I finally managed to watch “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”, and instead of the usual review, I thought I’d take a stab at doing a “25 Things” for the movie, as a sort-of tribute to the Facebook note craze that went on a few months ago. Here we go.
(SPOILER ALERT)
1. While the movie was awash with special effects galore, it was a little difficult getting into the story, but, then again, that’s not why we watch this sort of movie.
2. One of the difficulties in watching this movie is keeping track of the various new Autobots and Decepticons. There is little attempt at introduction of the new robots, unlike in the first movie, where there was a nominal go at identifying the various characters.
3. For me, one of the best scenes was Optimus’ death scene, which is right up there with his fall in the animated movie.
4. Another good scene was the pitched battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons, although it was hard to keep track of who was getting hit after a while.
5. For example, what was the large wheeled Decepticon they took out in the opening scene?
6. There was a Yahoo article about some of the flubs in the movie. One of them, which I noted, was the fact that five blips were recorded heading towards Megatron’s resting place. Since one of them was apparently torn apart to repair Megatron, why were six blips recorded surfacing? (UPDATE: According to the IMDB site, Ravage spits out the doctor, who then becomes the 6th blip.)
7. Still based on the Yahoo article, considering the amount of damage and the high (probably) cost of life, how would it be possible for the U.S. government to cover up the battle in the first movie?
8. Why did the Decepticon doctor have spectacles?
9. How did Mikaela’s pants remain clean throughout all the running and exploring?
10. Of the new characters introduced, I liked the introduction of Jetfire and Wheelie, who had entertaining characters.
11. I liked Mudflats and Skids (the two Autobot hip-hop wannabes) the least, and hoped that they would get scrunched in the course of the movie. No such luck.
12. Devastator was a thing of beauty.
13. Soundwave’s introduction was likewise interesting, but I will always miss the synthesized voice of the original from the cartoons; it’s nice to know, though, that it’s still the same voice playing the character (Frank Welker).
14. As for the human counterparts, why is it that high-level government officials, with few execptions, are portrayed as overbearing morons who blunder their way into things?
15. Shia LaBeouf is great as Sam Witwicky, and his dealing with having absorbed information from the All Spark shard probably took some practice.
16. Ramon Rodriguez, who plays Sam’s roommate, was an entertaining, if stereotypical, sidekick. I think I liked the black guy from the first movie better, although it was hard to tell which of them was more over the top.
17. John Turturro was also very entertaining as ex-Agent Simmons, and provided a needed comic relief from the robotic seriousness.
18. However, will we have to see him strip to his skivvies every movie? If there’s a third movie, and there probably will, will he do the full monty?
19. While she is undeniably sexy, Megan Fox really needs to take some acting lessons, instead of spending each scene with her mouth hanging open. Her apparent tantrum about Michael Bay’s directing puts her right up there with LeBron James’ unsportsmanlike behavior after his team lost to the Orlando Magic.
20. Kevin Dunn and Julie White, who play the Witwickys, also provide some measure of comedy relief, and, of course, the indicators of Sam’s maturing in the course of the movie.
21. While Optimus Prime extols the greatness of the humans, director Michael Bay does seem to devote a lot of time slaughtering them without any hesitation.
22. Normally, the U.S. President in fictitious movies is likewise fictitious. I wonder if President Obama allowed the use of his name in this movie, as he is apparently whisked to a safe location in the wake of the Decepticon attacks.
23. It clear from Megatron’s statements near the end of the movie that there will likely be a third installment, but I wonder what’s next. The Dinobots?
24. From the viewer’s side – Reminder: don’t have lunch at a restaurant that offers bottomless drinks before you watch this movie.
25. While there are inconsistencies and flubs in this second movie, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” was still a great popcorn movie, as long as I didn’t have to think much while viewing it.
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