After I listened to my daughters whine about how everyone in school had been talking about the Transformers sequel while we still had to see it, and after they reminded me several times that I did promise, months ago, that we would see it, we finally went last Sunday. If it weren’t for the ear-splitting noise that characterized the film, I would have slept through the first half. I didn’t like the first Transformers film; I like the sequel even less. But if I were to choose between the two, I’d say the first is 10 times better than the sequel.
I’ll pre-empt the shallow-headed ones who will dismiss my dislike as a generation thing. Or even a gender issue. Excuse me but I’ve watched all Harry Potter films, read all Harry Potter books, saw all the X-Men movies and enjoyed them all. And I adore Lara Croft: Tomb Raider! A movie doesn’t have to be so darn mind-blowing deep to be enjoyable. But Transformers, Revenge of the Fallen? Oh, puhleeez.
So, why is it a big hit? Michael Bay’s over-the-top computer-generated visual effects? Megan Fox? For a generation that defines a great movie based on the visual impact, it’s almost understandable why both Transformers films are blockbusters. We are getting so used to computer-generated visuals that leave us breathless that we often forget to pause and wonder what story line weaves the visuals together. Because that’s what was glaringly lacking in the Transformers films, especially the Michael Bay-directed sequel. There simply was no cohesive story line.
Now, I’m no fan of the Transformers TV series but I’ve read enough to know that the backstories, including the origin of the autobots and the decepticons, the planet where they came from, and what brought all of them to Earth are all woven together to provide some substance to a line of toys that, otherwise, would have signified nothing but violence and destruction.
The theme that aliens landed on Earth during prehistoric times is not even new. In film, it’s as old as Stargate, perhaps even older. So, there’s no breakthrough there. Rehashing the theme by giving the aliens a robot appearance is too thin to make it unique. Secondly, vehicles that convert into fighting robots is old news too. I grew up in the Voltes V generation and I’ve had my fill of that. But, at least, there was an attempt by the creators to substantiate the Transformers. A little of that substance was discernible in the 2007 Transformers movie but I saw none of it in the sequel which was nothing but mega-noise, mega-blasts and mega-destruction.
The fact the the film’s pre-production took place at the height of the American Screenwriters Guild’s strike explains a lot. Even a good director can be hampered by the lack of a well-written script. But the really brilliant director will find ways to come up with a passably good story line. The way the Transformers sequel turned out, it’s a dumbing down of the movie-going public, really. But, considering how people are still lining up to see it, how many realize that?
It doesn’t bother director Michael Bay who simply rolled his eyes in reaction to a statement made by Megan Fox that he relied on “special effects rather than acting.” Based on how Fox answers questions during interviews, I have to say that she’s not the smartest girl in her generation but she’s got a point there. As a trivia, there was a scene in the movie when a robot observed that Fox’s character, Mikaela, was “hot but not too bright.” I’m now wondering if that was inserted during post production in response to criticisms hurled by Fox against Bay.
In fact, the depiction of Mikaela says a lot about Michael Bay. Sure, everyone agrees that Megan Fox is beautiful and sexy. But is there a particular reason why she was in very short shorts bending over a motorcycle in her first scene in the film? Is there any good reason too to show her stripping her leather jeans and jacket to show her in a strapless mini dress when she went to say goodbye to Sam (LaBeouf’s character) who was off to college? It does seem to me that Bay really had no intention of going beyond visuals in this film considering how he exploited the imagery of Fox’s anatomy in lieu of developing the character she was portraying.
And the inclusion of that anorexic blonde decepticon played by Isabel Lucas (crap, but when did decepticons develop the ability to take on a human form?) who tried to seduce Sam in college? Sheesh, man, but what does Bay have against women, really, that he had to portray all female characters in the Transformers sequel either as sex objects or downright clueless? Oh, don’t tell me that the characterization of Sam’s mother was a positive commentary on womanhood.
If it weren’t for the funny moments, the film would have been downright intolerable. Thank goodness for the resurrection of John Torturro’s character, Agent Simmons, and thank goodness that Torturro is a real actor and not just a movie star. And thank goodness even more for that scene when US Army Ranger Major William Lennox (played by Josh Duhamel) maneuvered the stuck-up National Security Advisor Galloway (played by John Benjamin Hickey) off the plane. When Lennox slapped Galloway while screaming at him non-stop, it was such an emotional release for me.
So, if you haven’t seen Transformers, Revenge of the Fallen and you’re planning to, please heed my advice: Stay home and save your money. Wait for it on cable. At least on television, you can tone down the audio. You can go to the kitchen and grab a sandwich too when you get to the consecutive and excessive metal clanging scenes and you feel like you need to stretch to stay focused.
I have yet to see this film or star trek. Walang oras.
You’re not the first to say the film stunk.
I actually love the first film. But I agree with you re: Bay’s treatment of the women character. Even in the first, I don’t understand why Bay had to resort to making Fox scream sex on the screen every chance he got.
Anyway, my push to see this new offering fizzled after reading your post.
He exploits Megan Fox to the hilt, terrible. She’s just a decoration there when it doesn’t have to be like that.
Ironic that he uses Fox this way and then walks out on Friday the 13th (2009) stating there’s too much sex. Go figure.
He did? LOL!
Written on this page http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758746/trivia but of course take it with a grain of salt.
hehehe I agree. Lots of unsubstantiated trivia on that site. Fan contributed as I understand it.
“And the inclusion of that anorexic blonde decepticon played by Isabel Lucas (crap, but when did decepticons develop the ability to take on a human form?) who tried to seduce Sam in college?”
That decepticon is perhaps a Pretender, paying homage to the Transformer Pretenders series wherein their alternate forms are animals instead of vehicles. Of course, Michael Bay just found a way to make it worse.
“The theme that aliens landed on Earth during prehistoric times is not even new. In film, it’s as old as Stargate, perhaps even older. So, there’s no breakthrough there.”
This is also true to the 80s Transformers cartoon. Jetfire and Starscream (both scientists then) visited prehistoric earth to conduct studies. It was on that episode that Jetfire switched sides (which the current movie later adapted).
I respect your opinion when you advise people not to watch the movie, because you generally do not like it. But it works both ways. I also know people who dislike Harry Potter and got somewhat interested with the Transformer movie, but I don’t think they would recommend to their friends not to watch Harry Potter since it also is hugely popular.
Megan Fox? I agree that her acting is bland. And yes, I was glad that Torturro’s back for some good comic relief (the twin robots Skidz and Mudflap were annoying).
My advice? Let people watch the movie and let them decide for themselves. Let them be part of the experience. The movie could suck for some of them, but these could be redeemed by any camaraderie and bonding experience shared with friends or family.
I am not a huge Michael Bay fan, nor on what he did to the Transformers franchise, but I still appreciate the movie in spite of the weird changes and dialogues.
Thanks.
My recommendation not to watch it would wouldn’t be justified if the only reason was not liking it. But I’ve said my reasons so it’s a mistake to say I am advising against it “because you generally do not like it.”
Re “…but I don’t think they would recommend to their friends not to watch Harry Potter since it also is hugely popular.”
So? Your friends would be scared to go against the popular will even if they disagree? I find something wrong with the reasoning.
And I wasn’t soliciting advice. If I were, I’d have said so.
I think I never said my friends “are scared” to go against the popular because they disagree. It was my opinion that people have different tastes in movies.
I understand that you might not be soliciting advice. I’m just expressing my take on the matter.
Wow, so it was your alter ego who posted “My advice?” in the previous comment? Oh, wait, I’m supposed to substitute “opinion” for advice, eh?
I guess it was your alter ego too who typed that his friends wouldn’t recommend to their friends not to watch Harry Potter since it also is hugely popular. That’s not fear of the majority opinion. Yeah, right.
Oh, and I missed this in your previous comment: “The movie could suck for some of them, but these could be redeemed by any camaraderie and bonding experience shared with friends or family.”
Sus. The column is about the movie, NOT movie going as a family activity. Hello?
I already STATED I wasn’t soliciting advice and you still say I MIGHT NOT be soliciting advice? Sus naman.
Hmmm, I slept thru half of the movie and my attention perked up only when those manic Decepticons were stripping the top off Khefren’s pyramid. So yun pala ang nilalaman nun! Hehe. I think Michael Bay used leftover footage from Pearl Harbor when he panned over that sinking aircraft carrier. My son strongly disagreed and we argued about most of the CGI stuff all the way home. So I think Jomar has a point since we had time for bonding!
As for Megan Fox, well, at least that was better casting – rather have her than Jamie Foxx!
Hes the most manipulative director in Hollywood..
Ive heard lots of bad stories about him.
i am a fan of the transformer cartoon series way back. i still like the 2 movies. my only complain is that there were no characterization of sort of the robots. like jetfire also known as skyfire, sideswipe and the rest. it would help a lot( i think) but micheal bay films are more action pack then acting pack (bad boys, armageddon, the rock and sorts)but then again its a commercial film and too much time taken on exploding metals rather than acting
My 11 year old son is making me kulit din to watch Transformers 2. I think I will heed your advise and just wait for it on TV. Pero, HP6? Now, that’s different. I will make my son kulit to come watch with me. He he.
I guess the movie is a big hit because it caters to the audience of today. Other wise, it wouldn’t be as such. However, it does reflect a lot upon the movie goers of today’s times. But a great portion of them also like the Harry Potter films. So go figure.
I liked the film, enjoyed the action scenes and effects because I wanted to entertained, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that I want women to be treated like what Bay did. It’s a movie, and most, like this one, doesn’t need to be taken too seriously. How I miss the times when films had more substance and a very good script + story.
If there’s one thing I didn’t liked about Transformers 2 was Megatron being an apprentice to some ancient decepticon. It was so “Star Wars-like”.
Nonetheless, I’m still going to watch the third installment. Perhaps Bay would finally redeem himself by then.
Siyet, may #3 pa? And he’s directing again?
LOL! I knew you’d react like that. There’s no official word yet, but after Optimus Prime defeated “the fallen one”, Megatron said it himself “This isn’t over yet.”
So there you have it, a 3rd installment where the score will be settled once and for all.
Hay, naku, rarely have sequels equaled the original. I loved The Matrix but didn’t find the two sequels too cool. Problem with Hollywood producers is they don’t know how to quit while ahead.
Sass, you are so funny!
I tell you, when we watch the movie with my son and his cousins, my wife went with our favorite niece to watch another movie.
Smart, smart!
The Transformer series made Megan Fox the hottest girl in the planet today, as when Tomb Raider made Angelina Jolie then.
It is also the first film in 2009 that grossed over $300 million in the US market. It has reached its intended audience with high testosterone level who enjoyed mayhem, cgis, sexual appeal and especially a lot of noises. Watching it at home would be far less an experience than in the theater.
What funny moments?
Hahahaha so you think worse of it than I do? LOL!
The same plus totally unfunny.
To Dodong, there’s really no comparison between Jolie and Fox. Tomb Raider has her kicking ass, being intelligent, taking initiative and being on par or better than male counterparts. The character of Lara Croft was not made out to be mere eye candy. Plus Jolie has proven her acting chops with movies like Girl, Interrupted, and Gigi. I’m hard-pressed to name a scene let alone a movie where Fox shows any acting promise.
Re Gigi. You mean Gia, right? Bio of Gia Carangi?
Grrr,I hate it when I do that. yes, I meant Gia.
LOL Happens to everyone.
Pinayhekmi, I don’t blame you. You see, Michael Bay had insisted Megan Fox wash his $225k yellow Ferrari for audition, needs no acting skill. That puts the person in a box with limited role as driven by the script and intention of the director. There is no basis to make any comparison on acting skill. Besides, Angelina’s dad had the pull in the industry to provide the needed break to showcase her acting talent.
Whoa! Washing a car was her audition? Double whoa!!
Its triple whoa, Sass…. when you consider that Michael Bay recorded the car wash audition but feign ignorance of what happened to it (for private screening??). Or it may surface in the Ebay like the Jenny’s number 867-5309 solf for $365,000.
Look at that… Sold by an insider, I am sure. And extending that even further… Funny that when people talk about film piracy, the focus is on the ones that own the computers and the retailers. When, in fact, it all starts with an insider who has access to the original film and sells it illegally.
Stay home and save money. Hahah! I intend to. Never liked any of Michael Bay’s films..and with that new actor ..shie balouf? eeeiiyoowww…