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Transformers - 2 Disc Special Edition [2007]


RRP: £24.99
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

How do you like your blockbuster movies? If the answer’s loud, fast and full of big robots fighting, then you’re well and truly in luck. For director Michael Bay’s take on Transformers, based on the toys of the same name, delivers just that. And with some style.

The film stars the fast-rising Shia LaBeouf (Disturbia) as Sam, who discovers that his first car has a little more to it when it transforms into an Autobot robot called Bumblebee. Fortunately, the Autobots are the good guys, and following not far behind are a good number more, headed up by Optimus Prime. Against them are the less friendly Decepticons, with Megatron at the helm, and the two sides are set for a frenetic battle right in the middle of Planet Earth.

There’s a plot sitting underneath all of this, but it’s pretty much given with the Transformers movie that it’s just a vehicle to get the film from one set piece to another. And there’s little denying that the action sequences are spectacular. Boasting quite staggering special effects, the on-screen action moves with a pace and ferocity that sometimes makes it hard just to keep up with it all, as mighty robots engage is some quite staggering fights. It’s quite an achievement.

Paving the way for an already-in-production sequel, Transformers has little pretensions about what it’s going to do, and is all the better for it. This is a film about big robots, big fights, big effects and, ultimately, big, dumb grin-inducing fun. What, really, is there not to like? --Jon Foster

Editorial
Synopsis

Based on the Hasbro toy line that initially captivated kids in the 1980s, director Michael Bay's TRANSFORMERS finds two warring bands of shape-shifting alien robots renewing their intergalactic conflict on Earth. While the Decepticons, followers of the malevolent Megatron (voiced by Hugo Weaving), strive to take over the planet, the Autobots, led by the valiant Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen), are intent on protecting humanity. When young Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) discovers that his new car is really the Autobot Bumblebee (voiced by Mark Ryan), it sets the stage for a massive giant-robot showdown. A shining example of the Hollywood summer blockbuster at its best, TRANSFORMERS combines stunning CGI effects and thrilling action sequences with drama, humor, and a touch of romance. Featuring a large cast that includes Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Jon Voight, John Turturro, Anthony Anderson, and Rachael Taylor, the film is anchored by LaBeouf, who always displays an engaging Everyman charm, whether he’s running from colossal robots, interacting with his well-meaning parents (hilariously played by Kevin Dunn and Julie White), or pining for his gorgeous classmate (Megan Fox). While some TRANSFORMERS purists may be dismayed by certain aspects of this bold big-screen adaptation (Bumblebee is a Camaro instead of a Volkswagen), the movie balances its spectacle with an admirable amount of substance, giving it an appeal far beyond pre-teen boys and their nostalgic Autobot-loving elders.

Didn't keep me interested at all.
Review date: 2008-02-17 Rating: 2 out of 10

I resisted going to see this film at the cinema as it didn't seem like my cup of tea. But after a colleague kept going on about how great it was, I gave in and watched it. I wish I hadn't bothered. I really cannot see what all the fuss is about. Now, if you've read any other DVD reviews of mine, you'll know I do like superhero films, sci-fi films etc. But Transformers really left me cold. It didn't keep my interest at all, but I had to watch it through to the end just to see if it got better. I'm afraid it didn't.

There's no doubt that the special effects are impressive - but I just thought this comic book origination didn't translate well to screen. I can't really put my finger on what turned me off, but there was so much about it that had me rolling my eyes (example, the robot that kept using words like 'cool' and 'dude' just made me cringe!) that I honestly can't see what the fuss was about. I was very disappointed; though looking on the bright side at least I didn't pay to go and see it at the cinema!

If you have similar tastes to mine, I really wouldn't bother with this. The only upside to the whole thing was the attractive soldier in it.

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Reviews


More than meets the eye. The best blockbuster this year.
Review date: 2008-01-20 Rating: 10 out of 10


2007 has been the year of blockbuster sequels, with Shrek, Harry Potter, Bourne, Pirates and Spider-Man all fighting for number one place.
Many of these titles were quite disappointing when compared with their predecessors too.
The year needed some one-off's to set the balance. Along came the eagerly awaited live-action Transformers movie. I have been a fan of the series for a long time and despite the worries that director Michael Bay may not make this a completely satisfying film, Speilberg was on hand as producer and everything I kept seeing up to the release, from design images to the trailers made, just made me even more excited. There was no doubt that no matter what, this would something big and new.

The movie just blew me away. It was amazing to watch, purely entertaining.
The storyline is about the two factions of a race of alien robots, the Transformers, fighting for control of the Allspark, the ultimate power in the universe and source of their creation. The two factions are made up of the heroic Autobots, led by Optimus Prime and the cruel and vicious Decepticons, led by Megatron. The premise of the movie is that the Allspark has come to Earth and with it, the two warring factions.

The movie starts off with a very impressive sequence in which a Decepticon named Blackout, disguised as a transport helicopter, infiltrates and completely annihilates a military base. The film allows some space for the more human story to develop about a young boy named Sam (played by Shia Laboeuf) is vying to buy his first car and get a girlfriend. The car secretly comes in the form of the Autobot, Bumblebee, who becomes Sam's bodyguard (Sam's grandfather had a clue to the location of the Allspark) and helps him to impress fellow classmate Mikeala (Megan Fox). Now the teenage love story does feel slightly cliché' but it does help add slight depth to the film. There is also quite a realistic subplot involving the military trying to discover exactly what or who attacked their base.
Adding to a slight Speilberg-factor, there is also a secret government group, Sector 7, devoted to monitoring/capturing extra-terrestrial life on Earth, of course in this case, that comes in the form of the Transformers themselves.

