average sci-fi action movie

Rating: 5/10 (17 July 2007)

The action is good in Transformers is good and it is funny at times, which keeps the film from being horrible. However it is weighted down by too nonsensical plot points, clichéd filled plot, cheesy writing, under used characters, some horrid dialogue, and product placement overkill.
The premise is bit outlandish to begin with, but given that it is science fiction that is expected. However there are scenes that just defy belief too much. For example there is a scene where the Autobots (the good Transformers) are stomping around a house, including one stepping on a fountain and some how no one sees or hears them.
The writers uses a typical approach to developing the relationship between Sam Witwicky (played by Shia LaBeouf) and Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox). The approach leads to some good moments, but overall it isn't anything memorable.
The movie also had some astonishingly lame moments. A prime example of this is a scene where a little girl goes outside and asks one of the Transformers if it is the tooth fairy. Those that made the film were trying to be cute and funny, but just ended up with an awful scene.
For a movie that is about Transformers, the Transformer characters were disappointingly under developed and under used. It would have been better had they gave more time to characters other than the two main Autobots, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. It particularly would have been better to show and develop the Decepticons (the evil Transformers) more.
It was disappointing that Megatron (the Decepticon leader) only appeared toward the end of the movie and when he did appear he was given some awful, overly simple dialogue. An example is when prompted to say why he wants to kill the humans, Megatron just says something like "They deserve to die." Another example is when chasing Sam, Megatron asks him if he is "motivated more by courage or fear." It was as if who ever wrote it was determined to make Megatron sound like a character from a movie about cavemen.
Then of course there were all of the product placements. I find product placements annoying as it is, but I understand that is something that is a part of movies that I will just have to deal with. However there was so much focus paid to particular car company at times it seemed like I was just watching a long television ad. Then to compound that there were many mentions or shots to highlight particular Web sites, computers and other companies.
Overall, Transformers is on par with mediocre movies like Independence Day and Armageddon.