View Poll Results: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
Voters: 250. You may not vote on this poll
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
06-24-09, 06:30 PM
#176
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
I thought the first paragraph of MSNBC's review was pretty funny...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31512193...inment-movies/
Artist and filmmaker Peter Greenaway once famously noted, “Cinema is far too rich and capable a medium to be merely left to the storytellers.” Still, when he suggested a move away from narrative, I can’t imagine that he was advocating a movie like “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” a cinematic avalanche in which Michael Bay eschews anything resembling plot or characters and instead screams at the audience’s eyes for two and a half hours.
06-24-09, 06:43 PM
#177
Suspended
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
I LOLed
TRANSFORMERS RISE OF THE FALLEN WAS EVERYTHING YOU COULD EVER WANT FROM A SUMMER ACTION FLICK IT HAD NON STOP ACTION AND AMAZING SPECIAL EFFECTS! CRITICS ARE JUST WORRIED THAT THIS COULD BE THE FILM THAT COULD COME CLOSE TO THE DARK OVERATED KNIGHT SO THEY HAVE TO GIVE IT TERRIBLE REVIEWS! $400M DOMESTIC IS IN THE BAG FOR THIS SEQUEL!!!!
06-24-09, 06:47 PM
#178
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Roscoe, IL USA
Posts: 521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
It's very hard to take serious stock in the movie-going hoards today. Once bad word of mouth starts on a huge picture, it ends up being "the worst movie abomination of all time". The opposite was true last year of TDK. The great word of mouth led people to start calling it, "the greatest movie of all time." Truth, invariably lies somewhere in the middle.
Revenge of the Fallen ends up suffering from the same malady as Matrix: Revolutions. A very engaging summer blockbuster leads to a bloated sequel where it's maker's forget what made the previous movie great in the first place.
I do think some of the complaints against the humor and crudeness are unjustified. Apparently Kevin Smith is a genius for showing a man having intercourse with a horse and South Park is the epoch of humor for giving us a gerbil/hamster (I honestly forget which) crawling up a mans ass.
But, it's not hypocritical at all to ravage Bay for presenting 1/100 of the crudeness in Transformer's that is lauded throughout these forums and internet *sarcasm*. But, I attribute that mainly to mob mentality when dealing with poor reception of a huge summer movie.
The potential was there, but misdirected at the wrong places. Michael Bay would next time do good remember the phrase, "Less is More", the next time he's thinking of upping the ante.
3 stars out of 5
Revenge of the Fallen ends up suffering from the same malady as Matrix: Revolutions. A very engaging summer blockbuster leads to a bloated sequel where it's maker's forget what made the previous movie great in the first place.
I do think some of the complaints against the humor and crudeness are unjustified. Apparently Kevin Smith is a genius for showing a man having intercourse with a horse and South Park is the epoch of humor for giving us a gerbil/hamster (I honestly forget which) crawling up a mans ass.
But, it's not hypocritical at all to ravage Bay for presenting 1/100 of the crudeness in Transformer's that is lauded throughout these forums and internet *sarcasm*. But, I attribute that mainly to mob mentality when dealing with poor reception of a huge summer movie.
The potential was there, but misdirected at the wrong places. Michael Bay would next time do good remember the phrase, "Less is More", the next time he's thinking of upping the ante.
3 stars out of 5
Agree with almost everything you say. The hypocrisy of people that condemn this for the same humor used in many critically acclaimed movies is hilarious. Just having the name Michael Bay attached to it I knew the reviews wouldnt be good no matter the quality of the movie. He is not liked by professional reviewers or film geeks because he makes movies for j6p.
As for the movie, I really enjoyed it. The Prime battles alone are worth the price of admission, not to mention Bumble Bee kicking ass as well. I do wish there would have been more new autobots and autobot/decepticon at the end as it seemed more military/decepticon. Also, Megan Fox looked delicious.
ps-thank god for the return of the steadycam in an action move
06-24-09, 06:50 PM
#179
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
Transformers 2 raped my adulthood memories of Transformers 1.
It had a good idea and when it stuck with it it was fine. It was about 40 minutes too long and full of ridiculous juvenile humor. Wrecking balls? Are you fucking serious?
And was that supposed to be Mater from Cars?
It had a good idea and when it stuck with it it was fine. It was about 40 minutes too long and full of ridiculous juvenile humor. Wrecking balls? Are you fucking serious?
And was that supposed to be Mater from Cars?
06-24-09, 07:11 PM
#180
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 2,146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
"Unfortunately this time around, the first film's mistakes have been
exacerbated rather than expunged, while a few of the original's charms
are gone or have been replaced with something dumber and meaner. Free
of the shackles of both Steven Spielberg's guiding hand and any even
vague attempt at reality - 'Fallen' indulges Bay's excesses well past
the point of reason to deliver the male teenage cinematic equivalent
of snorting cocaine off a hooker's ass. This "all money shots, all the
time" approach robs the action of any weight or coherency - leaving
behind sensory white noise that hopes to browbeat its audience into
either submission or boredom."