It's when Sam and Mikeala are attacked and Bumblebee reveals himself, do things really get going. The remaining Autobots land on Earth (in what I can easily say is one of the best moments of the movie), Bumblebee is captured and the climax builds up to a thrilling final battle in the middle of a populated city.






Truly though, many of the `Human' scenes are fairly tedious and feel like they were put in just to pass time, whilst the Transformers could easily have benefited from more screen time. However, this is made up for by when they actually ARE on screen.
The casting is fairly well done. Shia's reactions on the film are so extreme that, coupled with the amazing effects, you really could believe the events were happening. Megan Fox, tries to act with a little more devotion and depth than she has done previously, but she's mostly there for eye-candy. The film has many notable actors, particularly Jon Voight as the US Secretary of Defence, John Turturro as Sector 7 Agent Simmons and Kevin Dunn and Julie White play Sam's parents brilliantly.
The military actors are handled well enough and there is comedy from the likes of Anthony Anderson and Bernie Mac.
However the real stars, the Transformers come through as very impressive. Given the amount of story they have tried to cram in, the Autobots gets most of the development here, with Peter Cullen returning to his role of Optimus Prime, here making him sound wiser and a little more aware than before, but still the Optimus fans of the original series love. Bumblebee in particular is given alot of expression and personality considering he remains mute for most of the film. Some good comedic moments even come from the Autobots when trying to hide around Sam's house.
Megatron himself is voiced by Hugo Weaving, with a much fiercer, deeper, evil-sounding voice than ever before.

As for effects, they are amazing, the designs of the Transformers are simply the best they have ever had, unlike the blocky shaped robots of the original series, the Transformers actually give the impression of being more complex technological living things and that they can actually transform into what they do. The movements made by them are completely convincing, during the battle scenes they are made to look even more realistic coupled with the 'shaky-cam' technique, having the audience feel they really are watching giant robots battle each other. As for their appearances, Optimus Prime remains very faithful to his original design, with every other Transformer having a completely unique look of their own; the work done on their faces is incredible, allowing for alot of expression. As for the Decepticons, for the first time ever in a Transformers series, they feel frightening, with some truly evil looking appearances, most notably Megatron who looks more like the ultimate incarnation of evil than he ever has done and also he has a very unique alternate mode; that of a Cybertronian alien jet, rather than his ridiculous gun mode of the original series.

The musical score is also extremely well done. Steve Jablonsky gives us a very tense sounding, action orientated theme, with some slight fantasy mixed in (I have bought the official score and it's brilliant), with some themes feeling reminiscent of movies seen before but with something new added.

Micheal Bay has more than surpassed expectations here, providing something easily better than the recent Spider-Man and Pirates movies combined. His sense of direction worked well for a series that was originally made to promote a toyline (meaning complaints about product placement are irrelevant). Though some so-called fans of the original series have plucked and complained over the tiniest little details of the movie, this is nothing new, as complaints about other Transformers series before this (such as Beast Wars, Armada) prove that they are not willing to move out of the 80's. As a fan, I can say, this movie has only strengthened the Transformers mythos, by making it appealable to both fans and newcomers to the franchise.

All-in-all, this was one of the most enjoyable films/blockbusters I have ever seen and would highly recommend viewing to anyone who has heard of it.

I eagerly await the sequel (which the ending leaves a very good opening for).


Pro's and Cons

Pro's

. Some of the best special effects on the screen
. The designs for the robots are some of the most detailed and intricate ever seen
. The transformations look very convincing
. A fairly good cast
. A good soundtrack
. Good action/battle scenes
. Offers something different to the recent blockbuster movies
. Will please most fans of the series

Con's

. Some of the editing feels uneven
. Storyline could use more development
. More time could be spent on the robots themselves

Overall score: 4 stars out of 5

Talking robots blow stuff up in big explosions,
Review date: 2008-01-07 Rating: 8 out of 10



To enjoy this film you need to remove all common sense from your brain, open your eyes and wait for the explosions.

Any film based on talking robots that have existed in cartoon and toy form is going to be aimed squarely at kids. Yet still Bay still manages to hit the geek audience that wants to see a truck beating down a fighter jet.

This is big budget, it looks expensive, the transformer fx are something else and appear from start to finish. There are issues as with most Bay films. There are too many story threads and little logic in what happens... but who cares.

If you liked Armageddon or Independance Day this is for you.

WOW !!!
Review date: 2007-12-27 Rating: 10 out of 10

I was a fan of the cartoons as a child. Now - in my 30's - I had to watch the new movie.
I'd heard good things about the movie; I didn't expect to be on the edge of the sofa, mouth open, whilst watching it. It really is incredible! & all the robots have their own quirky characteristics which will make you smile, with some great casting. AMAZING!

You need this in your DVD collection!!

Simply Fun
Review date: 2007-12-19 Rating: 10 out of 10

This film is the sort of film I like to see, a film that makes you feel glad you watched it, that leaves you feeling happy!

With Mr Bay at the helm you know the action is going to be fast and ferocious, but what i did not expect was the brilliance of the dialogue. Don't get me wrong, it won't win Oscars for the writing, but almost every line is played for a laugh. Cheesy lines abound and are unashamedly included. Brilliant.

Product Details/Specifications


Director(s):

Recording label: Paramount Home Entertainment (UK)
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Entertainment (UK)
EAN: 5051188153335
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2007-12-03
Audience rating: To Be Announced
Region code: 2
Running time: 143 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2007

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