Transformers (2007)
FILM REVIEW
Let's just cut to the car chase, shall we?
Transformers is an exhausting action/adventure
blockbuster film with dizzying, leading-edge special
effects that thrusts noise and spectacle upon its
audience like a barrage of depth-charges.
The titular characters, brought to life by Industrial Light and Magic, are a sight to behold. You will be convinced that giant alien robots are here among us; disguised as your car, that passing ambulance, that overhead jet, or even your girlfriend's mobile phone.
The look of Transformers is amazing. Director Michael Bay will spark your retinas, pound your eardrums, and stimulate you to the point of multiple jaw spasms. But if there's anything else underneath its highly polished bodywork, it's hard to make out in amongst the explosions and robot-on-robot carnage.
The filmmakers are under no pretence that anybody going to see Transformers wants to see anything other than Optimus Prime and his heroic Autobots fight the evil forces of the Decepticons and their leader Megatron. But, determined as they are to ground the plot's preposterous premise in every-day reality, the inevitable human-interest sub-plots are a necessity to give the film wider appeal. Instead of boring the audience, writers Rogers, Orci and Kurtzman, have opted for out-and-out comedy with surprisingly hilarious consequences. The humour in Transformers runs the gross-out gamut from urination to masturbation.
Shia LeBeouf as lead-human Sam Witwicky absolutely shines. He strikes a perfect balance between warmth, charisma and purely instinctive comic timing. His onscreen chemistry with love-interest Megan Fox is extremely watchable. The rest of the cast bring out the best of their cliched roles. John Turturro and Anthony Anderson, in particular, are both wonderfully over the top. And, if the designs of the robots aren't to your tastes, there's eye-candy to be had in Josh Duhamel and Rachael Taylor as well as the two leads.
All five of the Autobots—that's Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Jazz, Ratchet, and Ironhide for those with checklists—will have the audience rooting for them. They move, emote and communicate with such heart and grace, it's easy to forget they aren't real. Optimus Prime, voiced by Peter Cullen, is the noble centre for the Autobots who are unused to Earth and its self-destructive inhabitants. It is Mark Ryan-voiced Bumblebee that stands out as the lead character and his relationship with Sam is at the heart of the film.
There is less of a link between audience and Decepticon. Aside from their leader, the philosophical and goal-oriented Megatron (voiced irreproachably by Hugo Weaving), the evil-doers of the piece have little to say and little to do aside from appearing in roll-call fashion to act as indestructible-until-required cannon fodder. You could argue that their characterisation is subtle, but, really, there's no place for subtlety in a Michael Bay film. Frenzy, however, steals the show with his peculiar short-tempered antics and is sure to be a favourite with the kids.
It would be easy to dismiss Transformers as a "toy-movie", and it seems the filmmakers are fully aware of that fact. Even the misadventures of Sam seem to mirror our own society's merciless capitalism.
In theory, Transformers should be making film history. It's a unique, high-risk concept that takes all the crowd-pleasing attributes of comic book superhero movies, alien invasion films and teen comedy romps into its finely-tuned V-8 engine. But all this could backfire in the faces of a smarter audience.
The underdone plot shifts inexplicably from one set piece to another, as it tries and fails to keep up with the film's frenetic pace. Any characters that can't keep up are left at the side of the road and anything that might require further explanation is glossed over without hesitation. And, if one so desires, there's plenty to nitpick. (See? This film was made for Transformers fans!)
Transformers wants to entertain. It wants you to love the Autobots, and be afraid of the Decepticons. It wants to amaze you, and it wants to make you laugh. So, why fight it?
Transformers (2007) was released in UK cinemas on 27 July 2007.
Read The Hub's Press Screening report!
The titular characters, brought to life by Industrial Light and Magic, are a sight to behold. You will be convinced that giant alien robots are here among us; disguised as your car, that passing ambulance, that overhead jet, or even your girlfriend's mobile phone.
The look of Transformers is amazing. Director Michael Bay will spark your retinas, pound your eardrums, and stimulate you to the point of multiple jaw spasms. But if there's anything else underneath its highly polished bodywork, it's hard to make out in amongst the explosions and robot-on-robot carnage.
The filmmakers are under no pretence that anybody going to see Transformers wants to see anything other than Optimus Prime and his heroic Autobots fight the evil forces of the Decepticons and their leader Megatron. But, determined as they are to ground the plot's preposterous premise in every-day reality, the inevitable human-interest sub-plots are a necessity to give the film wider appeal. Instead of boring the audience, writers Rogers, Orci and Kurtzman, have opted for out-and-out comedy with surprisingly hilarious consequences. The humour in Transformers runs the gross-out gamut from urination to masturbation.
Shia LeBeouf as lead-human Sam Witwicky absolutely shines. He strikes a perfect balance between warmth, charisma and purely instinctive comic timing. His onscreen chemistry with love-interest Megan Fox is extremely watchable. The rest of the cast bring out the best of their cliched roles. John Turturro and Anthony Anderson, in particular, are both wonderfully over the top. And, if the designs of the robots aren't to your tastes, there's eye-candy to be had in Josh Duhamel and Rachael Taylor as well as the two leads.
All five of the Autobots—that's Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Jazz, Ratchet, and Ironhide for those with checklists—will have the audience rooting for them. They move, emote and communicate with such heart and grace, it's easy to forget they aren't real. Optimus Prime, voiced by Peter Cullen, is the noble centre for the Autobots who are unused to Earth and its self-destructive inhabitants. It is Mark Ryan-voiced Bumblebee that stands out as the lead character and his relationship with Sam is at the heart of the film.
There is less of a link between audience and Decepticon. Aside from their leader, the philosophical and goal-oriented Megatron (voiced irreproachably by Hugo Weaving), the evil-doers of the piece have little to say and little to do aside from appearing in roll-call fashion to act as indestructible-until-required cannon fodder. You could argue that their characterisation is subtle, but, really, there's no place for subtlety in a Michael Bay film. Frenzy, however, steals the show with his peculiar short-tempered antics and is sure to be a favourite with the kids.
It would be easy to dismiss Transformers as a "toy-movie", and it seems the filmmakers are fully aware of that fact. Even the misadventures of Sam seem to mirror our own society's merciless capitalism.
In theory, Transformers should be making film history. It's a unique, high-risk concept that takes all the crowd-pleasing attributes of comic book superhero movies, alien invasion films and teen comedy romps into its finely-tuned V-8 engine. But all this could backfire in the faces of a smarter audience.
The underdone plot shifts inexplicably from one set piece to another, as it tries and fails to keep up with the film's frenetic pace. Any characters that can't keep up are left at the side of the road and anything that might require further explanation is glossed over without hesitation. And, if one so desires, there's plenty to nitpick. (See? This film was made for Transformers fans!)
Transformers wants to entertain. It wants you to love the Autobots, and be afraid of the Decepticons. It wants to amaze you, and it wants to make you laugh. So, why fight it?
Transformers (2007) was released in UK cinemas on 27 July 2007.
VERDICT:
Read The Hub's Press Screening report!