Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is released on June 19th
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Saturday, 20, Jun 2009 11:08
Directed by Michael Bay, out June 19th in cinemas, starring Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, John Turturro, Josh Duhamel, running time 147 mins.
In a nutshell.
A bigger, louder and unhinged sequel rolls out.
What's it all about?
Maintaining a long-distance relationship with beautiful girlfriend Mikaela (Fox) is Sam Witwicky's (LaBeouf) number one priority as he starts college, only for an intergalactic robot civil war to land on his doorstep - again. With Decepticon forces massing arms across the globes and the return of a vengeful elder predicted, the Autobots face a deadly struggle to preserve their fragile alliance with humanity.
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Who's in it?
Shia LaBeouf cements his place as a leading man as he reprises the role of Sam Witwicky while former 'Sexiest Woman in the World' Megan Fox is back as his ballsy mechanic girlfriend Mikaela. Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson and John Turturro also return with Armageddon and Bad Boys helmer Michael Bay behind the camera once again.
As an example.
"Punkass Decepticon. any last words?" - Ironhide
"We've shed blood, sweat and precious metal together." - USAF Tech Sergeant Epps
Likelihood of a trip to the Oscars?
Regardless of the film's failings, the groundbreaking and eye-catching special effects work of Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) must be recognised with at least an Oscar nomination after being unjustly ignored last time.
What the others say
"A super-sized second helping, but the novelty factor and some of the charm's gone. Hey, at least there's more Megatron/Starscream squabbling this time round." - Nick De Semlyen, Empire
"Revenge of the Fallen makes for a terribly disappointing experience. Which isn't to say there's nothing to enjoy here. Far from it, there are moments of breathtaking technical wizardry that make you long for what could have been, given the right pair of hands at the helm. But this is film-making by numbers, churned out far too quickly on the back of the first film's box office success, and with little consideration of story, character or anything like common sense." - Luke Savage, Den of Geeks
So is it any good?
When the opening credits appearance of the words "In association with Hasbro" raises a giggle from an audience, it's apparent a film isn't going to be treated as life-enriching art to nourish the soul. But while Bay's 2007 film allayed critical scepticism through its likeable leads and thrilling robot-on-robot action, its successor takes itself far too seriously and could consign the franchise to the scrapyard.
Though its prehistoric preface and pseudo-mythic premise is utterly underwhelming, there's no doubt that there's great fun to be had at times in Revenge of the Fallen. Kevin Dunn and Julie White are still tremendous value as Sam's overbearing parents and the transformation of a kitchen full of appliances into Decepticons shows the extent to which ILM have mastered the balletic movement of the alien robots, in all shapes and sizes.
But there's a fatal lack of chemistry between our two leads - with Fox's star rising so high that she's no longer a hilariously unlikely love interest for LaBeouf but now an incomprehensible partner - and with the screenplay darting back and forth between national security emergencies, comedic set-pieces and domestic drama, we're left with uncomfortable tonal uncertainty.
Bay has seemingly refused to change his cinematic style despite technology evolving at unbelievable speed - he all-but-reuses the Armageddon storage hangar and destroys Paris again - and his 'Bayhem' brand of crane, dolly and 360 degree spinning shots are used to almost parodic levels. Most damagingly, his ADHD behind the camera results in a potentially significant emotional beat being ruined by jittery, impenetrable camerawork.
The entirety of the opening college sequence could be exorcised, with it only adding to the already lengthy running time by including a hugely irritating trio of Lone Gunman-esque hackers, one of whom follows our heroes to Egypt and stubbornly refuses to fulfil audience wishes and be eaten by new robot Devastator. The Office's Rainn Wilson is also wasted in a sequence that sees Sam disrupting the best-looking astronomy class in history by having a breakdown and babbling like Todd Flanders speaking tongues, when all we're really concerned about is robots crashing into each other.
Yet it's difficult to feel any real danger. There's artistry and innovation on show but the wit that made the first installment a surprisingly enjoyable romp has been replaced by tonal confusion, tiresome support characters and garbled, rushed dialogue, much of which is drowned out by the foghorn action sequences.
There's no denying the technical brilliance of the film, but while the plot's fast enough for you to ignore its gaping holes and lack of sense, it over-exerts itself and leaves the viewer with an unpalatable concoction of flavours on the plate.
With a predecessor that earned $700 million, the sequel's scope is huge but entirely to its detriment. The action is ramped up to such levels that it's near impossible to distinguish who's fighting who and only your ability to laugh at the immensely cheesy climax will prevent you from throwing your toys out of the pram.
5/10
Lewis Bazley