Transformers was flawed, but fun.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was convoluted and stupid.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon is the movie that the trilogy should have started with, mixing character with action, and finally realizing the dream of spectacular giant robot action on the big screen.
The final act of Michael Bay’s trilogy of films corrects many of the problems from the first two movies, including a coherent story, fewer human characters disrupting the movie, and much much more Transformers action. Whether by choice, or by necessity of the new 3D cameras, the camera work is much improved, offer much cleaner and clearer views of the robots battling. Ultimately that’s what you want to see in this movie, and finally, FINALLY, fans are given the action they’ve wanted since the idea of a live-action Transformers movie was first discussed.
The plot, much more simple and understandable than last time, employs an adaptation of the Space Bridge story from the cartoon, and manages to not royally screw things up. The story starts with the reveal that mankind discovered a crashed Cybertronian ship on the moon back in the 60′s, which contained the final, failed mission of the great Sentinel Prime. This knowledge has been kept from the Autobots, and initiates a series of events that end with Megatron’s forces laying waste to Chicago and quite literally threatening the Earth and everyone living on it. That sets the stage for a climactic hour-long action sequence that will make the 8 year old boy in all of us cheer in delight as every Transformer and human fighter gets a chance to shine, and Optimus Prime finally gets to be the warrior and leader that he’s meant to be.
Predictably, the the weakest part of the movie are the humans. Shia LaBeouf is once again in full rapid-fire frenzy as Sam Witwicky, but it’s when he steps out of that character and toughens up towards the end that you can actually start rooting for him, rather than hoping that Megatron will give him the Jazz treatment. Worst though are the humans-that-only-exist-to-
The best of the human performers in Dark of the Moon is probably Josh Duhamel, who returns as Sergeant Lennox, the top soldier working with the Autobots. I say probably, because Duhamel’s best asset in the movie is that he doesn’t bring anything over-the-top, annoying, or outright stupid to his character. He’s a soldier, and he soldiers. On second thought, could he be a robot?
There are some interesting choices in the movie though, the most significant of which is the sidelining of Megatron, to the point where you have to wonder why they brought him back at all. Megatron could have easily been left aside in favour of a plot that focuses on new villain Shockwave, who looks impressive but doesn’t get to do a whole lot in the movie. There are also a few head scratchers in the plot, multiple human conspiracies that don’t always make sense, a decision by the UN that is so stupid if defies disbelief, and the fact that Shia LaBeouf’s Sam Witwicky can be a complete failure on a social level, yet still attract unspeakably attractive women.
The GamerPops Recommendation
Transformers: Dark of the Moon finally delivers on the promise and potential of a Transformers movie. The action scenes are intense, visceral, the story is capable, and Michael Bay sidelines the annoying characters before they can overwhelm what eventually becomes an immensely satisfying movie. Check your brain at the door though, as this is pure high-octane summer movie fun. And because this is a Bay film, you can rest assured that a great many things blow up real good.
And finally, to answer the unasked question, Transformers: The Movie, the 1986 animated classic that forever scarred a generation of young boys is still the best Transformers movie.
