Transformers

A live-action feature based on the wildly popular toy line under the same name, "Transformers" is brought to spectacular life by director/producer Michael Bay ("Armageddon"). Exploding with splendid spectacle and eye-popping visual effects, this soon-to-be blockbuster brings a boom to the big screen.

Intentional or inadvertent, the story-line is about as effortless as two plus two, oozing with unadorned dialogue and rudimentary characters that fall perfectly in position with the cookie-cutter premise. Simply put, it plays well with the phrase "less talk, more action" and apparently scribes Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci have accumulated the entire script around this. Nevertheless, it's unlikely that a heavy number of viewers will be disappointed by the sheer lack of script as prior to even entering the theater, our primary desire is to witness the relentless battle between the colossal robots.

The camera work is smooth for the most part. There are a few aggravating moments where the cinematography is blatantly rickety, but considering the film's runtime, it's merely impossible to dwell on these minor incidents as the intensity of the action often gets the best of us. One scene in particular showcases a remarkably choreographed sequence that has two of the film's chief robots in a death grip, soaring through a building, a shot that not only captures the robotic beings but also the residents inside the structure.

The tech team goes above and beyond what we've come to expect from a motion picture. It's not uncommon to take a few noteworthy scenes from most features, but with "Transformers", it may take days to describe each remarkable aspect. The effects are absolutely tremendous. While we've seen robots displayed on film countless times over the years, never have they been exhibited like this. Taking into consideration the thousands and possibly millions of functional parts these machines are constructed of, the FX house have developed some of the most realistic mechanical beings in cinema history.

Typical in a summer action release is the underused talent of the actors. Shia LaBeouf has proven on several occasions his ability to bring a grounded performance to his characters, but even as the lead, he's rarely able to make good use of his skills. The script doesn't leave him with much ground to work off of, however, he's given some humorous dialogue that'll give viewers a reason to howl. Other faces include Meagan Fox, Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson, all of who do exceptional with the minor roles their given.

Doing exactly what's expected of a summer blockbuster, "Transformers" is an explosive genre picture packed with breathtaking visuals and non-stop action. While Michael Bay may not be the most respected filmmaker in the industry, he certainly knows how to entertain an audience. This is a must see!