Transformers: Dark Of The Moon

Transformers: Dark Of The Moon

Year: 2011

Director: Michael Bay

Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Josh Duhamel, Patrick Dempsey, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich

In My Own Words

                I often pride myself on questioning strange things which I am sure the majority of the population do not think about. For example, last week I was pondering the fact that everyone who reaches the grand old age of 100 gets a letter from the Queen and whether this meant that when the Queen Mother reached 100 in the year 2000, does that mean she still gets a letter from her daughter? Surely a card would be nicer than a letter and a “Happy Birthday Mum”? Yes, these are the strange things I wonder about.

                Anyway…on my way to see the third Transformers film, I was contemplating the time when I was a young girl and Transformers: The Movie has just been released, the television series was a huge success and all the boys my age had their action figurines. I started to think about other 1980’s cartoons. Film makers have been recreating so many cartoons of yesteryear as of late such as Yogi Bear and the upcoming, The Smurfs. When will we be seeing a real to life version of He- Man and She-ra? Strawberry Shortcake, Rainbow Brite, Lady Lovelylocks, Care Bears, My Little Pony or The Popples? If Yogi Bear is anything to go by, we can mix real life with animation, so the last three shouldn’t be a problem! Although I don’t know how the idea of magical ponies would go down in a 2011 film of My Little Pony. It could be quite scary and trippy.

                This “In My Own Words” is probably getting a bit scary and trippy for some of you come to think of it. I know I think about some very strange things, but hey, I’m not going to apologise for them because I have fun thinking about these things!

                These are my own words and here is my review.

Review

                If you are looking for an action-packed film with amazing special effects which are enhanced (for once) by 3D, you will find Transformers: Dark Of The Moon a very satisfactory experience. If you are looking for an all-rounder with great script, great acting and lots of emotion, you will enjoy this film as much as a poke in the eye. Transformers: Dark Of The Moon is definitely one of those films which is to be taken for what it is. It is the third instalment in Michael Bay’s Transformers films and carries on in the same fashion as its predecessors with no great surprises.  

                In this film, the Autobots are still on Earth and helping the government to track down the Decepticons. Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) confronts Secretary of Defense, Charlotte Mearing (Frances McDormand) about a piece of cell he finds and she informs him that the first venture of man to the moon in 1969, was actually a top secret mission to investigate a crash of an alien spacecraft. This spacecraft was actually Sentinel Prime’s (Leonard Nimoy), a leader of the Autobots. Optimus Prime sets off to the moon to bring Sentinel Prime to Earth. Once they arrive back, they are a few surprises in store and nobody knows who they should trust. Just like in the previous Transformers films, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf), who has now finished college and living in Washington, DC, plays a large part in the fight of the Autobots, as does his new girlfriend, Carly (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley).

                The best thing about Transformers: Dark Of The Moon is definitely it’s astonishing special effects. There are some truly spectacular action sequences that do not disappoint. They are quite beautiful to watch. It is films like this that make you marvel at how far film making has come in relation it special effects. The action in this film is perhaps more impressive than the action in the first two films. The sounds accompanying the visuals are perfectly suited and are very haunting in some scenes, in particular when they are in Chicago. 3D is really an advantage in this film and it is great to see an action film that truly is enhanced by it.

                Unfortunately, there are not too many other good points about Transformers: Dark Of The Moon. As wonderful as the action sequences are, the final action scenes just go on for way too long, making the film much longer than what it should and could be. It is true that they are so good to watch that you wish you could see action like that in every film in the genre, but in the last 15 minutes of the film, you start to wish that it would get to the finale already. Of course, the ending is very predictable so it is not like you are wondering what is going to happen as much as how it is going to happen. It is an interesting type of suspense. Suspense caused by the intensity of the action rather than the feeling of not knowing what is going to happen.

                The story is actually quite clever when it comes down to it. The idea of combining the Autobots with the first man on the moon and then the explanations as to why the American’s were first there and why they haven’t been back since 1972 is intriguing and if there were such things as Autobots, it would actually be a logical explanation. The script is good enough to support the clever story. Yet, as one can expect, extremely cheesy and very weak in parts.

                 Playing Sam Witwicky is almost second nature to Shia LaBeouf now. He does the role well and is likable, as he was in the past Transformers movies. It is interesting, he seems to have no problems getting tears to well up in his eyes and getting the facial expression of someone in mental pain, but he provokes absolutely no emotion for the audience to feel attached to. LaBeouf actually has a great comedy streak in him which is often overlooked. He started his career as a stand-up comedian and you can see it in his acting in this film. His facial expressions and his deliverance of sarcastic dialogue are truly gold.

                After the departure of Megan Fox from the series, the film makers had to find another stunning woman to fulfil her shoes considering Sam having a beautiful girlfriend is just as much a part of Transformers as the Autobots are. Their answer came in Victoria’s Secret model, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Transformers: Dark Of The Moon is her acting debut, and it wasn’t too hard a role for her to start off with. Her performance is very amateurish with no emotion or strain really being shown in any scene. However, it is obvious she wasn’t chosen for the role because of her dramatic qualifications. The camera spends a great deal of time scanning her body and boys will become men with her entrance into the film.

                With some films, you can always look at them and realise why they were made at the point in time which they were. With Transformers: Dark Of The Moon, it is crystal clear that it was made at the perfect point in time to take full advantage of the amazing special effects available, not to mention 3D. Although it is a clever story, it is the action that makes this film.

