Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, language, some crude and sexual material, and brief drug material
In our mostly positive review of the first "Transformers" movie, we said -- in a good way -- that it was "a film built for the 8- to 14-year old boy inside of all of us." Unfortunately, "Transformers 2" feels like a film made BY the 8- to 14-year-old boy in all of us. Twice. And if you're an 8- to 14-year-old boy who has ever made a movie, you should absolutely be offended by that.
The Story
Backstory: Autobots are good. Decepticons are bad. They are metal robot aliens with the ability to transform into any kind of machine, and they're locked in a civil war because the Autobots believe it's wrong to harm other races and the Decepticons really like to do that -- especially to humans.
It's been two years since Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and his unlikely girlfriend Mikaela (Meagan Fox) helped Optimus Prime and the other Autobots defeat the Decepticons. Sam is heading off to college on the East Coast, leaving his faithful Autobot buddy Bumblebee (a yellow Camaro) behind, telling Optimus Prime he wants out of the ongoing skirmishes with the remaining Decepticons for the sake of a "normal life," and promising Mikaela a very rewarding long-distance relationship.
That lasts only until he happens upon a "shard" of the "Allspark" (I think), which turns his toaster into a mean little Decepticon and possesses his head with all kinds of strange symbols and the urgent need to write them on things. Worse, the formerly dispatched Decepticon baddie Megatron has been raised from his watery grave and is preparing for the return to earth of a Decepticon leader known as "The Fallen." Their plan: Destroy Earth's sun!
Meanwhile, a creepy, hot girl at college is coming on to Sam for no apparent reason, and he, Mikaela, and Sam's new comic-relief roommate Leo (Ramon Rodriguez) are quickly on the run away from some robots, toward others, and eventually to the great pyramids of Egypt for another high-octane battle royale for the future of the planet.
Also included in the set: Soldiers (Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson)! The wacky scientist (John Turturro)! An arrogant government suit who just. doesn't. get. it! And Sam's bickering, potty-mouth parents!
The Verdict
What we thought of the film on its own terms
What Works: Like a lot of people, apparently, I caught the movie with a sold-out crowd of very excited fans. There was a buzz. They were eager. And they seemed to dig director Michael Bay's "more is more" approach for about two-thirds of the film. And, honestly, "Transformers 2: Louder Than the First One" (not actual title) does deliver on the CGI and "the energy" early on.
A few of the action sequences with the robots in full combat mode are impressive, and Bay's editing technique of apparently skipping over parts of the film always keeps things moving (though it's a little distracting). Shia LaBeouf gives a watchable, though less funny and heroic performance this time around.
Those most disappointed with the movie, I think, expected it to have a story that makes sense and reasonably coherent dialogue and truly funny moments and a classic battle between the evenly matched forces of good and evil. But that's not what this Bay-travaganza is about. It's more of a CGI rock concert that you don't go to for the music, but for the show. You expect to dig the pyrotechnics, not the songs.
What Doesn't Work: Of course, that's not a great reason to go to a movie -- especially a sequel that seems worse in every imaginable way than the first film. The story is baffling. The robots are often impossible to tell apart. The actors are obviously not "there" with the CGI robots. The jokes are just silly. And the film never ends. (I think it's still playing right now.) Every robot (and one human) are killed and brought back to life 19 times. (Slight exaggeration.)
When the movie finally moves into last-stand mode and you can kind of see how it will all fall into place, it just takes forever to get it done (partly because its all in slow-motion). I could sense the energy slowly drain out of the crowd around me during last hour of the film, and everyone instantly jumped up to leave just before the credits came on screen. Never a good sign. The film would have earned more fans with 45 fewer minutes of robot-crunching action.
Content: Bay's more-of-everything approach also includes more objectionable content. Lots of swearing and crude sexual humor. Constant action violence with a huge human and robot body count (though not much blood). And two sex-object girls in skimpy clothes used as set decoration for guys to look at when the robots are off-screen; both get physical with Sam. Finally, Sam's mom gets high on pot, talks about hearing him have sex with Mikaela, and says other gross stuff for laughs.
Worldview
How the film's take on life compares to a biblical perspective
In the first "Transformers" film, an obvious worldview idea had to do with the heroism of sacrificing yourself -- risking your life -- for the good of others. This time around, you could say the message is about accepting your calling in life. Sam's attempt to leave the robot wars behind to be a normal person nearly leads to the destruction of the universe. So, you know, that's bad.
You may never fight in any intergalactic battles with a sports utility vehicle buddy and a tattooed swimsuit model girlfriend, but you also have a calling in life, especially if you're a Christian. You are called to exercise your spiritual gifts on the path of Jesus and in your circle of influence. You are called to obey, to follow, to live abundantly. To accept that calling brings purpose and peace; to refuse brings dullness and missed opportunities.
But don't work too hard to pull that idea from "Transformers 2: Please Buy a GM Car!" (not actual title). It's really just about the light show and the ad placements, not the songs.
Questions
- Am I out to lunch? Did you love this movie as much as the first one?
- Did you see it in a sold-out movie theater?
- Are you a fan of "the Michael Bay experience"? Why or why not?
- Do you believe that more is more, less is more, or that the same is more?
- Are you a fan of the Transformers franchise aside from these two films? What is your favorite expression of that world?
- What would you say is your calling in life right now and what would be the consequences, if any, of skipping out on it?
- Sam's one-day college experience involved a rowdy frat party; a roommate with posters of naked girls on the walls; a smug, sexually suggestive professor; and a being propositioned by a hot co-ed. How close is "movie college" to the real thing, do you think? Why is it always pictured that way?
