Transformers

I must be crazy, but a tonne of metal destroying its shiny body for over two hours is one of the top 40 most popular movies? Everyone's taste is different. I’m not saying it’s all bad, it certainly doesn’t lack insight, humour and Bay's indomitable action zeal, and Megan Fox was also very nice to watch. But throughout the film, I just couldn't shake the preconceived notion that cars turning into giant robots is terrible bollocks, which, oddly enough, was further reinforced by the action, which I felt was awfully jumbled, always on the same note, and Michael Bay completely sunk his huge potential, so well exploited in the legendary The Rock. I’m giving it 3 stars, but in the flood of comic book action movies, Transformers is just a below average affair for me… (03/01/2012)

Technically, Transformers is undoubtedly a fantastic ride and it is incredible what they can make nowadays for a lot of money. Unfortunately, the entertainment and overall childishness of the film come at the cost of an absence of logic and at least a bit of the seriousness that was present in all of Michael Bay's purely action films. Some lines are funny, but some are so clichéd that you don’t even react to them. The actors are your typical pretty-faces – Bay's common practice – and the music, thanks to Steve Jablonsky, is solidly dynamic. What surprised me the most is the style Bay uses to shoot the action. There’s an unusual amount of handheld camera and shaky shots, with classic trademarks such as camera tricks, slow-motion, and low-angle shots taking a back seat. The truly beautifully lit quieter sequences and two helicopters against the sunset are not absent, though. After watching it for the second time, I’m giving it another star. This has happened to me several times (and now it will probably be the rule), having a better watching experience at home than in the cinema. Even the action looks much better and clearer on a smaller screen – the big cinema screen only harms it. I stand by the fact that the film is infantile and stupid, but Bay occasionally winks at us, doesn't he? And the annoying British or whatever accent of Rachael Taylor will be ringing in my ears for a long time... (08/18/2007)

The Girl Next Door meets Armageddon clad in perfect audiovisual and explosively action-packed delicacies. Shia LaBeouf is the perfect non-action guy, one that any of us who have ever been a boy or a girl longing for adventure can identify with. Megan Fox was created to be a worshipped idol (who can also fix your car), Bumblebee is the best friend and the perfect car at the same time, The Autobots are a band of heroes and The Decepticons are the most villainous enemies, ones you would want to fight against right away. And Transformers is a movie that may open the eyes of many young wide-eyed boys in front of the screen, teaching them what it means to love a movie. Michael Bay has proven that even megalomania can be moderate and that escalated action that just won't stop doesn't have to be overwhelming, but simply amazing. Tons of lines, a sea of references, the setting sun, a flood of orange, heroism, honor, love, helicopters, and behind it all, a smiling Bay who has fulfilled his dream. The year 2007 will forever be the year when I wanted Bumblebee in my garage and Megan Fox somewhere nearby, but most of all, to watch Transformers over and over again. (08/28/2007)

I revisited Transformers after many years, and I have to acknowledge a few things. It remains an exceptional action blockbuster through and through, a film that burst onto the scene 13 years ago (time flies) and essentially redefined the genre in several aspects. Michael Bay delivered such a thrilling spectacle that these towering alien robots truly won me over. Of course, I must objectively admit that the infantilism now strikes me as glaring, but as a kid, I bought into Bay's vision wholeheartedly. The audiovisuals are meticulously crafted; seeing it in movie theaters back then was an extraordinary experience, with the desert scene early in the film (accompanied by the track "Scorponok") standing out as a favorite. The actors are decent, and even in my twenties, I laughed at a few well-timed jokes. Shia LaBeouf's casting was remarkably spot-on, and Anthony Anderson's eccentric computer expert provided a great secondary role. The plot is inherently silly, but that’s something you shouldn’t dwell on while watching. If you can push aside the nonsensical logic, the film pulls you in like few others. And that’s exactly what matters. The sequels didn’t do as much for me; they seemed more focused on profits than on delivering a cohesive film. But the original will always hold a special place in my memory. I give it 84%. (09/06/2020)

No, no and no. I would love to give it four stars, but I can’t, these big-ass blockbusters are just not my cup of tea. The action scenes are awesome, it’d be hard to find any competition in that regard, but there are other things that I value in movies. Transformers is good stuff to unwind, but it doesn’t offer anything else. The story is predictable and the characters are clichés with an awfully American behaviour. In short, it entertained me but didn’t take my breath away, I don’t need to see it again, nor do I want to. (08/14/2008)