With comic book film adaptations coming out of the woodwork and cartoons as mainstream entertainment, it was only a matter of time before “The Transformers” was made into a live-action, special-effects laden film. With CGI-technology where it is nowadays, making giant robots who transform into vehicles look realistic is not only do-able but incredible to behold. And you don’t have to be a geek to enjoy this action film, there is plenty in this big budget summer movie to entertain everyone.
The giant robots are aliens who are searching the stars to find a technological cube called the “all spark”. This cube is the only hope to saving their dying planet. There are good robots called Autobots, led by a big rig truck called Optimus Prime, and bad robots called Decepticons, who are currently searching for their lost leader. Shia LaBeouf - a busy young actor that was in “Disturbia” this spring and is currently filming “Indiana Jones 4” for next summer - plays a teenager named Sam Witwicky, who gets a new, very special car from his Dad. He must keep the secret of his car not only from his over-protective parents but from the government as well, while also trying to impress a girl from his school. Sam soon gets caught up in the intergalactic war between the machines, that now threatens the planet Earth.
The plot is not particularly important in the overall scheme of the film, as this rollercoaster ride just needs a beginning and an end. That the film is intense is an understatement, as giant robots battle other giant robots, crash off of buildings, transform from cars, planes, and tanks, and chase after the main characters. This alone would eventually get tiring, but the director, Michael Bay (“Armageddon”) gives the audience plenty of humor in between action sequences - compliments of LaBeouf and other minor characters played by Bernie Mac, Anthony Anderson, and John Turturro.
The special effects are impressive, the best of the summer, as watching the robots transform becomes fascinating in and of itself. The military plays a major role in the film, and gets to do battle with the Decepticons in exciting action sequences. That the film was not made strictly for kids is obvious, and it may be too much for younger children, since the action sequences are intense and realistic and there is adult-oriented innuendo throughout. For the Transformers fans in the audience there are plenty of in-jokes to keep you grinning while for the passive movie-goer - if you want a great popcorn flick to watch this summer - this would be it.
So, come one, come all and see the action-event of the year, while you can enjoy the full sensory experience on the big screen.
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, brief sexual humor and language
