Transformers Dark Of The Moon? Apology Accepted Michael Bay.
June 30th, 2011 | Posted by in Featured Posts | Movies | Reviews
TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON
WAS EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED
I’ve been beyond pumped to see the third installment of Michael Bay’s robot opus for a long time. The incredible disappointment of Revenge of the Fallen is still fresh in my mind. The truth is, I love movies like Transformers and to have the second film fail on so many levels… hurt.
Then details of a third and presumably final film in the franchise (until the reboot of course) began to surface… On the moon. (Sorry. I couldn’t resist.) People started talking about the film’s potential to be the biggest and coolest Transformers movie yet. Many others had already written it off. I couldn’t. I love action movies too much to write it off. The third film had too much to prove to fail in my eyes.
XTRA | There’s No Way Transformers 3 Will Suck
I had a rough morning today. It was one of those mornings where stress took over and I was in a pretty bad mood. While I was out running errands, I realized that it probably wasn’t worth it to rush to the theater to see Dark of the Moon. The next available opportunity wouldn’t come until a week from now and I made the decision to skip the movie. This made my day even worse.
I went about my afternoon and slowly my mood began to change. I decided that a movie like Transformers would put me over the top and turn this gloomy day around.
I was 100% right. It was a fantastic decision on my part.
TRANSFORMERS 3 DOES NOT SUCK
This movie was bound to have critics no matter what. People either love or despise the franchise and make no mistake, this film is not without flaws. But I submit that there are 3 things about the new film that make it the best in the series.
- It has a better story.
- It has better stakes.
- It has better action.
That’s all I wanted to see. When the theater went dark, all I wanted to do was shut my brain off for a few hours and forget the crappy morning I had. The movie is a little on the long side but by the time the ‘Bay-hem’ started I had long forgotten my troubles. Transformers Dark of the Moon is my favorite film in the series. It stands up nicely next to the first and I’ll probably go on pretending that the sequel doesn’t exist.
There were more than a few moments when I had to cringe at the enormously high levels of cheese but that’s what I signed up for. Each and every person who walks into the theater to see Transformers 3 knows exactly what to expect. True, there is a lot of failed attempts at humor but there is also depth and emotion if you find yourself invested in the story. I certainly was.
The final hour was a non stop battle that didn’t feel rushed and really paid off the large amount of screen time they spent setting it up. When the credits rolled I left the theater feeling like Michael Bay and his team achieved what they set out to achieve. Dark of the Moon felt like an apology to fans of the series.
APOLOGY ACCEPTED MR. BAY
However, I do strongly disagree with the whole ‘cable’ incident involving Optimus Prime… Really Optimus? Cables? I also thought there were a few too many convenient ‘setups’ that audiences will see through. There were also a few questionable last minute ‘saves’. Still, for every flaw there was an action scene that blew me away and a few twists that had me smiling. That’s really what summer movies are about. They can’t all be The Dark Knight although that would be amazing.
To be able to escape my crummy morning for a few hours helped me immensely. When the lights came up, I felt better. We all have off days. It’s perfectly normal but today, I’m happy I have such a strong connection to movies. They mean more to me than I’ll ever be able to put into words.
Sometimes, a little action and fun is all I need.
Transformers Dark of the Moon delivered today. Who knows what movie will be around next time I need a pick-me-up?
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I envy you just a little bit.
I can’t really watch a movie just for the explosions. I can’t switch myself off for all the dumb stuff just because I am watching a 2 hour slugfest between giant robots.
I want the 20-30% or so of the movie which don’t include robot battles not to be offensively stupid. Is it so hard to make something semi-coherent, so that it doesn’t reek of bullsh*t from the screen? I don’t want every summer blockbuster to be smart. “Just averagely adequate” would be quite enough. Trouble is Michael Bay just cares about the action scenes, and writes the story with his feet.
I stumbled upon a passage of a review which I thought was well put:
“This isn’t a good movie. I’m sorry, it’s just not. There is a difference between things we like and things that are good. We have been programmed to believe that films that push the right buttons, that provide us with cursory and superficial film-making, the type that provides mindless but oversized thrills and epic-looking set-pieces are enough. They’re not, or at least, they shouldn’t be. Bay and company make absolutely no attempt at a nuanced, coherent plot. They make no attempt at character development. They don’t even try for thematic relevance. That shouldn’t be good enough.
I can hear your cries of criticism now. “But it’s Transformers and Michael Bay! They’re alien robots, based on Hasbro toys. Did you really think this was Shakespeare? What did you expect?” No, I didn’t, but that doesn’t mean I can’t hold out hope, does it? I fully recognize this isn’t high art. This is full-blooded, big-money popcorn extravaganza stuff. Does that mean we should give up? Does that mean we shouldn’t hold films – even Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Michael Bay – to any sort of standard? So is the response to just give up and take the medicine we’re given? I would hope not.”
Well said! While I still enjoy the brainless popcorn movies for what they are I agree that there is a certain level of intelligence the audience expects. I don’t think Michael Bay has ever really understood that. He does what he does best which is stage amazing action sequences.
I had a conversation with someone the other day who asked me why I love movies like transformers so much. Why I don’t prefer the smart dramas and best picture nominees.
That couldn’t be farther from the truth. I live for the character driven dramas. Those are the types of movies I write the most. (although my latest is an action heavy take)
I just think there is a type of movie for every mood and I’m thankful movies like T3 exist. But there are days when a movies like dark of the moon would frustrate me too. On those days, I would reach for A Beautiful Mind, A Few Good Men, The Shawshank Redemption amongst others.
It’s an interesting point you bring up though. At what point are we simply making excuses for movies that should deliver more than just giant robots. I mentioned The Dark Knight for a reason. That’s a movie that nailed both sides of Two-face’s coin! And look how much money it made and how audiences adored it.
If I had it my way, Transformers would keep the action but build it around a story that audiences and critics will respond too. Some will argue that it DOES have that kind of story. Others will say it’s dumb an pointless.
Both sides are right. It really just depends on individual tastes. I fall right in the middle of those two sides.
Bring on Cowboys & Aliens, captain america and Harry potter!!!
This publish (Transformers Dark Of The Moon? Apology Accepted Michael Bay. | Transformers Dark Of The Moon Movie Review 2011 | The Athletic Nerd) was a very good learn so I posted it on my Facebook to hopefully offer you extra readers. Maybe you can evaluate The Lion King in 3D on one of your subsequent posts. I hear they’ve labored over 12 months on the 3D side of it. Just an idea for you
I have yet to see the film in 3D but there is a Lion King post on the way as I just watched the gorgeous Blu Ray release.