Disappointed G1 fan...fun blockbuster w/poor focus

Rating: 7/10 (5 July 2007)

Like many people I grew up with the G1 Transformers and went in knowing that this movie was going to be different than the cartoon that I knew and loved as a kid. I wanted this movie to stand as original yet keep the elements that made the cartoon so special. Getting to know the personalities of each robot was what made the cartoon so endearing. Humans were the supporting cast. I know that it was a tall task to personalize each robot within 2 1/2 hours yet I believe that it could have been accomplished if the focus of the film were truly through a Transformer's perspective and not through Sam Witwicky's eyes. The time that was spent showing off Megan Fox's body (and all of the sexually driven teen-age humor) could have been used to build affection for the fun-loving Jazz (who was my favorite character back in the 80's.) I should have been able to feel some emotion from his death yet I was never given a chance to know who he was... very anti-climactic.
All-in-all the movie allowed me to feel what it would be like if Transformers were in our world today. It did make for a solid July 4th weekend summer blockbuster. I did enjoy the brief glimpse into the personalities of the Autobots (especially Iron Hide) yet left the theater feeling that I wanted to learn more about them individually. Disappointment in the movie compelled me to throw in a couple episodes from my season 2 DVD collection of the Transformers it actually helped. Maybe the makers of the next movie will get it right (I'm still hoping to see the classic match-up between the Dinobots and Devastator!) Too much human and not enough robot perspective... which is supposed to be what the Transformers are all about... at least based on what I remember.
Overall Grade: C+ Story: C Acting: C- Direction: C Visuals: A