Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen – Review
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has hit theaters across the U.S. with a sound boom. The average fan’s reaction when they hear of a sequel to a franchise already ripped from their fragile childhood is to run for cover, and like a timid ostrich, bury their head in the sands of denial, doubt, and rage. Of course, there is no possible way Michael “Ka-Fucking-Boom!” Bay could pull off a sequel to the first installment of the film littered with Hasbro-based characters. Well, nerdies and nerdtlemen, let’s talk about it.
In true good action-adventure film fashion, the doors of the movie swing open to an action-packed techno-organic bar fight. Of course, this after Leader of the Autobots Optimus Prime narrates where the human-Autobot relations stand since we last paid them a visit. Several of the Autobots strut their stuff, showing off and playing their roles right off the bat. One thing that strikes a chord right away is people actually dying in the movie. Someone in big-budget Hollywood is listening to the fanbase. This is not a film catered to children in the name of capitalism and consumer-milking. Though it is child-friendly, the film is very much reaching out to Carl down at your local comic book store, who protests how much he hates the raping of his childhood and how they should just leave it alone.
The cast of the bots get a bit more of a focus in this chapter of the Transformers series. The bots, along with their vehicular forms, are colorful. Along with the return of the Cybertronians who survived the first episode, we are treated to a more candid and devious band of Autobots and Decepticons this time around. As fun as it would be to go down the list of each newly-unveiled bot, explaining their individual personalities, let’s just say this: there are new Autobots who bring the funny, while others bring the badassery and cool. There are new Decepticons – and they are all serious business. When facing them, no matter how tough you think you are, wearing a diaper may be in order.
A great addition was a deeper exploration into the personalities of the key Decepticons, including The Fallen, who plays an Emperor Palpatine-ish role over Megatron and seems to have studied at the School of Decepticon Hogwarts. With that, coupled with seeing the first Transformers and already having the opportunity to visit the essence of the Autobots, you are given the chance to truly feel that you are visiting an earth existence where towering alien robots can have feelings, souls, and an extensive history. This familiarity with the bots will be explored to emotion-tugging lengths at several moments in the film, most of the time through very long, but fulfilling fights. The action choreography between the bots spills on to your eye sockets from what seems like a bottomless fight-well of beat-assedness.
The frail humans don’t take a back seat to the bots. Shia LaBeouf still holds his own when it comes to interacting his fellow cast members and the CG giants. Everything you expect from him is executed to perfect “LeBeoufasion.” In this role, he was able to explore his acting range to a fairly broad extent. Alongside him is the ever-so-ravishing Megan Fox. We have yet to see a role from her that really demands an award-winning performance, and this one isn’t it. Her performance was enough for most any of us to accept: nothing amazing, but not bad either. She is a unicorn gallivanting in the middle of a horse race. Yeah, the race is awesome, and you have a lot of money going on “three strides before the wire” in lane number six – but there is a unicorn on the track! You can’t ignore it.
Kevin Dunn and Julie White, Shia’s onscreen parents, managed to be exceptionally outstanding in their supporting roles. With Julie playing an adorably spontaneous mother and Kevin still being the ball-busting but loving father, their presence whenever they graced the screen is appreciated. Actor Ramon Rodriguez’s character Leo was probably one of the more difficult characters to stomach. It isn’t because of Rodriguez himself; he held his place in the company of a pretty strong cast. This issue was more with the character. It started off interesting, with us figuring out what his role would be while sharing the screen with Shia. Leo started off quick-witted, 
charming, and funny. As the film goes on, he slowly turns into what could have been the Jar Jar Binks of the cast – annoyingly doltish. The militants, Tyrese Gibson and Josh Duhamel, also return to their post. Even John Turturro is back and playing a big role as the awkward-but-knowledgeable Agent Simmons.
