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Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen (2009)

Director: Michael Bay

Time Out rating

Average user rating

100 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

With this cash-cow sequel to his widely derided, hugely succesful original, Michael Bay comes closer than any director in history to boiling the blockbuster down to its most basic components: PG-violence, safe sex and special effects. And while it would be hard to make a case for ‘Revenge of the Fallen’ as ‘good’ in any normal sense of the word, it possesses such brute force that the viewer is left with two options: surrender, or suffer in silence.

The first hour is essentially ‘Maxim: the Movie’, a parade of sweaty denim, product placement and gadgets, punctuated with eardrum-rupturing action and increasingly tiresome gags. The story is largely absent, as Shia LaBeouf’s Sam Witwicky heads to college, only to find himself suffering spasmodic, brain-scrambling visions which seem to have some connection to the ongoing Transformer war.

Somehow, a total absence of narrative logic doesn’t feel like an insult to the viewers’ intelligence: it’s not that the writers believe their audience are too stupid to notice the gaping holes in the plot; it’s just that they know they don’t give a damn. And Bay’s direction offers sparks of genuine invention, including a stunning break-in involving a metallic cougar and a herd of smart ball bearings.

Then somewhere around the mid point, it begins to come together. A smash-and-plunder forest battle ups the action ante, and the return of John Turturro adds a lightness of tone which is totally lacking in LaBeouf and Megan Fox. Perhaps it’s just that the sheer volume and ferocity of the thing becomes impossible to resist, but by the climactic desert conflict, in which the entire Valley of the Kings is razed to the ground, the film has become so utterly lunatic, so breathtakingly, boneheadedly brazen, that it’s easier just to give in.

Author: Tom Huddleston

Time Out London issue 2026, June 18 - 24, 2008

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User reviews of this film

JHC said...

Posted on Apr 04 2010 01:40 This film suffers because it was writtain too quickly and it is far too long. The CGI is amazing but there is so much of it and so many incredibly complex battle scenes - you just didnt need them all, really. I also totally agree with the first critic - it is incredibly sexist and racist. I love action, SciFi CGI packed films, but I do like a believable rounded female character in there as well please. I watched the film with the DVD cometary and conclude the misoginy lies with the writers and director. Shame on you. Despite all this I did manage to enjoy it.

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ricky said...

Posted on Jan 27 2010 13:29 mel is a tool \/.

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kevin said...

Posted on Aug 08 2009 10:16 this film is really good its way better than the first i wanna see again it it that GOOD!

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MichealJackson said...

Posted on Aug 05 2009 09:58 Spectacular effects,especially the fight at the end with the fallen and meggatron. The lauguage maybe quite strong,but I thik it was a realy good film

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Evo said...

Posted on Jul 28 2009 21:16 Absolute quality film, if youliked the first one yhen you'll love this one. Action packed and excellent CGI, really enjoyed every minute. It's a long film which I liked as you can fit more story in, plus you get your moneys worth! Not forgetting MEGAN FOX!! Best film of the year so far.

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mariusz said...

Posted on Jul 20 2009 16:16 I was expecting good "dark" movie. This was just bad, nothing new...

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Pliuck said...

Posted on Jul 12 2009 16:21 Sara said...
"Are we really all idiots? "
--------------------------------------------
No...just you

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Matt said...

Posted on Jul 12 2009 02:22 Another thought, this movie did seem to go on quite long; but that might be unfair, as I was a bit tired already when I went to see it. Didn't expect it to go on so long, should check film lengths in future!

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Matt said...

Posted on Jul 12 2009 02:19 For once the official reviewer gets it right. This film was OK. Megan Fox on that motorbike in the first scene you see her in, you gotta love it. Some of the smaller robots are fantastic. Lots of action. Downers:- insanely, ludicrously, unashamedly silly silly silly silly premise (I mean, really, it's the most ridiculous premise of any franchise ever); over-the-top world-destroying scenario / America Saves The World (Again!) In The Middle East [OMG shut up]; the "old guy" aeroplane transformer is just stupid (WHY the off-British accent?? This is an ALIEN for goodness sake!!). Not really a particularly "intelligent" or thought-provoking movie, but it doesn't have to be. Not quite as good as Terminator: Salvation, but still in the 3-star band for my money.

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anneka said...

Posted on Jul 11 2009 15:45 loved the 1st now i love the 2nd gotta go c it again it was just amazin cnt beleve id put off goin 2 c it amazin story 2 it love it love it love it

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Freddy said...

Posted on Jul 09 2009 17:31 Is this movie the greatest sequel ever made? It's definitely a contender. I'm usually into art house or independent cinema but, of course, everyone kow tows to the power of America in cinema eventually. It's their art/entertainment form and the review is completely right - this movie boils hollywood cinema down to the basic components. In fact it's almost revolutionary in its rewriting of hollywood conventions - nothing exists except entertainment - no character, no story, no unity of time or place: the egyptian desert is seemingly everwhere in the world, even the sea and a quarry; lebeouf appears to have broken his hand halfway through filming - no attempt is made to disguise this continuity error. Characters have no role and are played by people who can't act. It has no pretensions, no message, no morality and no death - despite it's recycling of sacrifice and honour tropes. It's fucking madness explodes in your face and pisses on your puny middle class theorising of cinema and taste. It's confused me so much I will never be able to watch it again.

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Stephanie said...

Posted on Jul 05 2009 20:46 I Thought This Film Was Amazing! I Wanna Go See It Again! I Think Some People Are Just To Sad If They Say This Film Is Rubbish! I Would Recomend This Film To AnyOne! I Hope They Bring Another One Out!

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hi said...

Posted on Jul 03 2009 17:23 best movie ever if you didnt like well thats just wrong it awsome even when i got stuck wih front row seats at imax and had to look up the entire time. even the it was still awsome.

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fog said...

Posted on Jul 02 2009 20:19 the film is totally ace, who care s about the sexual references, i loved transformers wen i was a kid and i love these movies. although i dunno why they made megatron a plane wen he aint a plane in the cartoon. weird. 666/666 rating! proper bo film!

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Mel said...

Posted on Jul 02 2009 07:13 This movie was TRASH!! I couldn't believe that the target audience was 13 year-olds and older. I'm well over 13 and found this movie too obscene for my tastes. The corney sexual references ruined what little plot there was. Lame Lame Lame Movie. Even 1 star it too many

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