PG-13, 2 hrs. 23 min. Directed by:
Michael Bay. Release Date: Jul 03, 2007. DVD Release Date: Oct 16, 2007.
****REPOSTED FROM THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH NEW EDITS AND COMMENTS****
Amazing action sequences and special
effects lead the way for a modern spin on the Transformers story line. The final results are so good that I don't even care that one of the biggest hacks in Hollywood was in the helm on this movie. It remains the only Michael Bay movie that I can watch repeatedly, and one of the few from my personal collection.
The first thing that separates this
movie from the rest of the pack is the special effects for the transformers
themselves: the robots, whether in robot mode or vehicle mode are simply
amazing. Keeping the same voice actor for Optimus Prime in the original animated series was an especially nice touch, I thought. The interaction between the various transformers and the human
cast was also excellent, and probably was the sort of time-consuming effort we
haven't seen much of since Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
In spite of, or possibly because of
the robot magic, they put forth some really fun action sequences here without
apparently doing much in the way of work. Because while I think the sequences
are great, and fairly frequent, there's not that much too them. There were
plenty of other summer blockbusters from 2007 that had action sequences that
are technically more complex, but they seem to pale in comparison.
But, what is really great about this
movie, and what makes it the type of movie I can watch repeatedly is the story.
The story touches on so many of those themes that seem to make any story more
appealing: honor, doing the right thing, a bit of love, and well, a hot chick.
You think the Illiad would have worked without Helen? Nope. It's what takes
Troy from a slaughter to something far nobler.
