Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Director: Michael Bay
Starring: Hugo Weaving, John Malkovich, Josh Duhamel, Patrick Dempsey, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Shia LaBeouf
Details: US/154mins 12A
We find Shia LaBeouf's Sam now inexplicably unemployed, despite saving the world twice in a couple of years. But not to worry; he has a chick on his arm who looks like she fell out of a Victoria's Secret catalogue (Huntington-Whiteley... Who actually did fall out of a Victoria's Secret catalogue), and his Transformer friends haven't forgotten him. Good thing too, because it's about to kick off again on an epic scale as the Decepticons are planning something so downright dastardly it makes the throw-downs in the last two flicks look a couple of chihuahuas humping in a wet cardboard box.
Needless the say, the fact that Megan Fox has departed the franchise matters little to the plot. She's been replaced with an even more attractive young lady who doesn't exactly get a chance to prove if she has acting chops or not. But, like the majority of the characters on show, she's there purely as a device - only she gets more 'Blue Steel- infused, heroic slow motion close-ups. LaBeouf has the intense 'everyman' thing down pat now, and goes a bit nuts. He's relishing the chance to actually do some acting here and shows a surprising knack for physical comedy.
There are also a concoction of recognisable heavyweights (Turturro, McDormand, Malkovich), who only serve to bloat the running time in showy, pointless roles. The lesser known Alan Tudyk is someone we could happily have done with more of, though; he manages to siphon laughs where others fail horribly (note to Ken Jeong: lay off the Red Bull).
Regardless of the players involved, there is no doubting that this is Bay's show and his frantic, swooping style is as prominent as ever. He's still the best second unit director in the business; his action is visceral, his visual style still inherently slick, but the handling of almost any other type of scene lacks anything resembling cohesion. LaBeouf manages to squeeze some resemblance of character out of Sam, but he knows how Bay works, after three films under his steerage.
It's indulgent, overstuffed and nonsensical in parts, but the action is spectacular enough to keep fans of this series from leaving the cinema disappointed.
Review by Mike Sheridan
Your Comments
taz
my son is 8 now he loved the first 2 and when he seen the the trailer for this one he said we have to and see that it looks brillint we cant wait for it
Posted 12/05/2011 12:39:43
FilmBuff76
I was pretty disappointed with this third one. The mistakes made in the second one haven't been corrected - too many characters, too many robots, too much going on and it's far too long. There's not enough of the Bumblebee-Sam relationship either, which made the first film so enjoyable. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley should stick to her day job as an underwear model as well. I mean seriously... how many babes can this nerd get? Mediocre.
Posted 29/06/2011 21:21:20
fraggle
s**te.
Posted 29/06/2011 23:11:54
nuala
saw the film last night in 3D and loved it, far better than the second one.
Posted 30/06/2011 14:54:40
noel
Worse than the first better than the second but still very very silly and far far too long, no real script to speak of, the dialogue is laughable, the acting pretty bad, the fx while brilliant in places, you would think with all the money spent Mr Bay and his editors could manage to notice all the air canisters used to flip cars could be removed and not just left to roll across the screen tut tut!!Pay attention, at best 2 stars purely for the 3D which is bloody good and the final 30mins which is bloody good. Now more Transformers Movies please.
Posted 01/07/2011 19:30:03
rr
brillant movie, robots fighting is cool and better than the second film, great watch and must see, i will give it 3/5.
Posted 01/07/2011 20:21:56
jcdf
The first half hour was enjoyable with LaBeouf looking for a job. Once the CGI battle at the end began, I fell asleep. Less is more and more is less with action sequences. There was too much here.
Posted 01/07/2011 22:47:19
Gareth
Not going to blow you away and very drawn out but if you take it for what it is, then this is a good action movie that will entertain young and older movie goers 3/5.
Posted 02/07/2011 00:03:20
Dunham81
Yall need to stop. Transformers was actually a really good movie. There is nothing to complain about. I grew up watching the cartoon and they did a good job of introducing a lot of the characters. What else do you want? I enjoyed the fact that the movie was long. I got more for my money
Posted 02/07/2011 04:01:16
Tyler Durden
Can somebody in Hollywood PLEASE stop Michael Bay from making any more movies at least until he (i) has a script in place, (ii) with a semblence of a plot, and (iii) actually contains something close to human dialogue. Bay can direct action (see "The Rock") but that had a decent script and story.
Posted 02/07/2011 22:38:48
Tyler Durden
Also, the most memorable line from TF3 was lifted directly from the end of "Star TrekII - Wrath of Kahn" as said by Spock ("The needs of the many..."). Very lazy.
Posted 02/07/2011 22:43:05
ellegibbons
This movie is clearly made for the boys :) therefore great visual effects, battle scenes, dramatic music, and oh Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Dare I say more??? Does exactly what it says on the tin, you either like this type of movie or you dont - I liked it!
Posted 04/07/2011 08:40:09
david
The movie is great I like the action the 3D is great. But they needed Megan fox that new girl sux bad. She is not even that great at acting or looking good. She was just a stick doing nothing. If Megan fox was still there I think the movie would had taken a different direction and been even bett
Posted 09/07/2011 12:14:30
yN0t
entertaining. loved the close ups on the new transformer ;) - Rosie Alice Huntington-Whiteley was born 18 April 1987 in Plymouth, Devon, England
Posted 10/07/2011 11:42:49
Melanyfontana
Absolutely BRILLIANT!!! I'm fast hurtling towards the big 3-0 but I am a huge Transformers fan. I loved it(and never thought Id see myself crying at a film where cars turn into robots!!!) Optimus Prime and Shia are welcome around mine anytime...Im sure theres an opening for an aging love interest if there is ever another one made........
Posted 12/07/2011 13:04:34
tootall
Not only the best Transformer film but the best action film next to avatar i've seen in a few years, top notch action packed film loved every second of it, 100% worth the watch.
Posted 18/07/2011 21:44:53
Eoghan
This was a great movie really enjoyable for the whole family. Lots of affect which made the movie one of my favorites but the only problem that i had with this movie was the Megan Fox was not in it which completely changed it, have the nice actress to replace her made a big change in it, all in all a top movie to see.
Posted 21/07/2011 17:06:28
CherrySueDointhedo
Among rumours of recycled footage Transformers 3 opened this weekend & quickly snaffled up $94 million in box office takings. Despite detractors from the previous 2 films it would seem the Transformers franchise is doing its best impression of Decepticon leader Megatron, you just can't keep it down. Being avid fans of the series and of course Michael Bay (Bad Boys anyone?) the lads & I tootled off to see this latest instalment on Saturday. I should point out that Adam's shoulders usually drop approximately 2 feet when he realises films are in 3D, he hates the bland colours & cumbersome glasses, we had it on good authority though that for full enjoyment 3D was the only D to see. Shia la Beouf returns as the beleaguered Whitwickey, inexplicably jobless despite having saved the world twice with the stunning Rosie Huntington-Whitely on his arm. This being Rosie's debut role, she was brought in to replace Megan Fox who had allegedly commit career suicide. But there is zero, zilch explanation as to why she would be with LaBeouf's character. This girl is traffic stoppingly gorgeous, the word stunning invented for her and her ilk but unfortunately it would seem her talent, acting wise, ends there. She does have an ungodly ability in the midst of an intergalactic smack down to keep a jacket white though, which is handy. Having asked Aaron what he thought (He being 15 & she being a Victoria's Secret Goddess) he replied, she's a bit Blue Steel is she not? I love that kid more & more each day. He hit the nail on the head.
Posted 09/08/2011 22:19:01
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