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News / Columns / Critics Consensus
Critics Consensus: Transformers 2 Is Less Than Meets The Eye
Plus, My Sister's Keeper is well-acted but manipulative, and The Hurt Locker is powerful and vital.
by Tim Ryan | June 25, 2009
Discuss Article

This week at the movies, we've got robots in disguise (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, starring Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf) and an engagement of convenience (My Sister's Keeper, starring Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin). What do the critics have to say?


19%
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Rotten

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Most folks like their blockbusters big, loud, and loaded with spectacle. However, the masses also tend to enjoy good characters and some semblance of a plot, two things the pundits say are sorely missing from Michael Bay's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. This follow up to 2007's Transformers finds the Autobots waging a battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons (with help from Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf), since they have designs on obliterating Earth. Critics say Revenge has a lot of problems: it's loud, it's bombastic, it's way to long, it contains few recognizable human emotions, and its plot is borderline incomprehensible. Worst of all, they say, it's not particularly fun. (Check out this week's Total Recall, in which we count down the top 50 movie robots of all time, and our primer on Revenge of the Fallen's bots.)


47%
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Rotten

My Sister's Keeper

A lot of movies walk a fine line between being emotionally involving and seeming merely manipulative, and critics are essentially split on which side My Sister's Keeper falls. Cameron Diaz stars as a woman whose daughter Anna (Abigail Breslin) is born as a genetic match with her leukemia-afflicted older sister Kate (Sofia Vassilieva). When, at 11, Anna is called upon to provide a kidney for Kate, she sues her parents for medical independence. Some critics say My Sister's Keeper is bolstered by outstanding performances and a sense of moral complexity. However, others say this three-hankie weepie doesn't fully earn its tears, resorting to unconvincing plot machinations..)


Also opening this week in limited release:

  • Afghan Star, a documentary about an American Idol-esque singing competition with a bit more at stake, is at 100 percent.
  • The Hurt Locker, Kathryn Bigelow's Iraq War drama about three explosives experts, is at 97 percent (check out some exclusive clips from the movie).
  • Quiet Chaos, a subtle drama about a grieving Italian widower, is at 86 percent.
  • Jennifer Lynch's Surveillance, starring Bill Pullman and Julia Ormond as a pair of feds who must solve a string of vicious murders, is at 77 percent.
  • Stephen Frears's Cheri, starring Michelle Pfeiffer iin a period melodrama based on a Colette novel, is at 55 percent.
  • The Stoning of Soraya M., a drama about an Iranian village's punishment of an innocent woman, is at 47 percent.

Related Items
Movie: The Hurt Locker
Quiet Chaos
My Sister's Keeper
Cheri
The Stoning of Soraya M.
Afghan Star
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Comments (1-20 of 146 posts) | Reply
smi1ey
smi1ey writes:
on Jun 25 2009 05:10 PM

I'm assuming it will still make a killing. It's one of those movies that you have to see even knowing that it's bad, just for the crazy special effects. I haven't seen it yet, but I'm sure someone will drag me along in the next week or so.

(Reply to this)
jokerboy1991
jokerboy1991 writes:
on Jun 25 2009 05:11 PM

Roger Eberts and Peter Travers comments on Transformers are pretty funny and kind of accurate, even though I didn't hate the movie like they did, they did find a great way to sum up the movie.

(Reply to this)
Rogelio t.
Rogelio t. writes:
on Jun 25 2009 05:13 PM

omg..i was pulling for My Sister's Keeper..at a 72%...oh well..i do think it was well-acted

(Reply to this)
D Effin W
D Effin W writes:
on Jun 25 2009 05:17 PM

In reply to this comment (#2517315)
Hey jokerboy, because I am too lazy to look up their review, can you put the link up here for me? Gracias!

(Reply to this)
Bob S.
Bob S. writes:
on Jun 25 2009 05:21 PM

Meanwhile, the T-Meter for THE HURT LOCKER keeps on climbing. Why can't that be a wide release? I shed a single tear for quality cinema.

(Reply to this)
Walken The Park
Walken The Park writes:
on Jun 25 2009 05:22 PM

I get the feeling the reviews for Transformers 2 are much more entertaining than the movie itself. Guess I'll find out in a month, when the crowds finally die down.

(Reply to this)
De4ective Detectiv3
De4ective Detectiv3 writes:
on Jun 25 2009 05:27 PM

Yeah, it kills me to think that Transformer 2 is going to make unheard of amounts of money and movies like The Hurt Locker are going to fade away into obsurity.

But seriously, to anyone that liked Point Break, The Hurt Locker is made from the same director, but it is better! Don't rule this movie out if you've already seen Transformers2 and you're looking to see something at the theatre again this weekend.

I could not think of a more perfect time for a movie like the Hurt Locker to be releasing. I give the studio a lot of credit for having the balls to release it now instead of during oscar bait season.

While this movie does offer a lot of commentary in regards to war and America in general, its not preachy or from a bleeding heart point of view.


(Reply to this)
ledawg
ledawg writes:
on Jun 25 2009 05:32 PM

LEDAWG WAS RIGHT! Remember when he said 24 percent or lower? Well, he was on the money. Only one person agreed with me, and they an share the glory.

I'll rent "Transformers 2", although I'm expecting it to be bad. It can't be worse than the directors other works like "Bad Boys II" or "Armageddon" because Shia LaBeouf is a good acotr, the visuals will be good and Megan Fox is hot. That won't be enough to save it, but it will keep it from being his worst. Nothing for me until "Public Enemies".


(Reply to this)
MovieMaster
MovieMaster writes:
on Jun 25 2009 05:34 PM

Saw Transformers yesterday in IMAX. Its pretty cool to see in IMAX and the movie is alright I guess but the first one if way better. The only thing really good about the movie are the special effects other than that there's not much going on.

