Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) ****
By Rebecca Stewart
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, John Turturro, Ramon Rodriguez, Peter Cullen, Hugo Weaving, Mark Ryan, Isabel Lucas,
Frank Welker, Tyrese Gibson, Rainn Wilson
Writing Credits: Ehren Kruger, Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman
Classification: Australia M | US PG-13 | UK PG
Run time: 147 minutes
Director: Michael Bay
In true Michael Bay form, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is packed with explosions, fast action and bites of comedy. We rejoin young hero Sam (LaBeouf) as he prepares for his first year of college. But Sam won’t get to enjoy college for long. The accidental discovery of a shred of the AllSpark sets off a chain reaction which will bring the Deceptacons to Earth and take Sam, his protectors (the AutoBots), and the American army all the way to the pyramids of Egypt.
Set only two years after the original, we are still left with the awkwardness of youth: young love, a fight for independence and attempts to fit in with the majority. Though, the exception here is that all of this must be done while trying to stop the Deceptacons from destroying the Earth.
While many sequels never live up to their predecessors, this film comes close. At times the dialogue is lacking and the action scenes can be confusing, but this is generally expected (and wanted) of action films. The only distraction from this is Megan Fox (Mikaela), whose main role seems to simply be eye candy in an attempt to draw away from the patchy script.
Since the first installment, the action, the babes and sex appeal, and the explosions have been beefed up giving audiences bang for their buck. Though the two and a half hours is a bit too long for the film, there is the occasional laugh mingled with explosions, CGI and robots which keep the audience entertained. Fans of the original should be happy with this addition to the Transformers franchise, though it’s not as memorable, nor as succinct, as the first.
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Comments
Action scenes
Action scenes are generally expected to be confusing in action films? I wouldn't make that generalisation. Take for instance one of my favourite movies, The Transporter, the action scenes in that make sense even without dialogue, particularly the scene where Frank Martin (Jason Statham) is speeding through a European city to avoid the cops. Although there is no dialogue it is clear what he is doing. Also the scene where he is fighting the thugs in the bus depot and slicks himself up with oil to avoid their grasps and knock them senseless. Even though this resembles Street Fighter, a video game in the 80s, it still make sense and creates little confusion for the audience as you can clearly see that he is fighting 20 thugs successfully. As a movie lover I personally do not want or expect to be confused by action scenes and as for dialogue, if it's a scene of action, a picture clearly produces a thousand words.