Frickin' awesome!

Rating: 8/10 (20 June 2009)

I've been waiting two years for this film and I was not disappointed. Giant robots, explosions and Megan Fox - what more do you really need in a film?!
Yes, the acting isn't superb and the plot/storyline is a bit dodgy, but then as said already: it's a summer blockbuster based on a toy line that is out to entertain. And entertain me it did!
The action sequences are awesome- crazy fight scenes with robots blasting away at each other and smacking each other around with crazy transformer kungfu. Optimus Prime fighting off Megatron, Starscream and the drone was a truly superb fight scene. People have complained about not being able to see all the action or tell which robot is which- personally I had no problem at all keeping up with the fighting and who was currently getting an ion cannon to the face.
I loved the fact that Soundwave (with original G1 voice!), Ravage, Sideswipe, Wheelie, Arcee and Devastator were included in the film. I especially like Ravage with his mounted cannons/missile launchers, just like his G1 counterpart. The inclusion of Alice as a Decepticon Pretender was great also (sandipbharj's earlier review didn't understand it's inclusion and said it doesn't fit the TF world: Pretenders with human exteriors are very much a part of TF!)
The Matrix of Leadership makes an appearance as a kind of Matrix/Key to Vector Sigma way: also very nice. I love all these G1 throwbacks like the Earlier Primes and Sam being able to talk to them through the Matrix. Megan Fox looks as great as ever- yes she isn't going to be winning any Oscars for her performance, but she does what is required of her well. Shia is on form- he makes me chuckle and is good as an action hero.
But, there is of course some bad aspects of the film. Mudflap and Skids, the twin autobots, were goofy looking and a detriment to the film. Transformers needs a bit of humour and generally the funny bits were done well- but the twins were shockingly grating in a Jar-jar Binks way. With a few less jokes, sensible voices and faces that didn't look like disneyfied goblins they would have been fine. Bay should have included Sunstreaker as Sideswipe's twin instead...
Jetfire was a shock. I knew he was appearing in the film and was looking forward to seeing him. He was just embarrassing though. Played in an old-codger, bumbling idiot style really destroyed his old G1 character. When he appears to fight at the end and destroys Scorponok there was a real "yeah!" feeling. His character during the final fight was great: old and battered but still fighting and happy to sacrifice his spark and parts for Optimus. They end up combining (kinda) in a reference to the Armada series.
With the all action start and the crazily destructive final battle, it was a bit disappointing that the film slowed down a bit in the middle. There just seemed to be some unnecessary "plot" development and talking parts (with some more dodgy humour) that just weren't needed. The film could have been shortened by 20-30 minutes or more combat could have been added in to fill that time.
My only other gripe is the backseat that some of the Autobots were relegated to. Very little is seen of Arcee, Ratchet, Jolt or Sideswipe. They're all about shooting stuff and fighting but they seem to have little use towards the end of the film. Ironhide is kept involved through the film- maybe he proved very popular in the first Transformers- still would have preferred to see more of Sideswipe/Arcee.
So essentially; if you love the Transformers franchise and the first film, appreciate CGI and watching giant robots smash the crap out of each other, or can't get enough of Miss Fox, then you will love this film. Please just go in and watch with a truly suspended disbelief and not expecting A* acting/plot, and enjoy the film. You won't be disappointed.