Transformers

Que personne ne me dise que ce monstre a coûté une ridicule somme de 150 millions de dollars. Ou bien est-ce que le producteur Spielberg est vraiment un extraterrestre. Les Transformers sont un blockbuster hollywoodien qui vaut la peine de payer le double du prix d'entrée... si vous savez pourquoi vous allez voir le film de Michael Bay, où des robots d'autres mondes se livrent une guerre sur Terre. À l'exception des séquences d'ouverture glacées, c'est un peu enfantin et idiot, mais du point de vue technique, en termes d'intensité d'action et de présentation au-delà de l'extrême, c'est littéralement une folie fantastique. La scène de tir sur le scorpion dans le désert (surtout le plan depuis l'intérieur de l'hélicoptère) avec le motif "Scorponok" de Jablonsky est vraiment impressionnant! Et ces yeux de prédateur de Megan Fox... omfg !!! (11/07/2007)

No, no and no. I would love to give it four stars, but I can’t, these big-ass blockbusters are just not my cup of tea. The action scenes are awesome, it’d be hard to find any competition in that regard, but there are other things that I value in movies. Transformers is good stuff to unwind, but it doesn’t offer anything else. The story is predictable and the characters are clichés with an awfully American behaviour. In short, it entertained me but didn’t take my breath away, I don’t need to see it again, nor do I want to. (14/08/2008)

This is a great advertisement for American car companies. I don't understand how they can be in such a slump. Hopefully, the second film will pull them out of it. Bay really is very robotic, but two and a half hours of talking scrap metal and more and less funny rip-offs was a bit too much for me. (19/06/2009)

More than meets the eye... Or not? It’s disappointing that after the pleasant although unsuccessful The Island, Bay took a step back into soulless action fun for the masses. It doesn’t thrill me that he has fallen back into his traditional, epileptic fit provoking editing. It outright annoys me that the entire story takes place in the opening crawl... I would have been willing to forgive the creators all of the above if they could grip me. Which Transformers managed to do, but only at isolated moments, definitely not for the entire or at least part of the running time. The first part of the movie, which is carried on the shoulders of the ever more likeable LeBeouf, is outstanding, humorous and very promising. But then the whole picture goes to the dogs in the middle, from the game of hide and seek until the defrosting of Megatron. There is humor elsewhere in this movie, but it doesn’t work in the least; Shia practically disappears from the screen and the robots start playing first fiddle, led by the “philosophizing" Optimus and the wannabe funny roles filled by John Turturro and Jon Voight. Although the last third is one big, continuous action inferno, for my tastes it is just too predictable and primarily it’s over-combined. What unarguably works well is the technical side of the movie. They were evidently working overtime at ILM, Jablonsky composed a punchy and fitting soundtrack, the action is nice and comic-bookish over the top and couple of scenes like the onslaught of the Autobots had me pinned to my seat. What brings Transformers down on the big screen too is its extreme length, the lame pieces of wisdom from Optimus, lots of superfluous robots that have barely two seconds of fame and also that pesky little Decepticon. Transformers certainly don’t disappoint, especially in a well-technically equipped movie theater, but don’t expect wonders. It’s not boring, it’s entertaining, but it doesn’t leave any particular lasting impression. This is the feeblest Bay movie yet. Unfortunately. (13/08/2007)

The Girl Next Door Sex Bomb versus Armageddon in the cloak of perfect audiovisual and explosively action-packed delicacies. Shia LaBeouf is the perfect non-action guy, with whom every one of us, who has ever been a boy or a girl longing for adventure, can identify. Megan Fox was created as an adored idol (who can also fix your car), Bumblebee is the best friend and the perfect car at the same time, Autobots are a group of heroes and Decepticons are the most villainous enemies, whom you would fight against right away. And Transformers is a movie that may open the eyes of many young wide-eyed boys in front of the screen, teaching them what it means to love a movie. Bay has proven that even megalomania can be moderate and that escalated action that just won't stop doesn't have to be overwhelming, but rather amazing. Tons of lines, a sea of references, setting sun, a flood of orange, heroism, honor, love, helicopters, and behind it all, a smiling Bay who fulfilled his dream. The year 2007 will forever be the year when I wanted Bumblebee in my garage and Megan Fox somewhere nearby, but most of all, watching Transformers over and over again. (28/08/2007)

Michael Bay's own words are that he aims to entertain the audience. In that case, I state that I am not his target group, because I feel more entertained in a dentist's chair. I had the opportunity to watch all three Transformers movies within a few days, and I couldn't finish any of them. This is simply beyond the scope of what I consider digestible cinema. Michael Bay is not so much a representative of a certain genre as he is a diagnosis. Lots of action, bombastic special effects, clumsy dialogues that bring physical suffering, and a script and story on the level of a small child. Unfortunately, I haven't been eight for a long time, and I won't be eighty for a long time, so Bay's offer didn't appeal to me. I considered giving 1 star for the special effects and set design, but I would rather go to a magic show. Overall impression: 10%. My choice for a movie set in the world of children's toys would be any of the Toy Story movies. (25/02/2014)

