New Transformers Movie Is Both Good And Disappointing

Yes, that’s right!  The new Transformers movie is both good and disappointing!  It is a great example of big budget blockbuster movies that typically get released during the summer months.  It has lots of action, great special effects, and as an added plus: generally decent acting.

I have been a fan of Transformers since the 1980′s when I would watch the cartoon series on TV.  I even had a few of the toys produced.  Since then, there have been spin-off series produced, which never quite matched the popularity of the original.

Now, we are treated to the live action Transformers movie franchise.  This sequel, subtitled “Revenge of the Fallen” is heavy on the action.  The movie keeps a quick pace all the way through until the end.  It has humor interjected, and not just from the human characters.  Wise-cracking robots also provide comic relief.

On the flip side, I am also disappointed in the new Transformers movie.

***SPOILER ALERT***

The movie was enjoyable for me to watch, but not something I would want to take my small children to see.  The off-color sexual jokes, and even the drug humor, are not what I want my four year old to see.

Yes, that’s right: drug humor!  In one scene, the mother is eating brownies made with marijuana, seemingly oblivious to what she is consuming.

There are some sexual references made in the new movie as well.  The main character, Sam, is starting college, so the movie makers seemed to take free license with interjecting lots of crude “Animal House” type of material.  There is even a “make out” scene with a beautiful woman, which turns out to be a killer robot.  This seems an awful lot like Terminator, and not Transformers, but o.k.

In another scene, a pair of robots called “The Twins” form an ice cream truck, with the bumper sticker saying “Suck My Popsicle” on the side.  It’s funny, but not age appropriate, in my opinion.

Why am I making a fuss over the content of the movie?  Because Transformers has been oriented towards children from its inception.  There is a new line of toys in local stores, based on the new PG-13 movie.

As much as I like the movie on a personal level, (and yes, even the South Park style humor), I am disappointed as a parent, that it was not made in a more family friendly manner.

I suspect many movie theater operators are also wishing it had been made more family friendly as well.  They make more on concession sales when both parents and children go to the shows.

Having said all that, it is a good movie overall.  Older children and adults will like it.  As for me, I would recommend keeping the little ones at home.