Furious action in 'Transformers'
CRITIC'S CORNER
By DNA Smith

The action in Transformers is fast and furious, but critic DNA Smith was not impressed.

"Transformers"
Running time: 144 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13

In the '80s, "Transformers" was a poorly animated cartoon on TV that was, for all intents and purposes, a 30-minute toy commercial.

Twenty years later, "Transformers" is a multimillion dollar feature film loaded with CGI effects that is, for all intents and purposes, a two-anda half hour commercial for General Motors. There isn't a Toyota in sight, which is ironic when you consider "Transformers" originated in Japan.

The premise of "Transformers" is that a group of good-natured alien robots disguise themselves as latemodel GM vehicles. There are bad robots who disguise themselves as tanks or jet fighters and other non-brand-named vehicles. Every 15 minutes, they transform from whatever vehicle they are into a giant robot. Then they fight.

After two-and-a-half hours, the good robots win.

The action is fast and furious, and for most of the movie I couldn't keep track of which robots were the good ones or the bad ones. And since each frenzied robot fight looked just about like the previous robot fight, the movie got real boring real quick.

Speaking of boring, Shia LaBeouf is the alleged star of this ludicrous motion picture. He plays a teenager who possesses an artifact crucial to the survival of the planet. Along for the ride is Megan Fox playing the "Hot Chick Who Would Be Waaaaay Out of His League in Real Life." We are supposed to care about them because they are Young Pretty People.

Maybe if I'd grown up watching the "Transformers" cartoon I'd have some emotional, nostalgic investment in the film. Since I didn't, I don't. However there are millions of fanboys out there who did, and I'm sure "Transformers" will make a bajillion dollars at the box office.

Bottom line, if you have fond memories of Optimus Prime and Megatron, then this flick is for you. For the average moviegoer, "Transformers" is another loud, stupid summer movie geared toward 12-to-29-yearold boys.

GRADE: C- (c) 2007 King Features Synd., Inc.