By Chris Howell
Traveling from far away planets and onto shelves at your local Best Buy is the DVD release of “Transformers.” This movie is a blast from the past for most students at RVCC, who will probably remember the popular cartoon from their childhood.
Michael Bay directed and helped produce “Transformers.” Bay has directed several popular movies over the years, including “Bad Boys,” “Bad Boys II,” “Armageddon” and “Pearl Harbor.” Stephen Spielberg is also credited for helping to produce the movie, lending instant credibility, as Spielberg is one of the more respected directors in the business.
The movie is based on the idea that a powerful energy source from the planet of the Transformers, called “The Cube,” crashes on earth. The Transformers have been battling each other over the cube, and are now heading to earth in order to find it. Jon Voight, who plays the role of Defense Secretary John Keller, Tyrese Gibson, who plays Air Force Sergeant Epps, and the rest of the United States government have the cube. It is classified above top secret and has its own group dedicated to it, similar to Area 51.
Shia LaBeouf, who starred in the movie “Disturbia,” plays Sam Witwicky, an everyday high school student. Partway through the movie he unknowingly buys a Transformer that he thinks is a normal car. After witnessing his car driving on its own and then transforming into a giant robot, he realizes this is no ordinary car.
Meanwhile, evil Transformers are hacking into secret military databases and massacring U.S. troops. Witwicky’s car, as it turns out, was sent to earth to protect him from the evil Transformers, who are searching for something that he has, in order to take over the planet. Optimus Prime and other Transformers soon join Witwicky and his guardian. Eventually, Witwicky and his team of Transformers join with the Army to square off against Megatron and the evil Transformers in a battle for Earth.
Other notable actors include Anthony Anderson, who has a role as an internet hacker, and Megan Fox, a television actress who plays popular high school student Mikaela Banes.
If your initial reaction is that this is a children’s movie, you are sorely mistaken. This movie has taken the popular cartoon show and successfully blended it into a bonafide blockbuster. Many of the action sequences are visually stunning, and could make the oldest man feel like he was 12 years old again.
Bay seems to have used all that technology has to offer, as the Transformers seem life-like. When they transform, it looks seamless, as if it were really happening. The battle sequences are also very well put together. The advanced weapons that the Transformers use really stand out to the viewer, as they blow away anything in their path.
The writers do a nice job of keeping true to the original cartoon storyline. They kept the most memorable characters from the show, including Optimus Prime, who is the leader of the well intentioned Transformers, and his nemesis Megatron. Although they kept the same characters, they created an entirely new story surrounding them. They also do a good job of putting in jokes that adults will understand.
The strength of this movie lies in its special effects and action sequences. The visuals really capture your imagination and your eye. Out of five stars, this movie receives a four. Stronger performances from supporting actors would have pushed this movie over the edge. The bottom line is that this movie is fun for any age group. If you enjoy Sci-Fi thrillers, spend the $25 or so and add this to your movie collection.
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