"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings."

Reading all the negative reviews, some from self-professed fans, I was a little peeved. I watched the trailers before and although they do not resemble the originals very much, I accepted the need for some adaptation to transform an 80s kiddish cartoon into 21st century life action movie. In fact, not doing so would just make the movie ludicrous. As for excessive Michael Bay style blow-'em-ups, all I have to say is this: this is a movie about a gigantic robot slug-fest with lots of (warmongering) humans running around. What else can you expect but violent explosions?

After watching the movie, I think the Transformers generally looked acceptable. The additional details gave them a more realistic look which the cartoon, being an 80s US production, did not give much attention to. The action sequence was also a good watch, not too excessive or too noisy (I'm sure we have seen and heard worse from other movies.) I do have a number of complaints though:

1. Too many people running around and too much footage spent on them. This movie is about Transformers, not the people running around them.

2. The Transformers were given painfully little screen-time. Apart from Optimus Prime and Bumblebee (not that they got a lot of attention that is), most of the others barely had enough dialogue to portray some semblance of character. The Decepticons got it worse, mostly with no or just one line to transit to the next scene. They seemed just rampaging, destructive automatons. So much for sentient beings.

3. Transformation was too complicated.

4. Little distinction between each Transformers. It doesn't help that they are mostly grey or black.

5. Autobots are portrayed as somewhat callous about human life. While Optimus Prime is the kindest and wisest protector of human kind, the other Autobots are no less protective towards us weaker beings. And yet in the movie, Jazz (I think it's Jazz. See my point about s/n 4?) actually asked if he should "take out" the boy's parents.

6. One of Bumblebee's key characteristics is him being the smallest Autobot and able to go where no other Autobot can. He is supposed to be slightly bigger than human beings and thus uniquely suited for his role as Autobot scout. In the movie, he's just another blaster-toting robot.

7. Optimus is the patient and dignified leader of the Autobots. But the scene at the boy's house with Optimus prancing around the garden like a bull in a china shop, all the while impatiently pressing the boy to find the glasses is just simply ridiculous.

Watch the movie for the special effects, but if you are a Transformers fan, I would not be surprised if you are more than a little disappointed.