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3:41:00 PM EDT
Transformers - the way I see it
I saw Transformers with the kids yesterday at the Sozo cinema and thought that I would share a few thoughts.
Basically the movie sux to high heaven. It sucks even more, I think, if you are a big fan of transformers the cartoon (I am not). Here are some of the take-away points from the movie, but before, remember that this movie is in the series of July 4th releases that are timed with the American independence day to make the Americans feel good about their country. And, there has been no other time in the recent past (not counting the time when U.S. was embroiled in the Vietnam and South Korean wars) than now when they are losing two wars simultaneously in Iraq and Afghanistan that the people desperately want to feel good about themselves. And this is how they do it through this movie:
- the story line is supposed to be about Transformers, the Autobots, the Decepticons, Megatron and Optimus Prime. But if you consider the time they are actually on-screen, it amounts to less than 20 percent. Megatron, is revived from a frozen state in the last 15 min of the movie.
- the usual ridiculous story-line of a nerd falling in love with a bimbo in highschool is thrusted upon the audience yet once again. They are the main characters, not the Transformers. You feel like you are watching one of the dezen teenage flicks where the nerd gets the hot chick in the end.
- then there is another girl who is a genius. She is able to crack codes and decipher messages sent by aliens that "10 floors of analysts" in the most advanced country on the planet cannot. To make her genius seem more plausible the idiotic director gives her an English/Australian (read, non-American) accent, which makes it seem alright about her being so brainy.
- then there are the handful of soldiers, and this is where the July 4th theme is most apparent. These brave U.S. soldiers even have an Arab boy as a friend, implicitly telling the audience how good the Amercans are, and how much good they are doing in the Arab world.
- one of these stupid soldiers of course has a wife and a child to make him more endearing. The audience hungry to see the Autobots take on Decepticons have to watch ridiculous fights between the humans (these soldiers) and the Decepticons. But these fights are necessary to show the world that humans, nay Americans, are all powerful, they can take on the most advanced nations by themselves. By doing this, the directors perhaps wants to reassure his fellow citizens that all will be well in the Middle East.
I think that is enough for now. This movie really does not deserve this kind of critique but, what the hell, thought I would share my thoughts;-)
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11/1/07 11:44 AM