Transformers (2007)
If there ever are films where no introduction is necessary, then Transformers would surely be one of them. Regardless of your age, gender and nationality, you’ve probably heard of it in some way or another. Now, some twenty-odd years after the original sensation took the world by storm, comes the big screen version from who else but Michael Bay.
This is definitely the type of material that fits Bay. The characters speak for themselves. The audience isn’t really expecting a story – all that’s important is the action is right. And that’s something that Bay is actually good at delivering, occasionally, when he’s not having a fit with the camera. Indeed, the CG and the special effects are very good, and Bay knows how to pump up the adrenaline. When his signature jerky editing style is not interfering with the audience seeing clearly what’s happening, the film is generally on track and delivering the juice.
(Except that, at least a few occasions, I was annoyed by the editing. Why wouldn’t they show things clearly? I couldn’t even see who was damaging who and how.)
Apart from the heavy action scenes, during which the film takes itself very seriously, the film is generally light-humored and even self-mocking some times. Watch out for John Turturro’s ridiculous character Agent Simmons, from the you’ve-never-heard-of-it-before extra secret government agency Section Seven.
Generally speaking, the film is well-paced, though there was a ridiculously long comedy sequence at Sam’s house, featuring the Autobots playing hide-and-seek with Sam’s parents. Other than that the film seemed to run along quite briskly.
Judging from the audience reception and current box-office numbers, this could be the beginning of a great movie franchise, and a general revival of the Transformers heritage. Regardless, this is probably one summer blockbuster you shouldn’t miss, even if it has no other value except to provide you with pure CG eye candy for two hours. Enjoy.
7/10