ROTTEN TOMATOES: Critical Consensus: "Transformers" About As Much As Meets The Eye

Critical Consensus: "Transformers" About As Much As Meets The Eye

by Alex Vo | July 02, 2007

"Transformers" comes out tomorrow with some major chips on its shoulders. The movie has to please both the hardcore and fair-weather fans, along the nostalgia-impervious moviegoers expecting only summer entertainment. What do the critics, probably among the last on director Michael Bay's list of concerns, have to say?

If last week's "Live Free or Die Hard" was a summer tentpole throwback to the pre-CG days of crazy stuntwork, then "Transformers" is the complete opposite. It's a slick, special effects driven extravaganza about two warring robot factions, the Autobots and the Decepticons, who take their fight to our planet. Shia LaBeouf leads a small ensemble cast of humans caught in-between the fight. "Transformers"' detractors call it an obnoxiously loud film with corny dialogue. Supporters praise the film for being... obnoxiously loud and corny, a fun popcorn flick that is Bay's bread and butter. With a 60 percent Tomatometer (and a surprising 72 percent from Cream of the Crop critics), "Transformers" is for the fans and the curious looking for a raucous, out-of-control time at the movies.

More effective than "Volcano" at destroying downtown L.A.

Michael Bay Movies:
------------
40% -- The Island
25% -- Bad Boys II
24% -- Pearl Harbor
41% -- Armageddon
62% -- The Rock

Related Items

Movie:	The Rock
	Die Hard 4: Live Free or Die Hard
	The Island
	Bad Boys II
	Pearl Harbor
	Armageddon
Celeb:	Michael Bay
	Shia LaBeouf

(1-20 of 75 posts) | Reply

Mr. Kong writes:
on Jul 02 2007 06:43 PM

Transfomers is the type of movie whose critics that like it really do and critics that don't reeeeeeeeally don't.

(Reply to this)

nogard46 writes:
on Jul 02 2007 07:02 PM

[b]DUH!!![/b]
of course its going to be a CGI super fest!!!

Last time I check the most high tech humanoid robot was made by Honda called the Asimo and it stumbled just walking down some stairs!

The fans have waited over 20 years for movie technology to catch up and be able to do this!

Transform and Roll out!

(Reply to this)

Metafact writes:
on Jul 02 2007 07:13 PM

It's now at a rotten 59%.

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DarthWonka writes:
on Jul 02 2007 07:32 PM

Sounds like another "300."

A movie not meant to be anymore than a good time, and is nothing more than a good time. Big, flashy, dumb good time.

I'm a huuuuuuuuuge "300" fan btw.

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Exode writes:
on Jul 02 2007 08:03 PM

59% isn't bad at all, if you were to ask what others thought the meter's percentage would be around a year and a half ago back when only a few bits of concept art were released here and there it would have been significantly lower.

So far it seems to have exceeded the common expectations which surrounded it. Though I'll save my final opinion until I've seen the film, if all goes well I think I might actually look forward to new Michael Bay projects given that they present similar circumstances to Transformers.

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Now it's dark writes:
on Jul 02 2007 08:10 PM

Ah, well. Another dissapointment. I'd like to see Rescue Dawn become a sleeper hit for Herzog.

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Silverevilchao writes:
on Jul 02 2007 08:24 PM

Any idiot critic who thinks that a movie about GIANT FREAKING ROBOTS FROM OUTER SPACE would have a good story and NOT be corny should not officially review this.

I mean, come on. Did ANYBODY think that this movie would be as story-heavy as Spider-Man 3? And Transformers is naturally corny anyways, so...

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brettswiz writes:
on Jul 02 2007 08:35 PM

[b]Just saw it...[/b]
and it is what it is. Mindless action, bad dialouge, but for two hours and 20 minutes i had a lot of fun. I won't ever rate this as one of my favorite action movies, but it was awesome to see the toys that i use to play with come to life.

In other news, Michael Bay has another blockbuster on his hands. But when can he learn to fix his mistakes!!!!! I have been told all my life that when you make a mistake, you fix it. This is easily going to gross over 200 million (if not more), but you think if he could make some the lines less cheesier, the script just a teeeennny bit more believeable, this could be an action movie that could have become a classic and not a movie ill rent one more time. Oh well, thanks again Bay.

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MR_MAJESTIK writes:
on Jul 02 2007 08:55 PM

Im sick and tired of poeple putting this movie down.For what it was aiming for its one of the best of its kind.If you want a f*****g story,plot or drama go rent titanic and be done with it already.

