Perfectly computer animated mediocrity

Rating: 3/10 (25 July 2007)

First of all, I would like to say that I have read some of the reviews posted here and they seem to agree to disagree. In the end it will simply boil down to this: Either you are a Transformers fan, in which case you will REALLY hate this film, or you are out for a mind-numbingly stupid story in a beautifully rendered action film, in which case you will probably love it. So, leave your brain at the door.
I am not going to write a synopsis, largely because it's already been done, and quite frankly there is not much of an interesting synopsis to write about. What I will say is this: Transformers is not as good as Die Hard 4.0 in terms of its execution and story line. So if you HAVE to make a choice I would suggest you go see that one, but that's just me.
That being said, I must admit I was fairly disappointed by the film. While I am not a hardcore Transformers fan, I am part of the generation that remembers the old cartoons with fondness (in which case I mean all those generation 1 cartoons - which incidentally had more story in one episode than this entire film does-, not the crap that came later). Furthermore, the prospect of giant robots duking it out on the silver screen in a time of near perfect computer effects on film, well the idea had me geared up for some serious action. The name Micheal Bay does not strike me with extraordinary panic (unlike his crew members and actors, as I have heard), although I do concede that aside from The Rock (which set action film standards back in the day) and Bad Boys 2 (which I consider a solid, but slightly goofy action film) he has not produced anything of significant value. Transformers will not change this perception. When Bay initially heard of the project, he declined, saying he found the basic premise too weak/absurd for a decent story (which I find ironic given the story arc of the finished product). And this idea must have stuck with him as he finally conceded to directing Transformers. Throughout the film, one has the impression, that the characters of the movie are not being taken seriously. Thus the film has a hard time of actually involving the audience. While most of the action is solid, shaky cam non-withstanding, the story is actually so weak that the audience tends to not really care for what is going on. Even as an Autobot dies, he does so as more of a footnote (the fact that the one doing the dying is the only "black"-one, may also raise issues of racism by the way, but that is another matter). On a high note, Shia LeBoef DOES do a decent job of portraying Sam.
Given the financial success of the film however, I am sure there will be a sequel to the movie coming up soon. I hope that by then the studios will have realized that solid animation will only carry a movie so far. But then again, looking at the financial successes of both Transformers and Pirates of the Carribbean 3, I will not get my hopes up too much. I am just going to buckle down and watch well-made Asian films until the new Batman comes along.
Roll out.