Transformers: Dark Of The Moon Review
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The Autobots are back for their final showdown with their enemies the Decepticons. How does the final installment of Transformers hold up? Does this film go out with a bang? Or does fall short?
Story - The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the Moon, and race against the Decepticons to reach it and to learn its secrets. That is the story synopsis.
If there is one thing all of the Transformers movies suffer from is lack plot, story and character development. This installment is no different. I know a movie like Transformers doesn't need a huge story, or some important theme to move the audience. The movies are about a bunch of robots battling it out. Who needs a theme? Who needs a plot? Who needs character development? The answer my friends is you do. It takes more then action to make a good movie. I will say it again, it takes more then action to make a good movie. The Transformers story suffers from many things. Once again we have no idea on who some of the Autobots or Decepticons are. These guys are just thrown in there and we're expected to just say "Oh that's just Optimus teammates." Who is Laserbeak? What rank is he in with the Decepticons? Simple things you would like to know don't get answer. Another problem with the characters is a change in the leading lady. We all know what happen with Megan Fox, we question how they would handle the new love interest. The answer is it was handle pretty poorly and lazy. Just a minor spoiler they handle with a few words "She dumped me." That's it no further explanation, nothing! They were better off killing Fox's character in an opening scene or something. The new girl Carly (Rosie Huntington Whiteley) doesn't really make an impact. Her character is generic, bland and flat out boring. She's not interesting at all. She's mainly used as eye candy, similar to Megan's Fox character but at least Fox character was interesting. There is an attempt to add some relationship problems between Sam (Shia Labeouf) and Carly, by adding a man named Dylan (Patrick Dempsey)into the mix. Dylan is Carly's boss, he's rich, successful and a total jerk. Sam has been out of work and has been living with Carly. He feels insecure about not having a job and having to rely on Carly. This is actually a really good part in the movie. It's something a lot of people are going through and I felt that it was handle well, for the little time that it had. I also did enjoy Dylan's character and felt that his miss guidance made a great addition to the film. Let's talk a little about the overall story.
To sum up some the story a little bit for you. The Autobots learn of a piece from their home world is on the moon. This piece was the key for the Autobots to win the war on Cybertron. When the first men to walk the room discovered this object, the government decided to keep it a secret. As usual all secrets are revealed and it turns out to bite the humans in the butt. It's a race against time to who will have control of the power and who will survive. Without spoilers the story is average at best. It's way too predictable and it runs way too long. You will know who will betray who, you will know when the stale "I'm not leaving without her" is going to the come.
Characters are just thrown in there, just to be there. Tyrese character is pretty pointless in this installment. His character could have been any extra, or any new army guy. This installment has too many dead scenes. There are tons of scenes that could have been cut out. The military scenes, the hunt for clues are way too long and it drags the film down. Once again there is pointless comedy that really isn't needed. Too many stereotypes, homosexual references and enough eye candy shots to make you wonder is this how Michael Bay views women? Despite the running time, plot holes, lack of character explanation on the robots. The movie is your typical summer flick. Whatever piece of story that is there is interesting enough, to keep you watching for the fight scenes. It's just the wait to get to the big battles that is a real killer.
Acting - The acting is so, so. You really can't blame the actors for not performing well. They really have nothing to do to challenge them. Shia Labeouf is the same as you always see him in this series. In some scenes he actually looks kind of bored. Rosie Huntington Whiteley as Carly didn't work for me. Some of her line delivery made me cringe a little and she really didn't have much range to show what she can do. She is basically used as eye candy for the guys. Tyrese and Josh Duhamel do they jobs as military men, nothing really special. There's even a cameo from Ken Jeong who is becoming a little stale with his antics. The voice acting however is spot on. I will never get tired of listening to Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime. He brings so much emotional depth and life into the character. Leonard Nimoy also delivers a powerful voice for Sentinel Prime. Hugo Weaving is underused as Megatron but he still delivers that powerful voice. Overall the acting is so, so, but the voice acting is wonderful.
Music & Filmmaking - The music is epic. This is really a great powerful soundtrack. The music really captures the struggle of war between these robots. The last battle theme with the choir during the invasion is my favorite. Michael Bay really makes sure that his movies, have a movie soundtrack that sounds close to the trailer music we all love in our trailers. The film looks beautiful. The 3D brings you right into the action and looks very clear. They were a few hiccups, but that is being picky. The action scenes are the best in the series, especially the final battle. This time you can tell a lot more of who is fighting who. However some of the Decepticons still are the same silver color and it's hard to tell who they are. The last fight though was disappointing between Optimus and the final villain. I felt this being the last film that it should have really been a epic battle. The fight kind of ends quick. If you're going to see this, see this in 3D. The sound, the locations are worthy of IMAX 3D.
Final Grade C+/**1/2 - Transformers is not bad, but not good either. The pacing is way too slow and drags. There are tons of pointless scenes, not having any clue on which robot is which will be frustrating to the non comic crowd. However the action is great, the voice acting is great, the music is epic. I also like the theme of humanity and how it was focus through Optimus eyes. It's not a home run, but it's a decent way to end the series. It's better than Revenge Of The Fallen for sure. If your fan of the series give it a least a look.
