
Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon (TF3) is pretty much the Transformers movie I wanted to see the first time around. I think it’s easily the best of the series, although that’s not saying much, as I thought the first one was so-so, and the second one was awful.
I won’t bother getting into the story, except to say that the premise is interesting. But let’s face it--I did not go see TF3 at the theater and pay the extra money for 3D to see a good story. I went to see robot carnage, and this movie has it in spades. TF3 starts with a flashback to the war on Cybertron, and that’s just the appetizer. The last 45 minutes of the movie is just a giant battle scene, and sprinkled in between are some smaller, but equally awesome action sequences. Optimus Prime is finally a butt-kicking leader for the first time in the trilogy. Megatron is scarred from the events of the last movie, and it makes him even more menacing. Leonard Nimoy as Sentinel Prime is great.
All in all, TF3 is a technical marvel. From the robots themselves, to the 3D effects, the movie is visually amazing. The story is decent, but there’s plenty of cheesy Michael Bay-isms throughout that are just downright cheesy. But who cares? We’re talking about a movie franchise featuring giant robots based on a toyline and cartoon from 25 years ago. If you were disappointed with the action in the first two movies, TF3 more than makes up for that. See it in the theater, in 3D, where you can truly appreciate it.
4 out of 5 Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots