Transformers movie review from modmove

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Transformers
First seen in the mid 80's, Transformers marked the beginning of the specific use of children’s cartoons to sell a line of branded toys. An immensely successful marketing strategy, its attraction to the kiddy public was equaled by the ire of parents and consumerist cynics tiring of 80's excesses, material greed and whining impressionable offspring. So successful was this strategy that it has since become a mandatory tool in toy advertising. No doubt the same tactic is being employed by this live action, big screen Transformers but when the sales pitch is this much fun, show me where the toys are, I'll buy one!

"This is easily 100 times cooler than Armageddon, I swear to God!!" Words of truth from one of the many nerds who populate this Transformiverse and a gentle dig at one of director Michael Bay's own prior blockbusters. Bay knows his demographic here, all the guys are virgin geeks and the chicks are hottie nerds, and he has some astounding access to USAF's big boys' toys in addition to the CG Japanese-alien hardware. Geeky guys and nerdy birds get off on stonking great robots kicking the crap out of each other and Bay serves up the party-size pizza with lashings of extra drippy cheese.

Pulling out all the stops (and a large wad of cash), Transformers presents its breathtaking white-knuckle action as the star attraction. Witness a prime mover performing a high speed 180° broad slide, all shattered bitumen and shuddering smoky tyres, whilst simultaneously undergoing a seamless transformation into a mechanical brawling behemoth. It's an awesome spine-tingling sight that highlights the meticulous work of Dreamworks' animators. Look closely at the machines and you'll see an amazing level of detail in the animation - whirring gears, pumping hydraulics, hissing pneumatics, resizing electric retinas - this is clearly a labour of love; a product of unbridled enthusiasm and a desire to relive lost childhood dreams.

Sure, implausibilities abound, like how Sam (Shia LaBeouf) manages to keep pace with a Chevy Camaro on his bicycle, how he manages to leg it with running autobots, and how the scale of the robots don't seem to match the size of their respective vehicles. And, yes, the dialogue is corny and the film is a bit pudgy about the middle and it does have a preachy element… BUT CHECK OUT THE ROBOTS, MAN!! Indeed, if there's one main singular criticism it's that there's probably just a little too much story getting in the way of all the big robot thumpy goodness.

This is easily the funnest entry in the blockbuster season so far and a belter of an action movie to boot. Shame about its misfiring middle, though.
Stuart Jamieson

Check out the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen review here

www.transformersmovie.com


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