Disappointed, but hey, it's Michael Bay

Rating: 5/10 (14 August 2008)

Bay should seriously try to make a movie one of these days where the story carries the film and the effects add to it, instead of relying so much on special effects.
I almost feel insulted when I watch a Bay film. He treats his audience like children, constantly trying to wow us with special effects. I will admit, the robots were really cool, but after seeing them for about fifteen minutes, I got used to them and they alone could no longer hold my attention.
There is also no reason why this film should be 143 minutes long or whatever it is. I imagine Bay watching the original 110 minute cut, like a witch tasting the slop in her bubbling couldron, and thinking to himself, hmm....it's missing something, I know, it needs more action, special effects, and CG!
I will also take this opportunity to harp on a long time beef I have with Bay's style. I can not stand his ridiculously quick cutting, and shaky/quick/crazy camera movements. My eyes literally hurt after watching this film. I also had problems following the majority of the action sequences because there was just too much crap happening and happening ridiculously quickly. He really over did it in my opinion.
*Note to Michael Bay* People aren't impressed by watching fast, shiny things with neat sound effects for over two hours, unless the film has some backbone, aka a story. I didn't find the story that bad in this film but the ridiculous amount of CG/special effects soured me to it.
This film just seemed to drag. It was one special effects laden battle after another and it just got old.
Oh, and the dialogue was pitiful/laughable.
Oh, and a lot of the robots looked confusingly the same.