Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen Review
Action-packed Sequel Destroys Transformers Series
Jul 15, 2009
In 2007, Michael Bay delivered a spectacular motion picture event, a feature length live action Transformers film. The Transformers looked beautiful, the plot was simple, but engaging, and the humor was scattered, but funny. Two years later Michael Bay returned to destroy almost everything he created.
Lack of Plot in Revenge of the Fallen
The first half of the movie gives viewers an overexposure of skanky women with no personality, and no plot. While the first film showcased Aussie star Rachael Taylor as a brilliant and beautiful analyst and Megan Fox as a misunderstood bad girl, Transformers 2 relegates Megan Fox to the role of wimpy handholder and a new Aussie, Isabel Lucas, to the role of college tramp. The reveal that Isabel Lucas’ character is actually a Transformer does nothing to drive the plot forward; it just leads to more question, such as why don’t all the Transformers turn into humans? The fact that her character has no personality is not justified by the fact that’s she’s a Transformer, it does quite the opposite; we need look no further than Bumblebee to see how much personality a Transformer can have.
The beginning of the film may have been hard to stomach, but the worst was yet to come. The plot is convoluted and not well thought out. The poorly designed enemy Decepticon, known simply as ‘The Fallen,’ is less sinister and less powerful than the first film’s villain Megatron, and yet Megatron takes orders from his weak ‘master.’ To make matters worse Shia LeBeouf’s character, Sam, is told by the Ancients that it is his destiny to revive the fallen Optimus and save the world again. What did he do that was so special to make it his destiny? Shove a cube in a guy’s chest and not even truly kill him? This movie is supposed to be about Transformers who protect the humans, not the other way around. Even the fact that the Prime’s are apparently powerful never really gets fully realized. Looking back, the first movie didn’t have all that great of a plot either, but what it did have was some fun humor and some great action.
Lack of Humor
The lack of real humor in Transformers 2 is evident from the moment the film kicks off; even fans of the first film will be disappointed. Transformers delivered such classic scenes as the uncomfortable Witwicky family conversation about playing with oneself, while Transformers 2 focuses too heavily on toilet humor, with constant dog humping, Mrs. Witwicky eating hash brownies and more dog humping. Not to mention the irritating duo of Mudflap and Skids, whose constant bickering is rarely, if ever, clever or funny. As if that wasn’t enough, Ramon Rodriguez’s character Leo, who plays Shia LeBeouf’s college roommate, is apparently there for comic relief, as if there wasn’t more than enough in the film already, but his character essentially adds little to the humor or to the plot.
Decent Action
The only positive factor of the film is that Michael Bay finally got his hands on more money for some more intense Transformer action. It’s definitely a lot bigger, but that does not always mean it’s always better. While the first film focused too closely on the action, Bay gives a much broader view of much bigger robots in Revenge of the Fallen. Optimus Prime shines in every fight he’s in, which is basically all of them. Unfortunately, it is very rarely that the other Autobots fight. Even in the final climatic battle scene, we just see big explosions and eventually Prime wasting the Decepticons, rather than any real action from the Autobots, which is disappointing.
Conclusion
Overall the movie was loud, long and disappointing. The human characters seem less realistic, with less personality than the first film, the overall plot is unbelievable and underdeveloped and the humor is almost non-existent. The only part of the film that was enjoyable was the action scenes, but not even those could save this horrible mess. This film receives a 2/10 for not delivering what the first film captured so greatly, pure, unadulterated fun.
 |
 |