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arendr writes:
on Jul 02 2007 09:18 PM

In reply to this comment (#883324)
Not too interested in Transformers, but I am so there for Rescue Dawn! I'll be the other dude in the theater when everyone but us is at Transformers.

(Reply to this)

jeanpaul writes:
on Jul 03 2007 12:05 AM

In reply to this comment (#883328)
[b]THAT'S RIGHT.[/b]
And in your stupidity, you'll be ALL ALONE there.

(Reply to this)

jeanpaul writes:
on Jul 03 2007 12:14 AM

[b]This movie is gonna ROCK!![/b]
"Transformers" is going to ROCK!!

Critics can put thier arrogant heads up thier arrogant asses,
for however long they please.
They could give this movie 10% approval or less, for all I care.

Critics are CRANKY, LOSER, COMPLAINING, MICHEAL BAY-HATING idiots anyway.

So I could really care less about thier opinions when it comes to matters such as TRANSFORMERS.
Like someone above suggested very wisely, they (the cranky critics) can go and rent "BABEL" or "Crash" or whatever THAILANDIC film they're "head over heels" about---
and LET US: PEOPLE WHO LOVE GOOD ENTERTAINMENT CINEMA watch and enjoy (something critics can't do) what Micheal Bay does BEST.

"Transformers" IS what Micheal Bay does best, and that's great enough for me.
TRANSFORM AND ROLL OUT!!

(Reply to this)

Bigbrother writes:
on Jul 03 2007 12:20 AM

I wonder how much of that Tomato-meter is due to Bay-hate? I'm sure there's more than a few critics who bag on movie's just because Bay was involved in it. Plus if you don't like the guy you're more than likely going to go in with a negative attitude.

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curtis writes:
on Jul 03 2007 12:29 AM

Transformers is so far the best reviewed big budget action film this summer. cOTC has an 70%. That is high for a movie like Transformers.

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Product_of_You writes:
on Jul 03 2007 12:58 AM

I hate the idea that people say a movie about giant robots WOULDN'T be corny and have a dumb story? Why could it not? Great films have been made from more ludircous ideas. Not to mention the main storyline of the cartoons could be turned into something really good, if someone WANTED to.

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CoUcH ToMaToE DoUgIe writes:
on Jul 03 2007 01:00 AM

[b]lets roll to the theaters[/b]
the critics have to realize the fans are hungry to go see an action packed thrill ride and a story is not required to please me. I know people are worried about MR. BAY ways but there is not much more to this beloved characters than good robot v.s. evil robot fighting for some all powerful thing. I know the flames and the lips have annoyed us my transformer brothers but they are still the autobots and decepticons we loved come to greatest stage they have ever been. Its going to be an adventure we will never forget because it and MEGAN "HOTTIE" FOX will leave us in awe forever.

(Reply to this)

Sebastion Cole writes:
on Jul 03 2007 01:47 AM

In reply to this comment (#883331)
[b]Exactly[/b]
Critics gave "Live free or die hard"a high rating because of it's action, not its story it's action. Yet when Mr. Bay makes a badass action movie like say Transformers, they hate on it (Not saying anything against Die Hard, I'm sure I'll like it when i see it).Can you get anymore bas than that.

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timov writes:
on Jul 03 2007 06:31 AM

[b]saw it last nite and...[/b]
...i thought it was pretty dang awesome. the voice of optimus prime was perfect. having watched the cartoon as a kid, it was a brilliant move to have him be on board for the production. it was explosions plus explosions and a few more explosions. some bits of humor, 2 freaking hot chicks, and shia did a fine job. i was curious to see how they would make the storyline work and i thought it worked pretty well. my only complaint was the lack of character development of the decepticons. i know that sounds lame, and with a michael bay film i guess char dev is a bit much to ask, but they did a fair job of doing that with the humans and the autobots, but aside from megatron, you're pretty much like 'who are these guys?' minor complaint, however, for a thoroughly enjoyable 2 1/2 hours. time flew by - didnt seem that long at all.

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RainNIU writes:
on Jul 03 2007 07:25 AM

Check the actual reviews. People bashed the movie because they're either women who just won't like that kind of movie or they're wannabe cream-of-the-crop critics that want to make a name for themselves.

I suggest people take their Man-Card to the movie. Wrestle it away from your wives, girlfriends, or bosses, you'll need it to enjoy the movie.

(Reply to this)

Jaka Tavers writes:
on Jul 03 2007 07:31 AM

In reply to this comment (#883330)
OMG. Talk about a shameless sore loser. I know schools out, but get a life kid.

(Reply to this)

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