PLOT:   The Deceptions are after the fragments of the All-Spark to track down a machine that will produce energy to keep them alive.  Sam Witwicky tries to live a normal life by going to college only to be drawn into the war between the Autobots and Decepticons.   The leader of the Decepticons known as the Fallen wants to bring ruin to the world and bring Megatron back.

ANALYSIS:   I loved the first TRANSFORMERS, but the sequel- TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN- is a loud and sometime crack job type of film.  It’s the type of film that on one hand has more robots and the fights between them while having a plot that is even more threadbare than the first film and throwing character development out the window for screwball laughs (and obnoxious new Transformers).

First, we have the antics of Sam going to college and somehow ending up with a jerk who runs a conspiracy web site about the Transformers followed by college antics (and Bumblebee squirting coolant on a hot slutty chick).   Then we have the obnoxious Transformers like the Autobot twins who fight with each other (and talk jive) while a small Deception becomes attached to Mikaela (Megan Fox) like a dog.   Then a series of battles happen leading up to a loud climax.  

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN introduces characters and yet underuse them to focus on comedy and flashy shots of Megan Fox (like Michael Bay is trying to tell us that he worships her like a goddess).   Jetfire is introduced only to serve the plot and move it forward.    I miss the jetifre from the cartoons (it was the last Transformers figure I parted with years ago.  I know there will probably be a third film and I do hope they focus more on plot (and tone down the comedy).  The sequel just took what made the first film great to teh extreme and screwed it up.  Please leave the comedic transformers at home next time, Mr. Bay.

This movie review is (c)6-24-2009 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com