Transformers
Transformers Revenge Of The Fallen
Transformers: Revenge Of The
Fallen -
Overview
Positives
Negatives
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Brief Review
Revenge Of The Fallen is an unnecessary sequel that bangs to the same tone as the uninspiring original only with a worse plot and far more action sequences. The shaky camera work is even worse here and at times its hard to work out exactly what's going on. The jokes are almost worse than the first film and after 2 and a half hours, the film abruptly stops-waiting for the next sequel to batter your senses.
Full Review
After the surprising box office success of the original mediocre film that just about passed as being acceptable to fork out money to see in the cinema, it was only a matter of time before the sequel smashed onto the screen. Released in 2009, Revenge Of The Fallen is an example of how not to make a sequel and a lesson that sometimes bigger isn't always better.
With the Allspark destroyed and the story picking up two years after the original, Sam Witwicky returns as the goofball teenager heading off to college. To be honest, the only half decent part of the film is the start before the action relentlessly picks up. The relationship of Mikaela and Sam, gives some room to explore a deeper side of the one dimensional characters and breathe some life into the uncharismatic pair.
An ancient Decepticon called 'The Fallen' returns to Earth to wreak vengeance on the humans and try and cement a place as one of the dullest villains in the history of action films. The story is worse than the original film and the insistent need to try and be clever throughout with humour and more action just doesn't work.
The sensory-tiring film clocks in at 2 and a half hours which, in my opinion, was too long for the original and certainly too long here. The action sequences drag for too long and the shaky camera work is worse here and in some fights I struggled to see exactly what was going on. I can't understand the logic behind Michael Bay thinking blowing stuff up for 2 and a half hours can hide the mess of the story when it actually makes it stand out more.
The visuals are excellent but the standard isn't improved over the original and after two years you'd think they would have done so, The only thing different is the size of the Transformers which are a lot bigger here, reemphasising the poor camera work when it comes to shooting the massive fights with the giants.
The acting isn't much better than the original to be fair and the returning cast are uninspiring, The new boys fit in well but only because the acting is so poor its difficult not to. Speaking of new boys, the racial stereotype transformers are neither funny nor necessary and only goes to show the desperation on display here. Resorting to racial jokes for humour is hardly a good role model for the kids.
Overall then, Revenge Of The Fallen is an unnecessary and dreadful sequel that manages to take everything that was good in Transformers and try and enhance in ten fold by throwing as much action at the audience as possible. 150 minutes later and the abrupt end is not only unfair on paying customers, its also not needed. After watching this film, its unlikely you'll ever want to come back to the series Michael Bay has so effortlessly destroyed.