Review by Mark Lengieza

Back in 2007, Michael Bay launched the latest franchise of mega blockbuster summer films with his excellent take on Hasbro’s popular Transformers toy line.  I thought the film was absolutely fantastic.  It was one of the most fun experiences I have ever had in a theater.  I ranked it as my #1 film of the year.  Needless to say, the sequel was by far my most anticipated film of this year.

I saw the film at a packed midnight screening.  The film is going to pull in massive numbers, but that is not what I am here to talk to you about - you want to know how good the film was.  Well, I can tell you that I was sorely disappointed.  I wanted to love it.  I wanted it to be a film that I would rush out and see again, one that I can’t wait for the DVD.  Unfortunately, it simply wasn’t that great.

I think the writers of the film just got way too lazy with Revenge of the Fallen.  They knew that it was going to be a sure-fire hit, so they decided that rather making sharp dialogue and a proper story, they catered to the mass audiences.  The film is just so filled with stupid humor.  When I go to an action movie, I am not looking to laugh.  Now I will say this: the humor from the first film is one of the reasons it was so enjoyable for me.  It made the characters likeable.  I thought it was handled very well.  Here it was just the opposite.  Some of the jokes worked (John Turturro was outstanding again, probably the best part about the film) but most did not.  Most were simply stupid gags that only 10-year olds would find funny (or, ya know, the people that made Paul Blart a huge hit).  There were even two characters that made me utter the words “These guys are the Jar Jar Binks” of the Transformers franchise.  (I’ll let you figure out who I mean.)

The action in the film was outstanding.  The explosions, the special effects, the visuals were superb.  Michael Bay remains the best in the business when it comes to this.  I just wish that his script wasn’t so dumbed-down.  There was definitely a lot of potential here.  There were several parts that I really enjoyed.  Optimus Prime is such a great and likeable character.  You really feel for him.  I just wish they gave some of the other Transformers more screen time and made the Decepticons more menacing.  I just think they could have cut about 45 minutes out of the film, took out a lot that made it stupid, and had a much better film, but like I said, they were catering to the masses with this one.  The crowd I saw it with had a great reaction, laughed at most of the stupid jokes, and applauded at the action.  It’s also never a bad thing to see Megan Fox looking more luscious than ever.  I had fun watching the film, but there were so many flaws, and it doesn’t even come close to the first.