This ost begins with a fractal called Opposites Flower. I chose it because I will be reviewing the new movie Transformers: the color palette and theme seemed appropriate for the subject matter.
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Transformers were huge in the 1980s. Hasbro manufactured hundreds of different toys that spawned a long-running cartoon show, a series of comic books and for all I know even a novel or two. I was too old to play with the toys and I never really “got” the concept--even though I thought it was a pretty cool idea. Why would alien robots come to Earth to disguise themselves as vehicles so they could carry on their fight? Why not just be robots and kick butt? (But, they wouldn’t have sold nearly as many toys that way I guess...) So, it was with a certain trepidation that I plunked down my eight bucks for a matinee showing of the movie Friday July 6.
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The plot of Transformers is fairly simple: Autobots (the good guys) and Decepticons (villains) from the planet Cybertron come to Earth searching for the “Allspark” (some unexplained form of super energy that can create and alter life--but also kill). Meanwhile teenager Sam Witwicky (played to perfection by Shia LeBoeuf in his 3284rd movie appearance of 2007) gets his first car--a junked-out Camero that also happens to be Autobot Scout Bumblebee. Sam’s Grandfather, an Arctic Explorer found something important that both sides are looking for--thus sparking the conflict in present-day Los Angeles. If you need to know more go see the movie.
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Megan Fox plays Mikaela Barnes, a hot high school girl with a past. Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson are a pair of soldiers who get drawn into the alien battle. Rachel Taylor is gorgeous “Ozzie” computer expert brought in to help with the crisis and comedian Anthony Anderson goes over the top as a hacker she brings in to help. Jon Voigt phones in his part as Defense Secretary Keller and John Tarturo is a lot of fun as head of a super-secret government agency investigating the alien invaders. Kevin Dunn and Judy White steal every scene they’re in as Sam’s parents who have no clue about what’s going on around them. Fans of the original cartoon series will be pleased to note that Optimus Prime is voiced by Peter Cullen who played the same role in the cartoon. All the actors bring a sense of believability to their roles and the viewer never gets the sense that the work is “beneath” them.
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As with any movie of this sort, there are quite a few plot holes one could comment on--but the movie zips along at such speed that the viewer never gets a chance to notice before things move along. The script crackles with humor (helping the movie avoid an unnecessary sense of gravitas) and even the “inside” jokes are pretty obvious. Needless to say the special effects are first rate and the battle scenes are nothign short of spectacular and really should be seen on a big screen. True, the whole thing is just a shallow romp but the movie is loads of fun. In my humble opinion it is a very-nearly perfect summer movie.
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FINAL GRADE: A
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Transformers were huge in the 1980s. Hasbro manufactured hundreds of different toys that spawned a long-running cartoon show, a series of comic books and for all I know even a novel or two. I was too old to play with the toys and I never really “got” the concept--even though I thought it was a pretty cool idea. Why would alien robots come to Earth to disguise themselves as vehicles so they could carry on their fight? Why not just be robots and kick butt? (But, they wouldn’t have sold nearly as many toys that way I guess...) So, it was with a certain trepidation that I plunked down my eight bucks for a matinee showing of the movie Friday July 6.
-
The plot of Transformers is fairly simple: Autobots (the good guys) and Decepticons (villains) from the planet Cybertron come to Earth searching for the “Allspark” (some unexplained form of super energy that can create and alter life--but also kill). Meanwhile teenager Sam Witwicky (played to perfection by Shia LeBoeuf in his 3284rd movie appearance of 2007) gets his first car--a junked-out Camero that also happens to be Autobot Scout Bumblebee. Sam’s Grandfather, an Arctic Explorer found something important that both sides are looking for--thus sparking the conflict in present-day Los Angeles. If you need to know more go see the movie.
-
Megan Fox plays Mikaela Barnes, a hot high school girl with a past. Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson are a pair of soldiers who get drawn into the alien battle. Rachel Taylor is gorgeous “Ozzie” computer expert brought in to help with the crisis and comedian Anthony Anderson goes over the top as a hacker she brings in to help. Jon Voigt phones in his part as Defense Secretary Keller and John Tarturo is a lot of fun as head of a super-secret government agency investigating the alien invaders. Kevin Dunn and Judy White steal every scene they’re in as Sam’s parents who have no clue about what’s going on around them. Fans of the original cartoon series will be pleased to note that Optimus Prime is voiced by Peter Cullen who played the same role in the cartoon. All the actors bring a sense of believability to their roles and the viewer never gets the sense that the work is “beneath” them.
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As with any movie of this sort, there are quite a few plot holes one could comment on--but the movie zips along at such speed that the viewer never gets a chance to notice before things move along. The script crackles with humor (helping the movie avoid an unnecessary sense of gravitas) and even the “inside” jokes are pretty obvious. Needless to say the special effects are first rate and the battle scenes are nothign short of spectacular and really should be seen on a big screen. True, the whole thing is just a shallow romp but the movie is loads of fun. In my humble opinion it is a very-nearly perfect summer movie.
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FINAL GRADE: A
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