Transformers

The three act structure of film dates back to the days of Aristotle, and consists of normal situation, a conflict and a resolution. The pledge, the turn and the prestige, if you will. Transformers underlines the fact that no matter how good the first two acts, it is the resolution of film that stays with us.

Transformers is an amazing showcase in how to build tension and set up for a climax. We know there are giant robots coming. There is no way of hiding it. And yet, for the first hour of the film, I was mezmerised by the mystery. The juxtaposition of a mysterious military strike, and high school boy with girl, car and parental problems is wonderfully real, and transforms each of us, just a little, into an awkward unwitting hero.

I had to dip into a pool of freshly baked fusion superlatives in order to describe the visuals; from hence I have selected fantabulous. The transformers themselves are beyond imagination, with fluid organic motion, and each a spectacular design. The audience actually applauded the first time Optimus Prime transformed, so beautiful was the vision. The CGI work was made more spectacular by the performance of Shia LeBoeuf, whose emotion and shy curiosity belied interaction with a blank green screen belies

Unfortunately, act three gets the full Micheal Bay treatment. Bay breaks the rules he sets for himself, particularly in one scene where our young hero runs up 20 flights of steps whilst being chased by a giant killer robot who can transform into a plane. Even the children of the audience were saying “Megatron would have killed his bitch ass TWICE by now”. In another scene, Optimus Prime laments the death of a fellow autobot, whilst the rest of the audience struggles to remember who this character is, having appeared for a handful of brief occasions.

Worse still, the ending. Our hero is faced with a very difficult choice, when possessing a mysterious “cube” of phenomenal power. His dilemma was between a) using it to destroy his friend and all around good guy Optimus Prime, destroying the cube in the process, or b) using it to destroy the robot who had been trying to kill him for 20 minutes, and all around bad boy Megatron, destroying the cube in the process. Unfortunately the plot was less that meets the eye.

So do go and watch transformers, and enjoy the tension and suspense in an action movie whose plot could hold not possibly hold any surprises from the outset. Then go home, rouse your inner child with candy, and rewrite the ending for yourself.

Rating: 3.5/5

Written by Christopher See