Ouch
exacerbated rather than expunged, while a few of the original's charms
are gone or have been replaced with something dumber and meaner. Free
of the shackles of both Steven Spielberg's guiding hand and any even
vague attempt at reality - 'Fallen' indulges Bay's excesses well past
the point of reason to deliver the male teenage cinematic equivalent
of snorting cocaine off a hooker's ass. This "all money shots, all the
time" approach robs the action of any weight or coherency - leaving
behind sensory white noise that hopes to browbeat its audience into
either submission or boredom."
Ouch
06-24-09, 07:21 PM
#181
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Traverse City, MI
Posts: 3,955
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
Thanks guys, sounds like I'm going to have to pass on taking the kids to see this, which really F'n pisses me off. I didn't like the first movie, but I would have liked to take the kids to see this. Just look at my DVD collection, obviously I'm far from "PC" or conservative in my taste, but I think it's utter crap what Bay seems to have done with this movie. Kids want to see giant trasforming robots blow stuff up, nothing more, & there are millions of adults that are happy with the same. You don't need to throw in loads of sexual content to get 30+ year old men to see see giant robots blowing stuff up. I shouldn't have be worried about explaining what pot is to an 8 year old while seeing a Transormers movie.
If you didnt like the first one why would you want to go see this one? and I didnt find anything in this that isnt it any other PG13 movies. there's nothing outragous or anything.
06-24-09, 07:28 PM
#182
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Minding the precious things in the Local Shop
Posts: 4,106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
I thought so too. I saw it this afternoon on a Christies DLP and while it looked good, it didn't sound as good as it should have imho. I thought the film itself was good not great and it did not live up to the hype of the adverts. Way too much juvenile sex humor and the two "hood" autobots drove me bananas. in no way am I a prude but come on, a sexual joke/ nod here and there ok but, as a constant thread throughout this kind of a film just screams you have nothing else so shoot for the lowest common denominator. Could have been great had they taken a bit more time, fleshed the bots out a bit more and let them do what they do. I was extremely jazzed to see Soundwave though!
Last edited by buckee1; 06-24-09 at 07:33 PM.
06-24-09, 07:40 PM
#183
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
06-24-09, 08:59 PM
#184
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
I can't believe I'm actually going to see this. A friend of mine is buying the ticket though, as he really wants me to go, so I might as well be a friend. I just hope he hates the movie as much as I will. Then I can bitch to him when the movie credits roll.
06-24-09, 09:06 PM
#185
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
it is rated PG-13. not G or PG. you sound like those adults that take there kids to see a movie because its animated thinking it must be for little kids, even though the movie is actually an movie for adults or isnt geared towards kids.
If you didnt like the first one why would you want to go see this one? and I didnt find anything in this that isnt it any other PG13 movies. there's nothing outragous or anything.
If you didnt like the first one why would you want to go see this one? and I didnt find anything in this that isnt it any other PG13 movies. there's nothing outragous or anything.
06-24-09, 09:11 PM
#186
Premium Member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Grazing in a field somewhere...
Posts: 23,646
Received 703 Likes
on
467 Posts
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
Just got back from seeing it. Agree there were some things that should have been cut (the room mate, the dogs), but overall I enjoyed it. 
06-24-09, 10:21 PM
#187
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
I saw it tonight, hated it, awful.
I wanted to enjoy it, I really did. I didn't hate the first one, but this one was just horrible to me. It didn't help matters that it seemed like it was 5 hours long. There are two stretches in this film specifically that seem to go on and on forever with nothing happening, almost as if the film is on a loop skipping over and over again. I'm not quite sure that I've ever moved around in a movie seat or checked my watch as much as I did watching this mess.
I'm not even going to get any more specific right now, maybe later, cause for now I need to sleep this one off.
I will finish this post with one more thought though - just how hard is it to totally screw up such simple concepts? How can professional filmmakers continuously screw up a Transformers movie, a Terminator flick, the entire Aliens vs. Predators story, a Halloween reboot, any of the X-Men based movies, SPIDER-MAN 3 and on and on? Just how is it possible for this to happen so often, in such horribly epic ways?
Ugh.
I wanted to enjoy it, I really did. I didn't hate the first one, but this one was just horrible to me. It didn't help matters that it seemed like it was 5 hours long. There are two stretches in this film specifically that seem to go on and on forever with nothing happening, almost as if the film is on a loop skipping over and over again. I'm not quite sure that I've ever moved around in a movie seat or checked my watch as much as I did watching this mess.
