Im not a Michael Bay fan. In fact i would go so far as to say that the man's movies stink to the highest of heavens. That being said I really liked Transformers! For some reason, even though all of Bays usual groan inducing crap was there, it didn't matter because giant robots were kicking the crap out of each other!
Transformers 2 is bigger, longer, louder!..but not better. It's still very enjoyable but despite the increased action and running time, it lacks the impact of the first movie. The main reason is that along with all the good explosion type stuff being amped up, that groan inducing crap I mentioned gets amped up too..oh God does it ever.
Good stuff first. The damn Transformers..obviously! Every time any of them are onscreen (except the twins, more on them later) it's just a joy to behold. They smash, crash and yes, explode the hell out of each other and everything around them in some of the most amazing visual effects and action scenes ever committed to film. The opening "Pull over" scenes with Optimus and a giant wheely Decepticon (does he have a name?) is an instant classic and the 3-way duel to the death between Optimus and 3 Decepticons is just one more highlight in a movie full of them...
But, there are also lows. You expect a certain amount of schmaltz in a Bay movie, it's a given. But there is such a degree of sugary crap on display here I nearly lost my lunch. Why Bay feels the need to accompany every early scene Sam and Mikaela share with horrific poodle rock music is beyond me. This guy may very well have the worst taste in music in the known universe. Then there's the "comic relief". I get that this is at heart a movie for the young uns but why is the line between not being that funny and annoying as possible crossed so much. Skids and Mudflap suck. No 2 ways about it, they make your teeth clench. I could handle a few scenes but these 2 morons are in the damn movie more than Bumblebee!..who has now appeared somewhere along the line to have become Sam's pet dog rather than an Autobot Lietenant! Also, Sam's mother seems to have become mentally challenged since the last movie. And if you thought the sidekick computer hacker guy from the last movie was annoying, wait until you see the clown they replaced him with!
Performance wise, it's fine. Fox and Labeouf ain't winning any awards but they are convincing throughout and John Turturro's character is great value, as well as being actually funny in parts.
All in all the sheer spectacle makes this a must see..but its faults are too many to stop it short of just how enjoyable the first one was.
3/5
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