Big, Huge, and downright amazing...throw my thoughts into the argument

Rating: 9/10 (6 July 2007)

Well this summer is turning into really something. Usually I can pinpoint one great summer blockbuster that I actually think is a blockbuster. This summer I've already been treated to THREE huge 10/10's for me and Transformers was no exception. As with any big Michael Bay film this one appears to be steeped in controversy as warring factions either loved it with a passion or hated it to their very core. I think for once I am in the majority. I am an eighties child and I might have had a Transformer figure or two but I can't ever remember sitting down to watch the cartoons...or reading the comics...it just didn't happen for me. I remember them, I mean they were everywhere so I had no real biased towards or against The Transformers. Still the trailers made it look like an awesome special effects action extravaganza and sure enough it probably is THEE big budget, explosions and just a huge Summer movie. Transformers should and will appease the most adamant Transformers fans and newcomers to the entire subject and just rock them to the core. Transformers creates a decent world and plot line and then throws the most unimaginable creatures into it and where the film could have been campy and ridiculous they pulled off every inch of the exact opposite. It wasn't perfect, it had it's share of short comings but the most important thing is that you won't spend a minute regretting your time in the theater watching this true 'blockbuster.'
Shia LaBeouf, who is really becoming the "IT" kid for Blockbusters as of late (Disturbia, Indiana Jones IV), plays unsuspecting geeky high schooler Sam Witwicky. The best thing about LaBeouf in all his roles is that he's very down to earth. He looks like the guy next door, an average joe and to have this incredible thing happens to him is just very watchable. LaBeouf ultimately is always the same in his performances. I have yet to see anything different from him and yet it works every time and it works for this film. He holds the screen well amidst some "big" co-stars. Relative newcomer Megan Fox is LaBeouf's love interest who is the typical popular girl who gets thrown into a crazy situation with the geeky kid and pushes them together. Fox is hot...there isn't any denying that but that doesn't mean she fits the film. In fact she sticks out as never really doing anything. She truly is the exact definition of eye-candy because she is always weary short skirts, low cut tops and they even shoot her from very specific angles but never once does she have any real purpose to the film. Even her performance is very dry and low key and just all around rather disappointing. Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson play military men bent on protecting US Interests from the Transformers. Both do a decent job although the roles are very small and I would have especially liked to see a bigger from Duhamel who I really like and I think he has a lot of potential for the big screen. The supporting cast includes Jon Voight, John Turturro, Anthony Anderson, and Rachael Taylor. With the exception of Turturro they all do a decent job with their small roles. Turturro is overblown, overacted, and kind of silly for the film.
The human actors in general are not what this film is about and the film makers including director Michael Bay made sure of that by making the Transformers truly larger than life with downright incredible CGI, voice over work from terrific voice actors including Peter Cullen, and Charles Adler both who did voice work on the original Transformers series. The Transformers had personalities and distinct maneuvers and you could easily pick a favorite. You never once got tired of watching them transform which was just downright cool every single time. The special effects where amazing!! In true Michael Bay style things get blown up a lot and some people seemed to wanna complain and moan about that but if it works it works and in this case it most definitely works. Is it shallow at time? Definitely. Plot holes? Well there almost has to be. It doesn't change the world it just is one of the best films of the year for entertainment purposes and will most likely go on to be one of the highest grossing films of all time because it's DAMN entertaining. Despite what people say about Bay I think he has the potential to tell a great story with incredible visuals. I thought The Island was really good, Armageddon, and The Rock, downright incredible action films and Transformers lives up to that reputation. In the beginning of the film I was a little worried that the pace was a little slow considering the film clocks in at a HUGE 2 1/2 hours, some of the comedy in the film is oddly placed and sometimes seemingly inappropriate and the dialog definitely borders cheesy. But there is just something really impressive about the film that makes you overlook all of that. The battles and the action and the special effects are incredible. It pretty much meets almost anyones expectations and knocks it out of the park. See it for yourself and experience a once in a life time film. 9.5/10