I'm not even going to get any more specific right now, maybe later, cause for now I need to sleep this one off.
I will finish this post with one more thought though - just how hard is it to totally screw up such simple concepts? How can professional filmmakers continuously screw up a Transformers movie, a Terminator flick, the entire Aliens vs. Predators story, a Halloween reboot, any of the X-Men based movies, SPIDER-MAN 3 and on and on? Just how is it possible for this to happen so often, in such horribly epic ways?
Ugh.
Last edited by Brent L; 06-24-09 at 10:28 PM.
06-24-09, 10:28 PM
#188
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Diego
Posts: 3,402
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
I'll keep this short since people probably won't read this anyways 
The movie was great, a little long at the end, but great. I got to see giant robots kick ass, had some laughs, and there's a cute girl in it...what's not to like? Will it win an Oscar? Of course not! Was it fun and worth my ticket price? Of course! Go see it and have fun, quit complaining about plot or story or acting, it's a movie about GIANT ROBOTS FROM SPACE...it's ridiculous enough as it is!
The movie was great, a little long at the end, but great. I got to see giant robots kick ass, had some laughs, and there's a cute girl in it...what's not to like? Will it win an Oscar? Of course not! Was it fun and worth my ticket price? Of course! Go see it and have fun, quit complaining about plot or story or acting, it's a movie about GIANT ROBOTS FROM SPACE...it's ridiculous enough as it is!
06-24-09, 10:35 PM
#189
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: La Mesa, CA
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
[QUOTE=valkyrie;9524257'Fallen' indulges Bay's excesses well past
the point of reason to deliver the male teenage cinematic equivalent
of snorting cocaine off a hooker's ass.[/QUOTE]
That might be the funniest review quote I've come across for the film so far (and there are some good rivals for it).
I thought Transformers 1 was the worst film of 2007 and a true candidate for the worst film of the decade. The film never gave me the reason to care about anything it was doing. The characters, the robots, their plights. It seemed to never be motivated by anything. And even the action scenes were botched by Bay's insistance of quick cutting and not knowing who was who. And even the visual effects were botched just on the fact that Bay couldn't give anything one moment to be properly shown off. The camera is always moving and it doesn't even let you have a second to appreciate what these bots or explosions look like. That to me made the film look like the most scandalous waste of money I had ever seen thrown at the screen.
I am still hoping that the sequel might be better, but the word doesn't look good. In fact, it looks more likely than not it will be even worse. I'll be giving it a look within the next couple of days to make up my own mind. If nothing else, a really good scathing review will come out of it.
And for the record, I just want to say that I wanted to like Transformers 1 really bad (I have friends and co-workers who look at this movie and tell me it's spectacular) and I was never given a reason too. I really don't see the appeal of it, I really don't. It's a movie that's loud yes, but becomes boring and tedius quite quickly, punctuated by a slew of unnecessary characters (The computer hackers come to mind immediately, as they have no arc whatsoever) and horrible unfunny humor (The masturbation gag between Shia LaBeauf and his parents seems like a direct ripoff of a similar scene in Joe Dante's Small Soldiers, when the parents ask the son if he's on crack. That film might not have been a masterpiece, but it was fun and gave me a reason to care about its characters and situations).
Here's hoping the sequel is better, but my expectations are lowering every few hours, especially now that its out.
the point of reason to deliver the male teenage cinematic equivalent
of snorting cocaine off a hooker's ass.[/QUOTE]
That might be the funniest review quote I've come across for the film so far (and there are some good rivals for it).
I thought Transformers 1 was the worst film of 2007 and a true candidate for the worst film of the decade. The film never gave me the reason to care about anything it was doing. The characters, the robots, their plights. It seemed to never be motivated by anything. And even the action scenes were botched by Bay's insistance of quick cutting and not knowing who was who. And even the visual effects were botched just on the fact that Bay couldn't give anything one moment to be properly shown off. The camera is always moving and it doesn't even let you have a second to appreciate what these bots or explosions look like. That to me made the film look like the most scandalous waste of money I had ever seen thrown at the screen.
I am still hoping that the sequel might be better, but the word doesn't look good. In fact, it looks more likely than not it will be even worse. I'll be giving it a look within the next couple of days to make up my own mind. If nothing else, a really good scathing review will come out of it.
And for the record, I just want to say that I wanted to like Transformers 1 really bad (I have friends and co-workers who look at this movie and tell me it's spectacular) and I was never given a reason too. I really don't see the appeal of it, I really don't. It's a movie that's loud yes, but becomes boring and tedius quite quickly, punctuated by a slew of unnecessary characters (The computer hackers come to mind immediately, as they have no arc whatsoever) and horrible unfunny humor (The masturbation gag between Shia LaBeauf and his parents seems like a direct ripoff of a similar scene in Joe Dante's Small Soldiers, when the parents ask the son if he's on crack. That film might not have been a masterpiece, but it was fun and gave me a reason to care about its characters and situations).
