A mysterious event from Earth's past threatens to ignite a war so big that the Transformers alone will not be able to save the planet. Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and the Autobots must fight against the darkness to defend our world from the Decepticons all-consuming evil in the smash hit from director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg.
First off, let it be known that this film was quite widely disliked, with the acting and long running time coming up for intense criticism by the cinematic and arts press generally. But I think we might have a case of sense of humour loss on our hands. Going to a film with the word 'Transformers' in it surely entails a different expectation to that accompanies a visit to the RSC to see William Hurt. Both have their place of course, but the realised pleasures are inevitably different. Transformers: Dark of the Moon showcases what Hollywood really does do rather well, that is action, breathtaking effects, beautiful people and a save-the-world script. So why not have over two hours of it?
The plot itself, though not strictly important in this genre, is actually a little more imaginative than you might have thought and without wanting to spoil things, begins with an alternative explanation to the end of the Apollo moon missions. This theme seems to be arousing quite a bit of interest from film-makers these days, per Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego's recent Apollo 18 effort. Anyway, we then cut to an unemployed Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) who cannot work with the benevolent Autobots and whose life we are told is generally on a downer despite having the stunning Carly Spencer for a girlfriend (played by Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley). Now I know how Andy Murray feels. Needless to say, Sam is soon pressed back into service in order to save the world and mayhem ensues.
What makes Transformers: Dark of the Moon stand out is its jaw-dropping special effects and action scenes. A car chase sequence early in the movie begins on a wide, sand coloured US freeway and you just know you're in for a treat along the lines of the better modern-era chases such as in Terminator 2 and The Matrix Reloaded. Similarly stand-out sequences come later, with the visceral building scene in Chicago providing a reminder ten years on from 9/11 of quite what a nightmare it must be to be trapped in a building which is under attack. Other highlights include a prolonged hold-your-breath moment of silence when our heroes are stuck and praying that a Decepticon robot doesn't notice them hiding. Spielberg's The War of the Worlds immediately comes to mind (think the tentacle part) in what must surely have been a deliberate act of homage by director Michael Bay.
All these comparisons with other movies probably beg the question whether Transformers: Dark of the Moon is particularly original or ground-breaking. The answer is that conceptually it almost certainly isn't, but the execution is flawless and the effects look completely realistic with no hint of evident CGI whatsoever. So seeing buildings falling down and helicopters swatted out of the sky becomes utterly believable - and as such, all the more thrilling. It is true that this is not Shia LaBeouf 's best vehicle and his announcement that this would be his last installment in the franchise ties in with his by-the-numbers delivery here. Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley undoubtedly has the looks and the physique for this sort of caper but her acting and the forced aristocratic English voice both need work. But all this is to miss the point. Transformers: Dark of the Moon provides a great two and a half hour escape from the world's many troubles and, if you calibrate your expectations dial correctly before watching, you will have fun I assure you.
We will publish your review of Transformers: Dark of the Moon on DVD within a few days as long as it meets our guidelines.
None of your personal details will be passed on to any other third party.
Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play. A mysterious event from Earth's past threatens to ignite a war so big that the Transformers alone will not be able to save the planet. Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and the Autobots must fight against the darkness to defend our world from the Decepticons all-consuming evil in the smash hit from director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg.
Directed by Michael Bay and produced by Steven Spielberg, this sci-fi action adventure is the third entry in the film series based on the 1980s cartoons. When the Autobots discover that a Cybertronian spacecraft is hidden on the Moon, a race against the Decepticons ensues as both sides battle to reach it first. The US military take the side of the Autobots, allowing Sam (Shia LaBeouf) to familiarise himself with the battle for control of the spacecraft. Though distracted by the closeness of his girlfriend, Carly Spencer (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley), to her boss, Dylan Gould (Patrick Dempsey), Sam makes a discovery about the fate of the craft that leads him to believe that humanity is under great threat from the Decepticons.
This site uses cookies.
More details in our privacy policy
