Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Some say the movie is nothing but a fireworks show on steroids. Some say that it is a much better continuation of the previous live-action Transformers. So after watching it today, I think that as a G1 die-hard fan, I should make an obligatory post. What do I think of the movie? It’s good, it’s there, but it doesn’t have the serious qualities to become the best Transformers movie of all times. It’s good when seen as an action sci-fi movie, but not as a representation of the Transformers universe. At least for me.
Why? There are a couple of whys involved here, which for me, probably spanned since the previous movie, and most of them are just probably a comparison to what I expected in a Transformers movie. First of all, it’s not canon. Period. Not to the Marvel comics universe, not to the G1 cartoon, or any other continuities in the Transformers Universe. If you grew up with Transformers as your childhood TV show, you’ll know what I mean. Michael Bay went through a lot to develop a story of his own representation with bits from here and there. Being a fan since I was in the kindergarten, when the teasers went up for the movie back in 2007, I do expect that it would be a modern representation of the G1 continuity, as it is probably the most prominent one. But no, unfortunately my wish did not come true, but in fact, I was greeted by a riced-up Optimus Prime that has lips. Of course, if you’re talking about strange, nobody would beat the Japanese continuity.
Second, while the overall movie was by all means entertaining, there are just some parts that isn’t actually supposed to be there. One example is Wheelie. I am quite disappointed that they turned Wheelie from this, into a crappy-ass R/C Truck. Well, they’re both pretty annoying, but this isn’t necessary. Another example is the twins. Seriously, instead of creating out two redneck hillbillies, why don’t you just make Sideswipe and Sunstreaker appear on screen side by side. I think this is far more logical than having Skids and Mudflaps. A busted ice cream truck? Oh, please.
Third, I was pretty mind-boggled when they state the fact that Optimus does not have the Matrix of Leadership. Say what? He’s a prime, an Autobot leader, but without the Matrix from the first place?
On the other side, I am impressed on how Soundwave looks like in the movie, and how he still retains Ravage as a scout. In fact, that scene was actually pretty cool. I am also quite impressed with how Devastator looks, although for him to have scrotums is just too much, and somehow I don’t understand that while these five Constructicons are combined, there are other five of them fighting somewhere else. So now Constructicons are just Decepticon minions like the Sweeps? And Alice was probably the closest and logical representation of a Pretender that we would be able to see in a real-life movie.
So despite all of that, was the movie entertaining? Yes. Watchable? Yes. Good? Yes. But keep in mind that if you’re a G1 fan, you might want to put that expectation way back and just enjoy this movie as an alternate-reality Transformers. Don’t worry, it’s still worth your money to watch.