Monday, August 15, 2022
flickfeast
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festivals
  • FrightFeast
  • Spotlight
  • Contribute
  • Submissions
    • Advertise on Flickfeast
    • Submit a Film
No Result
View All Result
flickfeast
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festivals
  • FrightFeast
  • Spotlight
  • Contribute
  • Submissions
    • Advertise on Flickfeast
    • Submit a Film
No Result
View All Result
FLICKFEAST
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews Film Review

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

Justin Smith by Justin Smith
December 8, 2021
in Film Review
14
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

I wasn’t expecting much when I popped in the DVD of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The film grossed over $400 million at the box office, but had been (almost) unanimously panned by critics. The first Transformers film was better than expected, but I had a sinking feeling the sequel was going to fall short. The sequel did fall short, but not as much as anticipated. What Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen needs more than anything is an edit from its yawn-inducing 150 minutes to a bearable 90 minutes. Here’s a few places where edits should have been made. First, edit out the ridiculous and irritating comic relief which peppers and defaces the film like buckshot on the screen. Next, shorten the battle sequences, not only do they go on to the point of boredom, but it’s near impossible to tell what is happening when the transformers battle on-screen, it becomes a mesh of CGI metal (it’s a shame to think of all the time and effort that went into getting those battle scenes just right, only to find that the audience can’t tell what’s happening). Lastly, cut the number of explosions at least by half. Most film goers like a good explosion, but when the film is two-thirds explosions, with little-to-no plot, it gets boring.

Speaking of plot, was there a plot? Yes there was, and it was all explained in one scene, in typical action movie style. Megatron and The Fallen (a metallic version of H.R. Giger’s Alien, which I don’t recall ever seeing transform) divulge their plan to locate the last bit of Energon on Earth, upon which time The Fallen will return to Earth and destroy all humanity. We half expect them to look at the camera after their speech, like Rick Moranis is Spaceballs (1987), and say, “Everybody got that?”  What’s going to interest you more than the plot is why Mikaela (Megan Fox) is willing to stay with a dork like Sam (Shia LaBeouf) in a long distance relationship while he’s at college. That’s less believable than Transformers coming to Earth. Anyway, as Sam’s going to college, Mikaela is staying back home to help her father with his business. Everything turns sour when Sam discovers a piece of ‘The Cube’ stuck to his shirt from the previous film.

You might also like

EIFF 2022: Resurrection (2022) – Film Review

EIFF 2022: Aftersun (2022) – Film Review

Nope (2022) – Film Review

Despite the film’s many shortcomings, Shia LaBeouf is still entertaining and keeps the film from sinking to the bottom of the sea alongside Megatron. John Turturro is enjoyable as he reprises the role of Seymour Simmons the neurotic alien obsessed ex-government official. Rainn Wilson also gives us a few laughs as Professor Colan, and narcissistic college professor who flirts with the girls in his class. Megan Fox is merely eye candy, if she can act, it’s not being displayed here. It’d be nice to see her in a drama role, just to see if she has any genuine acting chops. One of the best moments of acting in the entire film takes place during an attack in the school library. If you pay attention, you’ll see an Asian student provide one of the best ‘scene stealing freak outs’ I’ve seen in a while.

The Transformer designs get more bizarre this time around, there’s a couple of annoying comic relief gangster wannabe transformers that I imagine most fans would liken to Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars films, there’s a Transformer that vomits smaller Transformers, which was cool in a Terminator 2 (1991) kind of way (you’ll understand if you see it). In Michael Bay’s interpretation of the Transformers universe, not only is Bumblebee a Camero (which ticks me off to no end, as he should be a VW bug, but we’ll save that discussion for another time), and Soundwave is a satellite hovering above the Earth. Also, there’s a geriatric Transformer, complete with a cane and full beard (I actually enjoyed this character as silly as it was). Fellow Transformer geeks will be glad to see the inclusion of the Constructicons, who join together to become Devastator. He’s been modernized, of course, but it was still a thrill to see one of my favorite groups of Decepticons, from my childhood, in the movie.

If you have two-and-a-half hours to waste, you’ll find some entertainment value in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, however, with little story, and an excess of explosions and comic relief, in the end it falls short.

Film Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Tags: actionMegan FoxMichael Baysci-fiShia LaBeoufthriller
Justin Smith

Justin Smith

Writer and family man hailing from deep within the cornfields of Indiana.

Related Posts

EIFF 2022: Resurrection (2022) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Resurrection (2022) – Film Review

by Dallas King
August 14, 2022
EIFF 2022: Aftersun (2022) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Aftersun (2022) – Film Review

by Dallas King
August 13, 2022
Nope (2022) – Film Review
Film Review

Nope (2022) – Film Review

by Katie Smith-Wong
August 9, 2022
Bullet Train (2022) – Film Review
Film Review

Bullet Train (2022) – Film Review

by Katie Smith-Wong
August 3, 2022
Where The Crawdads Sing – Film Review
Film Review

Where The Crawdads Sing – Film Review

by Dallas King
July 22, 2022

Recommended

Gunpowder Milkshake

Gunpowder Milkshake (2021) – Film Review

September 16, 2021

Firestarter (2022) – Film Review

May 24, 2022

Don't miss it

EIFF 2022: Resurrection (2022) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Resurrection (2022) – Film Review

August 14, 2022
EIFF 2022: Aftersun (2022) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Aftersun (2022) – Film Review

August 13, 2022
Nope (2022) – Film Review
Film Review

Nope (2022) – Film Review

August 9, 2022
Alone Together (2022) – Film Review
Reviews

Alone Together (2022) – Film Review

August 4, 2022
Bullet Train (2022) – Film Review
Film Review

Bullet Train (2022) – Film Review

August 3, 2022
Anything’s Possible (2022) – Film Review
Reviews

Anything’s Possible (2022) – Film Review

July 31, 2022
flickfeast

Whetting your appetite for cinema with the best film reviews and features since 2009

© Copyright - flickfeast. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festivals
  • FrightFeast
  • Spotlight
  • Contribute

© Copyright - flickfeast. All Rights Reserved.

Posting....