"Where were you when they took over the planet?"

Rating: 9/10 (4 July 2011)

As expected, "Transformers: DotM" showcases one of the most ambitious and epic finales of any film series. Even if you thought the action could never top the intensity or breadth of the first two films, "DotM" finally cuts to the chase and brings us all-out carnage! It's pretty darn awesome watching the transformers duke it out in foreign lands and on the highways (in a scene which could possibly surpass the highway chase scene in the first movie), but the last hour or so is entirely devoted to a massive invasion where robots and ships are literally tearing the city up and brutally massacring each other. The ruined cityscapes are about as imaginative and artistic as what we see in the "Crysis 2" video game; the intensity and the stakes are about as high as what we see in a "Terminator" movie; the action is easily the best of the series. And with strong storytelling and cinematography, "DotM" easily bests most other alien invasion movies (especially following the releases of "Skyline" and "Battle: LA," both of which were rather disappointing).
This movie may be overshadowed by the weaknesses of "Revenge of the Fallen," but rest assured that the story for "DotM" is fleshed out way better. The conspiracies that are unveiled are quite sublimely integrated, and seeing them unravel feels like a refreshing revelation. The climax works very well to tie up the events of the first two films, and ultimately I feel that this movie incorporates a number of elements that may have been lost in the last film (namely, the ideas that the transformers are covert, the ideas that they are fighting for their way of life, and most importantly, the idea that they are fighting for freedom). As far as the human element goes, the story takes the franchise's hero to his next logical step; all of this drama might test your patience a little (especially with so much hit-or-miss humor), but it all contributes to the amazing finale.
Cinematically, "DotM" shows excellent photography and editing; the shots are indeed prolonged and evenly-paced, allowing you to see the action much more leisurely than the last two hectic movies. The film has its share of wonderful scenery, but it feels rather drab and grim overall (which helps add a sense of doom and gloom; parts of this movie are rather scary). Acting is a mixed bag once again; Shia LaBeouf continues to be himself, for better or for worse. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has a few weak moments, but I felt she was an ample replacement for Megan Fox. Patrick Dempsey is convincing as a jerk. Ken Jeong's role was pretty darn wild, for better or for worse. John Turturro, Josh Duhamel, and Tyrese Gibson all return and are still great; Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, and Alan Tudyk are interesting additions. And of course, Peter Cullen, Hugo Weaving, and Leonard Nimoy are superb in their voice acting. Aside from using my least-favorite Linkin Park song, the music is great.
I'm not sure at this point if I'd rank this over the first film or not. But at the very least, I'd put them on the same level, and in time I'll see which one I value the most.
Casually recommended!
4.5/5 (entertainment: 4.5/5, story: 4.5/5, film: 4/5)