Good popcorn movie

Rating: 6/10 (20 March 2008)

This is an entertaining action movie concerning the invasion of Earth by living robots that can mimic Earth technology, like cars and planes etc. Parents should be warned though-the movie is based on a cartoon show which was based on toys...which means small kiddies will want to collect the ENTIRE "Transformers" collection of toys, cartoons, etc. So, this movie is potentially dangerous to your wallet and mortgage.
Firstly, seeing as the genesis of this movie is so rooted in children's' toys and cartoons, the movie is quite adult in parts-with matters concerning sex and masturbation...so, it's quite odd to see this kind of material in a movie which is presumably not suitable for its child consumer audience.
Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to find the movie quite funny in parts, especially as I groaned at some of the early 'humour' of one of the "Transformers" (a car, in this case) playing certain songs on the radio which shadowed the car's driver's expectations (in getting laid).
The movie features the Italian Dustin Hoffman, John Turturro, as well as John Voight, who both bring the occasional B movie melodrama acting in a self-conscious way...to good effect.
The movie is pretty much non-stop action, but yet not in a bad way, as some action scenes/movies can be (like the mass fighting scenes in one of the Planet Of The Apes movies as well as Attack Of The Clones, the second Star Wars prequel). The special effects are excellent in this movie...from the transformation of cars etc. into humanoid looking fighting robots, as well as the scenes of destruction brought about by the Transformers in urban environments.
I doubt that this movie is something that can be enjoyed so much on a second viewing, but you cannot fault its entertainment value on first viewing.
Its saving grace for older audiences is (apart from the action scenes), is, as I say, the humour. From teenagers, to parents (especially the Transformers themselves), each brings some comedy to the proceedings.
However, some of the 'philosophy' in the movie is painful to listen to-the "Transformers" spout some non-sense, which is presumably to guide how children play with their toys or something. It's a very ODD combination of adult material and material for children. The movie can't seem to make up its mind on what its target audience is.