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Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
directed by Michael Bay
written by Ehren Kruger, Robert Orci, Alex Kurtzman
starring Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro, Kevin Dunn, Julie White, Ramon Rodriguez

The story here is both more complex and convoluted than the first one in the trilogy yet it pales compared to the special effects which dominate this film from start to finish. It certainly sells itself as a non-stop adrenaline ride but unfortunately the story just doesn't seem to matter that much by the end. The visuals effectively convey the intensity of the story and they certainly keep the mind occupied, so much so that the actual narrative is completely subsumed.

It's a complicated universe and like the first one exceedingly difficult if not impossible to grasp upon a single viewing. There are many moments where the effects are dutifully impressive but none that offer the viewer the opportunity to experience pure, naked joy. It's not a beautiful film although there are a few moments where one wishes it would go dead silent in order to view the ballet of the destruction being depicted on screen. But, those moments are few and far between and mostly it's just one tedious explosion after another with no let up. The film takes the approach that the more violent clashes in the film the more audiences will respond favorably because apparently the audiences of this type of film want first and foremost to see things blow up nice and big with no interference from the story. There is only so much of this that a mature viewer can take, however.

The story as far as it goes involves Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) being contaminated by a shard of the All Spark. He subsequently is tormented by esoteric symbols and suffers a complete meltdown in Astronomy class at college. These symbols necessarily lead to the location of a key called the Matrix of Leadership which opens up the Sun Harvester, a device which if fallen into the wrong hands can suck all the energy from earth effectively destroying all life on the planet. So, Sam is again dragged into a war in which the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

The rest of the story is typical black and white posturing with dangers around every corner. This time a Prime called the Fallen is the main antagonist who eagerly wants the key so he can destroy the earth in an act of revenge. The film loses its direction and becomes little more than an exercise in how to blow as many things up in the shortest time span

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