While I was growing up, many sci-fi shows and movies I grew up included STAR WARS, STAR TREK, DOCTOR WHO, and TRANSFORMERS. I watched the cartoon, the animated movie, and owned several of the toys (which I unfortunately lost to a move to another house during my High School years). TRANSFORMERS is now the latest summer blockbuster popcorn movie. The filmmakers get the point. The movie is about robots smashing things up and fighting other robots. The human part of the story is only developed enough to serve the story. The script may be weak, but the action rocks on the screen. It is one of those films which will gross more than enough to guartenee a sequel. The humor may be dumb at many times, but it helps balance the experience known as the TRANSFORMERS film.

The plot deals with the Autobots and Decepticons converging on Earth to find the all powerful All-Spark which can create life on worlds. Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, intends to stop the Decepticons from getting it. The location of the All-Spark may just lay in the hands of Sam Witwicky, a teenager in love with a hot girl named Mikaela. His grandfather lead an expedition to the south Pole. Could it be connected? That's all you need to know about the plot for now. Enjoy it. The film is about the robots smashing things and kicking butt.

I am disappointed that Cybertron wasn't mentioned by name. I agree the sequel will have to have a much better script since the destroying and kicking butt department will only take a TRANSFORMERS film only so far. The "More than Meets The Eye" phrase from the cartoon's theme song is slipped into the dialogue twice during the course of the film. A few changes had to be made to the Transformers since two car companies didn't want to be associated with war toys (Volkswagon and Porsce) and to make the robots look more realistic (and alien) for a live action film. The human characters are almost one dimensional cliches. The actors make it work despite the script they ahd to work with.

Again all the shortcomings of TRANSFORMERS is beside the point. It will make big bucks due to the main goal it achieved- Giant robots who smash things and fight each other. I just hope the sequel will be a much bigger thrill than the first one.

this movie review is (c)7-5-2007 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com