Bigger, better, and louder.
> Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Director: Michael Bay
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Ramon Rodriguez, Kevin Dunn, Julie White, Isabel Lucas
Rating: (M) Movie reviews
4 stars (our of 5)
Reviewed by Christine Powley
The first Transformers movie was a success because of its playfulness. The normal approach to a sequel is to go bigger and that normally means that the charm of the hit gets swamped.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Rialto and Hoyts) is certainly bigger and louder. It is two years on and the Autobots have joined a secret taskforce named NEST to repel Decepticon attacks. hings look sort of under control and Sam (Shia LaBeouf) is heading off to college.
However, there is a new president at the helm and a change in direction is indicated. Maybe diplomatic overtures could be explored.
Big mistake, because the Decepticons are not interested in sharing. It seems that Transformer robots have been on Earth much longer than the first movie suggested - in fact, they were the aliens who built the pyramids. The Decepticons need to take Earth because of a power source left behind by the first Transformers.
Sam becomes important because he unwittingly manages to get vital information transmitted to his brain.
This movie is not as much fun as the first but it manages to retain a human scale while giving us really high-end special effects. Instead of fudging things with night-time battles, we see robot combat in bright sunlight. Which is pretty impressive.
So if you are only going to see one robot action movie this year, I think you had better make it this one.
Best thing: Shia LaBeouf is very young to be carrying a movie. He makes it look easy.
Worst thing: It could have gone a lot lighter on the robot mythology.
See it with: Plenty of time to spare, the Ice Age 3 promo of the squirrel thing with the acorn obsession is showing and you do not want to miss it.
