“Even in death, there is no command but mine.” —Megatron
Today’s quick review: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Now bound for college, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) wants to put the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons behind him so he can focus on his classes, his social life, and his relationship with Mikaela (Megan Fox). But Sam gets dragged back into the fight when he touches a shard of the Allspark, imprinting his mind with an Energon source that could turn the tide of the war.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a sci-fi action adventure from director Michael Bay. The second movie in the Transformers franchise picks up two years after the first. Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen), Bumblebee, and the other Autobots once again enlist Sam Witwicky to save the world from Megatron (Hugo Weaving). Revenge of the Fallen delivers the same big-budget action and goofy humor as the first, but wrapped around an even more outlandish plot.
Revenge of the Fallen makes a few improvements over the original with its action and character designs. The sequel gets off to a faster start, with large-scale action from the very beginning. The Autobots and their human allies have a host of new Decepticons to fight, including some bold designs that go beyond the military vehicles of the last film. Even visual touches like more daytime scenes and a brighter color palette are welcome.
Revenge of the Fallen is on shakier ground with its story. It aims for the same mixture of sci-fi adventure and lowbrow comedy as the first film, with mixed success. On the one hand, the story is larger in scope and delves deeper into the lore of the Transformers universe. On the other hand, the plot feels slapdash, with loose logic and a tendency to make things up as it goes along. Overall, it makes for a fun but not especially artful adventure.
How much you get out of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will depend on what you are looking for. If you just want splashy action and don’t care too much about the plot, Revenge of the Fallen is a fun and imaginative popcorn watch. If you are looking for a cohesive movie that puts a lot of thought into its setting, you may want to approach with caution. Steer clear if you disliked the original.
6.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for strong action hurt somewhat by its story and sense of humor.