It's simple. Do you like robots fighting and breaking stuff? Then you'll love Transformers, a movie about two races of transforming robots, the Autobots and the Decepticons, fighting over the fate of Earth.
Transformers is based on the 80s toy and cartoon series... nearly every male of my demographic (24-29) grew up desperately wishing to be taken away by the Transformers and converted into a transforming robot. I wanted this so bad that I used to 'practise' transforming into the few shapes that I could manage, ie. a chair, a mat, part of the wall, etc.
Needless to say, this ultra-violent movie scratches a more-than-seven year old itch that has been festering with dreams and nostalgia. No expense has been spared, neither on the filmmaking nor the marketing side, ensuring that this 4th of July release will be the hit of the summer.
Skeptics were fretfully worried that Michael Bay would drop the ball on this, and packs of fanboys sharpened their canines in preparation for a deadly advance on Bay's studio. They can rest assured, however, that Transformers will live up to the hype.
Robots fighting. And breaking stuff.
In fact, this review is pointless. You're already going to see this, aren't you? I probably couldn't even convince you otherwise. I went to a cafe after the movie to reflect on what I'd seen, and the barista was stunned that I had already seen it, 'You've seen it? How fantastic was it? This movie is basically the reason for my existence.'
Heavy words from a coffee-slinger, but it echoes a common sentiment in the English speaking world.
Michael Bay directed movies such as Armageddon, Bad Boys and The Rock, and you'll see tinges of the same sentiments in Transformers. He's a big budget director, a rock star among artists. I wouldn't say that he added anything special to the film, other than the heavy doses of pro-American military moments, and a thick layer of fromage.
What he does bring to the show, or at least enables, is the stunning special effects.
Every summer, there's a one-up on the special effects, with Lord of the Rings having a chokehold on the belt for a couple of years. Lately, it was 300 that brought people to their knees in the throes of CGI-ecstasy.
Myself, I couldn't give a damn about the effects, but I have to admit that Transformers comes out real nice. REAL nice. The violence and carnage looks very realistic and is seemlessly blended in with the human actors, giving the audience a desperate appreciation for how dangerous the Transformers really are.
This is a good looking show, and Bay uses his trademark fast-editing techniques to dramatize the production, like his music videos.
In fact, this is an MTV generation movie, and it shows. There's hardly a slow moment before something blows up or gets shot, and Transformers succeeds in driving the audience to adrenaline-soaked levels. The premiere audience cheered raucously at Optimus Prime's appearance, and the boo-yah! beatdown he brings on the Decepticons.
There's a certain magic to be appreciated when you first see a robot transform on the big screen. Your body virtually regresses backwards through puberty, leaving you in awe in a childlike state, gaping at the screen. We've waited a long time, and it's finally here.
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