Transformers The Movie On DVD
A Review of Michael Bay’s Epic Depiction of Autobots vs. Decpticons
Autobots and Decepticons land on Earth and continue their battle for a special cube that brings ordinary machinery to life. A review of Transformers the movie on DVD
Moviegoers this summer got what they haven’t for a few years - a true summer blockbuster. Michael Bay’s hit Transformers brought enough action, comedy and special effects to the big screen to fill three movies.
With the release of the DVD, fans of the Transformers movie have the choice between a single-disc, a two-disc Special Edition and an HD-DVD including the original movie, transforming DVD case and extras.
Robots in Disguise
Bringing toys to life on screen demands special attention. Any boy growing up in the 1980’s had a special attachment to Hasbro’s ‘Robots in Disguise’ and hopes for the feature film were high.
Like in the original cartoon, the heroic Autobots and evil Decepticons land on Earth to continue their battle over a life-giving cube which began on their home planet Cypertron. If the story line seems thin, it is – and that’s the beauty of this movie. Transformers the movie, has holes in the plot big enough to drive a transport trailer through. However, filled with mind-blowing special effects and stellar performances by Shia Leboeuf (Sam Witwicky), and hilarious cameos by the likes of Bernie Mac, the movie pulls off the difficult task of making live action merged with special effects not only organic but funny.
Michael Bay said himself that to hook any audience into a science fiction movie, it must be anchored in reality. Bay does this with perfection by introducing the first robot, Bumblebee, as a Witwicky’s battered first car. Witwicky then uses his car to impress a girl, played by bombshell Megan Fox. Some hilarious scenes follow with Witwicky’s parents (played beautifully by Kevin Dunn and Julie White) giving him lectures on sex while four giant robots hide amongst the bushes.
Autobots vs. Decepticons
Not only did Bay do a wonderful job of fleshing out the human characters, the Autobots also come off as three dimensional personalities with facial expressions, humour and individual qualities that separate them from simple cars that change into robots. Bay captures the essences of the original cartoon and the original Autobots, Optimus Prime, Jazz, Bumblebee, yet updates them and gives them edge.
We barely see the Decepticons, however, and though their menace lingers, the build-up to the final battle only arrives towards the end of the film when we discover Megatron, the evil leader, in frozen suspension held captive in the bowels of the Hoover Dam. Soon we catch a glimpse of Starscream involved in the epic final smash up scene, but in general the Decepticons are portrayed as mindless machines with only destruction on their minds.
That said, Transformers entertains – the most important feature for any movie.
If you like monster movies and tales from outter spaces such as Transformers, you may like Cloverfield.