5.5/10

Wall Street:Money Never Sleeps

Year: 2010
Director: Oliver Stone
Cast: Michael Douglas, Shia LaBeouf, Carey Mulligan, Josh Brolin

In My Own Words
Well, it’s been a long time in between drinks for Gordon Gekko. I watched “Wall Street” for Business Studies while I was in school (stop trying to guess how old I am, it was way after the film actually came out so you can’t win this one). I’m thinking that the real reason the teachers got us to watch it was to take a break from teaching for the day, but I’m assuming that their reason for us to watch it was to learn about business ethics. That if we are unethical we will end up in jail like Gordon Gekko. It must’ve worked because as far as I know, none of the girls I went to school with are in jail. It was hardly the most exciting film for 15 year old girls to watch. “Wall Street” is definitely an adult film. Not because it has adult content in it, but school children aren’t able to relate to it in any way, shape or form. It’s long awaited sequel isn’t a younger person’s film either, however the admission of Shia LaBeouf may bring a younger audience into the cinemas. If so, they may not have the same movie experience as they did when going to see their heart throb in “Transformers, but at least they won’t end up in jail for fraud.

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
“Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” is the long awaited sequel to “Wall Street”, which means that, like it or not, it does have a level of expectation attached to it. Those who were waiting for a huge Gordon Gekko extravaganza, then it’s not that. However, if you haven’t seen “Wall Street” or think that less Gekko is better, you may not be disappointed. The much updated version of the 1980’s corporate drama is one of those films which you will sit on the fence about. Neither a failure, but far from a classic. Jake Moore (Shia LaBeouf), a young, up and comer on Wall Street who is going out with the infamous Gordon Gekko’s (Michael Douglas) estranged daughter, Winnie (Carey Mulligan). It has never been an issue, but when Jake’s mentor and father figure, Lewis Zabel (Frank Langella) commits suicide and he then proposes to Winnie, he becomes completely intrigued by his future father in law. Although he tries to tell himself that he has got in contact with Gekko for Winnie’s , it is clear that there are more selfish motives involved on Jake’s behalf.

What fans of the original “Wall Street” will find is that this film isn’t as centred around Gordon Gekko as many would have hoped. However, for people who are not fans of the original or those who haven’t seen the first, you don’t need to have seen it to understand it or enjoy it The film is more about Jake and Winnie rather than Gekko and his daughter or Gekko and his future son in law. By the focus not being purely on Gekko himself, the film can be judged as a stand alone film rather than have the stigma of a sequel be in the way.

There are some truly good things about “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps”. For one, the directing is quite superb, as one would expect from Oliver Stone. He makes some interesting choices in camera shots, but they work. There are some scenes were the choices he makes on the way things are shot are quite beautiful and spectacular. The only thing that can be criticised about the cinematography is that at times, it seems like Stone tries to do too much and is trying too hard to impress with what he can do and what can be done. The script is well written and has just the right jargon for the subject matter. The only criticism is that it is really quite predictable. There are no surprises hidden in the film at all, which can make it quite tedious. It is also very slow at times and is very slow getting to the point.

Michael Douglas is back to his best as Gordon Gekko. His performance this time around isn’t quite as effective as it was in the first film (sequel stigma rears its ugly head). It’s his actions in the script which make him the scheming Gekko, rather than his acting. Shia LaBeouf unfortunately seems miscast in this film. He is made out to be a young Wall Street yuppie, but it is hard to tell from his performance that he is as ambitious and money hungry as the film tries to make him out to be. He can actually seem a bit pathetic at times. His acting isn’t all bad, but his performance should have been done with more arrogance or the role should have been given to another young Hollywood male. Carey Mulligan once again gives a heartfelt performance and takes her role as far as it can go. Her only fault as far as her character is more a criticism of Stone’s direction than her acting is that she spends so much time crying and being depressed that her character of Winnie can be extremely morbid and almost painful. Mulligan still manages to give an extremely realistic performance and lacks nothing in her acting. Frank Langella also must be commended for his performance. Langella is never one to not give 100% in his roles and this is another one of his successes.

“Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” will have its fans and its cynics. It’s ironic that there is more chance of non-fans of the original “Wall Street” enjoying this than fans of the original enjoying it. Don’t be afraid to go and see this film if you don’t enjoy the first or even if you haven’t seen it, because you may be pleasantly surprised. If you are a fan of the original, still do see it, but don’t expect it to be a direct follow on from the original, which would be impossible anyway as the original was released 23 years ago. Clear you mind and go to see the film purely as a stand alone.
6/10

I want to know more about......
Michael Douglas
http://www.moviecritical.com/2010/10/michael-douglas.html

Shia LaBeouf
http://www.moviecritical.com/2010/10/shia-labeouf.html

Carey Mulligan
http://www.moviecritical.com/2010/10/carey-mulligan.html

Shia LaBeouf

DOB: 11th June 1986
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, USA
Film Debut: “The Christmas Path” (1998) as Cal

You may remember Shia from.....
• Disturbia (2007) was the film which catapulted Shia into stardom. Shia played Kale, the rebel teenager who is placed under house arrest and comes to believe that his neighbour has committed a terrible crime.
• Tranformers (2007) as Sam Witwicky, a teenage boy who befriends a Transformer and thrusts himself into an ancient battle. Shia was the envy of every male when he was teamed up with Megan Fox in this film and in its sequel , Transformers 2: Revenge Of The Fallen in 2009.
• Indiana Jones and The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (2008) as Mutt Williams, the motorcycle riding son of Jones’ old flame, Marion.