Worst Michael Bay movie ever

freedomFrog

score /10

Based on the popular toys from the 80s, "transformers" tells the story of giant robots from outer space bringing their intergalactic war to Earth. As strange as such a premise might sound, I can imagine a fun action-packed summer movie based it. This is not this movie.

The common wisdom about Michael Bay is that, if his movies are not really masterpieces of storytelling and character development, at least, he can deliver some kick-ass action sequences. "Transformers" should put an end to this: inept storytelling and cardboard characters, yes; great action sequences, no! Even though his subject matter is gigantic by nature, Bay insists on keeping his camera close to the ground and to the robots, cutting so fast that the end result is one big ugly visual mess: it's impossible to figure out what's happening as the screen is filled with close-up of scrap metals moving fast.

The rest of the direction is just as incompetent: constant mindless camera move and fast editing in a typical ADD style to make us forget that, most of the time, nothing really interesting happens on the screen. And what about the awkward transitions from broad daylight to night time which occurs not once, but three times in the whole movie!

The script is simply awful, filled with plot holes, stereotypical characters, terrible dialog and ridiculous attempt at humor: the 15-mn scene where the "cute" autobots try to hide from the main character's parents in their backyard is simply an embarrassment for anybody past 5-year old. Add to the bad acting, especially by veteran actors who should know better (yes, John Turturro and Jon Voigt, I'm talking about you!). The only one to stand up from this train-wreck is Shia Leboeuf: although his character is the stereotypical awkward teenager found in countless other movies, he manages to make him more sympathetic and a little bit less one-dimensional that it should be.

Otherwise, besides ILM's amazing FX (but who's still impressed by CGI these days), there is not much to recommend about "transformers", without any doubt the worst movie I saw at a theater in the last months.

freedomFrog 9 July 2007

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1689859/