Transformers (PG-13, 2007)

common sense media says

Toys come to life in big, boomy explosion fest.


parents & educators 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).

Positive messages: 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.
Positive role models: 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.
Violence: 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.
Sex: 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."
Language: 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.
Consumerism: 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").
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Sam's dog takes pain pills (he calls the dog a "crackhead"); Sam asks Agent Simmons if he's "on drugs."

More on Transformers

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • 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?

What's the story?

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?

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.

Movie themes & details

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

This review was written by Cynthia Fuchs
 
 

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What parents & educators say

11

Most useful reviews by all members

prescottrdjd
parent of 13 and 17 year old
 
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.

kelldeal
parent of 5 and 9 year old
 
awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunset reader
kid, 11 years old
 
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 !

namnam
adult
 
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/

 
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.

perfectionist
teen, 15 years old
 
awesome
This movie blew me away. The special effects are awesome. Kids will love; adult transformer fans will love; watch it.

grits
parent of 10 year old
 
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.

Tyler9
adult
 

bulldog93
parent of 11 and 14 year old
 

TAB74
parent of 11 year old
 
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.

 
Transformers doesn't disappoint!
This is a great action movie with tons of special and visual effects. The acting and storyline are very well-done overall. There is some comical material in the film that gives it a "funny" feel. Younger children should watch out for for some crude and sexual content that's present in some scenes. Some strong language is also an issue, as is numerous sequences of intense action violence. Overall, Transformers is a well-rounded film that doesn't disappoint!

gibby84
adult
 
Loved it!!!!
I really enjoyed this movie and although it was violent at points it wasn't gory because it was just the robots doing the fighting. They also had some humor that I got a good laugh at and some that was harmless to younger viewers because it was a double meaning they wouldn't understand.

kimy6789
kid, 12 years old
 
Cool
Saw this in school and about 3 times at home. Awsome movie full of action.

 
Avoid, unless you're looking to waste a couple of hours.
For a movie that essentially a massive advert for toys aimed at 4-11 year olds, - the content is totally inappropriate for any child under 10 and some parents would think twice before letting even their 10\11 year olds watch it. The storyline is extremely basic, with next to no character development (and for those that pay any level of attention, fequently contradicts itself). The language is crude, crass, dull and uninspiring, with dull-witted and puerile jokes. On the special effects front, Transformers is good, but the overly shaky camera movements and blurring make the action difficult to make out. If you want to want a sci-fi\action movie with little to no storyline that features large explosions, you could do a lot better. If you want to watch a movie that will vacuously fill up a couple of hours of your life, then you should give this movie a shot.

Ashaxe
parent of 5 year old
 
I'd say ok for 5+ just a parent's call of what they think their kid can handle!
My husband and son LOVE this movie!!! As for the language...you hear most of the words on regular tv. We do have conversations with our kiddo that there are certain words he's not allowed to use. But, I really think he misses most of that because he just likes the action! As for the sexual stuff...I really think most of that goes over his head. So, as long as you are comfortable to have an open conversation with your kids I think this is an ok movie for them to watch! My kid watches it over and over...and I really think he is just fine. Again, he's 5...he just likes all the action...and the action is pretty great!

snowfireny
parent of 10 year old
 
Great movie, not good for under 13
This had way too much teenage-driven sexual innuendo. My 9 year old loves transformers, but I would not feel this is appropriate due to the high volume of sexual humor and the disrespectful comments such as bros before hos and laughing about being a virgin.

Mi3
adult
 
not for kids under 12
good for 12 and up. lots of sexual humer, language, and intense violence. LOTS of "noticeable product placment."

mattthemovieman
teen, 17 years old
 
very very good movie!!!!!
funny intense action movie that doesnt have exsesive sexual content in it ... imagine that!!???

Soupmonster
kid, 10 years old
 
Transformers
This movie is really good. PG-13- For Intense Sequences of sc-fi action violence, some sexual humor, language, peril, mayhem, and destruction.

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
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