| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010 11:08 am |
||||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
Entertainment 
|
||||||||||||||||
'Transformers' sequel: These toys have grown tiresome 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? |
- A revolutionary 747
- Fire breaks out at Everett car dealer
- Everett rethinks boutique wineries
- A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood
- Snohomish County's bargain housing won't last
- Boeing's 747-8 takes off after weather delay
- Plan for I-5 closures this week
- A new bowling alley for Monroe?
- Lake Stevens man homeless after fire
- I-5 bridge joint may give you a jolt, but it isn't damaged
- A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood
(9) - Vote on school levies by Tuesday (9)
- Everett police officers cleared in 2008 shooting death (5)
- 1949 travel aid shows how few places blacks were welcome in Washington (4)
- Everett rethinks boutique wineries (4)
- Life story: Man fought depression courageously, family says (3)
- I-5 bridge joint may give you a jolt, but it isn't damaged (3)
- Toyota has powerful D.C. friends (3)
- Snohomish County's bargain housing won't last (2)
- Three politicians who want Gregoire's job in 2012 (2)
- Edmonds educator, famous announcer dies
- Mill Creek to appeal ruling on annexation
- Through the air, with the greatest of ease
- E-W thriving under new coach
- The path to citizenship
- EUUC puts on ‘Pants & Shoes’
- Wolfpack wins the ‘Battle'
- Lynnwood’s annexation plans OK’d
- Arlington's Cascade Valley Hospital celebrates expansion, national award and 100 years of service
- Business Licences Feb. 2010
- Technology tips for launching your own business
- Business Events Feb. 2010
- Tech Talk: No excuse today for going without a Web site
- State already raising fees and rates that restrict business growth
- Some legislators again targeting people’s initiative petition rights
|
 
|
|
|
|
| TODAY'S TOP JOBS |
| View All Top Jobs |
| Top Cars |
|
| Top Homes |
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
|
|Contact Us
|Advertiser Services
|Home Delivery
|Newsstand Locations
|Classifieds
|Feedback
|About the Company
|Work@the Herald
|Site Map |
|
COMMENTS | Be the first to comment
Log in or register to post a new comment.
To read other terms and conditions, click here