Directed by Michael Bay
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Tyrese Gibson
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
What’s It About?
IMDB says: “The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the Moon, and race against the Decepticons to reach it and to learn its secrets.”
What Nick Thought:
Nick: I decided to see this movie in IMAX 3D and I must say, whether or not you will enjoy this movie, it MUST be experienced in IMAX 3D. Yeah it’s going to cost a bit more, but it’s worth. The CGI effects and stunts explode off the screen in IMAX’s higher resolution and the soundtrack thunders and cracks throughout the film relentlessly. Coupled with the depth-defying 3D makes for an incredibly enjoyable movie going experience.
Now that I’ve got that out of my system, onto the subject at hand: Transformers: Dark of the Mood (TDotM). If you’re expecting an improved story, don’t come looking. If anything, the story disappoints with its predictability and uninspired dialogue. They even manage to dumb down Optimus Prime and make it out to be just as angsty and whiny as Shia LeBeouf’s character. Megan Fox’s replacement, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (this week’s babe) is nothing more than eye candy and a link to the film’s antagonist. There are surprise performances from Patrick Dempsey (yeah you read that right) and Alan Tudyk. Tudyk’s impeccable timing makes me wish they had introduced his character in the second film to make it a bit more tolerable. But even Dempsey and Tudyk can’t save the story. The story, without spoiling too much, is about the Decepticons (again) and they’re ready to take over for good.
Now, none of this is Michael Bay’s fault. He doesn’t write these films. He just directs them. So yeah, we can blame the lackluster performances on him, but what we can’t blame is the impressive visual destruction on such a large scale. Chicago gets completely obliterated, and it couldn’t look more beautiful. I was really impressed with the attention to visual detail and the paratrooper scenes blew me away. It all thrives and pays off, especially in IMAX 3D. Yeah, we still have the slow motion pan shots of the characters as well as helicopters flying slow motion over a sunset, but if you can look past those, you’ll find a movie that’s leaps and bounds better than the second and it reminds us of the potential that the first film had. Don’t cheat yourself by not seeing this I theaters.
Now that I’ve got that out of my system, onto the subject at hand: Transformers: Dark of the Mood (TDotM). If you’re expecting an improved story, don’t come looking. If anything, the story disappoints with its predictability and uninspired dialogue. They even manage to dumb down Optimus Prime and make it out to be just as angsty and whiny as Shia LeBeouf’s character. Megan Fox’s replacement, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (this week’s babe) is nothing more than eye candy and a link to the film’s antagonist. There are surprise performances from Patrick Dempsey (yeah you read that right) and Alan Tudyk. Tudyk’s impeccable timing makes me wish they had introduced his character in the second film to make it a bit more tolerable. But even Dempsey and Tudyk can’t save the story. The story, without spoiling too much, is about the Decepticons (again) and they’re ready to take over for good.
Now, none of this is Michael Bay’s fault. He doesn’t write these films. He just directs them. So yeah, we can blame the lackluster performances on him, but what we can’t blame is the impressive visual destruction on such a large scale. Chicago gets completely obliterated, and it couldn’t look more beautiful. I was really impressed with the attention to visual detail and the paratrooper scenes blew me away. It all thrives and pays off, especially in IMAX 3D. Yeah, we still have the slow motion pan shots of the characters as well as helicopters flying slow motion over a sunset, but if you can look past those, you’ll find a movie that’s leaps and bounds better than the second and it reminds us of the potential that the first film had. Don’t cheat yourself by not seeing this I theaters.
FTS SCORE:
Total Score:
74%
61-89% = Really enjoyable movie. It may not be perfect in all aspects but it was worth the watch.