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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" Stupefying sequel to the 2007 hit about war between giant robots, with director Michael Bay and star Shia LaBeouf returning for duty. Heavy on military hardware and witless one-liners, this one doesn't have the over-the-top sense of fun the first movie had. Rated: PG-13, for violence, language Now showing: Alderwood Mall, Edmonds, Everett, Galaxy Monroe, Marysville, Puget Park, Stanwood, Cinerama, Metro, Pacific Place, Uptown, Woodinville, Blue Fox and Cascade Mall.   Related Stories • Ed McMahon's off to sidekick heaven 6/24/09   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 'Transformers' sequel: These toys have grown tiresome By Robert Horton Herald Movie Critic When last we met the "Transformers" franchise, many things had blown up, great machines had folded themselves into the shapes of giant robots and the world had been saved. I'm a little shaky on the details, even though that blockbuster came out a mere two summers back. Actually I'm a little shaky on the sequel, and I finished watching that an hour ago. "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" revives the age-old battle of the Autobots and the Decepticons on Earth. Once again Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf), who just wants to start college, is dragged into this war. Why any of this is happening I don't know, despite the fact that the movie stops cold for some long, boring exposition scenes. As though to confuse things further, at a certain point the main characters are magically zapped to the Egyptian desert (the rough landing at least gives the film a chance to explain LaBeouf's bandaged hand, injured in a real-life auto accident). Returning to the director's chair is Michael Bay, the easily distracted eye behind "Armageddon" and "Pearl Harbor." The battles between the giant collapsible robots are shot in Bay's trademark style of utter sensory confusion. His taste hasn't improved any. Introducing leading lady Megan Fox as she's bent over a motorbike is a typical move. Fox, who has the charisma of the third model from the left in the average Victoria's Secret ad, once again tags along for most of the action. Bay's fetish for military hardware is much on display, as usual (accompanied by rote swipes at the U.S. government). He makes the planes and huge guns come alive in a way the human characters never do. The explosions are occasionally interrupted by wisecracks, almost all of which feel like they were hip about 10 years ago, and weren't funny then. John Turturro, also returning to his role from the first film, briefly injects some oomph into the proceedings, but everything else is witless. The first "Transformers" picture was fun in an over-the-top way. This one has no shame at all, blithely prancing from one stupefying situation to the next. The most amazing thing is that all of this expense and effort is based on a toy line of little trucks that became robots when re-configured. Who knew it was a billion-dollar idea just waiting to transform itself? READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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