(Reply to this)
ledawg
ledawg writes:
on Jun 25 2009 05:34 PM

For the record, "My Sisters Keeper" looks lame. Looks like a Hallmark movie. Even if it dosen't have racist stereotypes and robots with balls, I'd still rather wath "Transformers 2".

(Reply to this)
jokerboy1991
jokerboy1991 writes:
on Jun 25 2009 05:48 PM

In reply to this comment (#2517319)
There one liners were the best, here they are. Just look at there main review quotes from their reviews. Travers said it was a new level of god-awfulness and Ebert said just bang some pots for 2 hours with rock music and you'll get the same thing.

(Reply to this)
Shantak
Shantak writes:
on Jun 25 2009 06:05 PM

I liked the movie, but have stated that in other threads. Sure it's thin on plot, the acting is just okay and there still isn't enough robots fighting it was exactly what I expected. It is exactly transformers 1 except just more of each part.

The effects were cool, I loved what they did with Sounwave and Ravage, I was happy with the exchanges between Megatron and Starscream, Devastator was awesome, the Twins were not as annoying as I expected them to be, and no where near Jar Jar levels.

Standard Hollywood blockbuster, heavy on explotions light on substance.

The Hurt Locker seems very cool, might check it out. But there are dozzens of amaing films that get outshadowed by these summer blockbusters.


(Reply to this)
Dirtyy Andy
Dirtyy Andy writes:
on Jun 25 2009 06:06 PM

Transformer's 2 Sure did dissapoint.

(Reply to this)
Armondoh S.
Armondoh S. writes:
on Jun 25 2009 06:15 PM

Gonna have to go against the grain here..... I enjoyed it.. I honestly did.. Yes, I am a huge fan that grew up right in the middle of the original transformers saga.. I went in with negative thoughts after reading all of the negative reviews, but I have to say I did enjoy it.. My 6 year old son sat through the entire movie, that is a first lol.... Parts I did not like.. I did not like Jetfire's part, I wanted lots more from him.. Soundwave was also kind of a let down as he just wasnt used enough, also it wasn't the voice that I loved so much as a kid... Devestator was okay, but he didn't get to kick enough *** IMHO... The Fallen, nah........ But I really still enjoyed it... Just my opinion...:)

(Reply to this)
rachel_renegade
rachel_renegade writes:
on Jun 25 2009 06:21 PM

In reply to this comment (#2517321)
Its true. I was thinking about the reviews during the movie and i was laughing to myself. All the comparisons to garbage disposals, trash compacters, and such were accurate.

(Reply to this)
martinscorsese25
martinscorsese25 writes:
on Jun 25 2009 06:37 PM

saw Transformers last night here in the philippines. First off, there are two things first rate about the movie. The FLAWLESS vissual effects(BEST OF ALL TIME) and MEGAN FOX(i'm talking about her looks, not acting), she is so photogenic, she rivals Angelina Jolie as the best looking actress on films.. other than that, the movie is horrible. the movie is a mess, the action scenes arent paced correctly. it was all over the place. Michael Bay should depart his genre and work on Indie films, he always said he'd like to do one. it would help him focused more on the story so that one day, when he makes a movie like this again, he'll put the story first. and some of his antics is getting old. the slowmotion dramatic scene isnt really dramatic. a movie full of BEAUTIFUL HOT GIRLS draws alot of attention because it's hard to take it seriously.

bottom line. Transformers 2 had the BEST VISSUAL EFFECTS EVER on screen, but it's a mess of a movie. Transformers 1 is better, much funnier, and much shorter. this movie is SO long. it can't glue you to the screen unlike TDK.

also, has anyone notice that Shia's roommate was kind of a tailor made for Jonah Hill, too bad he can't commit cause of Funny People. we might have gotten a few more laughs if Jonah starred. well atleast he won't be in a BAD movie this summer.


(Reply to this)
DanielthePhantasm XIX
DanielthePhantasm XIX writes:
on Jun 25 2009 06:44 PM

i tell ya transformers will be raped by public enemies july 1

(Reply to this)
Chris B.
Chris B. writes:
on Jun 25 2009 06:59 PM

yeah Public Enemies will rape Transformers critically but not at the box-office. I'm sorry but I don't see Public Enemies making nowhere near Transformers money.

(Reply to this)
air-x-images
air-x-images writes:
on Jun 25 2009 07:08 PM

is everyone on this thread um high? u people talk trash about an action film cuz theres no story? um do u all go see a drama movie and say boring cuz theres no action? the movie was great.. if your not a transformers fan to begin with then y r u watching the movie? and if u are a fan then y r u complaining? the movie had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! much more entertaining than yaawwwnn the dark night!! that was a comic book movie? where was that action? woo riding on a motorcycle with big tires..ya um great action.. .BAYS directing is awesome.. his visuals are 2nd to none... Transformers 2 def the best action movie ever!!!

(Reply to this)
AniMill
AniMill writes:
on Jun 25 2009 07:11 PM

My take was this: it was too BIG, too looong, and to wishy-washy... it couldn't decide on being an R or PG-13 movie. The innuendo was pathetic and pitiful; as much as I enjoy sexy stuff and comments, they just put everything in-your-face... nothing subtle about this movie. You didn't have to think about ANYTHING, it was all troweled into your eyes and ears with your mouth agape and that little bit of drool hanging out. It reminds me of the excesses "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." a well made movie, but I only wanted to see it once.

But I HAVE to see it again tomorrow with my kids - I'm not looking forward to it... guess I'll just spend the time looking for EFX errors and admiring ALL the college girls they showed.


(Reply to this)
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