Too much action. Misplaced sound. Unconvincing characters.

Rating: 5/10 (2 July 2007)

There's something wrong with Transformers. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I'll try my best to explain how I felt as the movie went from start to finish, and perhaps you, the reader out there, can figure out what I mean.
The movie started off well enough, lots of mystery and suspense, the character development of the many heroes were all right. Some relatively funny lines. So far so good.
Now comes the body. A bit confusing. What is the focus here? We are introduced to good guys, who behave so much like bad guys you immediately assume villain! villain! whack the SOB! Then the finale. A very long drawn out action sequence, overwhelming the senses and numbing them. So much destruction and carnage goes on that it is impossible that our heroes continue to stand without even a scratch on them. I kept watching and waiting. Look, there's an entire building made of concrete destroyed by a transformer, our hero is in its midst, surely a splinter would pierce his foot, surely he'd get whacked on the head and go unconscious, or at least get stunned. But no, he still has smooth skin, its a miracle. This happens over and over and over again, until I grew quite tired of it.
I am also amused by the sudden dependence on this unlikely hero. His task could have easily been carried out, with much greater efficiency, by a transformer. All the while I thought, plot hole, BIG plot hole.
Many of the characters are very unconvincing. We have senior army personnel acting like children.
Music direction was very VERY poor. Too many times, epic-like music was played at relatively unimportant points. You immediately assume something significant is about to happen, but you end up disappointed.
If you are a devoted Transformers fan, please do go for this movie. The transformers are beautifully rendered and remind me so much of the cartoon when I was a kid. This movie will please fans. If, on the other hand, you want to be entertained by a 'good' action movie, you might be disappointed. I know I was.