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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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 MOVIE REVIEW 
7

Transformers 2: 'Dazzling,' 'Scrap Metal'

Bigger, longer, dumber sequel is less than meets the eye

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(Newser) Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen doesn't skimp on the special effects, say critics, but it lacks the clever touches of its predecessor and the mammoth 2.5 hour running time is likely to give all but the biggest fans metal fatigue.

  • Joe Lozito, Big Picture Big Sound: "This robot-on-robot sequel is a pointless, messy assault on the senses. The special effects, of course, are flawless. The rest is scrap metal."

  • Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: "What saves Fallen," apart from star Shia Labeouf's "undeniable charisma," is the special effects. "The movie may be nonsense, but it's dazzling, visually striking nonsense."
  • Tom Long, Detroit News: Director Michael Bay's "great grinding garbage disposal of a movie" gives fans what they want, but the result "isn't so much a narrative film as a cacophonous series of explosions intermittently interrupted by needless dialogue."

Shia LaBeouf is shown in a scene with Starscream in
Shia LaBeouf is shown in a scene with Starscream in "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."   (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures, DW Studios L.L.C.)
Autobots, Optimus Prime, left, and Ironhide are shown in a scene from,
Autobots, Optimus Prime, left, and Ironhide are shown in a scene from, "Transformers:Revenge of the Fallen.   (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures)
Megan Fox, left, and Shia LaBeouf are shown in a scene from
Megan Fox, left, and Shia LaBeouf are shown in a scene from "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."   (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures, Jaimie Trueblood)
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Trailer for "Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen."   (balika940215)

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7 comments
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2-bits
Jun 24, 09 12:45 PM CDT
In other words exactly like the first movie. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Rob
Jun 24, 09 12:49 PM CDT
Didn't see the first and will not see the second.
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Deebles
Jun 24, 09 1:22 PM CDT
The first one was great--saw it again last night. It's hard to come up with a new idea and the premise that Hoover Dam was just the government's way to imprison a robot was pretty good. I could see how it would be difficult to top that story in what is actually just a cartoon. Reply
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ultramagnus21
Jun 24, 09 2:10 PM CDT
Seriously, the first one set itself up for a poor plot. But as a fan of the original series (obviously) I was highly entertained by the special effects. Prime is now up there with Magnus as my favorite. Reply
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DarkFrancis
Jun 24, 09 5:08 PM CDT
It's a movie franchise based on a cartoon about robots that can become cars...what is the expectation here? Sophie's Choice? Reply
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