Starscream, Starscream, STARSCREAM!!!!

The Movie: Transformers, directed by Michael Bay
Recommendation: Broomie (cause he saw it first)
Reason: It's Transformers, and it showed a lot of promise in the area of not playing Dare to be Stupid.

If this movie had been nothing but wall to wall Megatron versus Optimus Prime for two and a half hours, I would have paid full price to see it twice. If this movie had been nothing but Shia LeBeouf and Megan Fox's characters interacting, I would have...at least seen it once. I don't have that much faith in LeBeouf's talent just yet. Transformers as I saw it today, I could certainly see again, but mainly to see the giant robots smashing each other to pieces. The worldbuilding that was done in the film was very strong, with fairly realistic reactions on the parts of multiple world governments to sudden strange assaults. The animation was holy-shit-amazing. The design of the Transformers themselves was really top notch.

There are however, some weak points. Boo and hiss all you like. The pacing was off and felt a little hitchy in places-the movie could have been trimmed up a bit, particularily in the second act. The acting could have been a lot better. Jon Voight and John Tuturro were massive hams in a movie that was making a reasonable attempt at credibility. There could have probably been one or two less Decepticons to tighten up the final fight. There was a setup for a sequel, but anyone who didn't see that coming must be deluded.

The original voice actor was brought back to play Optimus Prime, which was a truly excellent decision, but it was that all-too-brief scene between Megatron and Starscream that really felt 'old Transformers' to me. The quick berating leading into the final battle made me wish for more 'villain' action. I think that was an issue with this movie-too many semi-villains, when there were at least two perfectly good candidates right in front of them. I was actually surprised to see so little of Starscream, given his crazed lust for power. Perhaps the second movie, whenever it comes, will deliver.

Oh, and did you catch this trailer from the guys who brought us Lost? I cannot wait for this one.

-144/365 down, 221/365 to go