The Transformers film series continues with this fourth entry from director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg. Mark Wahlberg and Jack Reynor star. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi
Director: Michael
Bay
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Stanley
Tucci, Ken Watanabe, Peter Cullen
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi
violence and action, language
Release Date: Jun
27, 2014
Run Time.
2 hrs. 37 min
Genres: Action/Adventure
Review:
Transformers: Age of Extinction is going to have a lot of
batred shot it’s way most of well deserved.
It’s an over bloated mess that’s got way too many storylines at play to
make any of it cohesive. Had it stuck
with the most interesting angle, secret government agency taking out all
Transformers, it probably would have been one Bay’s better films. As is, it’s a absurdly log slog through
action set piece in between bits of story with more story followed by action
set pieces and more story etc… So is it even worth your time? Sort of.
As a superfan of the cartoon, I’ve found plenty to like in the previous
efforts even the Revenge of the Fallen.
The frustrating part about Extinction is that it fixes a lot of issues
from the previous films. The human side of
the story is actually bearable thanks to the addition of Wahlberg, Tucci and
Grammer. Mark Wahlberg is solid as the
lead even if it stretches the imagination that he’s some sort of genius
inventor. Kelsey Grammer is fairly solid
as the human villain, he poses a creditable threat throughout. Stanley Tucci proves why he’s a great actor;
taking a silly role and making it work. Another
aspect that’s much improved is that the transformers villain, Lockdown, is
actually interesting this go around, something they failed to do over 3 films
with Megatron. Additionally, the Autobots
at Prime’s side have some characterization that makes them likable and makes
this feel the closest to the animated series and any child of the 80s will get
chills when the dinobots makes their appearance. It’s the Bay oddity that this is probably his
best Transformers film even though it’s filled with the worse he has to
offer. Sadly, the animated Transformers
The Movie is still the best cinematic entry.
C
Good review Dan. If this is your type of thing, then it's a fine movie. However, if it's not, it's pretty much garbage. Except this garbage is around three hours.
ReplyDeleteI'm entirely biased Dan so I enjoyed it a lot more than I should have. Either way it's a nearly 3 hour slog which is a beating one way or another...
DeleteWhile I was not a super Transformers fan when I was a kid, I did like it and watch it a lot, so I will end up watching Age of Extinction on rental. My favorite is still the first one though.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, your posts are not showing up on the dashboard again. Since I haven't seen you post anything in since 22 Jump Street I went to the link to see if you have posted anything.
-James
It's worth a watch even if it's a bit an endurance test.
DeleteSo strange about the post, I've had that happen as well where I can't see peoples post on the dashboard.
Can't disagree with you and a gradeC pretty much matches my 5/10!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely better than the last couple of instalments! The cast changes were welcome and made a HUGE difference.
I can see were the hate comes from but after the first three films people should know by now what to expect.
The running time was my biggest issue but underneath the Bayhem there is a decent film!
K :-)