Transformers is a big-budget blockbuster adaptation of the popular toy and cartoon franchise from the 1980s. Featuring giant transforming robots and uproarious action set pieces, this modern take on the beloved classic is larger-than-life in many ways.
Directed by Michael Bay, the movie is chock-full of intense gunfights, explosions, and genre cliches. The movie features a decent cast of popular young actors while retaining most of the classic voice actors from the cartoon. With a fresh coat of paint and a budget to boot, this Transformers flick is tons of fun, even if it’s a bit ridiculous at times.
How to Stream or Download Transformers
You can stream it or you can download this 2007 movie from iTunes or Google Play. To start, click on the Download button at the end of the review. If you want to watch the whole series, after this see Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Dark of the Moon (2011), Age of Extinction (2014), The Last Knight (2017), and Bumblebee (2018).
The Film Review
Although the overall story of Transformers involves two warring factions of giant robots known as the Autobots and Decepticons, the beginning of the lengthy film focuses on Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf), a socially awkward teenager working his way through high school. Eager to buy his first car and impress his crush Mikaela (Megan Fox), Sam acquires an old but solid muscle car.
Unbeknownst to Sam, the car is actually a friendly Transformer known as Bumblebee. Antics soon arise as the car comes to life, sending both Sam and Mikaela on a ride of epic proportions.
Before long, Sam and Mikaela learn of the ancient war between the Autobots and the Decepticons. After destroying their own planet in a brutal civil war, the towering robots have been searching the galaxy for a powerful artifact known as the AllSpark.
The arrival of both good and evil aliens on Earth also catches the attention of the United States military, especially after a friendly base is attacked by Decepticons. Throughout the entire experience, Sam awkwardly attempts to become a hero, while he and Mikaela find themselves thrown into this epic battle.
Like other Michael Bay movies, Transformers is ripe with action sequences. There are explosions galore, with chaos delivered at a breakneck pace. There’s a hefty amount of special effects too, as the intricately changing Transformers are entirely CGI. Luckily, the visuals hold up, resulting in some truly awesome scenes.
That said, the movie often has far too many ideas to fit into its narrative, resulting in a lackluster story. While it’s awesome to watch Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) beat the snot out of some Decepticons and cause destruction, the nearly 2 hour and 30-minute runtime presents some obvious pacing issues.
The Bottom Line
Overall, Transformers is a wild but shallow ride. There’s a lot of style in the absence of substance, and that gives the movie an unbalanced feel. While Sam, Mikaela, and the rest of the supporting cast are interesting and likable, they’re often forgotten in favor of grander plot lines.
The movie struggles to balance its own plot and often resorts to flashy action as a default. While this can be entertaining, it can also be a bit tiresome. There’s plenty of enjoyment to be had in Transformers, especially if you’re a fan of the goofier aspects of the cartoons.
As long as you don’t treat the story as a super-serious military tale (which the movie occasionally pretends to be), Transformers ends up being a flawed but decent action adaptation.
