"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" is a solid sequel. Inferior in terms of story and acting, but vastly superior in terms of action. Worth seeing on the big screen...

Rating: 3/10 (24 June 2009)

Director Michael Bay's "Transformers" was a summer-surprise in 2007, and certainly left me in awe. It had everything you could want in a special-effects-spectacle and was definitely more than what meets the eye- it head a big heart at its core.
Now, in 2009, a year that has seen some great hits, and some only-decent hits, we get the follow-up, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." And while this is technically the second "Transformers" film, they could have just called it "Transformers 1.5", because for the most part, it really just feels like more of the same. But that isn't a bad thing necessarily.
At the start of the film, we learn that Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) and the rest of the Autobots ("good-guy Transformers") have joined forces with the US government- their goal: to hunt down the remaining Decepticons ("bad-guy Transformers") who are threatening the human populous.
At the same time, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) is heading off to college, but chooses to leave his Autobot companion Bumblebee behind, much to his disappointment. He is also setting up a long-distance relationship with his girlfriend Mikaela (Megan Fox, sexy, 'nuff said). However, while packing, he finds a tiny fragment of the destroyed AllSpark device from the first film that splintered into his clothes, and upon coming into contact with it, strange symbols of an ancient language of Cybertron (Transformers' home-world) are imprinted in his mind.
Soon, the only other remaining piece of the AllSpark is stolen by Decepticons and used to resurrect their leader Megatron (Hugo Weaving), who immediately begins plotting with HIS master, an ancient Transformer called "The Fallen." The Fallen wants to track down an ancient doomsday device located on Earth, and use it to destroy the planet in a plot to harvest "Energon", the life-force that powers the Transformers, in order to allow for the birth of new Decepticons!
And so, a game of cat-and-mouse begins, as the Decepticons track Sam, whose visions from the AllSpark hold a key piece of the puzzle to their plot, while the Autobots must protect him, as he tries to thwart the Decepticons.
That's basically it. There are a few other details he and there, and a few subplots (such as Sam going to college, only to bring much destruction and chaos), but they really aren't all to important. This is a movie about robots socking each other, and cool looking backdrops getting blown to smithereens, and on that level, this movie delivers.
I will say this, Michael Bay knows how to make an entertaining action flick. His direction is kinetic but coherent, unlike other modern action which can sometimes be so kinetic, you lose track of what's going on. I actually experienced that problem with the original film, but this time around, I was able to fully understand everything I saw. I was also more easily able to differentiate between the Autobots and Decepticons, which was almost impossible during the final forty minutes of movie one, thus making the action much more enjoyable this time around.
Also, on the robot CG, overall, the photo-realism of the robots hasn't really improved, they appear about the same as the first film, which was fantastic, so I can easily forgive they they don't look dramatically better. But there was a huge advancement on SCALE, which is where a lot of research and development appears to have gone. When a Decepticon known as "Devastator" Transforms, you'll know what I mean.
On the acting... Well, the voice acting (Particularly Peter Cullen and Hugo Weaving) was excellent. The human acting... Mixed for the leads. LaBeouf does an OK job, but Fox really just comes off as the "hot chick who kicks butt", and her character-type has been played a lot better many times before. Some other returning characters (Ex. Major William Lennox, played by Josh Duhamel) are only OK, whereas others (Ex. John Turturro as Simmons) are a lot of fun to watch. Also a blast are Sam's parents (Kevin Dunn and Julie White), returning with a larger role this time.
Another thing to watch for in this entry is the multitude of new Transformers, Autobot and Decepticon alike. Overall, they are a mixed bag. We never really get to meet the new bots, they are just there, but after a while you get used to them. Some are very cool (the three Arcee bikes give a nice, unique scale, and JetFire is just awesome), while others are downright irritating. (most heinous offenders being the Twins Mudflap and Skids, who despite having an adorably cute design, just have comedy that falls flat as a pancake.)
Also, I take issue with the lack of character development. Bumblebee was a joy to watch in the first film, and had great interaction with Sam, but this time, there are only a few scenes of them directly interacting as friends. Also, the romantic element between Sam and Mikaela is watered down slightly, because it has already been established and is now just a plot device to get you to like the characters.
I guess in the end, it boils down to this- this is a sequel inferior in terms of plot and character development, but vastly superior in terms of action and visual effects. And this is meant to be a big, loud, fun movie, so that uneven balance works.
While not quite as good as the original, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" still works, and is definitely worth seeing on the big screen. If you can honestly say you watched this film without being thrilled during the action, or very amused by the humor, then you need to lighten up. A decent 6.5 out of 10 (I have to round up to "7" for IMDb) from me- enjoyable. See it with some friends and a LOT of popcorn.