With beautiful cinematography, despite a moderate unfitting ug-up during a sky diving scene, Transformers: Rise of the Fallen takes you there. The adventure treks many corners of the world showing off, and justifying, its $200 million greenback budget. While visiting those places, Michael “TNT” Bay takes the opportunity to asplode them to kingdom come. Though enthralling, there were a few moments where the dialog seemed a bit unnatural. That is a difficult finger to point. Between actors, writing, and direction, who knows where to place the fault? Other than that, the film is a fun ride. With the sex, the violence, the effortless glides though profanity, along with some other nerd Easter eggs and sight gags, Transformers: Rise of the Fallen seems to saunter just along the wire of its PG-13 rating – but having a ball while doing so.
13 Responses to “Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen – Review”
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NK Flickr!
Optimus Prime took on 3 of those Decepticons at once….he is a badass.
I Really Enjoyed Reading This Review, I Knew I Was Going To Watch This Movie – Bad or Good. But Reading This Just Assured Me To Go In Having Fun. Favorite Parts of The Review? All The Made-Up Words = Best Parts.
This movie pretty much lived up the expectations I had of it, and in many cases exceeded them. Great review FLitz.
Having Optimus Prime say “Give me your face” and fuck up The Fallen was epic. Seriously Optimus doesn’t take your shit.
An overall enjoyable movie and better than the first. Not EPICOMGROFLSAUCEBBQ that everyone seems to be making this. I have 2 issues with the movie:
1. Ending had a awesome build up but by the time you got to the end it was over faster than a starving child at a buffet.
2. The Fallen has no character development. Has a lot of back history that focuses on the Autobot/Decepticons but Fallen’s introduction wasn’t as epic or deserving for a character in the movie’s title.
BTW, The Twins are officially the new Jar-Jar’s of the series.
Having Optimus Prime go Transmetal was kind of unnecessary.
Actually it kinda was… SPOILER AFTER THIS!
Autobots don’t fly. That has always been a trend the transformers series. He needed a way to get up to the Fallen. It just so happens Jetfire switched sides. In turn, that helped Optimus get up to the Mr. Fallen Wizard, fast and effectively. It has also been done in the cartoon before.
I know it was and I understand why they did it, but in my head I was like WTF!?
I love that they kept the whole Jetfire switching sides.
Also
The 400 critics around the globe spoke. Then fans around the world spoke.
Transformers made $60.6 million dollars in the United States for a total of around $100 million from the world on opening day! One of the biggest single days in movie history.
Then never seem to understand that I make movies for people to take a ride and escape.
To all the Transformer Fans – Thank You
Michael
I think soundwave was the best out of all the transformers. His part just seemed so appropriate for what he was in the cartoons.
Good review. I enjoyed it. Now I need to go and see this slposionfest for myself.
I remember perfectly when I saw the first Transformers film by Michael Bay—July 3rd, 2007. I actually thought the real release date was July 4th, and that I was “technically” seeing it early. Regardless, it was one of my favorite movies of 2007 and overall the best one of that summer (aside from Live Free and Die Hard). Hearing about a sequel, I was thrilled. More action-packed/unforgettable cinema moments. Yes, please! Fresh from the theater, here I am to deliver some thoughts.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, from start to finish, is fun to watch. Shivers go up and down your spin when The Fallen’s face takes up the screen, and I would of loved to see how epic it was in IMAX. You’re gonna get your monies worth here because this is the definition of a summer movie. Loaded with comic relief, action, and a love story. What more does one need? I could go on and praise it, but a small piece of advice for movie-goers. In my opinion, you should only see it once. What you have here is over two hours of entertainment that I don’t think can be duplicated by any home theater system, or simply catching it while it’s on HBO. Even seeing it a second time in theaters wouldn’t make you satisfied, because it would pale in comparison to the first time you saw it. Best thing to do is see it once, get the hype out of your system, and leave it at that.
Overall Rating: 7/10
[...] countless other films during the first half, and now it’s time to sit through more. To date, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is the highest grossing film this summer, and rightfully so. It’s managed to rack in an [...]