Here's hoping the sequel is better, but my expectations are lowering every few hours, especially now that its out.
06-24-09, 10:37 PM
#190
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
I will say that Transformers 2 was what I thought Transformers 1 would be.
I was pleasantly surprised by the first one and enjoyed it.
I was disappointed with the second one and don't care if I ever see it again. So much potential pissed away.
Maybe it's my fault for not going into this one expecting to hate it too.
I need some Harry Potter soon to wash the taste of this out of my mouth.
I was pleasantly surprised by the first one and enjoyed it.
I was disappointed with the second one and don't care if I ever see it again. So much potential pissed away.
Maybe it's my fault for not going into this one expecting to hate it too.
I need some Harry Potter soon to wash the taste of this out of my mouth.
06-24-09, 10:55 PM
#191
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
I have to agree with what most have posted here. I thought it was bit long and the WTF moment for me was
Spoiler:
06-24-09, 11:21 PM
#192
Banned by request
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
My favorite Twitter comment about it:
"Gratz Michael Bay, you won the big swinging dick contest between you and McG. Problem is, JJ Abrams teabagged you both."
"Gratz Michael Bay, you won the big swinging dick contest between you and McG. Problem is, JJ Abrams teabagged you both."
06-24-09, 11:40 PM
#193
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
I love how two years ago there were two of us opening week(even during most of it's run) that ripped this movie to shreds and we got our asses reamed for it at the time. Now it's bizarro world in this thread where there are only a handful of people left claiming to like the original.
06-25-09, 12:23 AM
#195
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
You are all nuts. For a movie about toys and for fans of the comic book and cartoon, Transformers 2 was great! If you aren't a fan of Transformers, then yes, the movie is stupid. But for Transformers fans, it was pretty awesome!
PROS:
1. Optimus Prime
2. Wheelie
3. Bumblebee
4. Ravage
5. Soundwave (at least his infamous voice was replaced with another infamous one)
6. Jetfire
7. Starscream and Megatron relationship
8. Devastator w/the balls. It's not a big deal - I interpreted this mega-sized Decepticon as a robot bull dog. It moved like one and had balls like one.
9. the fembot
10. gremlin Decepticons
CONS:
1. too long
2. boring villain Fallen
3. Megan Fox' annoying plastic lips dipped in bucket of gloss and she is a bad actress and she is skanky porn hot only. I don't think I've ever seen such an obnoxious actress in a such a long time.
NOT ANNOYING:
1. the hispanic twins. Come on, give me a break. The Transformers all had personalities this time! They are supposed to have cartoon personalities!
2. the humor. Very funny - the way it's supposed to be. Transformers is not supposed to be all serious. Both Transfomers films would be boring without the Bay humor.
PROS:
1. Optimus Prime
2. Wheelie
3. Bumblebee
4. Ravage
5. Soundwave (at least his infamous voice was replaced with another infamous one)
6. Jetfire
7. Starscream and Megatron relationship
8. Devastator w/the balls. It's not a big deal - I interpreted this mega-sized Decepticon as a robot bull dog. It moved like one and had balls like one.
9. the fembot
10. gremlin Decepticons
CONS:
1. too long
2. boring villain Fallen
3. Megan Fox' annoying plastic lips dipped in bucket of gloss and she is a bad actress and she is skanky porn hot only. I don't think I've ever seen such an obnoxious actress in a such a long time.
NOT ANNOYING:
1. the hispanic twins. Come on, give me a break. The Transformers all had personalities this time! They are supposed to have cartoon personalities!
2. the humor. Very funny - the way it's supposed to be. Transformers is not supposed to be all serious. Both Transfomers films would be boring without the Bay humor.
06-25-09, 12:28 AM
#196
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
This movie was so awful I don't even want to discuss it right now. I just had to add this comment so others know that, yes, another person has seen it and hated it. If you were on the fence about seeing this then please head these negative review warnings and don't see this.
06-25-09, 01:11 AM
#198
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
Just to see, I calculated the ratings (weighted average) here and it comes to a 2.96/5 or 5.9/10.
06-25-09, 01:17 AM
#199
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
I'm really happy for my cousin - he made the cut as an extra. Now I have to at least get the blu ray.
06-25-09, 01:27 AM
#200
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Bay, 2009) The Reviews Thread
I don't know what to really say about this movie I guess. I didn't necessarily hate it but I didn't think it was as good as the first movie either. To me this movie felt like it just dragged on forever. The first one didn't feel that way to me even though it was almost as long. I wasn't exactly going into this expecting a lot but it really wasn't even close to as fun/good as I thought it would be.