Filled with clichés and dragging at times yet fun to watch

Rating: 6/10 (2 July 2011)

I watched this movie in 3D, which I suggest to avoid and save the extra couple dollars. Don't get me wrong, it was pretty sweet, but it's such a long movie that after your eyes adjust to the 3D you kind of forget about it. There are few scenes worth watching in 3D anyway and most of the biggest explosions can hardly be seen in 3D.
Now about the movie. It was freaking awesome! I've been reading some of the negative reviews and I just have to laugh at them. Those guys are so right about the movie yet they missed the point. One guy wrote a review and didn't even watch the whole thing! Oh well, all I have to say is that if it weren't for the Autobots I would have walked out as well. Yet, I knew better. This movie was never meant to win any awards that has to do with screenplay, acting, or directing. I mean it was done in two years. Two years! That's not enough time to write something crafty without some concrete background like a book. I mean I'm sorry, but I don't think the cartoons count. Especially with the special effects and everything. Just not enough time at all.
No, Michael Bay doesn't know structure in a movie. He doesn't even do transition within a scene very well either! Yet he knows one thing: how to make a movie exciting. And since this movie was done in only two years I give it a positive rating. Yeah I noticed all the clichés and the dragging storyline about the humans. Bay pays too little time on the Autobots and Decepticons at the beginning that I just felt like it was starting to become Witwicky's story, which is understandable, but something I didn't like all that much. Michael Bay seemed to misunderstand the type of story some fans wanted to see. Yet, despite all that I couldn't help but feel entertained at the end. That's because Michael Bay understands that the majority of fan goers aren't going to watch this movie expecting a grand Oscar worthy type movie. They are going to watch it to escape. To watch a little fantasy that is completely unrealistic but enjoyable. Remember what happened with Pirates 4? Yeah I felt like the story improved, somewhat, but the excitement and the overblown action was gone. That wasn't fun.
Yes, this movie was filled with clichés. I rolled my eyes a couple of times, but I didn't care at the end. What is not cliché about this movie is the different take Michael Bay gives us this time. After the excitement, but at times lame writing, of the first movie and the awful, yet at times entertaining, second movie I was hoping for something like Dark of the Moon. I never felt, for one second, that Michael Bay should abandon his formula. It works and it's exciting. All I asked for was a bit more seriousness and no more goofy jokes that the second movie was filled with. At the beginning I felt excitement, followed by some anxiety as the movie seemed to drag for minutes at a time, kind of like driving a car through traffic (I know, cliché, but it's the best thing to describe it), then finishing with an awe of excitement that even topped the first movie. The movie takes itself more seriously, yet there are plenty of clever laughs throughout, and yes a few goofy ones along the way as well as some unintentional ones, but those parts don't negate the fact that when you double-cross Optimus you pay. I highly recommend watching the movie. I don't understand critics and the people who say "it's a wonderful spectacle, but I'm giving it a few stars because ..." of whatever reason. They don't understand that Bay has not failed. These movies are so extremely successful for one reason: it's exciting to watch the Autobots fight the Decepticons. What would make it more exciting would be getting rid of a human lead and just focus on the "robots in disguise" and to keep the seriousness and lighthearted humor. Until then enjoy this movie. "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" is a summer movie after all, whether just saying that is cliché or not. It's one spectacular movie to watch. My advice: go watch it and just have some fun, which you will.