Directed by Michael Bay
I want to begin this review by saying, it's a movie about giant robots. If you don't like these kinds of things - you shouldn't bother watching it at all. If you want a deep storyline with an, arguably, strong emotional connection, stay home and watch The Hours on DVD. If you can stay awake through the entire film that is.
Now for the review.
Frankly, for what it is, the film's quite good. Again it's a story about giant freaking robots and for whatever its worth, you have to give Michael Bay (and his, ahem, "sizable" visual effects team) credit for crafting an engaging film given the subject matter.Personally, the movie felt like an orgasmic mash up of Titanic's grandiose emotional sequences and Indepedendence Day's bloody American patriotism in the midst of an alien invasion with just a dash of Michael Bay's own Armageddon for good measure.
If you didn't enjoy any of these films, then it should be obvious by now that this isn't your kind of movie.
The Good:
+ For a film of this magnitude and scale (literally-speaking), it actually makes you feel invested in its characters. Both human and robot. In fact, you'll probably end up rooting for some of them while watching the movie.
+ The soundtrack is amazing. Though I could be a bit biased since it has some of my favorite artists involved. Goo Goo Dolls anyone?
+ Rosie Whiteley-Huntington wasn't as bad as I though she could have been - especially for a first time actress. Though I still can't get over those lips. I wonder if they're real or augmented? Regardless, she serves her purpose as an attractive accessory in the movie (and they were very blatant about it too).
+ The action sequences were, dare I say it, "epic" and well orchestrated.
+ The visuals were top notch and solid all throughout - nobody would dare accuse this film of looking cheap or "too CGI" - they're blended very well together. On that note, to anyone who doesn't know how long it takes just to make things look realistic in computer graphics (CG), let me just say that it definitely takes work. At least learn to appreciate the craft and the artistry (and the labor) that it takes to create what you seen on screen from every angle of the film-making process.
+ Alan Tudyk as Dutch and Frances McDormand as National Intelligence Director, Charlotte Mearing are refreshing to see on screen (if only to break the monotony).
+ Ken Jeong from the Hangover is hilarious.
+ The robots (and their voice actors) are fantastic! How can you go wrong with Leonard Nimoy?
+ Apart from James Cameron's AVATAR, I'm usually not a fan of 3D and this is yet another a rare exception. If you don't mind the extra ticket price, go see it not just in 3D but in IMAX 3D - it definitely compliments the larger than life set pieces and action sequences on screen and adds an extra dimension to the viewing experience (imagine that).
*It was also "shot" natively in 3D like AVATAR hence it doesn't seem as forced as other films just trying to cash in this new fad (We're looking at you Alice in Wonderland).
The Bad:
- Sam (Shia LaBeouf) and Carly's (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) relationship is too laughable to believe let alone care about. She could have been blown up for all I care.
- Given the over-the-top action sequences, it's really hard to believe that all the main characters survive with just a few scratches and bruises when people around them are dying left and right. I mean come on, really?
- Patrick "McDreamy" Dempsey as a villain is really annoying. If this had been a stage play, I would already have thrown a bag of tomatoes.
- The actor they chose to supposedly play US Pres. Ronald Reagan looks nothing like him.
THE VERDICT!
Score Card:
Should you see it?
Sure why not. That's if you're looking to check your brain out the door and just enjoy a good action film with giant robots and tons of explosions. If it's not your thing don't bother or help me god, I'll slap you silly if I hear/read another complaint that I haven't already addressed in my preamble.
Any thoughts?
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