Transformers Rise of the Fallen Review

Transformers: Rise of the Fallen is all noise and no fun. I would go as far to say that it is the worst movie of the summer season so far and that is saying a lot compared to what audiences have had to contend with this summer. Transformers (2007) was big dumb fun, it lacked in a lot of departments but it was an enjoyable movie. In contrast, Transformers: Rise of the Fallen is just big and dumb.

I don't think any movie is a better example of everything that is wrong with current American mainstream cinema. It seems that Hollywood keeps churning out these shallow action movies that are all style and no substance. I concede that certain action movies do get by with being shallow fun, but only if they have a certain respect for the audience's intelligence.

Transformers: Rise of the Fallen basically hits the audience over the head for 3 excruciating hours. It's really hard sit through the awkwardly unfunny comedy this movies tries to accomplish. It's almost like Micheal Bay is sitting behind you, poking your shoulder every five-minutes, screaming in your ear, "Isn't that hilarious, ha ha, ethnic stereotypes and sexual innuendos. Oh, I'm such a visionary."

In terms of plot, well there isn't any. Any semblance of plot is nothing but a contrived line of events that are linked by mediocre action scenes. Every sub-plot that is set up goes nowhere fast. The plot is paper thin and is as deep as the inside of a Coke can. The characters in Transformers Revenge of the Fallen have as much depth as the plot. Every character is nothing but a disposable piece used to thrust the action along.

The human characters are all uninteresting and lack any emotional connection with the audience, so why should I care if Sam or Mikaela almost die? Is it because they are the leads in the story? is that the only reason you have to give me? Oh, by the way, Megan Fox might be extremely attractive but she has the acting skills of a disabled mime. Shai LaBeouf is basically playing the one note character of Sam with as much grace as Fox plays her character. In all honesty, I'm being unfair to the actors, it's not their fault that the script is a muddled mess or that their director is not very deft on plot or characters. Now when it comes to the Transformers, they are actually way more interesting than their human counterparts. It's too bad that great characters like Optimus Prime and Megatron are reduced to meandering parts. Also, who ever had the idea of making two Autobots into over the top stereotypes, one of which who sports a gold tooth, should be fired from production and should be sent to racial sensitivity school.

The special effects and action sequences should be the redeeming factor in movie, right? Nevertheless, I think the effects and the action in this movie weren't as great as the first, in my opinion at least. It's very sad, when I start to get bored during an action scene. Maybe it's because when you have no interest in the characters or the situations on screen there is no suspense to keep you hooked in. The CGI and the effects quickly loose their gleam as the movie progressively gets more disconnected. Now, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen is going to make it's millions at the Box Office, that is a given. Although, I hope that bad of word of mouth hurts it in the end. Truthfully, though, I know that the masses will flock to it and that it will make its money, procuring a pointless sequel.