Transformers 2 is a line that should never be crossed again...

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

MovieHook Rating... C

A budget that broke the plain at more than 200 million dollars, a long list of actors that have yet to be in a noteworthy movie, and a director (Michael Bay) that gets a hard on for giants robots. 

Roger Ebert believes this will be a film that will shun any new franchise from having a budget this massive again. After critics tear this thing to pieces, hollywood will be scared to make a film like this again. Even with all the money this film will make worldwide, it will become the beginning of the end of an era that has no longer decided to use original material. While there may continue to be big budget movies in the future and more than likely another transformers, people will begin to get tired of the same reincarnated action scenes, and begin to look for something new. But for now there are still enough folks out there that will pay to see pretty colors and shiny robots. 

As the first movie was a not a wild hit for me, I will say that I at least enjoyed it. It had a love story between Shia Lebouf and the lovely Megan Fox, action of course, and a plot that accomplished a connection between the robots and the humans.

Revenge of the Fallen continues to follow the character Sam Witwicky (Lebouf) from the end of the first film. On the day he moves into college, Sam finds it difficult to say goodbye to his parents, and his lovable guardian robot with the defective voicebox, named Bumblebee. His girlfriend Makaela (Fox) comes to wish him farewell as she will not be going with him, and they couple finds it hard to say the words I Love You as Sam leaves her. At this point in the film it looks as if the films may have a decent plot.

While Sam is busy moving on with his life, the evil Decepticons are regrouping and looking to get revenge on the Autobots for killing their leader, Megatron. Optimus Prime and the other Autobots are now working with the U.S government to fight against their robot enemies. But what they don't know is that a new foe called The Fallen is looking to bring Megatron back, and exterminate the human race by burning out our sun, for no real reason at all.

Sam meets his roommate (Ramon Rodrgiuez) and is introduced to many new experiences as his college life is just beginning. On his first day of class, Sam begins to see symbols in his head, and has a meltdown in front of an entire classroom. He calls up Makaela for help, and she comes to see him. When she arrives they are met by a Decepticon looking to take Sam to The Fallen. Optimus prime and Bumblebee are there to help the couple, but as more Decepticons show up, and Optimus Prime is left helpless as he clashes with Megatron and his goons. Sam escapes but is now the on the governments most wanted list, when The Fallen orders the people of earth to give Sam to him.

It is revealed that Sam must find the Matrix of Leadership, which is the key to the Decepticons plans to destroy our sun. He must find it before it lands in the hands of evil, and use it to save Optimus Prime and the entire planet. With the help of some old friends, and his girlfriend, he must use the symbols in his head to find this Matrix.

The Decepticons seem to have a grudge against Sam for ruining there plans in the first film, which is understandable I suppose. But they don't just wanna take it out on him, they wanna get rid of the entire human race because they are just so darn angry. I just can't seem to figure out why these robots are fighting in the first place, it would be nice to know what started this war between the Autobots and the Decepticons, but I guess that won't be revealed until maybe Transformers 4 or 5. 

While Shia Lebouf has a bit of a whiny voice, he does have some skills as an actor (see Disturbia), but it is impossible for me to believe that his character is dating Megan Fox, I just don't see it. Megan Fox has acted with some of the greats like Lindsey Lohan and of course has been nominated for an MTV movie award, so you know she can act. But lets face it, she is gorgeous, and that is enough to get probably a couple million people to see this movie. Michael Bay is the director is getting worse as he goes along. Armageddon was a monster hit, Pearl Harbor was a step down but still decent, The Island was a piece of junk, and the first Transformers was much better than this movie, I am starting to wonder whether he should be directing Car Commercials. Just kidding, but he needs to find a real good script, real soon.

Overall this has been a weak summer for movies, especially in July, and a lot of people were looking to this movie to be good, but folks I want to let you know that Revenge of the Fallen is all braun and no brains. It has enough action to keep your attention, but after 150 minutes your gonna need to take a tylenol.