Transformers (2007)
By 關懷德. Filed in Movies, Reviews |
Title: Transformers
Genre: Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi
Director: Michael Bay
Release Date (U.S.): 3 July 2007
MPAA: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, brief sexual humor, and language.
Plot: On a planet known as Cybertron, a war occurred between the Autobots and the Decepticons. As a result, their main source of power and life was lost into the far corners of space, landing in our world many years before. And now, they come to reclaim what is theirs.
Review:
“This movie is so good, it must be Japanese.”
No, I’m not saying the Japanese have better movies than us (though sometimes they do). This is an edited joke from the movie itself (”It’s a robot. You know, like a super advanced robot. It’s probably Japanese.”)
My impression, until I watched it a second time, was that I was probably extremely pleased with the movie as I went in believing it would be a flop. I was thoroughly disappointed with X-men 3 and my impressions of movie adaptations of things from my childhood was dwindling. So when I found it as an enjoyable movie, I refused to believe it. And so I watched it once more. And even trying to pick at the bad parts, I still enjoyed it.
Anyways, first and foremost, many would have watched it for the transforming bots. There is no disappointment there. The CGs make even the unrealistic existence of transformers seem realistic. Only if you’re a stickler to original designs would you be disappointed with them.
Bumblebee is no longer a young VW Bug, but a Camaro. His personality is also somewhat different, and well… he’s just badass. Ranging from his choices of music at the most convenient times… to his attitude, there’s no doubt he takes a star role out of all the autobots.
However, the movie concentrates more towards the human element than the robots themselves. This, I actually did not find a hindrance to the movie itself, as the Transformers came to OUR planet. Not only that, but there is plenty of commentary about humans in general in the movie, that not concentrating on the human element would actually be detrimental.
The camera work, despite filming nothing due to the robots having to be CGed in later, was amazingly well done. The actors were well picked.
If I had to pick a bad portion, it would be the choice of adding a certain sexual joke in the middle. Transformers, as an old cartoon and toy line, would lead one to believe that the movie was made to target the same audience. Of course, there are warnings in the MPAA, but not many moviegoers bother to take note of it. There are adults who may have grown up watching Transformers and believe that by watching this movie with their children, it may strengthen the bond between parent and child. However, it may actually place them in an awkward position, having to explain masturbation.
Oh, and Jazz died in one of the most wasteful ways I’ve seen on film since the death of Nathan Petrelli on Heroes.
As far as giving props to the old series, the movie has plenty. Bumblebee, as a Camaro, was parked next to a yellow VW Beetle, of which he slammed into with a car door. Optimus Prime made his “At the end of the day, one shall stand, one shall fall” statement that was mentioned in the original cartoon movie nearly a decade ago. The “More than Meets the Eye” statement is mentioned numerous times.
All in all, with scattered humour throughout the movie, great special effects, amazingly well blended story for an unrealistic scenario, good voice acting (and acting in general), well developed characterization (for some characters… mostly human), and commentary on our race from an “observing viewpoint”, this movie is pretty much right for anyone, Transformers fan or not.
Rating: 9.0/10.0
EDIT: This is a barebones version. I’m being forced to sleep right now, so I can’t finish. I’ll insert more to this hopefully later today.
Sunday, September 9th 2007 at 9:35 |
zomg, how have you been, Onii-san? How’s college? I hope it going well.