Stunning!!!

Rating: 10/10 (3 July 2007)

After seeing this movie, I am completely stunned. Wow! The cast and crew have done a FANTASTIC job in all areas of this film.
With a big budget and pop culture iconic movie like this, there's an enormous risk for things to go completely wrong that would result in the film flopping, to say the least. Films such as the Hulk movie, or King Kong are a prime example of Hollywood flops. Both films have a great subject matter, but beyond that, there really is nothing else. And I think the producers and the director were constantly aware of this definite possibility of royally screwing up, and as such, felt a tremendous pressure to make Transformers successful, believable, entertaining and enjoyable.
One thing anyone who's seen the film will tell you is that Transformers doesn't try to be a reincarnation of a comic book it once was, or a "live action" 80's cartoon Transformers film. Sure there are one liners that the characters say that bring back memories from the original source, but this film paves newer ground and firmly stands it's ground.
Now before seeing this film, I wasn't very thrilled about the changes that I had heard that Michael Bay had made. But after viewing the film, I say why not? Are his choices daring? Somewhat. Do they work? I think so. And apparently, so did the rest of the people in the theater with me. Everyone clapped at the end.
The film's success shouldn't come as a surprise when you have head honchos like Michael Bay, Steven Spielberg and Don Murphy attached to this project. Of course the excellent subject matter (which, again, is really a big part of our pop culture), decent script (oooh, Hollywood got something right) and a respectable cast, aid in providing a film recipe for success.
My only film gripe was **SPOILER ALERT** that one of the good guys had to die. Granted I didn't like the car he was to begin with and even though we learn so little about his character, it's easy to side with him and consider him a part of the Autobot team. And with this particular Autobot (him being one of the good guys) well, it just wasn't pleasant to see his demise. **END SPOILER** The film has great direction, gobs of action and humor. And the very last scene was a total kick butt ending in the history of action films.
I also really liked the fact that this film puts away any personal self bias towards people and their ranks, personal stature or social status. Usually in films involving the military and the middle east, certain people are depicted as terrorists and they are the enemy. **SPOILER ALERT** But Transformers steers away from that. The film actually shows Americans and Middle Easterners coming together to collectively fight the Decepticons and their brethren.
The same thing reoccurs when the massive Autobots work together with the small humans. Again when the Secertary of Defense works with the lowly journalist. Again when the top dog of sector seven works with the average high school student and the juvenile criminal. And again, when the journalist comes together to work with the highly intelligent black male who lives at home with his grandmother. **END SPOILER**
When was the last time a big budget film brought together such a diverse group of people, working together for the same purpose? It's been a long time and that's what makes this film so cool! One of the underlying messages of the film is that regardless of our personal background and beliefs, we all have something to contribute. And once we contribute collectively, lowering the walls of our social rank roles, there's no limit to the goodness of what we can achieve when we come together. **SPOILER ALERT** In the case of Transformers, it's the fate of humanity and it's very survival. **END SPOILER**
Now should they decide to produce a sequel, I'll bet that it's going to be very difficult for them to make it as good, if not better, than this first one. People's expectations for another Transformers have been raised phenomenally.
I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a film so much. Think of Transformers like something along the lines of Terminator 2 meets Bad Boys II, but 100 times better. And you definitely should see this on the big screen - don't wait for the DVD.