The Happy Homemaker

Transformers-

I was excited to watch the Transformers on DVD. The special effects were spectacular and sometimes I am just in the mood to watch a shallow action flick in which major US city get blown to bits for no real reason. Transformers, a movie based on the Transformer toys made by Hasbro is just this movie. Transformers is directed by Michael Bay and uses modern CGI technology.

Many years ago on the planet of Cybertron a war was waged between the Autobots led by Optimus Prime and the Decepticons led by Megatron for control of the Allspark a cube that would give unlimited power to the one who possessed it. The Allspark was lost in space and Megatron went after it. The Allspark lands on earth.

Now we are in the present where robots that transform into helicopters and airplanes are attacking the US troops and Air Force One in order to retrieve some classified documents. These alien robots come after Sam Witwicky (Shia Le Beouf) whose ancestor’s glasses hold the key to saving the world. He buys a classic Camaro which is actually an Autobot enlisted to protect him. The war of the Transformers between the Autobots and the Decepticons is now on earth. The Decepticons want to destroy mankind, but the Autobots choose to save and protect mankind.

This movie starts out with a very thrilling fight scene against US soldiers in Qatar. Then the scenes with Sam and his new Camaro with a secret moves quickly and with humor. Then in the middle when we meet the Autobots, the movie slows down. There is one scene involving Sam’s parents that drags on far too long. At one point I went and did laundry that is how bored I was. There were far too many human characters to keep up with and not enough development of the Transformers themselves. We only really get to know Bumblebee and Optimus Prime. We never really get to know the Decepticons. Even Megatron is really not understood. At some point it gets confusing about who is a Decepticon and who is an Autobot.

I do not recommend this movie for small children. There are curse words and extreme violence. The Transformers might look scary to a child. Let’s just say my kids asked a lot if someone died or not and my son had nightmares. I think the female character of Mikayla was dressed way too sexy and her whole subplot was not needed. Then there were other characters, the US soldier who wanted to meet his daughter for the first time, the Hispanic soldier who disappears, and the computer hackers whose stories never fully develop were confusing to the story. If they cut out the stupid scenes of Sam’s parents whining and spent more time on the characters that mattered in the story, the movie would have been better.

This movie is obviously for teen-aged and young adult men. The jokes are juvenile and the story mainly focuses on the teen-aged nerd Sam and his new hot girlfriend. It is a nerd’s fantasy.

I thought it was very entertaining and would watch it again. However, I would fast forward through most of it. Optimus Prime was my favorite character and I wish more time was focused on him and his willingness to sacrifice to save humans.