Transformers
Transformers is an excellent action film. There is smooth acting, some fun dialog and even funnier pop culture references. The movie kept interesting and for the most part avoided serious cheesiness. Shia LaBeouf proves to be a solid up-and-coming, perhaps even at-the-cusp-of-excellence actor. He always impresses me. Megan Fox was just that, a fox! Perhaps another breakout star? Josh Duhamel is in there as well and he rocks. This film definitely covered its ground.
However, the product placement in the film was obscene. It went from, "All right, they are a sponsor." to "Wow, they must be the only car company alive." While it was bearable, still overloaded. The other product placements were relatively subtle. But if this is still the direction that the entertainment industry is taking, that it will succumb to the all-might advertising industry, then gag me with a spoon. I did find it hilarious, however, that the first good Transformer to show up was one of the product placement vehicles and the first bad Transformer to show up was a cop!
There were also some questionable links to patriotism, more specifically American patriotism. The fighting between good and evil was canvased with points of freedom and choice as well as the sacrifice for the greater good. While this may be all well and good, it seemed a little too obvious and hence despicable, in my opinion.
If you want to convey a sense of morality with respect to freedom of choice, do not lecture about it, just do it. There were a few lines in the movie where it was very explicit about humans having freedom and the opportunity to choose. It was somewhat lame.
Also, someone in the film that will receive an “aww, shucks” when people see he dies, but it is symbolic of the sacrifices that need to be made for the greater good. In this movie, the sacrifice came with respect to the fight for freedom in which the Transformers took arms. I took it as being strongly representative and linked to the fighting that we see everyday in our own world and I find it unfortunate that they did that. Do not package civic obligation and patriotism into the “action film of the summer” please!
Overall, however, the movie was very enjoyable and I highly recommend everyone to see it.
However, the product placement in the film was obscene. It went from, "All right, they are a sponsor." to "Wow, they must be the only car company alive." While it was bearable, still overloaded. The other product placements were relatively subtle. But if this is still the direction that the entertainment industry is taking, that it will succumb to the all-might advertising industry, then gag me with a spoon. I did find it hilarious, however, that the first good Transformer to show up was one of the product placement vehicles and the first bad Transformer to show up was a cop!
There were also some questionable links to patriotism, more specifically American patriotism. The fighting between good and evil was canvased with points of freedom and choice as well as the sacrifice for the greater good. While this may be all well and good, it seemed a little too obvious and hence despicable, in my opinion.
If you want to convey a sense of morality with respect to freedom of choice, do not lecture about it, just do it. There were a few lines in the movie where it was very explicit about humans having freedom and the opportunity to choose. It was somewhat lame.
Also, someone in the film that will receive an “aww, shucks” when people see he dies, but it is symbolic of the sacrifices that need to be made for the greater good. In this movie, the sacrifice came with respect to the fight for freedom in which the Transformers took arms. I took it as being strongly representative and linked to the fighting that we see everyday in our own world and I find it unfortunate that they did that. Do not package civic obligation and patriotism into the “action film of the summer” please!
Overall, however, the movie was very enjoyable and I highly recommend everyone to see it.
