Brilliant but VERY flawed (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (DVD))

Member Name: MoneyMaker2006

Product:	Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (DVD)
Date:	15/08/09 (15 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tons of great action

Disadvantages: Tons of lame humour

Who the hell decided it was a good idea to put college humour in a Transformer movie?! I'd like to know so I can hit them with a stick. I mean the first movie had a couple of naff jokes in it, but this is absolutely laced with it. A lot of sexual references, a couple of distasteful 'comedy' moments, too much swearing for the type of film and loads of naff ideas like transformers that fart, a transformer with balls (I kid you not) and a little one that humps the girls leg - I mean c'mon! Who thought up this crap?! I don't wanna say too much, but if you don't like that sort of humour, then you're gonna be disappointed too. Most of the time I did absolutely love this film, but there were quite a few times when I didn't like it at all - never have I had such extremely mixed feelings as I did with this movie. The first film is definitely better and although still not perfect was nowhere near as flawed as this - and I'm no sequel hater. If I love a movie I'm over the moon when they make a sequel as most of the time I love them too. Thankfully the action is superb again and delivers even more than the first film, with much improved camera work so you can tell what's happening much easier and see all the awesome killer attacks in all their glory. And as you'd expect, the movie is chock full of explosive action and robot punch-ups. On it's own, the action is an easy 5 stars. Unfortunately, the comedy hugely lets the film down. If I'd had my way, the first half would have been heavily edited, with almost every scene with the actors in removed. I just kept sitting there thinking 'oh shut the hell up and get back to the action!' It wasn't the cast themselves though, I'm a big fan of Shia - I think he's a fantastic actor and he really throws himself into every scenario. I thought he was great in the first film so I was glad to see him return and of course seeing the sizzlingly hot Megan Fox again was not a bad thing at all. It was their material I didn't like. If I'm totally honest, I'm a bit of a prude and I like my humour mostly clean. But really, I wouldn't have minded the jokes if they had been in the right film. Just not Transformers - it's so out of place it's cringeworthy at times. It's like watching a film that's trying to be a more serious action adventure and switches (or should I say transforms?) to a Transformers college spoof. It's an odd combination that for me, didn't work. I'm not saying a comedy side to this film is a no-no, but had it been done like the Mummy films with family-friendly humour, it would have been much better. In my not so humble opinion. At times, the film feels like it's been made by geniuses with stellar special effects, fantastically choreographed fightscenes and tons of fresh and inventive ideas for the transformers universe. The amount of commitment and passion that's gone into making this is very evident onscreen. But then it also feels like it's been made by idiots with a fairly naff story (not something that usually bothers me, but it is). There are so many directions they could've taken the plot, but instead they went with something quite unadventurous, quite basic and at times quite odd. Not the greatest writing by any means. In all fairness though, this isn't a big issue and could have been ignored had it been the film's only downfall. The script was at times the same unfortunately with some pretty bad lines and amateur writing. And then there's the dumbass humour - that was the worst. Yes I know, I sound like an old whingebag. I really tried to like the film more - I kept telling myself to just stop thinking and enjoy it. But I just could'nt. I couldn't ignore the films flaws. And much as I loved the first movie, I can't help but start to wish someone else had made the Transformers movies. The franchise's true potential just isn't being realised and with this latest effort it's obvious they are taking it in the wrong direction. At the end of day, I still came out of the cinema having thoroughly enjoyed a brilliant thrillride movie with awesome action. And if you like the film's sense of humour, which a lot of people will, then there's really nothing to complain about. Whether it's all to my liking or not, I would never say this is a bad film. It still has a lot to offer, it's pure escapism entertainment and is a genuinely excellent movie at times. Overall, I'd still give it an impressive 4 stars though I reckon G.I. Joe could be the best blockbuster of the summer. Fingers crossed.

Summary: Still worth watching, but don't get too excited