watching them since I came out of mama, so I knew what I'd like about this movie and what I wouldn't. I went in with low expectations. I mean, come on, McG? Looking back at my time in the theatre, I realized that I was somewhat like a kid seeing (Transformers) for the first time: I realized I was *excited* watching the movie. McG comes through and doesn't make a rear end of himself, saving the franchise from the ruins left behind of the third installment. The story is arguably the best of the series, and I can say that with a straight face. The movie tosses you right into the action and never really focuses on the machines like 99% of movies would; the machines already exist in this world and are seen everyday by these people, so when you see that first turret shooting at the helicopters for the first time at the satellite station, you'll know what I mean when they don't really focus in on it; it's just there. And what a refreshing quality that is, too.
Sam Worthington overacts some of his parts (see the campfire scene with Bloodgood), but he could have been just as much of the lead in this film as Bale was. Common is never out of place or too flashy; he serves his purpose and that is it. And if there is one good thing about this film, it's no one really stands out in that "need-to-be-in-frame" way.
Splitting the film up into thirds would have been perfect, but god forbid an action movie actually try to be too artistic in its delivery. First third should have focused just on Worthington's adventures up to the point he is found for the first time by Bale's camp. Second arc should have been everything Bale's character went through up until they find Worthington's character, where then the stories merge and flow as they eventually do. Anyways, that's me nitpicking. Some parts of the story (especially towards the end) get a tad bit too dramatic and some progressions are a little too far fetched (as most action movies succumb to), but hey, what can I say - sequel in a year or two?
The sound was amazing (cannot stress that enough) and the effects were great, even though I would have preferred they didn't use so much effects on the Arnold Cyborg. MAKING a machine would have been much more realistic visually (DUH!). Speaking of cyborgs, I wasn't too thrilled that there were a million different types of machines out there, especially that big one. Don't go in expecting Saving Private Ryan, man vs. exoskeletons, though. The movie should have tacked on another ten-fifteen minutes worth of footage, as some scenes felt rushed, but as it stands, I was very happy with the film. Go see it and enjoy it; it's refreshing to see a good sequel and they are becoming extremely hard to come by. It's right up there with the first two but in a different way. And I never thought I'd say that.