Review of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) by Hiatt N — 16 Nov 2013

Michael Bay Film Making Check List:

*Long list of action set pieces (check).

*Very large explosions (check).

*That rig for making the camera go round and round (check).

*The Slow motion camera (check).

*Very Very large explosion (check).

*Plot devices to get to the next set piece (check).

*The largest frickin explosion ever (check).

Optimus Prime et al are back and this time its bigger, louder, "funnier" and longer. The opening battle is loud, brash as we meet a whole new bunch of Autobots and special forces working together to destroy China, sorry Decepticons.

In a nod to Transformer's lore The Fallen is coming for revenge on The Primes and humans are going to get mashed in the process. Autobots working with the government, Sam going to college and Soundwave. OK, so he's not a personel stereo anymore, doesn't have the his cool synthetic voice and spends the entire movie stuck to a satellite but he's back. Added coolness comes from Ravage being present.

All the key players return and do what they do best. The "comedy" is turned up in this outing. Sam's parents get a lot of the best laughs, but Wheelie and The Autobot Twins are the intended jokers, though it often falls flat and is sometimes offensive, here as Sam has little time to crack wise once he starts seeing the symbols that could lead to Earth's doom.

There are some great moments in the first 2 acts such as the China incident and the fight in the forest but as the film comes to its conclusion I felt that less could have been more, but those words just aren't ones that Michael Bay understands. A full on fight between the soldiers and Transformers, with many annonymous Decepticons it all gets a bit confusing.

As passable as the first one, at least it didn't drop in quality (I appreciate that it didn't have far to fall). It's not the Transformers that you may have grown up with, never before has an Autobot called someone a pussy, but its mildly entertaining , and that's what you expect from a Michael Bay film.