"Transformers" -- Is it really all that?
Yet another original spoiler-free Urban Docent movie review
The first Hollywood release of the actual summer season is here in director Michael Bay's "Transformers." For everyone who grew up coveting your neighbor's collection of Hasbro plastic and metal, this is going to be a sort of updated stroll down memory land. And for everyone who bugged their parents to no end (like I did) to see the original animated theatrical release 21 years ago, this new edition will quickly remind you that your childhood is way over ....
Overview: The highly energized and much publicized "Transformers" has a light plot centered almost secondarily on humanity's discovery of a technologically advanced alien race. Autobots and Decepticons battle for control of a near-mythical device with the power to create or destroy living machines, and human drama plays out for those sucked into the fray.
Why you should see it: The obvious nostalgia factor aside, this movie has above-average special effects that are more entertaining than the usual offerings. The folks at ILM out did themselves with the near-flawless action sequences and vehicle transformations. The bar has been raised for what computers can do on film, and I expect to see more dazzling effects to flow from this one.
While this is a popcorn flick, you will find somewhat more solid acting performances than those of the average Hollywood cash-maker. You'll be able to catch the occasional subtle humor that comes from a Steven Spielberg-related production in the characters' back and forth. In other words, the supporting performances are not overly annoying with bad dialogue or way too many corny puns.
And this one is relatively safe for children. There are a few semi-obscene moments, but nothing so shocking as to embarrass. Action scenes are intense, but not graphically oppressive or traumatic. Every now and then, you'll spot a good moral or two about what it means to be responsible.
Why you should avoid it: This is a long movie — right at 2.5 hours, if not a little over. Pacing problems connected with dragging out a few weak moments add to the potential for boredom.
I said the supporting performances are a little more solid than average flash-bang movies, but there is nothing to write home about. The humans are just there to provide a bridge to more robot action. There is a lot of fluff padding out the robot moments, which is probably what you would expect.
The bottom line: "Transformers" is thick with slow pacing; dumping about 30 + minutes of "I could do without that" kind of stuff would have really tightened this one up and made it more enjoyable. In the end, you should really only see this one on the big screen if you think it will add to your enjoyment of massive robots.
C - for occasionally edging close to boring.
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