Michael Bay should never be allowed to make movies

Rating: 4/10 (5 August 2007)

So, i saw Transformers last night. I went in armed only with fond, if vague memories of the cartoon when I was 5, but left sorely disappointed. The single thought I had most throughout the film was, what was the point in that? And I don't mean in the sense of over-the-top fights or visuals or anything, i mean in the sense of scenes and dialogue which either serves no purpose or leaves you cringing in your seat. For example - a hacker who is supposedly better than the Pentagon and NSA combined decides to 'hotwire' a computer. Or, witness the clumsiest attempt at political satire I have ever witnessed - the President with his feet on the desk in red socks asking for a ding-dong, or the shady official betting his 'ridiculously-oversized government salary' on it. There were some plus points about this film. The acting, in particular Shia LeBouef (sp?), was pretty good, while the VFX were simply stunning, easily the best I've seen. The combat sequences were also pretty good overall. But Michael Bay is simply the most inept filmmaker in the world; nay, in history. OK, maybe Im being a little strong but the whole film from start to finish just felt disjointed, as if he didn't really know what he was doing. He has succeeded in wasting a decent script, a good cast, and some breathtaking effects - it beggars belief that Steven Spielberg didn't either rectify things, or pull out. A waste of potential, and a big disappointment.