Transformers: Age of Extinction Movie Blurb by Shale June 27, 2014 This was my movie to see this week, since it is the 4th Transformers movie I've seen. Yeah, I watched the first three on DVD during this week and several times, when it just got too silly I found myself asking "Why am I watching this?" All this came from Hasbro, a toymaker and I remember seeing the toys on TV years ago and maybe the cartoon series but it was all way after my childhood so there isn't that nostalgia that my grandsons might have. And the premise is more absurd than getting great strength and powers from some radiation or genetically modified spider bite. Nevertheless, the nerd in me compels me to see these movies, ever since the first one in 2007. BTW, I was actually impressed by that one: Transformers Review by Shale - July 4, 2007 The 60-year-old man (or the four 15-year-old boys) ducked out early this morning to see this summer action flick before the afternoon storms came in. A friend had seen it yesterday and was really impressed. I saw it today and am equally impressed. It is a great summer action flick and I really recommend it. You know what it is going in. Suspension of disbelief and appreciation of teen humor required. My oldest grandson said he and his girlfriend were going to see it. I said yeah, definitely a date flick. No, I wasn't being sarcastic, for along with all the action and mayhem is also messages of loyalty to one's comrades in arms, sacrifice for a greater cause and an unfolding love story. http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?p=8047429#post8047429 For More Background: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - June 25, 2009 http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?p=5657236#post5657236 Transformers: Dark of the Moon - June 29, 2011 http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?p=6908740#post6908740 This movie starts with an advanced alien craft visiting earth about 65 million years ago and encountering the dinosaurs that get wiped out by some of their technology. More on that later. Then we are in the present, five years after the major battle in Chicago in the last movie. All Transformers are being treated as unwelcome aliens and citizens are being asked to report any alien activity. Not only the remaining Decepticons but Autobots are being hunted by a dark ops faction of the CIA led by Harold Attinger (Kelsey Grammer) and have gone into hiding after Optimus Prime was injured in a skirmish. Attinger has a clandestine relationship with businessman Joshua Joyce (Stanley Tucci) who is reverse engineering captured transformer parts and discovering the inner workings of alien technology to build transformers of his own. Unfortunately, he is using the dead Megatron's parts so you can see where that is going. Meanwhile in the outback of Texas, small appliance repairman and robotics inventor Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) comes across an old truck that he starts working on. Cade fixing old truck Who else would it be but a wounded Optimus Prime, which he helps repair about the time the black ops guys come with the very intimidating killer James Savoy (Titus Welliver) threatening to kill Cade's daughter Tessa (Nicola Peltz) if he doesn't give up Prime. This is the time Prime comes out of hiding to prevent that with a chaotic action scene starting one of many. Tessa's BF Shane (Jack Reynor) a race driver shows up and they escape after a harrowing car chase. Now Yeager and company are fugitives from the black ops guys along with the Autobots. Fugitives Hiding Out in Desert There are more intrigues in this because Optimus Prime is being sought by Lockdown an intergalactic bounty hunter from the Cybertron creators. He is working with Attinger who will help find Optimus in exchange for some more alien tech. In the ensuing battles the Transformers are fighting their own war but Cade manages to get involved and acquires an alien weapon and engages in the battles. Cade with Alien Weapon The Autobots are outnumbered but Optimus Prime finds some huge ancient Cybertron warriors (before autos) who transform into dinosaurs. This helps tip the battle between decepticons and the well armed bounty hunter. Optimus Prime & Dinobot Only 15% of aggregate critics on Rottentomatoes liked it but 69% of audiences did, obviously filled with fans. Altho, it was too long at 2 hours 37 minutes and could have easily been tightened up by 30 minutes. None of the regulars from the first three movies were in this one except Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and a couple other Autobots. Some fans will miss them, but I liked all the new characters. This movie made a little more sci-fi sense than the previous - explaining the Cybertrons are made of a special metal, "transformium." That is how the Allspark of the first movie could change from a huge cube to a handheld one.
