Don't believe the dis-hype

Rating: 9/10 (23 June 2009)

I felt compelled to write a review of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen after seeing the kinds of beatings the critics have been giving it. I don't pretend to know everything, but I know a bit about films. I like 'intelligent' films like Pi, but know there has to be a flip side to cinema. I went in to this film with low expectations, but was well aware it wasn't supposed to be The Wrestler or Frost/Nixon.
OK, let's be brief and frank and admit the first Transformers wasn't spectacular, but no one ever expected it to be. It seems to have done its job and made people happy. However, its sequel, Revenge of the Fallen, seems to be taking a beating.
The film's plot in a nutshell follows Sam into college as he experiences hallucinations caused by a shard of the cube from the first film. Meanwhile, the Autobots have been working with a newly formed soldier group that are trying to get rid of the Decepticons from the planet. The main focus of the story is the Decepticons attempts to return to power and Sam and the Autobots attempts to stop that.
Now, no one goes to these kind of films expecting Schindler's List. They are what they are; simple, good fun. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen succeeds in this area. It's more action packed, more amusing, better effects, better acting, and generally more fulfilling than the original. The main drawbacks to it would be its length, which you will definitely feel in the last act, and some of the humour being a bit too slapstick (the mum in the college, some of the Autobots interact with each other), but even with this, it can still be enjoyable (particularly with a good audience!).
Imagine a film like Armageddon, a film you like, even though it might shame you slightly. You know how a lot of it is going to turn out, you know a lot of it is unbelievable, but that's popcorn for you. Let's remember that Michael Bay has pretty much defined action films. He brings a slickness and immediacy that would be otherwise missing. Sure, there could be more depth to the characters or more meaning given to a lot of things, but who goes to a film filled with giant robots for that? Ignore the critics (seems they're more focused on tearing films down and seeming sophisticated anyway). This film isn't going to change lives, but there's certainly worse ways to spend 160 minutes of your life. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is exactly what it is meant to be; entertaining.