Transformers (2007)

Director:

Michael Bay

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

3 July 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | 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:

Deception | Fictional War | Product Placement | False Accusation | Idealism

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 28 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Sept. 8

9:00 PM

HBO

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:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

According to Lorenzo di Bonaventura, during the designing of the Transformers, as a test Optimus Prime was first designed in CGI in his classic boxy look from "Transformers" (1984), but he looked fake and boring. So the robots were designed in a more intricate, three-dimensional image to be more realistic and to reflect their alien origins. The major influences in these designs were real-world physics (each robot matches the size of its chosen disguise), the Rubik's Cube (numerous pieces moving to convert one thing to another) and samurai armour (going back to the toyline's Japanese origins).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Agent Simmons is asking Sam Witwicky for his help, the Bollé logo on his eye-wear is horizontally flipped in one shot, showing that the shot was taken and then horizontally flipped for the movie.

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 "Allemaal film: Verander de wereld (#1.4)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Before It's Too Late (Sam and Mikaela's Theme)

Shock and Awe, and some gripes

This movie is ACTION. I say this first because if you think this movie will be anything more than this, you will be disappointed on some level (as I was). Frame for frame this movie screams Michael Bay.

Now that's out of the way, there's a lot of stuff here that works and a lot that doesn't. It's a good thing that the robots do work. Seeing autobots and decepticons in glorious photo-realistic CGI is enough to wring out any childhood fantasy from anybody (not just boys from the 80s). Watching these robots move is to realize a revelation to what is possible with modern movie effects. Whether it's transforming on the move, bashing the living daylights out of each other, or just standing and talking, these guys alone make the movie work. And unlike the other blockbusters that have came out this year, these effects have a sense of weight that adds so much to the visual satisfaction.

As for everything else, well... that's when things start to go downhill. In typical epic fashion, this movie contains a sprawling cast. Along with this however, are a large number of writing and acting issues. With such a large number of underdeveloped characters, names are pretty much luxury. Also, most of the human related humor gags miss badly, which makes it hurt more considering a lot of the characters were unnecessary. Jon Voight's Secretary of Defense character completely baffles me, which makes me think that audiences responded positively to the President in Independence Day doing aerial dogfights. Any positives from the supporting cast (including the strange yet entertaining overacting of John Turturro) are outweighed by the large set of negatives.

However, the cast has got it where it counts. Shia Lebeouf plays an important part in selling the reality of the robots as the lead character Sam, and also carries an easy likability factor. Megan Fox's acting does a reasonable job bringing some interest to her character to beyond her looks. The voice cast also does an overall superb job. Peter Cullen IS Prime, and although his dialogue does border on the ridiculous, he always has a sense of gravity to his lines. Hugo Weaving also does an equally commendable job as Megatron (His booming entrance will forever be embedded into the minds of little kids everywhere). The rest of the transformers don't say much, which is a shame because I wanted to see so much more interplay between them (The taunts that Optimus and Megatron yell as their fighting is great stuff).

Another major gripe I have is Bay's ADD editing. Although it does keep the movie constantly moving, it creates some issues with continuity and distracts from some of the action (probably the biggest crime committed in the movie).

I could go on and on about the good things (Bumblebee, Frenzy) and the bad things (Anthony Anderson and his family, forgotten Barricade) and the downright weird things (Dubya's cameo, Sam's friend climbing in a tree). Overall, the film delivers where it really matters. Although I was disappointed, the amount of potential for the sequel (which just got greenlighted) just gets me giddy (is it too much to ask for a tighter script and better acting?)

(Also, the Autobot Assemble scene is one of the coolest things I've seen in theaters in years.)