Reviews by Matt

Back in the 1980’s there was a show, like so many others back then, that was basically a half hour commercial for a toy. Now there is a movie that, from a cynical view, was made for the same reason. I never really watched the show until later on in life and have only recently watched the original cartoon movie. Still “Transformers” is still a part of my childhood because the merchandise was everywhere when I was growing up. So it was inevitable that there would, one day, be a live action movie and I would see it.

When a military base is attacked by a helicopter that transformed into something more and went after military information, Defense Secretary John Keller (Jon Voight) and the entire defense department begins desperately to find out what attacked them and what it wanted.

Meanwhile, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBouf) is desperate for a car. When he reaches his father's terms ($4000 and 3 A’s) he takes Sam to a used car lot to get a car where he picks an old, beat up, Camero. One night he finds out that, when it comes to his car, there is “more than meets the eye.” His car is, in reality, a cybernetic alien named Bumblebee that can take the form of whatever it chooses and he has just summoned more of his kind to come to Earth.

When they arrive their leader Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen), who takes the form of a semi truck, tells Sam that many years ago on a planet called Cybertron, a war raged between the Autobots and the Decepticons for control of the All Spark, a device used to make life on their planet. The Autobots wanted to use it for good, but Megatron, the leader of the Decepticons wanted to use it to make an army to take over the universe. During the battle the All Spark was lost and it ended up on Earth. Now the Decepticons are on Earth to find the All Spark as well as Megatron who was lost on Earth while searching for the All Spark. Sam and Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox) agree to help Optimus and the rest of the Autobots get to the All Spark before Megatron can.

It really doesn’t take much to watch “Transformers.” It is one of those summer movies that you can sit back and enjoy. You can tell who the good robots are because they are the ones that are not attacking the humans. It is that simple. Other than that, it is just a matter of enjoying the special effects.

Shia LaBouf is really good in this movie. He handles the action as well as the comedic dialogue with ease and proves why he is becoming the go-to guy in Hollywood. Sam wants a car so that he can get the girl, but when he finally does get the car, he becomes a bumbling mess. He is thrust into the middle of the war and shows his true worth and bravery when it counts.

The special effects in this movie are the true stars of this movie. Not once did I think, “That’s CG (computer generated), that’s not.” It was as good as if there were actual transforming robots in the movie. The way the Transformers looked was amazing and it added to the movie and was made it better.

The summer is a time when, as a student, you can give your brain a rest and not have to worry about learning all that you are forced to in school. As an avid movie fan, sitting in a dark, cold theater on a hot summer day is the best possible way to spend an afternoon. A movie like “Transformers” is one that is easy to just enjoy. The plot is simple and knowing who is who is not that hard. The special effects are amazing and are worth the price of admission.

8 out of 10
Rated PG-13
2 hrs 24 mins