Transformers (2007)

Director:

Michael Bay

Writers (WGA):

Roberto Orci (screenplay) &
Alex Kurtzman (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

3 July 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Their war. Our world.

Plot:

An ancient struggle re-erupts on Earth between two extraterrestrial clans, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, with a clue to the ultimate power held by a young teenager.

Plot Keywords:

Planet | Captain | Robot | Alien | Glasses

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 28 nominations

Cast

Shia LaBeouf	...	Sam Witwicky
Megan Fox	...	Mikaela Banes
Josh Duhamel	...	Captain Lennox
Tyrese Gibson	...	USAF Tech Sergeant Epps
Rachael Taylor	...	Maggie Madsen
Anthony Anderson	...	Glen Whitmann
Jon Voight	...	Defense Secretary John Keller
John Turturro	...	Agent Simmons
Michael O'Neill	...	Tom Banacheck
Kevin Dunn	...	Ron Witwicky
Julie White	...	Judy Witwicky
Amaury Nolasco	...	ACWO Jorge "Fig" Figueroa
Zack Ward	...	First Sergeant Donnelly
Luis Echagarruga	...	Ranger Team
Pat Mulderrig	...	Ranger Team (as Patrick Mulderrig)

Also Known As:

Prime Directive (USA) (fake working title)
The Transformers (USA) (working title)
Transformers: The IMAX Experience (USA) (IMAX version)
Transformers: The Movie 2 (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, brief sexual humor, and language.

Runtime:

144 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

South Korea:12 | Netherlands:12 | Finland:K-11 | Australia:M | UK:12A | Singapore:PG | Denmark:11 | Sweden:11 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Canada:G (Quebec) | South Africa:10M | Ireland:12A | Portugal:M/12 | Hong Kong:IIA | USA:PG-13 (certificate #43585) | Germany:12 | Malaysia:U | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | France:U | Philippines:G (MTRCB) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Chile:TE | Canada:PG (British Columbia) (re-rating on appeal) | Canada:14A (British Columbia) (original rating) | Taiwan:PG-12 | Brazil:10 | India:UA | Iceland:10 (theatrical rating) | Iceland:12 (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

The Scorponok Desert Attack was shot on the site of a minefield. The area was scanned by an unexploded ordnances firm to ensure it was safe, before a Bedouin village could be constructed (which would ironically be blown up).

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When the Cube is revealed a the secret base, we're told carbon dating has determined it to be on Earth since 10,000 BCE. Carbon dating is in fact accurate to within about 9 half lives of the carbon 14. 9 half lives of carbon 14 ( at 5280 years per half-life) gives an accuracy limit of about 50,000 years. 10,000 years BCE is well within the time frame able to be determined by radiometric dating using carbon ratios, and would in fact be the most accurate dating method for something in this time frame.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Optimus Prime: Before time began, there was the Cube. We know not where it comes from, only that it holds the power to create worlds and fill them with life. That is how our race was born. For a time, we lived in harmony. But like all great power, some wanted it for good...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Shia LaBeouf/Avril Lavigne (#32.17)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Technical Difficulties

Transform your life

From Director Michael Bay comes the most visually spectacular film of the year. Transformers which takes the summer action movie to a whole new level. While the film is pictorial masterpiece, let it be known this is Michael Bay we're talking about here. There is cheesy dialogue with a quasi-stupid storyline but the entertainment aspect is there from start to finish.

Transformers tells the story of Sam Witwicky (Shia LeBeouf), a teenage boy trying to cope and be accepted by his peers. His solution for acceptance comes when his father purchases Sam a car. Little does he know it's "Bumble Bee" an Autobot from a distant universe sent to Earth to protect Sam and mankind. From beginning to end, there is non-stop action and we cannot wait for the next explosion.

Shia LeBeouf is becoming our new "it" boy especially with an earlier breakout this year, Disturbia. Besides being a heartthrob to girls, he is a brilliant up and coming actor. I would even go as far as call him the next Leonardo DiCaprio with his current pretty boy status and talent. He brings a great sense of energy and fun to his role.

Megan Fox who plays Mikaela, Sam's love interest and brings the lovely sex-appeal and "it" girl status to all the young and older boys who love to see a pretty girl get dirty. I'm afraid that Fox's acting talent is a bit limited and with comparisons to Angelina Jolie, that doesn't spell so much success for her either. I'll take her MAXIM cover shoot any day though.

The rest of the cast gives us your fill in the places performances . We have John Turturro, Jon Voight, Anthony Anderson and Tyrese Gibson for all your comic relief, a little bit of drama and all in between. A well put together cast to say the least.

"Oscar" will be pounding on the door for the Visual Effects and Sound teams. They are achievements in the history of cinema and completely revolutionized and set the bar extremely high for next year's of summer blockbusters. I'm very excited to see those teams up for Oscars in February and hopefully walk away with it.

An IMAX theater, a big screen, the side of a building; one of these is needed to get the full experience that is Transformers. Do yourself a favor and see helicopters, tanks and cities explode with excitement.

Grade: ***½/****