Movie Review - Transformers: Age of Extinction

"I'm not saying Michael Bay is the problem...but Michael Bay is the problem and needs to be stopped."

At the moment I can't remember where that quote came from (though I'm sure someone will happily inform me in the comments section, lol), but my lack of crediting doesn't take away from the truth of the statement. :)  Michael Bay has hit upon a billion dollar idea that won't die. I know I'm part of the problem, since I went to see it in theaters (not on opening weekend!), but his over-the-top, massive explosions, poorly scripted dialogue, nearly conclusion-less, crazy long films need to stop.

Don't get me wrong...I knew what I was getting into before I walked into the theater last week to watch Transformers: Age of Extinction. I've seen the previous three Transformers movies - Transformers (2007), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) and Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) - and so didn't have high expectations.

A couple points in it's favor: it wasn't (nor could it be) worse than #2 - Revenge of the Fallen and Shia LaBeouf wasn't in it...and add another point for Mark Wahlberg and Stanley Tucci being in it instead. Another one for Mark giving his daughter a hard time about her skimpy shorts/skirts. We're up to four points, say...out of ten. Whoo hoo! :)

The basic premise is that after the giant battle between Autobots and Decepticons that nearly wipes out Chicago in the last movie (Dark of the Moon...two thumbs up for Patrick Dempsey being the bad guy!), a government agency is tracking down all Transformers, Autobots and Decepticons alike, in order to rid the world of this alien threat. Optimus Prime was injured (last movie), has been hiding out as a rusty old big rig truck and is eventually found by Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg). After the big, bad evil government people descend upon his farm and threaten his daughter, Cade takes off with Optimus to find out what is going on, why the black ops guys are killing all the Autobots...basically your average running, fighting, yelling, exploding action flick...with a side of giant robots and Kelsey Grammer.  

Fun Facts:
1. According to the filmmakers, 90% of Mark Wahlberg's stunts in the film are done by him.
2. Dwayne Johnson was offered the role of Cade Yeager, but he declined due to scheduling conflicts with his movie Hercules (2014).
3. Mark Wahlberg asked that his children Ella Rae, Michael Robert, Brendan Joseph and Grace Margaret get roles in the film since they're Transformers fans.
4. Bumblebee's alternate mode in this film is a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS automobile for some of the film then later a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro concept. Bumblebee also features a new burly design, sporting horns instead of antenna.
5. This installment marks the first time that Optimus Prime speaks another language besides English.
6. One of Bumblebee's sound bites is "I'm calm, Dude," taken from The Big Lebowski (1998). The quote is spoken by John Goodman's character, Walter. Also appearing in that film was fellow Transformers actor John Turturro.
7. The robot bird logo on Yeager's mailbox and the basketball-shooting robot in his shop are from an actual competition robotics team from Austin, Texas. They are FIRST Robotics Team 2468, from the Spring 2012 competition.

If you like the Transformers franchise, I would suggest going to see this in theaters and not waiting till it comes out on DVD. I think it's going to be one of those movies that loses a lot when you watch it on a smaller, every day sized screen as opposed to a giant, 2-3 story screen with surround sound. As someone said, if you're going to see this kind of a dumb movie, you should see it in the dumbest way possible! So...IMAX 3D, anyone? :) 

Enjoy and happy Friday! 


~ Katie