Transformers: Dark Of The Moon

Rating: 6/10

Cast: Shia La Beouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Josh Duhamel, Leonard Nimoy,

John Turturro, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand, Patrick Dempsey, Optimus

Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee

Director: Michael Bay

Back for a third time, the Autobots and the Decepticons continue their life long

robotic battle. Thrown into the middle of this eternal scrap between good and evil is

Shia LaBeouf's Sam Witwicky who's struggling to get a job and is becoming resentful

he saved the world (twice) for little lasting reward.

This time when it appears a deciding component in the struggle's been found

in a spaceship which crashed into the moon around the time of Apollo 11's landing in

the 60s, both sides scramble to try and seize it.

But it soon transpires the whole thing could signal the end for them - as well

as us....Transformers Dark of the Moon is a typical Michael Bay gig; there are

explosions aplenty, set pieces and plenty of swooping shots of planes and choppers

as they head into war.

Happily though Bay has dialled down the frenetic pace of the last film which

saw scenes of utter mayhem and robots transforming at such a pace, you could

barely keep up with it. 

This time it's less of a blur and means the couple of major set pieces are

absolutely stunning - including a chase scene on the freeway and an attack piece

inside a building. It gives the effects a little more space to breathe and visually sends

your eyes on one hell of a journey.

As for the robots themselves, Optimus Prime spouts his usual pomposity and

Leonard Nimoy makes a good father of the robots (and gets to paraphrase one of

Spock's famous lines from Wrath of Khan) but the Decepticons suffer a little in terms

of screen time - until an end sequence in Chicago where both sides finally fight full on

with such ferocity you would think you're in a gangland riot blessed with robot

executions left, right and centre.

As for the humans, Shia makes good fist of whining Sam and shows he can

carry an action film- however, that's not the case with the rest of the supporting cast -

particularly Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

Sadly with her, it's a case of bringing in some eye candy to titillate (as the

camera lingers lovingly over her form at every chance) because the moment she

starts speaking, it's starchly wooden and robotic. She manages an improvement

towards the end though which is a relief - even if it's a minor improvement.

Of the heavily crowded ensemble, John Malkovich and Ken Jeong have

cameos which are blown away by Alan Tudyk's supporting turn. 

In many ways on screen, this third film is way too bloated - with an overly long

running time which starts to sag, the older end of the audience may feel their

attention span drift - though the kids will love it. 

There's little in terms of story and the whole thing feels like it's leading to a

confrontation between the robotic hordes. That said if you're willing to check your

brain at the door you will be entertained - though a word of warning you may feel at

times, like you've beaten into submission by the brash, noisy and FX heavy film

which is gung ho and even has the nerve to end on a scene of robots standing near

a flying American flag.