Cartoon ‘Transforms' into a summer blockbuster
Cartoon 'Transforms' into a summer blockbuster

Published: July 2, 2007

The popular toy robots in disguise make their big-screen debut in "Transformers,” directed by the action-geared Michael Bay ("The Rock,” "Armageddon”). Bay's film isn't solely for the fans, who probably would roll out to theaters regardless. "Transformers” was designed with a mainstream audience in mind.

In "Transformers,” Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) is a lovable doof who is saving up for a new car. At the car lot, he's drawn to a yellow Camaro — that seems to be seeking out Sam, specifically.

Sam tries to use the car to impress his crush, Mikeala Barnes (Megan Fox), but when the car takes off late one night on its own, Sam is drawn into an intergalactic war that has come to Earth.

Sam's yellow Camaro is really Bumblebee, and he's one of the Autobots, giant robots that can take the form of vehicles. The Autobots are led by Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen, who voiced the character in the 1980s cartoon). Prime and the Autobots need some information from Sam, as one of his ancestors discovered a relic from the Autobots' home planet.

Also seeking the relic are the Decepticons, evil robots from Cybertron who want the relic for their own gain.

Meanwhile, a U.S. Army troop who has encountered a Decepticon in the desert attempts to gather intel on the robots.

The plot has plenty of twists and turns to keep viewers interested, including appearances by John Turturro as an operative of a secret government organization, and Jon Voight as the secretary of defense.

Rachael Taylor plays Maggie Madsen, a government computer expert who helps crack the Decepticons' code with the help of hacker Glen Whitmann (Anthony Anderson).

The computer-generated robots look outstanding. While Bay made alterations from the original cartoons, he's done so in a way that makes the robots work in a more realistically portrayed world.

The movie motors for most of the first hour and 45 minutes, though the gears grind a bit toward the end, as the final battle sequence goes on too long. At times, characters make decisions that only make sense for an action movie.

That said, "Transformers” is big, loud and exciting, and provides a truckload of excitement in the form of a summer blockbuster.

— Matthew Price