Completely bombastic. Bay showed himself in the very best (orange) light and Shia LeBeouf proved to me personally that I was wrong again. This fits him like a glove. Constant wisecracks make him every inch a nice guy and in places he is the life and soul of the entire movie. Megan Fox is nice and foxy again (that stands to reason) and now for the main attraction. And that’s the huge, transforming robots (probably from Japan). ILM did some excellent work (precise in every detail) and Bay too. He chose the best cars currently on the (not Czech, but American) roads and made them into cool, wisecracking hunks who you can’t help loving. The brave Optimus Prime, heroic Jazz, the mellow-yellow Bumblebee and the musclebound Ironhide (he got to me the most during the movie). It’s hard to choose who to like more. They’re all so idiosyncratic and you just want to gobble them up. In the same way, their enemies are also fairly comely. They’re faster and have bigger tricks up their sleeve. For instance, Blackout and Starscreem are completely great. While Megatron is evil through and through and it’s scary when he starts flicking people like lint on a sweater. And I’d love to take another look at Slint... But what are words compared to this wonderful spectacle. So stop reading and head for the movie theater, this movie won’t wait for a DVD. And you, Mike, say yes to part two. I’m already looking forward to it. Transformers... More than meets the eye... (17/08/2007)

Technically, Transformers is undoubtedly a fantastic ride and it is incredible what they can make nowadays for a lot of money. Unfortunately, the entertainment and overall childishness of the film come at the cost of an absence of logic and at least a bit of the seriousness that was present in all of Michael Bay's purely action films. Some lines are funny, but some are so clichéd that you don’t even react to them. The actors are your typical pretty-faces – Bay's common practice – and the music, thanks to Steve Jablonsky, is solidly dynamic. What surprised me the most is the style Bay uses to shoot the action. There’s an unusual amount of handheld camera and shaky shots, with classic trademarks such as camera tricks, slow-motion, and low-angle shots taking a back seat. The truly beautifully lit quieter sequences and two helicopters against the sunset are not absent, though. After watching it for the second time, I’m giving it another star. This has happened to me several times (and now it will probably be the rule), having a better watching experience at home than in the cinema. Even the action looks much better and clearer on a smaller screen – the big cinema screen only harms it. I stand by the fact that the film is infantile and stupid, but Bay occasionally winks at us, doesn't he? And the annoying British or whatever accent of Rachael Taylor will be ringing in my ears for a long time... (18/08/2007)

I must be crazy, but a tonne of metal destroying its shiny body for over two hours is one of the top 40 most popular movies? Everyone's taste is different. I’m not saying it’s all bad, it certainly doesn’t lack insight, humour and Bay's indomitable action zeal, and Megan Fox was also very nice to watch. But throughout the film, I just couldn't shake the preconceived notion that cars turning into giant robots is terrible bollocks, which, oddly enough, was further reinforced by the action, which I felt was awfully jumbled, always on the same note, and Michael Bay completely sunk his huge potential, so well exploited in the legendary The Rock. I’m giving it 3 stars, but in the flood of comic book action movies, Transformers is just a below average affair for me… (01/03/2012)

2007 ushered in an era of visually polished blockbusters with a plethora of action and explosions. The first Transformers set a pretty high bar for action films in the first decade. Screenwriting-wise, of course, this is a film that has to be taken with a grain of salt and you have to ignore some downright tacked-on dialogue and scenes. Alongside the overload of action, the film also has a touch of humour and romance, which I appreciate in terms of genre diversity. Among the cast, Anthony Anderson and Jon Voight should be singled out, Megan Fox was downright ornamental, but did not distract in any way, while Shia LaBeouf was a handful at times. If you’re looking for some deep sci-fi, then Transformers wouldn't stand out, but as popcorn summer entertainment, it's an ideal choice. (25/06/2019)

Une aventure impressionnante intensifiée par le charme de Megan Fox. :) (22/12/2007)

I can't stand this series. It's just hyped-up nothing about nothing that tries to captivate viewers with cool transforming robots that turn into awesome cars, trucks, jets, etc. And unfortunately, it works. We can already "look forward" to the fourth installment. I mean, I understand that people need entertainment, but I can't help but think that hundreds of millions must be spent on budgets for just empty stupidity that could be achieved with cheap tricks? But that probably wouldn't be the same... Tricks account for only 30%. (13/03/2014)

A lovely 4 stars for this effects-laden family adventure, the two most likable young actors of the moment, one of whom can act quite well (Megan is at the very least gorgeous), the overall relaxed and at times almost fairytale-like atmosphere, and the once again great John Turturro. How can you say that Michael Bay allows himself a lot of clichés (and there are plenty of them; I was most amused by the final scene on the hill at sunset a la Armageddon), when on the other hand he manages to make a great blockbuster that half the planet looks forward to seeing in the cinema, which will make Steven and the other gentlemen producers' accounts fat again :). Bay is really more of a businessman than a filmmaker, but he knows how to make mass-market and spectacular entertainment exceedingly well. 90% and I'm curious to see the second one; as to whether it's as cheesy and overdone compared to the first one as everyone claims... we'll see. (29/12/2009)

Never in my life have I seen a movie like this one. A movie that evokes all possible and impossible emotions in just two and a half hours. When I watch Transformers, I’m amused – by absolutely legendary one-liners and heart-rending moments, most often taking place during sunset; I cringe – when hearing some downright idiotic lines and when Megan Fox is trying to act; I'm excited - because even though I know how dumb this movie is, I enjoy it all the same, if not more, even for the tenth time I watch it; I get goosebumps - from the bombastic effects and Jablonsky’s brilliant soundtrack (“Scorponok” and especially “Arrival to Earth”, simply awesome); I’m moved - when the Autobots arrive on Earth accompanied by Jablonsky's “Arrival to Earth”; I'm blown away - by the presence of the duo Fox/Taylor; I'm surprised - that this insane blockbuster cost only $ 150 million; I'm upset - because the academy doesn't see the quality (visual effects) and gives away Oscars to any "artsy" nonsense; and I’m grateful - to Bay, whose each movie, but especially this series, reminds me that some of us will just never grow up. (21/01/2014)