July's Film Of The Month: Transformers: Dark of the Moon
It feels odd to recommend one half of a film, but the final hour of 'Transformers 3' could well be the cinematic experience of 2011 - especially when viewed in 3D on an IMAX screen.
The first movie in this franchise is one of my favourite action flicks of recent years: simple plot, engaging characters, incredible set pieces and the right balance of humour. The second instalment was a mess: over-long, unfunny and directionless. Michael Bay concedes that 'Transformers 2' was hugely flawed and promised fans he'd make amends with this second sequel.
He's delivered an entertaining sci-fi adventure, but still struggles to find the right tone. The film gets off to a promising start, with a prologue linking the space race of the 1960s to the arrival of an alien spacecraft on the moon. But narrative is quickly forgotten (the story is nonsensical and confusing), so the director can focus on random action sequences and comedy exchanges. The entire script is played for laughs, with all the guest stars (John Malkovich, John Turturro, Frances McDormand and Ken Jeong) turning in deliberately OTT performances. At one point, I convinced myself Bay intended to make a spoof.
Then, we have Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley - replacing Megan Fox as the token eye candy. Yes, she's a pretty girl, but is sadly lacking in the acting skills department. Every line she delivers is unintentionally hilarious. Luckily, Shia LaBeouf is a likeable leading man and just about holds everything together, and Patrick Dempsey is suitably villainous.
After an hour and a bit of mediocre fun and frolics, it all kicks off in Chicago. Buildings are destroyed, humans are disintegrated and the scene is set for one giant, kick-ass battle, involving men and machines. No one blows stuff up like Michael Bay. No one does slo-mo like Michael Bay. No one stages improbable, gravity-defying stunts like Michael Bay. In fact, every single Michael Bay cliché lampooned in 'Team America: World Police' is present and correct. And they work! The CGI is amazing, the 3D cinematography is outstanding and there's plenty of tension and emotion. Overall, this is one of the most thrilling action sequences I've ever seen.
So, find a cinema with a massive screen that's showing the film in 3D. Feel free to arrive late, or snooze through the first half. Then, sit back and revel in some visual awesomeness!
(and a half)