Story - The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the Moon, and race against the Decepticons to reach it and to learn its secrets. That is the story synopsis.
If there is one thing all of the Transformers movies suffer from is lack plot, story and character development. This installment is no different. I know a movie like Transformers doesn't need a huge story, or some important theme to move the audience. The movies are about a bunch of robots battling it out. Who needs a theme? Who needs a plot? Who needs character development? The answer my friends is you do. It takes more then action to make a good movie. I will say it again, it takes more then action to make a good movie. The Transformers story suffers from many things. Once again we have no idea on who some of the Autobots or Decepticons are. These guys are just thrown in there and we're expected to just say "Oh that's just Optimus teammates." Who is Laserbeak? What rank is he in with the Decepticons? Simple things you would like to know don't get answer. Another problem with the characters is a change in the leading lady. We all know what happen with Megan Fox, we question how they would handle the new love interest. The answer is it was handle pretty poorly and lazy. Just a minor spoiler they handle with a few words "She dumped me." That's it no further explanation, nothing! They were better off killing Fox's character in an opening scene or something. The new girl Carly (Rosie Huntington Whiteley) doesn't really make an impact. Her character is generic, bland and flat out boring. She's not interesting at all. She's mainly used as eye candy, similar to Megan's Fox character but at least Fox character was interesting. There is an attempt to add some relationship problems between Sam (Shia Labeouf) and Carly, by adding a man named Dylan (Patrick Dempsey)into the mix. Dylan is Carly's boss, he's rich, successful and a total jerk. Sam has been out of work and has been living with Carly. He feels insecure about not having a job and having to rely on Carly. This is actually a really good part in the movie. It's something a lot of people are going through and I felt that it was handle well, for the little time that it had. I also did enjoy Dylan's character and felt that his miss guidance made a great addition to the film. Let's talk a little about the overall story.
To sum up some the story a little bit for you. The Autobots learn of a piece from their home world is on the moon. This piece was the key for the Autobots to win the war on Cybertron. When the first men to walk the room discovered this object, the government decided to keep it a secret. As usual all secrets are revealed and it turns out to bite the humans in the butt. It's a race against time to who will have control of the power and who will survive. Without spoilers the story is average at best. It's way too predictable and it runs way too long. You will know who will betray who, you will know when the stale "I'm not leaving without her" is going to the come.
Characters are just thrown in there, just to be there. Tyrese character is pretty pointless in this installment. His character could have been any extra, or any new army guy. This installment has too many dead scenes. There are tons of scenes that could have been cut out. The military scenes, the hunt for clues are way too long and it drags the film down. Once again there is pointless comedy that really isn't needed. Too many stereotypes, homosexual references and enough eye candy shots to make you wonder is this how Michael Bay views women? Despite the running time, plot holes, lack of character explanation on the robots. The movie is your typical summer flick. Whatever piece of story that is there is interesting enough, to keep you watching for the fight scenes. It's just the wait to get to the big battles that is a real killer.
Acting - The acting is so, so. You really can't blame the actors for not performing well. They really have nothing to do to challenge them. Shia Labeouf is the same as you always see him in this series. In some scenes he actually looks kind of bored. Rosie Huntington Whiteley as Carly didn't work for me. Some of her line delivery made me cringe a little and she really didn't have much range to show what she can do. She is basically used as eye candy for the guys. Tyrese and Josh Duhamel do they jobs as military men, nothing really special. There's even a cameo from Ken Jeong who is becoming a little stale with his antics. The voice acting however is spot on. I will never get tired of listening to Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime. He brings so much emotional depth and life into the character. Leonard Nimoy also delivers a powerful voice for Sentinel Prime. Hugo Weaving is underused as Megatron but he still delivers that powerful voice. Overall the acting is so, so, but the voice acting is wonderful.
Music & Filmmaking - The music is epic. This is really a great powerful soundtrack. The music really captures the struggle of war between these robots. The last battle theme with the choir during the invasion is my favorite. Michael Bay really makes sure that his movies, have a movie soundtrack that sounds close to the trailer music we all love in our trailers. The film looks beautiful. The 3D brings you right into the action and looks very clear. They were a few hiccups, but that is being picky. The action scenes are the best in the series, especially the final battle. This time you can tell a lot more of who is fighting who. However some of the Decepticons still are the same silver color and it's hard to tell who they are. The last fight though was disappointing between Optimus and the final villain. I felt this being the last film that it should have really been a epic battle. The fight kind of ends quick. If you're going to see this, see this in 3D. The sound, the locations are worthy of IMAX 3D.
Final Grade C+/**1/2 - Transformers is not bad, but not good either. The pacing is way too slow and drags. There are tons of pointless scenes, not having any clue on which robot is which will be frustrating to the non comic crowd. However the action is great, the voice acting is great, the music is epic. I also like the theme of humanity and how it was focus through Optimus eyes. It's not a home run, but it's a decent way to end the series. It's better than Revenge Of The Fallen for sure. If your fan of the series give it a least a look.
