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DVD Corner: Transformers ‘Revenge’ is too comical
Mac Olsen
for Spotlight
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Rated PG-13 by the MPAA: 2 hours, 29 minutes: $26.99 for single-disc DVD edition, $22.99 for two-disc DVD edition and $32.99 for two-disc Blu-ray edition (reviewed) at www.amazon.ca
Director Michael Bay has put his stamp on the ‘Transformers’ movie franchise, but the latest, ‘Revenge of the Fallen’, leaves much to be desired.
Shia LeBeouf and Megan Fox return as Sam Witwicky and Mikaela Banes respectively, John Turturro as Agent Simmons, while Peter Cullen and Hugo Weaving return as the voices of Optimus Prime and Megatron.
The Autobots have established a secret alliance with the U.S. government to capture fugitive Decepticons throughout the world and imprison them at an undisclosed location.
Witwicky plans to go to college and tries to cut his ties to the Autobots, as he wants to be left alone to live a normal life. Meanwhile, Banes is working for her dad in a motorcycle shop and Witwicky wants to maintain his relationship with her.
However, events soon overtake them. Megatron is resurrected and his surviving Decepticons search for a piece of the AllSpark. Banes unwittingly brings the AllSpark to Witwicky and he suddenly has visions of symbols and a Decepticon presence on earth which goes back millennia. The Decepticons track down Witwicky and Banes and wreak havoc.
Optimus Prime rescues them, although he is mortally wounded in battle and Witwicky is now a fugitive. Unless he is turned over to the Decepticons, they will lay waste to the entire planet.
With the help of Leo Spitz (Ramon Rodriguez), Witwicky and Banes track down Agent Simmons. Together, they find other clues to a legendary weapon – and a group of fallen Decepticons.
All roads lead to Egypt for a climactic battle. It’s also the moment of truth for Witwicky. Does he have the courage to help fight the Decepticons and repay a debt of honour to Optimus Prime, who believed so strongly in him?
The things going for this movie include the performances of LeBeouf and Fox. They carry the weight of the drama on their shoulders and consistently have good chemistry. Also, the CGI and special effects are on par with, if not superior to, the first movie. The battle sequences in Egypt are especially breathtaking.
However, there are some major flaws, especially the endless comedy relief, such as the disagreements between two vehicle Autobots which Bumblebee gets caught up in. There’s also a very racy scene with Turturro in the middle of the movie which very young children should not see.
But the biggest criticism is against Michael Bay because of his heavy use and promotion of the U.S. military. The battles are really supposed to be about the Autobots and Decepticons, but the U.S. military’s presence in the movie is so overpowering, it almost becomes distracting.
Given these flaws, ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ is worth just 2½ stars out of five.
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