Transform This!!!

Rating: 8/10 (7 July 2007)

1st I would like to say...
(spoiler) the masturbation reference was way out of a line for a film based on a children cartoon. Hey its just me...but I don't think that had to be in there.
With that said everything else in this film rocked. This was not a kids movies for every generation but one specially made for those who grew up watching the original cartoon. Now I've read several fan boys whining how the new movie wasn't 100% faithful to the source material...but keep in mind the source material was a cartoon serial based on a toy line...Really not much to go on, but still the film makers referenced the key elements that endeared a generation to the Transformers of old.
Optimus Prime was still the GIANT HERO with that same strong voice who faced the most dangerous foes to save humanity. He's like George Washington as a Big Rig. He leads on the front lines.
The Autobots (though not identical looking and sounding as their cartoon counter parts) still have distinct personalities and styles. The cars are all GM vehicles too...though not accurate to the cartoon...Bumble Bee is better as a Camaro than a Bug and Jazz is still cool looking as Solciste.
The action was very big. Like a transformer movie should be and like its more adult counterparts (Terminator movies) people get hurt and people die. Buildings are demolished, vehicles cut in half, explosions huge. The editing was a little too fast paced and left me in need of my bottle of Advil but still pretty solid.
The Decepticons are lethal. They're not cartoon villains here. They kill. They want you dead. They find your existence disgusting. In other words "evil." No gray areas here. I think they spent more times on the Autobots design than they did on the Decepticon because they look a little generic and it was hard to differentiate between Megatron and Starscream which in the cartoon was no problem. I thought Megatron's voice, for not being the original, was pretty good, but they could have gotten a little closer to Starscream. In many of the episodes, he stole the show with his scheming and his weaselly voice.
Lastly the story is essentially ripped from Independence Day...but then Independence Day was ripped from War of the Worlds. In other words, typical sci-fi, good vs. evil storyline. Good, solid and works well for the blockbuster film. The human character-development in this film actually helps in the audience connecting with the CGI characters (Transformers). The simple storyline of a boy and his first car (Bumblebee) is quite endearing. After all, the Autobots of old weren't just the good guys because they fought the bad guys they were good because they liked the people they protected and cared for them and in return the humans were grateful and help them.
Over all if you're 13 and up you are going to want to see this movie. If you're a 30 something kid who wants to relive the glory days of your youth in the 1980's (the best decade ever to be a kid) then get in line and see this movie.