Movie "Review" - Transformers: Age of Extinction

Transformers: Age of Extinction/Rated PG-13/Paramount Pictures/Dir. by Michael Bay/165 min.

Recently, I recreated what I thought that screenwriter Ehren Kruger's writing notebook for the Transformers movies might look like (click to enlarge): 

Well, the latest installment fits the pattern perfectly, and really, what else would you expect?  When you go to a movie with the word "Transformers" in the title, you go looking for cool f/x, silly humor, and roughly 1,382,658 explosions, so reviewing a Transformers movie in the traditional sense is a pretty fruitless endeavor.  Suffice to say, the new one is a Transformers movie.  Way better than the 2nd one, slightly better than the 3rd, about as good as the first, but still not what you could truly consider a "good film."  Fun?  Sure.  But not good.  They're sort of like the Big Macs of the cinematic world: clearly artificial, obviously not good for you in excess, but when you're in that rare mood, they kinda hit the spot.

So, rather than write a scholarly review about the latest incarnation of the series template, here are the bullet points:

THE GOOD

 - Mark Wahlberg is cooler than Shia LeBeouf.   Always.

 - Stanley Tucci is better than John Turturro.  Always.  (Plus, he never strips to his undies or gets covered in robot urine)

 - Regardless of how much screen time they get (it's quite little), giant robot dinosaurs are awesome.  Always.

 - In spite of the plot sticking to the same loose structure, it's the first of the series since the original to surprise me, with interesting production design and truly involving action set pieces.

 - The dialogue for the humans is slightly less inane than the previous installments.
 - NO RON AND JUDY WITWICKY!!!!  Woo-hoo! 

 - Things do go boom real good.  The visual "wow factor" is still high.

 - While the 2nd of the series to be released in 3D, it's the first to fully utilize the technology.  There are moments that are pretty cool in 3D.

THE BAD

 - The dialogue for the robots is still stilted at best, laughably bad at worst.

 - It's criminally overlong. 

 - The plot logistics that lead to the big boom scenes are still ridiculously contrived.

 - While the autobots are not as interchangeably without personality as before, their personalities are terribly shallow and stereotyped.

Final Word:  It's more of the same, just a little better.  In the world of actual, for real movies, this would get a C-/C, but in the realm of Transformers movies  it's a full grade higher.

Movie Review: How to Train Your Dragon 2

How to Train Your Dragon 2/Rated PG/DreamWorks Animation/Dir. by Dean DeBlois/102 min.

Referring to a sequel as the Empire Strikes Back of its franchise has become somewhat of a film criticism cliche.  It is, in essence, a quick shorthand meaning that the film is a) equal to or of higher quality than the original and/or b)darker in tone, while still maintaining a similar overall feel.  However, the comparison is apt for more than just those reasons when applied to DreamWorks' new animated sequel, How to Train Your Dragon 2.  Yes, the sequel is at least equal in quality to the surprisingly excellent original (upon further viewings, I may even decide it's better) and, yes, it's unquestionably darker in tone while still keeping the fun and humor associated with the earlier adventures of Hiccup and Toothless, but there are certain thematic and plot development elements that are very much like Star Wars: Episode V.  Indeed, this IS the Empire of the Dragon series.

We begin five years after the events of the first film and thanks to the forward thinking of young Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), the vaguely Scottish Viking colony of Berk has been living in harmony with their former enemies, the dragons.  In fact, the Dragons have become regular members of the community with many of the facilities formally used for armaments now used as stabled for the beasties.  However, Hiccup is still not always on the same page as his rugged chieftain father, Stoick (Gerard Butler).  Now, the topic which they are most at odds about is Hiccup's destiny to become the clan chief.  Hiccup avoids talking with his father by flying with his dragon, Toothless, and discovering new lands and new dragons.  On one of these journeys he learns of new dangers facing the peaceful world of Berk, including a mercenary dragon hunter named Eret (Kit Harrington), a warlord named Drago (Djimon Hounsou) and a mysterious dragon rider whose intentions are shrouded in the unknown.

Of course, at the center of this story just as in the first film is the relationship between a boy and his dog, er...dragon and the connection between Hiccup and Toothless is one of the most touching depictions of the very real bond between man and animal.  Masterfully animated, Toothless combines the characteristics of a fearsome predator, a loyal puppy dog and a somewhat rebellious child, making him one of the most lovable animal characters to ever grace the silver screen.

The animation throughout is the best the studio has ever produced.  There are more images of jaw-dropping beauty than in any film since 2009's Avatar.  Director Deblois has created a film that is visually equal parts exciting and pure art and it all, especially the flying sequences, explodes in 3D.  The colors remain bright and vivid and the world expands around the audience in a way that shows that the 3D was not an after-thought, but an integral part of the creative process.

Adding to the overall experience is a terrific new musical score by John Powell, which expertly incorporates themes from his Oscar-nominated score from the first film while under-laying new themes and musical ideas to enhance the films' ever-expanding universe.

As mentioned above, the plot deals with similar themes as The Empire Strikes Back, and, without giving away any plot details, these events give Dragon 2 a depth and richness rarely found in animation.  The joys and the sorrows are real and heartfelt and don't come cheaply.  In fact, I can't think of another animated film after which my wife and I have spent this much time talking about subtle little plot points and visual cues that were delicately placed throughout.

To 3D or not 3D?:  If you can afford the 3D surcharge, this is an easy yes.  It has equal parts showy camera motion and subtle drawing in to the world.  However, if you find that financially it's a "2D or wait until DVD" type of situation, go with the 2D.  This is a grand, visually enveloping film that deserves to be seen on the big screen in all its glory.

Bottom Line:  How to Train Your Dragon 2 is the film to beat this summer and the best animated film since the Oscar Best Picture-nominated Toy Story 3 (and, yes, I'm including last year's wildly popular, Frozen).  Emotionally rich, narratively complex, and visually stunning, it contains more wit and depth of character than the last three Pixar films combined (and this is coming from a rabid Pixar fan).

Grade: A+