Transformers: The Pre-Watch Part II

Optimism may have been set a little high

BY COLIN ENQUIST

Well I am back from watching the sequel to Transformers. You can read what I thought about the film over there ---> (review).

Did I waste my time watching the first film before the second? I don’t think so. Mostly the two films synch up fairly well. The time jump of two years after the first film works and doesn’t really tend to ask much questions about what happened in those two years. Some of that information can be sought after by using your imagination on a few lines in the new movie that could create exactly what may or may not have happened. The mythology (strictly the first movie, not the toys or TV series) even comes full circle, mainly helping tie some small loose ends of the first film together.

Michael Bay did little things right like using the same shirt for Sam (Shia LaBeouf) as he used in the first film. That may not seem like something big but many times you notice little items like this that slip through the cracks during the filmmaker’s busy schedule. The characterization seemed off during a few scenes. When Mikaela (Megan Fox) is sitting, patiently waiting for Sam to have their first web chat date, all I could think of was the first film and how she would not have wanted to be a part of that. Her character was completely butchered and lost the tough attitude and hard headedness she was given in the first film.

One thing I did observe which was different would be the teeth on the Decepticons. Megatron most notably seemed to have a much more animal looking teeth. At times they even looked bone. The first time couple times I noticed the wheels on Optimus when he was in robot form seemed smaller. This could just be my eyes playing tricks on me but it may not have been the case.

The movie stands on its own fairly well and serves the first Transformers as a good sequel but it could have built on so much more, as it left much potential on the table.