To be brief, for once, I’m going to get straight to the point. I highly enjoyed this film! I predict Oscar nominations!* Much like the rest in the franchise, I don’t go to see these movies for thought-provoking storytelling or intense character development. I go to see giant robots fighting giant robots and destroying things with explosions. And if that’s what you go for, you won’t be disappointed either.
However, I must agree with probably the vast majority of reviews for this film in one of it’s major flaws is that this movie is about 30 minutes too long. In fact, each installment has been increasing it’s running time and it’s not like we as an audience haven’t noticed. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad if there was more substance to it? Who am I kidding… I get second thoughts anytime I see a running time over 150 minutes.
I took the advice of another review and opted NOT to go with the 3D experience, however, if I had the option to see it in 2D IMAX, that would have been cool. Also not needed, or rather not missed: Shia LaBouf. Or anyone else from the first three films, which effectively “reboots” the franchise in a manner of speaking. This does pick up a few years after the third film, so it may or may not be beneficial to see it. I mean, you’re not missing that much. These are the kind of films you either see them or you hate them because everyone else does. I will also say that if you’ve seen the first one, you’ve seen all three.
But with part four, we go on a different adventure with different people and a few different Transformers. It’s not necessarily better than the first three but I’d definitely take Mark Wahlberg over Shia any day. Oh and Stanley Tucci. And TJ Miller. They’re in the movie too.
As for story goes, I normally don’t do summaries… and there’s way too much that happened in this movie for me to even attempt at one. I think Michael Bay could have made two movies from this if he really wanted to. Or he decided to keep every scene he shot.
There’s nothing after the credits. Marvel has us all trained to wait until the very end of the film to catch an extra scene to dangle a tease for the next film. There’s nothing like that so go on home, kids.
Speaking of kids, take them at your own discretion. There was a baby in the screening I went to, fortunately I had forgotten it was there as the child made not one peep. Good kid. But due to the running time and having recently been to the movies with an antsy five year old, a nigh three hour film I don’t recommend even with the colors and explosions.
*Oscar nods for Best Special Effects, Sound Editing/Mixing. What’d you think I was going to say? However, a lot of the shots were very beautifully composed with warm sunsets and whatnot. In any event, I’m one of the few reviewers that might recommend this film and say good things about it. My only complaint is the 163 minutes or whatever BUT it’s totally a film to see on a big screen.
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