Transformers

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Toys come to life in big, boomy explosion fest.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that even though the myriad tie-in toys are being marketed to kids as young as 2, this explosion-heavy action movie based on the '80s cartoon and action figures is not for young children ... no matter how "cool" they think the robots/cars are. It's packed with scenes of loud, hectic combat (including gunfire), destruction, and flying missiles and bodies. Plus, it's long (144 minutes, the last 20 or so of which are devoted to a big fight scene), the characters swear ("bitch," "s--t," "damn," a couple of incomplete "f--ks," etc.), and there's some sexual imagery (shots of cleavage and a short-skirted bottom, jokes about masturbation and virginity, and more).

  • Though you could argue that the movie has some kind of take away involving teamwork and friendship, really it's all just an excuse to blow stuff up. There are some stereotypes -- a Latino character is mocked for his "magic voodoo powers," a computer expert embodies lots of geeky cliches, and a "black" robot uses street jargon and gang signs.
  • Sam is mostly a good kid -- though he deceives his parents, he also saves
    Mikaela from a bad boyfriend (and the world from bad robots). Mikaela has
    a criminal record and can hotwire cars.
  • Early attack by alien robots results in fiery explosions and bodies flying; Transformer attack at car dealership (loud noise, car windows blow out); huge battle in the desert (robots vs. Air Force); Transformers attack Sam and Mikaela (lots of chasing, crashing, noise); flashback shows destruction of Transformers' planet; little robot monster with sharp limbs terrorizes humans and infiltrates Air Force One. A lengthy fight scene in city streets ends the film -- more explosions, shooting, missiles, and bodies. At one point, the villain transforms into a plane and flies into a skyscraper -- images that will remind many viewers of 9/11.
  • Mikaela wears a cleavage-showing midriff top; bikini girl posters in Sam's bedroom; Miles calls Mikaela "the evil jock's concubine"; Miles reminds Sam that it's "bros before hos"; song "Sexual Healing" on car radio; close-ups of Mikaela's sweaty belly from Sam's POV; Sam says "I'm cool with females working on my engine"; Sam says he keeps a magazine called Busty Beauties under his bed; Glen admits he's still a virgin (this appears to be a joke at his expense); following a noise in his room, Sam's mom asks him "Were you masturbating?"; Sam's online user name is "Ladiesman217."
  • In addition to a couple of incomplete "f--ks," the language includes "damn," "crap," "bitch," "s--t" (multiple uses), "ass," "crackhead," "frigggin'," "hell," and a spelled-out "bee-otch" on Sam's car freshener.
  • The entire film is virtually a commercial for Hasbro toys (the company is listed as both a production company and the maker of Transformers action figures). There are also visual or verbal references to Mac laptop, eBay, Camaro, Austin Healey, Porsche, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Volkswagen, music acts (50 Cent, Garbage, The Strokes, Rage Against the Machine), the Redskins, Armageddon, Ding Dongs, Taco Bell, Nokia, Mountain Dew, Star Trek, and GM vehicles (most of the Autobots are modeled on GM cars). Bumblebee speaks in bits of commercials and TV shows ("Message from Starfleet, Captain").
  • Sam's dog takes pain pills (he calls the dog a "crackhead"); Sam asks Agent Simmons if he's "on drugs."

What's the story?

In this live action film based on the 1980s cartoon series, the Decepticons, an evil race of alien robots, attack a U.S. military unit stationed in the Middle East. The men launch an immediate offensive -- but meanwhile, back in the States, Secretary of Defense John Keller (Jon Voight) learns of a secret U.S. project involving Megatron (voiced by Hugo Weaving), a bad robot that crash-landed in the Arctic decades before. In the film's civilian side-story, teenager Sam (Shia LaBeouf) buys a used car, unaware it's an Autobot -- a good robot. Neither does Sam realize that he has in his possession the key to the all-powerful cube -- which all the robots, good and bad, desperately want. The film's many characters and plots collide with the help of the Autobots' courageous, red-and-blue-colored leader Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen).


Is it any good?

 

You'd expect a summer action movie directed by Michael Bay, CGIed by Industrial Light and Magic, and based on a line of toy cars to bring the noise. TRANSFORMERS does exactly that. Big and boomy, it skimps on plot and character development, instead focusing on its decidedly spectacular explosions. Though the opening voiceover offers a cursory backstory, it hardly matters why these giant robots have come to earth. The point is much simpler: They blow stuff up.


Explore, discuss, enjoy

  • Families can talk about why kids want to see this movie -- is it because of the story or all of the toys and other tie-in products they've been hearing about?

  • Who's the movie's intended audience? Is it today's kids (and, if so,
    what age group?) or grown ups who were kids when the toys were first
    popular in the '80s?

  • How does this big-screen version compare to the
    different TV shows and the previous movie?
    Do the explosions and crashes seem more serious here than in the
    cartoon versions?


This review of Transformers was written by
Parent of 12 and 15 year old
August 2, 2009
 
AWESOME MOVIE Good for all ages
It was even better than the first one. Great to see the old cartoon come to life on the big screen.
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Parent of 3 and 7 year old
October 9, 2009
 
awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Kid, 10 years old
April 3, 2011
 
just plain bad
wow i think i have never seen a movie as warped and volient as transformers.A robot scorpion tale rips through a man for gods sake!constant bad langue and megan fox is so emotionless i thought she was a robot !
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Teen, 16 years old
October 17, 2009
 
This movie is not good for ANYONE
This movie is marketed for young kids, but it is definetly not appropriate. I don't recommend that ANYONE sees this movie. There is quite a lot of sexual dialogue and innuendo, which pretty much ruins the whole movie.
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Teen, 13 years old
December 19, 2009
 
awesome
This movie blew me away. The special effects are awesome. Kids will love; adult transformer fans will love; watch it.
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Parent of 8 year old
August 4, 2009
 
Not perfect for anyone.
Too much gratuitous bad language or "almost" bad language. Inappropriate sexual movements by robots and characters. This movie would've been a lot better without this foul stuff - didn't add to the story at all, what little story there was. Too much violence and mayhem without any plot as well. Very poorly done movie. It really disappointed my boy.
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Parent of 9 year old
September 6, 2009
 
This is an awesome movie and our whole family loved it! Yes, there is some bad language and sexual behaviour so know your child's limits.
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Adult
November 24, 2010
 
Great Movie! but the first one rocked
Great Movie! but the first one rocked . that's it. found a transporter in france :) fun to watch: *lookeen.net/de/352/allgemein/deutsch-e-postbrief-lookeen-stellt-sich-der-herausforderung/
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Adult
December 3, 2010
 
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Parent of 11 and 14 year old
April 10, 2011
 

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This review of Transformers was written by
Studio:DreamWorks
Director:Michael Bay
Cast:Megan Fox, Shia LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson
Genre:Action/Adventure
Run time:144 minutes
Theatrical release date:July 3, 2007
DVD release date:October 16, 2007
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, brief sexual humor, and language.

This review of Transformers was written by
 

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