Movie review: Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen – 2009 (4/5 stars)
Director: Michael Bay
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, John Tuturro, Ramon Rodriguez
Two sexy young figures dodge bullets and gigantic fighting robots as they race across the screen in a desperate attempt to save Earth from a cataclysmic demise, to sum up the 144-minutes that are “Transformers 2.” Sound familiar? That’s because the same scene occurred in “Transformers” (2007).
In the original, Optimus Prime leads the heroic Autobots in battle with the Decepticons over a supremely powerful object called the Allspark, which the Decepticons intend to use to destroy human life. Although the Autobots prevail, with the help of Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and the other humans, not all of their foes are destroyed. Thus, the epic battle continues in the sequel when surviving Decepticons begin to destroy Earth (standard evil alien behavior). The same great cast of characters, plus a few additions both human and alien, comes face to face again to revive the age-old battle between good and evil.
An alliance between human forces and Autobots led by Captain Lennox (Josh Duhamel) and Optimus Prime, has been working to stop Decepticons worldwide from causing mayhem, all the while keeping alien activity from the public. But when more Decepticons arrive on Earth, presidential liaison Galloway (John Benjamin Hickey) questions whether the Autobots are the reason for their presence in the first place and asks them to leave.
Optimus Prime turns to Sam to act as human advocate for the Autobots, but Sam wants a normal life and turns him down. Obviously Michael Bay couldn’t just let Sam write himself out of the movie, for without him, Megan Fox wouldn’t be able to provide the outstanding hotness of Mikaela Banes, Sam’s girlfriend and the female lead. So Sam is drawn back into the fray just as the most dangerous Decepticons implement their devastating plan for Earth.
Many critics have bashed the film, saying the plot was too similar to that of the original, the length (nearly two hours) was unbearable, and the addition of too many new characters made battle scenes too confusing. They critiqued it for not following the comics and for, ironically, being either too fast or too slow.
They obviously weren’t paying attention, or they would’ve recognized that it deserves at least four out of five stars. The sequel is very similar to the original, that much is true. But it also packs more kick-ass robot fighting; the factor that also makes it nearly two hours long. While the fight scenes are quite fast, the whole movie isn’t a tumultuous human and robotic combat zone; there is some time allotted for realistic humanness like meeting Sam’s college roommate Leo (Ramon Rodriguez), who along with the quirky Agent Simmons (John Turturro) provides plenty of comedic relief.
The plentiful new characters provide plenty of shiny metallic whoop-ass. And the ones who are introduced (like the lively twins Skids and Mudflap or the wise and selfless old-timer Jetfire) are awesome. The fact that the film doesn’t draw straight from the comics is necessary. For instance, the comics didn’t allow for Megan Fox’s character; audiences certainly seem willing to accommodate.
Finally, no matter what critics may think, the thrilled whispering, texting, and applause at the movie’s end has to mean something.