Review: Transformers 2

All right, for those of you out there that haven't made it to see Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen yet, this movie rocks! This was easily the best two and a half hours I've spent in a movie theatre all year. (Not surprising when you consider the fact that the suck factor on 30 Days of Night was so bad I walked out. Seriously.)

So, where to begin? Shall we talk about the special effects, which were so brutally cool that they actually put the first Transformers movie to shame? There were some awesome explosions in this one. And only in Transformers could the kitchen coming to life be so incredibly cool. If you get a chance, check out the garbage disposal. I don't want to toss out too many spoilers for those of you who haven't seen it yet, but trust me. It rocks.

Honestly, if we're talking special effects here my only complaint is that it takes the Transformers for...ev...er to transform in the early parts of the movie. I know they're trying to show how incredibly neat it is that they transform, etc, etc, but they did it so much more quickly in the first movie that fans are going to find themselves a little impatient in this one. Or maybe it's just me!

Now, let's talk plot. To be honest, from the reviews I first got of this movie I wasn't expecting much. People consistently told me that this was awesome special effects and very little plot, making the two and a half hour film about an hour too long. Hey, theme of the year right? Am I the only one who thinks Hollywood has forgotten how to make movies?

Anyway, so I wasn't expecting much. Boy, was I wrong! The plot in this is rich, if a little trite. Sam has the secret to the continuation of the Transformer race (which actually involves the Decepticons trying to destroy the planet, but is anyone surprised) stuck inside his head, and the newly resurrected Megatron wants to take it all-literally. If you got grossed out by the scene with the squid-like thing in the Matrix, close your eyes. You're in for a slimy surprise.

After a daring rescue by the Autobots, who slide in at the nick of time like they always do, Sam's on the lamb and the Decepticons are putting on some government pressure. Again, I don't want to give away all of the film for those of you who haven't seen it, but some of my favorite parts were:

a) The Twins. Picture teenaged twins that fight over everything. Then make them superstrong robots with a Harlem attitude.

b) Wheelie. Seriously, this little Decepticon dude is freaking hilarious. And Mikaela decides to take it in as a pet by agreeing not to torch an eyeball. Go figure. Most memorable line of the movie? Mikaela (as Wheelie is humping her leg): "Hey, at least he's faithful."

c) The bureaucracy of the U.S. government and our inherent distrust of anything alien takes some major knocks in this movie. Y'all are going to be laughing your bums off watching Washington's finest take what's coming to him!

d) Sam's mother has some great parts in this movie, which was nice to see since she was such a nonentity in the first one. Not amused? Toss some brownies laced with all natural organic herb into the picture and see what you get! The woman is insane.

e) Everyone remember the psycho agent from the first film? Agent Simmons pops back up as a web genius who gets to save the day (for real this time).

f) Did anyone NOT have the roommate from hell at some point, either in their college career or out in the adult world? I distinctly remember having to help mine get to and from the bathroom so our RA didn't find out she'd been drinking all night. Yikes. Anyway, all of you that have had the pleasure are going to love Leo, Sam's PITA roommate who gets tossed into the crossfire and takes his own trial by fire on the front lines.

And that's not to mention the usual awesomeness that comes from watching the Autobots kick some Decepticon butt while at the same time watching Sam take his first stumbling steps into college life. Dudes, college is hard enough on its own! Toss in a Transformer civil war and a psychotic villain who's out to destroy the world and wants to suck out your brains and you've got what's set up to be one of the biggest blockbusters this year.