Movie Review: Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
Written by Anthony Sargon
Here we go again. Transformers: Age of Extinction is the fourth entry in the now eight-year-old film franchise, and it’s once again helmed by the one and only Michael Bay. Love him or hate him, you can’t deny Bay’s knack for creating breathtaking spectacle, but does he have any new tricks up his sleeve, or is this just another bloated and convoluted effects extravaganza? Sadly, if you’ve seen any of the three previous Transformers flicks, you’ve seen this one as well. While it’s a slight improvement over the last two, you can’t help but feel that Bay has run his course with the franchise.
It’s been four years since the Autobots and the Decepticons completely destroyed Chicago after their climactic battle at the end of the third film. As a result, the U.S. government has labeled all Autobots as fugitives. With the help of a Transformer bounty hunter called Lockdown, the CIA begins hunting down and killing any survivors. We’re then introduced to Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg), who’s just your average, buff robotics engineer/inventor living in a ranch in Texas with his smoking hot daughter Tessa (Nicola Peltz). Strapped for cash, Cade tries to sell off any old equipment he finds, until he comes across an old, damaged truck. Lo and behold, the truck is actually Optimus Prime, who has been hiding out like a little bitch while his brothers in arms are ruthlessly murdered. When the government discovers Optimus’ hiding place, Cade’s world is turned upside down as he and the Autobots try to stop Lockdown, as well as the Government’s very own, man-made Transformers. And yes, you read that right; the same government that is annihilating all Transfomers on Earth because they’re dangerous also wants to build their own Transformers. Makes total sense, right?!
There is a lot going on in Transformers: Age of Extinction, and at 165 minutes (yup), it’s the longest Transformers flick yet, which is the film’s biggest drawback. Yes, the film has a lot of other flaws that we’ll get into in a bit, but there is absolutely no reason it needs to be this long. By the time the final action set-piece rolled around, I was ready to leave the theater and go home. You’re not Peter Jackson, Mr. Bay, so please don’t pretend to be. This could also be the most unapologetically “Michael Bay” film Bay has ever made; American flags, up-skirt shots of attractive young women (especially Peltz), blatant product placement, outlandish explosions, sunsets, tasteless humor, and of course, racial stereotyping all make their expected appearances.
As I previously mentioned, the film’s plot is very convoluted, and by the time you reach the film’s end, you’re not sure how or why anything is happening. I for one couldn’t tell you where the Dinobots came from or why they’re even important to the story, but hey, they look cool so who cares, right? Wrong. When I’m required to sit in a theater for 165 minutes, cool action and effects are no longer enough; I need something to keep me going, and that something is completely missing here.
As usual, the best part about this film are the impeccable effects. Seriously, the folks over at ILM have outdone themselves, and I could literally see every dollar spent on this movie up on the screen. The action is clear, grand, and epic, and the 3D is some of the most immersive I have ever seen. If you insist on sitting through this, I advise you to go all out with IMAX 3D; it’ll at least make the experience worthwhile.
As for the new cast, it’s certainly a step up from the Shia LaBeouf era. Mark Wahlberg is a more likable and believable action hero, but his relationship with his daughter is pretty one-dimensional. Jack Reynor, who plays Tessa’s boyfriend, is likable enough, but we know close to nothing about his character, and he’s only there to spark some father-daughter drama. Stanley Tucci is great in the film as the Steve Jobs-esque Joshua Joyce, and is honestly too good for this movie. But the amount of annoying side-characters has been cut down significantly this time, which is a big plus.
The Verdict:
For everything that Transformers: Age of Extinction does right, it does another thing wrong. It was certainly foolish to think that Michael Bay could successfully reboot his own franchise, and while he manages to address some flaws, this is still too much of a Bay Transformers film, and I for one have had enough. The film can be undeniably thrilling thanks to some amazing action and eye-popping effects, but it’s also a long, familiar, and sloppy mess when it comes to everything else. If you’re a fan of the franchise, then you’ll likely have a blast. If you didn’t enjoy the last three films, I doubt that enough has been done to change your mind. It’s an improvement for sure, but it should have been better.
Numerical Score: 5/10
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