Transformers

Completely bombastic. Bay showed himself in the very best (orange) light and Shia LeBeouf proved to me personally that I was wrong again. This fits him like a glove. Constant wisecracks make him every inch a nice guy and in places he is the life and soul of the entire movie. Megan Fox is nice and foxy again (that stands to reason) and now for the main attraction. And that’s the huge, transforming robots (probably from Japan). ILM did some excellent work (precise in every detail) and Bay too. He chose the best cars currently on the (not Czech, but American) roads and made them into cool, wisecracking hunks who you can’t help loving. The brave Optimus Prime, heroic Jazz, the mellow-yellow Bumblebee and the musclebound Ironhide (he got to me the most during the movie). It’s hard to choose who to like more. They’re all so idiosyncratic and you just want to gobble them up. In the same way, their enemies are also fairly comely. They’re faster and have bigger tricks up their sleeve. For instance, Blackout and Starscreem are completely great. While Megatron is evil through and through and it’s scary when he starts flicking people like lint on a sweater. And I’d love to take another look at Slint... But what are words compared to this wonderful spectacle. So stop reading and head for the movie theater, this movie won’t wait for a DVD. And you, Mike, say yes to part two. I’m already looking forward to it. Transformers... More than meets the eye... (17/08/2007)

Michael Bay's own words are that he aims to entertain the audience. In that case, I state that I am not his target group, because I feel more entertained in a dentist's chair. I had the opportunity to watch all three Transformers movies within a few days, and I couldn't finish any of them. This is simply beyond the scope of what I consider digestible cinema. Michael Bay is not so much a representative of a certain genre as he is a diagnosis. Lots of action, bombastic special effects, clumsy dialogues that bring physical suffering, and a script and story on the level of a small child. Unfortunately, I haven't been eight for a long time, and I won't be eighty for a long time, so Bay's offer didn't appeal to me. I considered giving 1 star for the special effects and set design, but I would rather go to a magic show. Overall impression: 10%. My choice for a movie set in the world of children's toys would be any of the Toy Story movies. (25/02/2014)

The Girl Next Door Sex Bomb versus Armageddon in the cloak of perfect audiovisual and explosively action-packed delicacies. Shia LaBeouf is the perfect non-action guy, with whom every one of us, who has ever been a boy or a girl longing for adventure, can identify. Megan Fox was created as an adored idol (who can also fix your car), Bumblebee is the best friend and the perfect car at the same time, Autobots are a group of heroes and Decepticons are the most villainous enemies, whom you would fight against right away. And Transformers is a movie that may open the eyes of many young wide-eyed boys in front of the screen, teaching them what it means to love a movie. Bay has proven that even megalomania can be moderate and that escalated action that just won't stop doesn't have to be overwhelming, but rather amazing. Tons of lines, a sea of references, setting sun, a flood of orange, heroism, honor, love, helicopters, and behind it all, a smiling Bay who fulfilled his dream. The year 2007 will forever be the year when I wanted Bumblebee in my garage and Megan Fox somewhere nearby, but most of all, watching Transformers over and over again. (28/08/2007)

No, no and no. I would love to give it four stars, but I can’t, these big-ass blockbusters are just not my cup of tea. The action scenes are awesome, it’d be hard to find any competition in that regard, but there are other things that I value in movies. Transformers is good stuff to unwind, but it doesn’t offer anything else. The story is predictable and the characters are clichés with an awfully American behaviour. In short, it entertained me but didn’t take my breath away, I don’t need to see it again, nor do I want to. (14/08/2008)

2007 ushered in an era of visually polished blockbusters with a plethora of action and explosions. The first Transformers set a pretty high bar for action films in the first decade. Screenwriting-wise, of course, this is a film that has to be taken with a grain of salt and you have to ignore some downright tacked-on dialogue and scenes. Alongside the overload of action, the film also has a touch of humour and romance, which I appreciate in terms of genre diversity. Among the cast, Anthony Anderson and Jon Voight should be singled out, Megan Fox was downright ornamental, but did not distract in any way, while Shia LaBeouf was a handful at times. If you’re looking for some deep sci-fi, then Transformers wouldn't stand out, but as popcorn summer entertainment, it's an ideal choice. (25/06/2019)