the mad titan speaks...

review - transformers: revenge of the fallen

 abuse

I’ll readily admit that “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” doesn’t have the greatest script ever. In fact, there are a couple of potential plot holes that go unanswered. You have to be creative and put those aside, though. With “Revenge of the Fallen”, the emotional overture makes that simple. At the core of the story is love, whether it is shared as friends between Sam Witwicky and Optimus Prime, or as lovers in Sam and Mikaela. To fully enjoy this film, I have one piece of advice:

Cage the super-critical jerk inside for a few hours and relax.

Readily, you’ll see that this film is about nothing but love. Without giving too much of the plot away, you’ll see how the Transformers have existed incognito with us for millennia. Acting much like older brothers, they’ve painted themselves into the background of our very existence at one point or another throughout our history. In our distant past, they made a huge sacrifice to preserve the human race. With the reactivation of Megatron and the arrival of the Fallen, his superior, the Autobots and Optimus Prime are faced with having to make the same sacrifice and save the human race once again.

Director Michael Bay, known for his box-office success, doesn’t disappoint. His films have always been about action, heart-ache, loss and moving the plot along. Not once does “Revenge of the Fallen” get boring or stale. You won’t find yourself at any point in the film wishing for it to hurry up or be over with.

With the dozens of Transformers present, there’s always plenty of amazing robots to gaze at. The special effects are top notch, thanks to Industrial Light and Magic. Optimus Prime, Ironhide and crew look realistic and make a profound impact on the scenery. Their battles are ferocious and don’t hold back. If you do take children with you, be prepared to provide some emotional support. At one early and critical point of the film, young children will most likely cry their eyes out. Also be prepared to hear a few instances of profane words, from both humans and Transformers alike. It’s nothing too harsh, though. More than likely, you’ve probably said worse in front of your own children.

Sam Witwicky, as played by the ever-interesting Shia LaBeouf, present himself as the average college-bound teenager. He wants to experience what it’s like live out in the world. He’s yearning to have some sense of normalcy. Yet, when the Autobot Bumblebee is your best friend, living a normal life is hard to do. Sam quickly learns that life sometimes demands more than what’s fair from you. Sam’s journey provides a solid moral to all who see this film, especially to the young:

When times are tough, you have to be willing to step up and do what’s right. The ones you love are worth fighting and dying for.

Also of note is how they depict Mikaela, as portrayed by Megan Fox. Instead of going the obvious “damsel in distress” route, Mikaela is a strong, independent character that doesn’t take belligerence from anyone, robots included! More often than not, she leapt to take charge in the situations presented. I commend the production and casting staff for letting Megan flex her acting chops a bit and not just use her as a piece of eye candy.

There’s also plenty of intriguing Transformers to keep you fuming with anger, laughing or crying. The Autobot twins Skids and Mudflap are a hilarious duo that loves to bicker and argue. Yet, towards the end of the film, they take on insurmountable odds and prove their worth. The recent reports about the twins being racist stereotypes are over-exaggerated. Just enjoy the twins for what they are – two cool Autobots who like to combine work and play. Also of interest is Soundwave, who sits in orbit above Earth and acts as puppet-master to this whole drama. His voice alone is enough to give you goose bumps. Without him, the Decepticons wouldn’t have a fighting chance. You’ll also enjoy the wise guy Wheelie and the crotchety old Jetfire. Both brought hysterical laughs in the theater I visited. Surely, they’ll do the same in yours.

All in all, I enjoyed “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” even more than the first film. Don’t be too critical of the plot and just go with it. Sure, there are some unanswered questions, but perhaps they were written into the plot purposely for the next Transformers film. Even if they weren’t, the emotional charge of the characters and their struggle to survive an intergalactic war more than make up for it. Head to your local theater and check it out!

Filed under: Movies & Movie Reviews