Awesome action.....but that's about it.

Rating: 7/10 (1 July 2011)

I was never a fan of the Transformers franchise when I was younger (I had nothing against it, but I just wasn't in to it) so this is going to be a fanboy-free review. However this also means that my knowledge of Transformers lore is limited - all I know is the handful of Wikipedia articles I read after I watched the first and second films to understand characters more.
When I watched the first film on DVD I instantly loved it. Why? Because the action sequences are fantastic. However, as I watched it more and more, I began to realise that that's about it. The same goes for the second film and, sadly, this one too.
Firstly, the films might as well be three stand alone movies. I mean, there is hardly any continuity between them. For starters, I'm not really sure just WHAT the Deceptions are after - in the first film it was the AllSpark (the purpose of which seems to change throughout the film), in the second they wanted to blow up the Sun or something, and in this one it's all about saving Cybertron. But that's just it - the big twist is that Sentinel Prime formed an alliance with Megatron, to save Cybertron. So, when Optimus offers Sentinel that little device that can bring the 'bots back to life and whatnot(I forget what it's called), why does Sentinel refuse? Surely that would help in his endeavour? Also, sticking with continuity, in the second film, Megatron put a bounty on Sam's head and broadcasted it world wide...so why does no one know who he is? Why can he not get a job? Speaking of Sam, and the humans in general, is there any need for them now? Michael Bay seems to masturbate over the army (as is apparent in the majority of his films), and this is in no way disrespect to the REAL US army, but I'm sure they're not all action-men-stereotypes? And especially the black guys - I thought we covered racism with Skidz and Mudflap (glare) in the second film? Why need more? Additionally, I personally think that there was no need for Sam in this film. OK, maybe a little, as he was the 'messenger', but I think a film about the Deceptacons vs Autobots, sans Sam, would have worked just fine. But no, he's back. Shia Lebouf is an alright actor, but when tied to a God-awful script...it's just a bit painful. And his whole relationship with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is so fake and clichéd. I know Megan Fox had her reasons for leaving and was supposed to be in DotM, but at the end of Revenge of the Fallen there was a massive hoo-har about how Sam and Mikaela love each other, and then, enter T3 and "yeah, she dumped me". If that's the case, then why not have NO love interest for Sam in T3? I know that all his motives in the third film are to save Carly, but they're so staged, clichéd and fake. Also, Huntington-Whitely is as dense as wood it seems. Yeah, she's hot, but that's another problem - there are too many hot girls in this franchise! Megan Fox, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Isabel Lucas and Rachael Taylor - it's ridiculous. Do all the hottest girls in the world (enhanced by CGI, of course) gravitate around Sam? It's just silly. Of course sex sells, but have some more "average" looking girls instead of "awww yeah check out dat ass!" shots.
Like I said, though, the action sequences were enough for me to enjoy the films. I mean, the nigh hour long battle at the end of the film was pretty awesome, all in all, but at the same time, it still seems more focused on the humans than the 'bots. Although the Autobot vs Deceptacon fight scenes are very cool, I have to say I was a little bit disappointed with the final fight. I was expecting a big three way battle between Optimus, Sentinel and Megatron. But no. Optimus is getting his arse handed to him until Megatron f's up Sentinel (because a hot girl told him too, despite the fact he's supposed to be the feared leader among the Deceptacons), and then Optimus just blows Megatron up. I mean, this is a fight that has been building up for three films! Also, when the first trailers were released I thought that Shockwave was the main antagonist, but I don't even know what he is doing in this film! He has no interaction with Megatron; it seems that he is on his own little mission to just blow up buildings...but it's not even him that does it - it's his snakey Deceptacon thing. I don't know. At the end of the day, it is worth seeing, and I still give it 7/10 for the action - but when judged as a whole movie...well it's just another Micheal Bay film - so take that as you will. Oh, also, Ken Jeong plays Ken Jeong.