where it asks you if this review was helpful or not.



I KNOW I'm in the minority when it comes to this movie. I was a little too old when the original "Transformers" toys and TV show first came out. I was in my mid-teens at the time and had little interest in the show and no interest at all in the toys.



However, I have been a life-long sci-fi fan and usually watch or attempt to watch any new sci-fi films I happen to run across. I actually had no intention of seeing this in the theater and was more than happy to wait for the DVD release. As it so happens, I even put off renting the DVD until just recently.



Well, my reservations turned out to be true. After being subjected to all the hype and listening to friends and family about how great it was, this movie was just a hollow special effects tour-de-force to me.



The effects were good, but hardly state-of-the art, but the true weakness of this film was the story and plot. I found myself constantly glancing at the clock to see how much longer I had to endure the film.



Special effects should always help propel the story; not give an excuse to tell a bad one. Weak characterization was also a huge flaw in this film. If I don't sympathize or relate to the characters, or if they seem too one-dimensional, I really don't give a damn what happens to them and, thus, I don't care how the story pans out.



I expected so much more with names like Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay attached to this project, but what I got instead was a 2-hour excuse to bilk as much money as possible out of a once-famous toy line and promote new toys and related products.



In my opinion, the whole movie was a waste of time, money, and effort. I'm sorry if that offends anyone, but it's only MY opinion after all (and I am glad to see that there are quite a few who share that opinion).



Will there be a "Transformers 2"? Beyond the shadow of a doubt.



Will it be better than the original? More than likely, no.



But, money talks.



At least Hollywood won't get any more of mine when it comes to this franchise.