CAR-Toons
Transformers
Review by Ross Anthony

First of all, kids will just love this film. It’s got fast cars and huge robots and a teen protagonist to look up to and identify with. But for adults, while there is some surprisingly fresh funny banter in spots, there’s not much of a story. And what little story there is eventually devolves into virtual nonsense.

Speaking of virtual, the amazing CGI (computer generated image) transformations are sometimes absolutely stellar, especially when vehicles transform into robots while in high speed situations on the road and in the air. It’s simply way cool. But there are also plenty of big expensive visuals (transformations and otherwise) that don’t awe.

Other robot interactions echo the film’s inconsistent nature, sometimes their dialogue is wholly silly and yet, undeniably two of the robots (especially Bumble Bee) endearingly win our affections.

Transformers is like Terminator repackaged as “The A Team” with hints of Live Free or Die Hard and even Iron Giant. It’s at its best when the teen and his car are getting to understand one another -- personal, surreal, sweet, building, but after that not even some unexpectedly funny scenes with the parents can give the film as much weight as the robots seem to have.

So take your kids, but if you feel a bit unfulfilled, rent Iron Giant for the family when you get home. If the kids are unimpressed because it’s an old-school painted cartoon, tell them Vin diesel voices the Giant.

(Interesting tidbit: Peter Cullen who voices the awesome Robot Optimus Prime has also long been the voice of Eeyore of "Winnie the Pooh" fame.)

This film screened at a Laemmle Theatre.

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-- Book Contest --


  • Transformers. Copyright © 2007.
  • Starring Shia LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Anthony Anderson, Megan Fox, Rachael Taylor, John Turturro, Kevin Dunn, Julie White.
  • Directed by Michael Bay.
  • Screenplay by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman. Based on Hasbro’s Transformers Action Figures.
  • Produced by Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Tom Desanto and Don Murphy, Ian Bryce at DreamWorks/Paramount/Hasbro.

Grade..........................B (2/4)


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Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.


Last Modified: Wednesday, 04-Jul-2007 22:09:55 PDT