If you only see one movie this year about giant killer robots...

Rating: 7/10 (24 June 2009)

Possibly make it this one. I haven't seen Terminator Salvation, so I can't compare the two, but I think it's safe to say that NO movie this year (so far) would have as many giant robots or fights *between* giant robots as this one had. Oh, and explosions. There's SO many explosions in this movie, I lost count (same goes for the amount of Transformers in this film). Take what was in the first movie, then triple it (or even quadruple it!). Say what you will about Michael Bay, but he knows how to blow stuff up (on an EPIC scale). If you want tons of action and robots beating the snot out of each other, than look no further than this film. You shan't be disappointed.
For those of you seeking a bit more than mindless action, however...well...there's humour at least! Yes, the movie retains the humour that made the first film so great. The laughs are still one of the strong points in the movie (thankfully, most of them are intentional). Though, it must be said, there are occasions where the humour seems aimed at children. The prime example being a couple of dimwitted robot "brothers", Skids & Mudflap, who perform numerous pratfalls. They're annoying for the majority of the film, but do get one or two good lines here and there. If Frenzy (who turned into a CD-player/Mikaela's phone in the first film) annoyed you, get ready for multiple tiny little irritating robots this time around. Most of note is Wheelie (a remote control monster-truck who's like a nasty WALL-E in robot form). While he IS pretty irritating, the back and forth between him and Mikaela makes for some good laughs (I cheered her on when she destroyed his eye with a mini blowtorch). Also, perhaps appropriately, she makes him her bitch (quite *literally* - he's reduced to the equivalent of a Chihuaha in a handbag...well...technically a box). Anyone who debated Frenzy's swearing when he "died" in the first film should be delighted with the amount of Transformers cursing in this one (and look out for Frenzy's head cameo).
As I said, there's too many Transformers to keep track of (including three female motorcycles and an old geezer complete with robot-beard). Probably the most memorable is Devastator, who's formed when seven 'Constructicons' combine (this one really sucks...up sand and anything else that gets in its way, chews them up, then spits their bits out its back). While the new robots are varying degrees of successful, it's the old favourites that prove the most enjoyable to see. Both Optimus Prime and Bumblebee get to kick major robot ass in this film (Optimus proving why he's the leader/the best). Megatron's resurrection, however, doesn't seem to amount to much by the film's end (though at least there's more of him and Starscream arguing like an old married couple than in the first).
As for the humans - who I personally felt were about equal to the Transformers (as far as their roles were concerned) in the first movie - they are more than a little bit overshadowed in this one. That isn't to say Sam, Mikaela and Lennox take a backseat. They're featured in this movie, all with decent screen time. Even Sam's parents - who, again, prove equal parts annoying/amusing (especially his mum) - get their fair share. Too bad if you find them unbearable. John Turturro is back as Agent Simmons (also voicing old-man-bot, Jetfire), but pulling for the good guys now. Speaking of he-who-got-peed-on-by-Bumblebee-in-the-first-movie, the mysterious and over-bronzed Alice (Isabel Lucas, who's doing pretty well for herself considering she comes from Aussie soap, Home & Away) is the poor victim of Bumblebee's "lubricating" this time around. Good old Bumblebee - you can always count on him. Not only does he let loose with green pee in her face, but when Sam comes dangerously close to cheating on his girlfriend (and, really, what man in his right mind would cheat on MEGAN FOX?!), Bumblebee calls him on it and plays various appropriate songs and lets Alice know she - and her wicked tongue - aren't welcome inside him.
Shia LaBeouf's Sam and Megan Fox's Mikaela are as likable as they were in the first film. Despite what certain people think, these two characters help ground the movie and keep it from getting too unbelievable (although it does verge on ludicrous a couple of times - one instance being when Sam is seemingly in Transformer Heaven or wherever and gets resurrected by...pixie dust). Mr. Fergie (aka Josh Duhamel) seems slightly less important in this film as Lennox, but least he's there as one of Sam's allies. It's Sam and Mikaela, though, whose journey we follow - and what a journey it is! Among other things, there are several references to current goings on (President Obama, swine flu, etc) and Linkin Park, as well as Green Day, music is heavily featured. While I probably prefer the first film, this one isn't too shabby either. It probably could've done without being two and a half hours long, though.