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Transformers – Revenge of the Fallen

Paramount Pictures
www.transformersmovie.com

From the minute that this second instalment of TRANSFOMERS begins you are thrown in at the deep end, head first into a huge and exciting pool of mayhem, mystery and mind boggling machines.

Growing up and to this day I am still interested in Sci-Fi programmes such as Star Trek and the X-Files as well as films such as Alien, but the Transformers never hit my radar until the 2007 movie hit the big screens. With such a talented cast and narrative string the movie literally grasped your attention and pulled you in. Because of this I was very eager to see what the second film had in store for the future of the Autobots. This instalment starts when Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf), wanting as much of a normal life as possible heads to university. He barely makes it through his first day as he discovers something about the origins of the Transformers and their history on Earth. Revenge of the Fallen goes deeper into this premise, with one battle of an ending with Autobots and humans fighting on one side and the Decepticons on the other for the fate of the Planet.

The first half of the film is shot through various US states, but it the location of the final battle, Egypt, which makes for such an outstanding sight. Aeroplanes and helicopters soaring through the air, firepower blasting from guns as well as machines, things getting blown to pieces and pyramids getting quite a make over.

The designs of the robots in this film are so much more interesting than in the first. Many of the original characters remain such as Optimus Prime, the Autobot leader and Bumblebee, the Autobot who befriended Sam, with the odd new ones for good measure. My favourite has to be the Twins, Mudflap and Skids. They first appear as two ends of a pink and white ice cream van but are quickly upgraded into something a little shinier. These two comic characters as well as Wheelie, a blue radio-controlled toy monster truck can be best imagined as little robotic versions of gremlins. Revenge of the Fallen has a very TV friendly cast including Shia LaBeouf (Even Stevens), Megan Fox (Hope and Faith), Matthew Marsden (Coronation Street) and Isabel Lucas (Home and Away). These are all talented actors, but it was the vocal contribution of Tony Todd as The Fallen that made such an impact. With such a distinctive voice and the fact he has lent it to such memorable characters such as The Candyman, just hearing Todd’s sinister voice sends shivers down your spine.

The Revenge of the Fallen has an incredibly suspenseful, gripping and very fast moving plot line. You may enter the story a couple of years after the original, humans and autobots working alongside each other to protect the secret of the robots, but you are literally grabbed by the toes and thrown into the next battle. There is very little time wasting about moving into university and attending classes before all hell breaks lose. There are a lot of explosions and firepower, but nevertheless a memorable film for the entire family.

Michelle Moore