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From:Shia LaBeouf , Megan Fox , Josh Duhamel , Tyrese Gibson , Rachael Taylor , Paramount , Michael Bay ,
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![Transformers (Two-Disc Special Edition + BD Live) [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TjJVEpAqL._SL160_.jpg)
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User Rating: Amazon Sales Rank:#58 |
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2 of 4 customers found the following review helpful:
 Better than expected, entertaining, note it is violent hence pg-13 and not PG, 2007-07-05
My biggest fear was that this film would just totally destroy the original transformers storyline and be a big joke, but it wasn't. I can see why it took so many years after the original series to bring an actual film (live, non-animated) to the big screen, the special effects are just phenominal in this film and just weren't available back in 1985-88. Second, despite it having some changes in the origin story of how and why the transformers came to earth, it a good one, and does nothing to tarnish the transformer's legends. There is no ark, and they didn't crash land here on earth and lay dormint for 4 million years like the Cartoon (and original marvel comics), they came in search of a cube, not just any cube, the cube is the Allspark, lifegiver to all of the transformers (similar to the oricle/spark from the original cartoon and bestwars) Yes, it is still a civil war of robots, and yes, the cartoon characters are the same ones in the movie. So they made some changes in the type of cars/vehicles/items that the transformers were, notably bubblebee a camaro not a Bug, And they used Sam Witwicky instead of spike witwicky (and dad was not notably named sparkplug), no big deal. Overall, they stayed true to the ideals and personalities of the original series, and even the voices and vehicle styles. Finally, the casting of the actual people was done well, and the acting was actually decent for an action flick. As a transformer's junkie, I must say I highly recommend seeing this film, and will definitely be on my shelf when available on DVD. Do note, that unlike the cartoon, this does get fairly violent with people getting stabbed and flying all over the place, so not really great for little kids.
17 of 61 customers found the following review helpful:
 Absolutely unredeemable garbage., 2007-07-04
Horribly bad doesn't go far enough. It is difficult to imagine how big the paychecks were to get actors like Shia LeBeouf and Jon Voight to participate in this ignorant mess. Add to that a streak of idiotic, and likely inadvertent, racism that paints virtually every black character as emotionally unhinged, vulgar, or both. There are all kinds of laughs here, but mainly of the cringing, unintentional variety. I'm tempted to say that it might appeal to 5 year old boys, but why expose them to this kind of cinematic excrement?
1 of 4 customers found the following review helpful:
"My car is alive.", 2007-07-04
I'll try to keep this one brief, mostly because I want to run out and see this film again. And, after that, then maybe one more time. Having seen almost all of the high profile blockbusters the summer of 2007 has to offer (with only Harry Potter and Jason Bourne still waiting in the wings), I'm voting for TRANSFORMERS as being the most exhilarating and most entertaining film thus far. Given, I'm biased as I've loved the Transformers ever since when. Two hours and 20 minutes rapidly sped by, and, me, I never noticed. No, it's not Jane Austen's TRANSFORMERS, so check all snobby, high-falutin' ways at the door. It is what it is, shallowly plotted, over the top, and rife with one note characters. But it also boasts giant friggin' robots. And another good performance by Shia LaBeouf. And a smokin' Megan Fox. And giant friggin' robots!
Very early in the film, when enterprising car dealer Bernie Mac informs 11th grader Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) that "Cars pick their drivers," he couldn't have been more spot on - in Sam's case, anyway. Sam ends up with a shabby yellow Camaro that's *ahem* more than meets the eye. Sam's eyes light up when he gets a chance to use his car to hang out with Mikaela (Megan Fox), a classmate he's been crushing on. Now, Mikaela not only is sizzling hot, but she's also automobile savvy, which comes into play much later. In the fullness of time (or, going by movie time, about 15 minutes later), Sam discovers that his Camaro is actually a robot in disguise named Bumblebee, who, by the way, is extremely touchy about his paintjob. Turns out that Bumblebee, who communicates thru a combo of songs and recorded voices from the radio, is Sam's personal protector.
Sam further learns that his arctic exploring grandfather (whose passed on motto is "No sacrifice, no victory.") had made a significant discovery years and years ago, which a group of evil robots now dearly covet. This group, titled the Decepticons, has been opposed for many a millennia by the Autobots, of which Bumblebee is one. It is revealed that the source of the ages-old conflict is the Allspark, a size-shifting, all-powerful cube which is able to grant sentience to all things mechanical. There, that's the set-up.
One wonders just how much input Executive Producer Steven Spielberg had in TRANSFORMERS. With Michael Bay's preferred expertise firmly affixed to slick cinematography and high octane action sequences, I wouldn't be exactly poleaxed if it turns out that Spielberg was behind the many sweet and funny moments here, moments which provide the very necessary grounding and the film's saving grace. Sam's parents are a bloody riot, ridiculous and goofy as hell, sure, but still lovable. In the wrong hands, they could've been exasperating and the film would've then lost one of its humanizing touches. But, more than anyone, the grounding element is attributed to the male lead, Shia Labeouf. Labeouf plays Sam as underdog enough, and quirky and engaging enough that you can't help but wish good things for the guy. And he's enough of an actor that the scene between him and his damaged Camaro later on brings a lump to the throat.
