AUTOBOTS ARRIVE!

It’s rare when Hollywood takes a source material and turns it into something special. If you don’t believe me look at the number of video games turned into films that have died painful deaths at the box office (DOOM, HOUSE OF THE DEAD, etc.). But when they do get it right, they get it right in spades.

The buildup to the release of the movie TRANSFORMERS was filled with doubt. People didn’t think that the robots would be believable. They thought that director Michael Bay was too high profile and known for excess. Oddly enough I’ve never thought that. Instead, I’ve seen the films he’s done in the past as pure entertainment and this film is no different.

Based on the TV cartoon series of the same name concerning a group of evil alien robots battling it out here on Earth with good ones, the film alters very little. We begin with a slam bang start as an army base is blown to pieces by one lone decepticon (the bad guys). Our heroes escape with their lives and footage of the robot to send home to Washington.

While this is going on we’re given a glimpse at dork teen Sam Witwicky, whose life is not going as well as he’d planned. But his grandfather had ties to the alien robots that we learn as the film moves forward and Sam has an item that will help one side or the other aid or conquer our world. It's up to the autobots led by Optimus Prime to help.

This film is not at all about the stars which include Shia LeBouf, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Anthony Anderson, Megan Fox, John Turturro and Jon Voight. No, the true stars of this film are the autobots and the decepticons and the technical wizards that bring them to life onscreen.

If you were made to believe a man could fly way back when SUPERMAN first hit the screen, you’ll believe that your car can twist and fold into a robot after watching this movie. The effects are seamless as everything from cars to trucks to jets turn into combatant robots.

Beneath the entire effects issue though is something missing in many movies today. This movie has heart and wants to do nothing more than entertain. It doesn’t want to preach or tell a political story, it wants to put good guys up against bad guys and have them win or lose. And it also offers a small amount of nostalgia for the children of the 80s who grew up with this cartoon and the toys that were made. It succeeds on all points.

Various outlets are offering all sorts of goodies to entice you to buy this film, from a prequel to the movie to a lithograph of the characters. Choose whichever you like. But by all means, make this movie one to add to your collection. It’s one to watch more than once, enjoying each and every aspect offered.