Directed by: Michael Bay
Casts: Mark Wahlberg, Jake Reynor, Nicola Peltz, Stanley Tucci
Genre: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Release Date: 26 June 2014
Five years have gone by since the Battle of Chicago and the Transformers - Autobots and Decepticons alike - have been hiding from plain sight ever since. Shadowy CIA agents have begun hunting down the leftovers with the aid of bounty hunter Lockdown, who have agendas of his own and once more it's up to Optimus Prime and a handful of trusty Autobots to save mankind; this time with the help of a certain Mark Wahlberg.
Compliments: As far as special effects and visuals go, Transformers: Age of Extinction surpassed its predecessors by quite a margin. Michael Bay clearly knows his way in churning out robot-gores, and the many Transformer battles (MANY) contain so much detailing in them that once the blu-ray is out you can watch them in clear HD, pause the screen, and count the number of screws and nuts flying around with each robotic punch.
Casting of Mark Wahlberg is one of the better choices Bay has made (seriously Shia LaBeouf antics are getting tiresome). Stanley Tucci gave a rather good performance as well, honestly, all these two need is a better script.
Complains: Boring. Loud. Noisy. Messy. These are the quick descriptions I gave to people who asked for my opinion on the film. The original Transformers is a pretty decent film, has its flaws but overall it's good. Then came the worst sequel at that time, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen which was a confusing clusterfuck, trying to squeeze in too many stories while focusing on none. Bay apparently learned his lesson with Transformers: Dark of the Moon which features a less congested plot and improved fight sequences, but this latest instalment clearly shows the acclaimed director don't give two shits about what makes or breaks his films in the past and went ahead with the idea that "the bigger and louder the explosions are, the better".
Plot depth and development are almost non-existent here, replaced by Bay's need to utilise majority of the timeframe to showcase massive badass Transformers shapeshifting and conjuring their state-of-the-galaxy blasters. Thin and predictable, the storyline was lowered down to the basics so that viewers can tune their mind out and enjoy the mindless graphic splendours - which can still be fun if only Bay provided some breathing space in between. Room for the characters to actually flesh out. But no. Ain't nobody got time for that right? Got to fill in as much buildings collapsing from explosions and mechanical guts being ripped out. Pacific Rim was a visual buffet but the writers kept it fun with well-injected humours and characters we actually care for. Guillermo del Toro knows simplicity at its best - something Michael Bay might want to consider picking up.
Don't get me wrong, there are humours in there all right. Some even have undertones of parental-problems commonly faced in society today but most of them are either dry or have really inappropriate timing (that's a huge difference from unexpected timing, which often gives a great aftereffect) leading to majority of the jokes being lost amidst the chaos that capsulate the characters. Other than Optimus, the Autobots are basically clowns with personality issues, a bunch of children that need constant babysitting (shame on you, Bumblebee!). Funny they are not, annoyance more like it.
Too many leading baddies is never a problem for Bay. I think he rejoice in seeing the heroes get cornered by multiple crooks only to escape them all. Perhaps that's his sense of intelligence? Psychopathic agents. Ruthless bounty hunters. Greedy businessman. Old nemesis. Does it ever occur to him to that none of them will give a heighten sense of menace if they are all lumped together grabbing for screentime? Not one is even remotely memorable, and Joshua Royce is too much of an Agent Simmons rip-off. Authenticity, anyone?
Whatever arguments or disagreements Bay may had with Megan Fox, she is still the most capable female lead that has been featured in Transformers films (and that is saying alot, since I considered Fox a mediocre actress). Nicola Peltz is a terrible actress, clearly a pretty flower to look at with no substance. Jack Reynor is.... wait, who is he again? Ahh right, Peltz's on-screen racer boyfriend with an attitude. As forgettable as a nameless Transformer (bad comparison I know, but I can't think of anything).
Rating: 3.5/10
Hit or Miss: Despite the heavy-duty promotional efforts, Transformers: Age of Extinction suggests that Michael Bay has lost inspiration for anything even remotely original. MISS.
Compliments: As far as special effects and visuals go, Transformers: Age of Extinction surpassed its predecessors by quite a margin. Michael Bay clearly knows his way in churning out robot-gores, and the many Transformer battles (MANY) contain so much detailing in them that once the blu-ray is out you can watch them in clear HD, pause the screen, and count the number of screws and nuts flying around with each robotic punch.
Casting of Mark Wahlberg is one of the better choices Bay has made (seriously Shia LaBeouf antics are getting tiresome). Stanley Tucci gave a rather good performance as well, honestly, all these two need is a better script.
Complains: Boring. Loud. Noisy. Messy. These are the quick descriptions I gave to people who asked for my opinion on the film. The original Transformers is a pretty decent film, has its flaws but overall it's good. Then came the worst sequel at that time, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen which was a confusing clusterfuck, trying to squeeze in too many stories while focusing on none. Bay apparently learned his lesson with Transformers: Dark of the Moon which features a less congested plot and improved fight sequences, but this latest instalment clearly shows the acclaimed director don't give two shits about what makes or breaks his films in the past and went ahead with the idea that "the bigger and louder the explosions are, the better".
Plot depth and development are almost non-existent here, replaced by Bay's need to utilise majority of the timeframe to showcase massive badass Transformers shapeshifting and conjuring their state-of-the-galaxy blasters. Thin and predictable, the storyline was lowered down to the basics so that viewers can tune their mind out and enjoy the mindless graphic splendours - which can still be fun if only Bay provided some breathing space in between. Room for the characters to actually flesh out. But no. Ain't nobody got time for that right? Got to fill in as much buildings collapsing from explosions and mechanical guts being ripped out. Pacific Rim was a visual buffet but the writers kept it fun with well-injected humours and characters we actually care for. Guillermo del Toro knows simplicity at its best - something Michael Bay might want to consider picking up.
Don't get me wrong, there are humours in there all right. Some even have undertones of parental-problems commonly faced in society today but most of them are either dry or have really inappropriate timing (that's a huge difference from unexpected timing, which often gives a great aftereffect) leading to majority of the jokes being lost amidst the chaos that capsulate the characters. Other than Optimus, the Autobots are basically clowns with personality issues, a bunch of children that need constant babysitting (shame on you, Bumblebee!). Funny they are not, annoyance more like it.
Too many leading baddies is never a problem for Bay. I think he rejoice in seeing the heroes get cornered by multiple crooks only to escape them all. Perhaps that's his sense of intelligence? Psychopathic agents. Ruthless bounty hunters. Greedy businessman. Old nemesis. Does it ever occur to him to that none of them will give a heighten sense of menace if they are all lumped together grabbing for screentime? Not one is even remotely memorable, and Joshua Royce is too much of an Agent Simmons rip-off. Authenticity, anyone?
Whatever arguments or disagreements Bay may had with Megan Fox, she is still the most capable female lead that has been featured in Transformers films (and that is saying alot, since I considered Fox a mediocre actress). Nicola Peltz is a terrible actress, clearly a pretty flower to look at with no substance. Jack Reynor is.... wait, who is he again? Ahh right, Peltz's on-screen racer boyfriend with an attitude. As forgettable as a nameless Transformer (bad comparison I know, but I can't think of anything).
Rating: 3.5/10
Hit or Miss: Despite the heavy-duty promotional efforts, Transformers: Age of Extinction suggests that Michael Bay has lost inspiration for anything even remotely original. MISS.