Another plus is the ingratiating fashion in which the good guy robots are presented. Naturally, they already have 20 plus years of invested good will and childhood nostalgia saved up so that fanboys like me are preordained to like them. But these Autobots are simply awesome. The dazzling CG effects surpassed my expectations. I was so excited to see the seamlessness of it all, the weight and heft seen and felt as these massive mechanical giants interact with and impact their surroundings. There are moments, admittedly, in which they transform at such dizzying speeds that I couldn't quite take it all in, but never mind. It's still eye-popping to see these robots change shapes in mid-air or while whizzing down the highway. It doesn't hurt that they're also somewhat clumsy. It's a hoot watching the lawn-murdering Autobot hide-and-seek sequence outside Sam's window ("Ooops. My bad.").
Oh, there's other stuff I could mention, I suppose. There's the decisive Secretary of Defense (John Voight) who actually doesn't mind getting his hands dirty (Pres. Bush's involvement consists of a demand for Ding Dongs). There's the mysterious, beyond top secret Sector 7, as bullyingly embodied by an off-the-wall and unlikable John Turturro. Meanwhile, actors Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson provide square-jawed heroics as resilient military survivors of the initial Decepticon onslaught. Somewhere here, there's also a hottie of a signal analyst (Rachael Taylor) and a minor bit part (but very funny) for Anthony Anderson. Oh, and Hugo Weaving voices Megatron, who, here, doesn't transform into a gun.
People who are clueless about the 1980s Transformers cartoon series will still walk away content, I think. I came to this film to see colossal robots in a rumble, but I knew that there had to be a story and some sort of nod towards character development. Well, the story's certainly not deep and is fairly easy to follow. However, the nicely realized central characters (Sam, Mikaela, Bumblebee, and Optimus Prime) are what sold it for me. When cut to the nitty gritty, TRANSFORMERS is a story about a boy and his dog. Or, rather, a boy and his robot. The romance angle actually takes a back seat to the relationship between Sam and his beat up Camaro. This is where the first half of the film, which focuses in huge part on Sam and Bumblebee, pays off. So, while I couldn't wait for that big moment in which we first glimpse Optimus Prime, my favorite robot very early on became Bumblebee.
Cripes, so much for the brief review. But, in closing and to echo everyone else, big ups to the film for landing Peter Cullen, who originally was and is again the voice of Optimus Prime. It would've been simply unsatisfying to have had someone else delivering his lines. I actually got a tingle when Optimus rumbled his battlecry: "Autobots - roll out!"
2 of 6 customers found the following review helpful:
Simply put, this is the best movie of the summer, 2007-07-04
Where every other movie failed to deliver this summer, this one did. And it deserves to be on the DVD shelf of every fan of fun movies.
1 of 5 customers found the following review helpful:
Roll out to this movie, 2007-07-04
This move is the atypical adaptation.
Hoping for the best, I had also previously prepared myself for experiencing the worst, just in case. I had been to too many other films which, in a rush to make money off of our childhood nostalgia, selectively had forgotten why the original product had been special, and was providing inspiration. Therefore, there were a couple of things which interestingly stuck out. Because I am one of the people who had grown up with and faithfully viewed the original cartoon series, I am going to mention them.
How the transformers and deceptacons got to earth was changed for the movie. Also altered was the transformer's meeting of the Witwickys and their identities. As opposed to being a construction worker alongside dad, Spike is a young high school student who initially is not very popular. He's a nice guy trying to do the right thing, but is not succeeding until meeting up with a very special car via a 'used car lot'.
Then, the 'disguise' appearances of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Megatron apparently was altered in various ways for the benefit of being able to produce this screen play, Optimus has markings, Megatron is a plane, and Bumblebee himself is now an initially mute Camaro; they are different from what had appeared in their classic cartoon series.
Soundwave was altogether missing which is odd considering that tapes still are being produced and he had such a pivotal role as the Deceptacon's 'information agent'. Surely, with everything today about information and secrets (itself a reccuring film theme), he would have been able to play a role for Megatron and his fellow Deceptacons in the screenplay?
Then, I am another one of the people who honestly did not see the point of the 'Australian hacker and her friend' being included in a storyline. They did not help Spike Witwicky and Mikaela Banes, only successful in antagonizing already-power hungry government agents. Unlike Spike and Mikaela, those people also apparently did not understand that the Autobots are our friends.
Still, considering how badly other live-action adaptations of 80's cartoons have bombed (yes, I am especially referring to the original He-Man movie!) this screenplay earned every one of it's received stars. The special effects are really good throughout the screenplay and the movie was over before I actually realized it. Plus, Peter Cullen, the original voice actor for Optimus Prime *among others* had returned for this job and the 'transforming' sound is included in the movie. It could not have been an actual "Transformers" reprise without any of those sounds included.
Some of the additions which Bay added into the Transformers worked. Hasbro had originaly introduced it as a 'boys toy' but I also grew up playing with them too. Inadvertently through helping her car-burgular father, Banes gained experience and knowllege of car mechanics, especially useful in the climactic battle when Bumblebee is injured. Impressed with her skills, Sam and the Autobots are not at all fazed or finding the talent 'odd'. Anybody with the skills should use them to help advance justice.
I expect that aspiring production teams and their studios will use this screenplay as a textbook example of how to do a good adaptation from a 'past cartoon'. In the theater I was in, I noticed that people around my age certainly were in attendance. Additionally, today's kids were also riveted to the screen.
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