More Than Meets the Eye … Really It Does

I was never really into Transformers as a kid, I was much more a G.I. Joe boy. I though I would prep myself for the inevitable G.I. Joe re-envisioning. I have nothing against the Autobots and Decepticons, but Michael Bay is a whole different story. Actually after watching the film, Bay makes perfect sense. Surprisingly, the film makes perfect sense as well. It wasn’t great, but I was entertained thanks to Bay. I guess he did get this one right since the more you think about Transformers for meaning and reality, the less it makes sense. Gimme the robots kicking each other’s autobutts.

I had no intentions of watching this film, but I couldn’t resist recapturing my youth since I saw an article about Thundercats, G.I. Joe, and Voltron films in production or the planning stages. Transformers was fun and entertaining with very cool special effects. I actually hate to admit that I did like the film. I am in no way endorsing a second one however. I think that films such as this exist because my generation wants to see what it would be like to have our toys exist on the screen. Animation just doesn’t cut it anymore. What surprised me the most was the acting in the film.

I fully understand why Shia LaBeouf is considered a hot property in Hollywood. As Sam Witwicky, he is hero who falls into the Transformer story. In general, the cast is interesting but does fade together throughout the film, but LaBeouf has the ability to rise out of the muddle and create a connection with the viewer. Perhaps it’s because when we were playing with Optimus Prime, we were Sam. The story is dependent upon the viewer transferring our hopes and dreams with Sam. LaBeouf has the ability to be charming, an idiot, hilarious, and a hero all within the confines of acting with a robot. His love interest Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox) hurts and helps this. Megan Fox is hot, no doubt, but her acting borders eye candy and just enough. I think her character would be a great research project for a psychology class because it is obvious that her jailed father and bad taste in men define her character. Which makes it even more meaningful that she chooses Sam, or perhaps it makes it a necessity of the plot to keep her on camera. I am willing to give her the benefit of the doubt and wait until I see her in more films and reruns of Hope and Faith. I also want to mention that John Turturro’s Agent Simmons is a great little role. He’s quickly becoming an actor I look for in a film.

The biggest stars in the film are the Transformers. The voice acting is great and the transformation moments are well done, but you never really go beyond the “this is CGI” effect. Early in the film the transformations are handled slowly, setting up the first few aha moments. As you the film progresses, the transformation become more of a show than a plot device.

Speaking of plot, nah. You know the plot and even though you know exactly where the film is going, it really doesn’t matter. I was bothered by one aspect of the film, how in the hell do Sam and Mikaela not get injured whenever they are riding on Optimus Prime? I know this is a small thing, but it killed my believability. Even in a film this far from reality, it would be nice to think that I wasn’t being considered an idiot. Is there a safety cage on his shoulder or a force field? Are the humans actually just robots in disguise as well? If Deckard can be a replicant, could Sam be a new Autobot prototype? Whatever, the point is that if you introduce a gap, people are bound to see it.

Overall I am glad that I watched Transformers. It was a great way to revisit my youth and fulfill the nagging question, is it possible to do a live-action Transformers. The answer is yes, but only if your Michael Bay. I should also mention that Megan Fox is an Angelina Jolie clone with cool tattoos. I like tattoos and so should you.