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Film Reviews

Transformers

Dreamworks & Paramount Pictures
Out Now

I’m a big Transformers fan; it was the comic, programme and toy of choice when I was a kid, who didn’t find joy in cars that you could turn into robots and blow up Lego houses?
Anyway this summers big, loud, Hollywood blockbuster seems to have taken the form of Transformers, which (as expected) is a frenzied adrenaline rush, and totally entertaining.

The film begins in the middle east somewhere, where an American military base has just been hacked and destroyed by mutant robots (The Decepticons obviously) and only a couple of American soldiers manage to escape. Meanwhile in Washington some unlikely computer experts are deciphering the sound waves, which a Decepticon robot left.

Coincidentally as this all unfolds, Californian teenager Sam, has just got his first car, oblivious to the fact the car has some sort of super power and fondness for him, comically using radio station songs and adverts to communicate with him. The car even helps Sam pursue the obligatory school hottie, making it clear the car is a good robot (an Autobot) assigned to protect him from the Decepticons (bad robots).

Transformers is basically a love story between a boy and his first car, and as a fan I would consider it to be quite faithful to the comics; the robots personas and characteristics etc.
This has to be one of the most spectacular looking CGI action films I’ve ever seen, the robots were so slick it was impossible to believe they weren’t real.

Despite the plot and dialogue being totally basic, there is some intensity in the actual robots; they are essentially automated life forms that think and feel for themselves, they should have been given a lot more time, instead of the US army who were really quite unnecessary. Sam is a brilliant character, funny, quick witted and very easy to watch, as are his parents and the robots, however the rest of the cast are so predictable and stale, watching them becomes old.. Fast.

The robots are all so perfectly adapted from the comics and cartoons; Bumblebee (Sam’s new car) is as charming and loving as a robotic car can be, and Optimus Prime (the leader) is perfectly executed; powerful, moral and brave, everything you expect him to be.


Michael Bay
(director) is consistent throughout, maintaining a skillful technical eye, with the most up-to-date, brilliant special effects, carefully intertwined with the real life – live action. I don’t understand how this film can get a bad review, it does exactly what you expect, really really well, and even if its too loud and aggressive for some people, that is most likely to be exactly what everyone else will love it for.

Emily Paget


www.transformersmovie.com