Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, language, some crude and sexual material, and brief drug material.
Directed by Michael Bay (Transformers, Armageddon)
Starring Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox
This movie is HUGE…a HUGE disappointment.
The battle for Earth has ended but the battle for the universe has just begun. After returning to Cybertron, Starscream assumes command of the Decepticons, and has decided to return to Earth with force. The Autobots believing that peace was possible finds out that Megatron's dead body has been stolen from the US Military by Skorpinox and revives him using a piece of the Allspark stolen from the military. Now Megatron is back seeking revenge, with Starscream and more Decepticon reinforcements on the way. The Autobots, with Sam (Shia LaBeouf), Mikaela (Megan Fox), and a few reinforcements of their own, may have more to deal with than meets the eye.
I’m thankful for two things: 1. I did not waste my money and lose sleep going to the midnight show on opening night and 2. I did not take my family with me.
I was such a fan of the first one (read Transformers review here), that it made my top five list for the year (podcast here)…I even took some serious ribbing from Jonathan about it (he thought it was subtly demeaning to women).
So where did this new film all go so wrong?
Well the original cast is back – with nothing new to say or do with one exception. Megan Fox seems to only have one agenda: more sexuality. I mean, when the first time we see her and she is bent over a motorcycle with a short pair of Daisy Dukes, what are we suppose to think? And I had to laugh at the countless slow-motion-Baywatch style running scenes she had. To make it worse, we have a new Transformer that can change into a human…and of course she has to be another bombshell. She “seduces” Sam but when Mikaela finds them together in his dorm, he tries to get away…so the Transformer whips her 100ft metal tongue around his neck. Oh yeah, the tip is still like a human tongue…Give me a break.
Secondly, nothing makes sense. I mean NOTHING. It’s pretty much impossible to figure out who‘s good and who’s bad when the giant robots are fighting – which is like 90% of the film. There are a bunch of new robots that we barely get to know and the ones we do are Jar Jar Binks kind of annoying. I found myself rolling my eyes after a ridiculous chase scene. I mean the robots can fly, run, jump and change into vehicles…but they can’t run down a 19 year old (or however old we are suppose to believe they are) pair of kids who are holding hands most of the time.
Then there is the die-come-back-to-life story that gets repeated more times than it ever should. I won’t give anything away, but I just wish film makers would make up their minds. If you allow a character to die…then let them die!
Before Jonathan says, “I told you so”, let me say that I still believe the first Transformers was near perfect popcorn entertainment. But Revenge of the Fallen is worse than the typical big budget, summer sequel. I’m actually hoping that Transformers 3 is the apology.
At one point a robot says to Mikaela, “you’re hot, but you ain’t too bright.” I guess that’s how I feel about Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen…I say “Skip it.”
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
No surprises here that Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen got the PG-13 rating. You have your typical sci-fi action, violence, and language. But the crude and sexual scenes go farther than the first time around and there are a lot more of them. There is also a scene where Sam’s mom buys some brownies laced with marijuana – she starts running around embarrassing herself and Sam. It was so juvenile… just pathetic.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
