Movie: Transformers

I finally went to see Transformers this past weekend, later than I wanted because of the whole vacation thing. I bought into the hype originally but went in with lowered expectations mainly due to Jeff's review. Now I don't know if it's because I'd lowered my expectations or what but I was pleasantly surprised. I mean it was far from perfect but it's the best movie I've seen in the theatre since The Departed (for different reasons obviously... and yes Jeff, better than 300). Given the option, I'd likely see it again in the theatre and I'll definitely be getting the DVD.

[~~SPOILERS BELOW~~]

The Good

• Sound. Perhaps they reverted me to a 10 y/o boy but hearing the transforming noise and Optimus Prime's voice from my childhood was just plain kickass.
• Special Effects. These would have been first had I not been a Transformers dork when I was a kid. Some of the transformations and action was a little too close for my taste but I think it was done to give a sense of scale. The Starscrem versus fighter jets scene was ridicuous!
• Creative License. Some have complained that it's too far a deviation from the cartoon storyline but I think they did what they needed to make it a movie. I think the fact they could see something and take on it's shape a la Terminator 2 made it more plausible. I know, none of it's plausible. I was originally salty Prime didn't have the mask over his mouth but making it a defensive guard was neat.
• Story. Jeff lamented at the five on five nature of the movie but I didn't mind. It's obviously going to be the first of many and Prime's message at the end really set it up for larger battles. Wasn't the original X-Men like five on five too?
• Weapons. The sonic/electro type weapon Blackout had in the beginning? Awesome. The arm cannons most of them sported? Awesome. Prime actually whipping out his sword? Awesome. The AC-130 Spectre gunship firing 105mm sheels? Awesome.
• Actors. Shia LaBeouf wasn't nearly as annoying as I thought he was going to be and actually didn't even get in the way at all. I couldn't decide if Rachael Taylor or Megan Fox was hotter at first. I did some research, realized that Taylor's accent helped her more than it should and quickly awarded the prize to Fox.

The Bad

• GM. It was a GM commercial, plain and simple, and everyone knows how I feel about GM.
• Sector 7. A secret arm of the government that is hiding alien technology? It's been done.
• Dialogue. I would have liked a bit more dialogue between Megatron and Starscream. I think Starscream had all of one sentence and his voice is classic. Actually, I would have liked more dialogue between all the transformers.
• Megatron. So I said I was okay with the creative license but this one bothered me. I understand that making his a gun wasn't practical but making him an uber-plane seemed duplicative and his robot form was unimpressive.
• Soundwave. How can you have a Transformers movie without Soundwave... or Laserbeak... or Ravage? Soundwave better be in the next one or else!

So there you have it. The good is quite good and the bad is really only nitpicky stuff. I liked it, I can't wait to own it, I'm stoked for the next one and recommend you see it if you haven't.