Transformers

Director: Michael Bay
Writer(s): Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Jon Voight, Peter Cullen, Hugo Weaving
Running Time: 144 mins approx.
Rating: 12A
On Release: Out Now!

Synopsis
When teenager Sam Witwicky finally gets his first car, he sees it as a ticket to freedom and (more importantly) a chick-magnet – but little does he know that it will send him hurtling into the middle of an intergalactic civil war, fought between giant robots that can transform into Earth vehicles in the blink of an eye…

Review
If you were born between 1975 and 1985, odds are you have very fond memories of TRANSFORMERS. Like many properties from that era, the series has often been plundered for cheap Saturday-morning re-runs, comic book series and a tirade of fan-fics, but what makes TRANSFORMERS stand apart from every other rose-tinted childhood memory is just how seriously its fans take it. Unlike, say, VISIONARIES, ACTION FORCE or even THUNDERCATS, Hasbro’s shape-shifting robots have inspired as much plot analysis, character study and fan-banter as shows like LOST and HEROES – and yet aside from an ill-advised re-syndication of the classic episodes and a format-breaking (but very well received) spin-off series that surfaced in the mid-nineties, the show has been absent from our screens for over twenty years, so what is it about TRANSFORMERS that has grown men and women entranced with children’s toys even today?

For many, the blame falls squarely on the shoulders of voice actor Peter Cullen. Taking inspiration from his elder brother, a Captain in the US Marine Corps, Cullen gave Autobot leader an air of authority, of kindness and above all of leadership, providing a role model figure that children could respect as well as cheer for. Of course a hero is nothing without a sterling villain, and Cullen had one in the shape of Frank Welker, a voiceover veteran who gave Optimus Prime’s nemesis, Megatron, such personality and maniacal energy that he left other black-hats not only in the shade, but also buried under fifty feet of rubble. The two characters worked brilliantly together, inspiring story-lines and a complicated back-plot completely unheard of in a children’s cartoon at the time. Fuel for a child’s imagination indeed.

It was, therefore, probably the smartest move that Michael Bay could have made to announce early in TRANSFORMERS’ development that Cullen would be returning to the role that made him a household name. Immediately the fans were on his side, forgetting many of their earlier objections to Bay as director, and slowly support for the project began to build. Bay knew *exactly* which audience he was pitching to, but the use of this knowledge was a double-edged sword – no matter how pleased the fans were that Cullen was back, or that the transforming sound effect from the classic series had been retained (or perhaps because of these things) expectations for the film went through the roof. If Bay failed, he was going to fail *hard*.

But there was really no need to worry. If you had any doubts that Bay was the right choice of helmer for TRANSFORMERS – and let’s be honest here, anyone not willing to trust the director of BAD BOYS, ARMAGEDDON and THE ROCK with a movie about giant robots that beat the snot out of one another really needs to examine their faculties – they will evaporate ten minutes into the film, as the Deception Blackout lays waste to US military base without breaking a sweat. Yes, TRANSFORMERS has drama, yes, TRANSFORMERS has a well-acted spectrum of human characters, but mainly what TRANSFOMERS has – what TRANSFOMERS has always had – is robot versus robot, good versus evil, Autobot versus Deception. And, in true Michael Bay fashion, some pretty spectacular explosions.

The CGI is absolutely spot-on; you couldn’t hope for better. Not only do the Cybertronians blend in spectacularly with the live-action elements in shot, but they have each been given their own personality by the animation team; Prime’s body language is strong, deliberate and thoughtful, Jazz leaps and breakdances about like the seventies hipster that he is at heart, Frenzy is both twitchy and sinister, and Megatron drips evil and menace with every motion. Complimenting this hard work are a fantastic vocal cast, each of them chosen for their acting ability rather than any box-office draw they might have, and a host of live-action actors who manage to remain memorable amidst all of the spectacle. True, there are a few scenes – most of them comedic – which hard-core fans are going to dismiss as puerile and un-necessary, but moments like Prime muttering “My bad!” after crushing a flowerpot underfoot, Bumblebee giving a John Turturro a golden shower and five gigantic mecha successfully hiding from the occupants of an average-sized house in its own back garden all add to the fun character of the movie.

TRANSFORMERS isn’t going to please everyone. There are omissions, changes, adaptations and entire lines of dialogue that are going to have the more obsessive Transfans bitching for *months*. For the rest of us, however, it represents an uncomplicated, fun and visually-stunning action flick, perfect for a Friday night, a Saturday afternoon or post-pub viewing. Time Warner beware… your teenage wizard has serious competition for this summer’s #1 blockbuster hit.

Matt Dillon

Check out these clickables for some hot Transformers action (Quicktime required)!

Official Trailer: [SMALL] [MEDIUM] [LARGE]
“Ladies Man”: [SMALL] [MEDIUM] [LARGE]
LA Premiere Footage: [SMALL] [MEDIUM] [LARGE]