When Michael Bays Transformers movie hit cinemas in 2007 it was met with mixed criticism; while some saw the radical redesigns as negative, others applauded this reinvention as it enabled the franchise to survive in a new age. In 2011s Dark of the Moon Megan Foxs character was replaced by Rosie Huntington-Whitely, losing a primary character. Following this replacement the franchise declined into gratuitous violence and typical action film style explosions. These had been components of the first and second films, but these films had likewise contained interesting subplots; the franchise now relies upon its fast paced explosions to pull in new fans. By comparison the 2007 first film had pulled in new fans with an engaging plot and an intriguing mystery as to how long ago, and why, the Autobots and Decepticons had come to earth. The franchise has a fifth film scheduled for release in 2017, and a crossover with the GI Joe franchise looks likely. The Transformers franchise is now a weak echo of its first film; it has opted to spend more on graphics and explosions than it has for complex plots. The mundane and mediocre way in which the films now adhere to conventional standards means that the film does not stick out as special, it is simply another addition to the ever increasing number of empty blockbusters.
A 21 year old History graduate looking for someone to listen to his ramblings. Lover of comic books, movies and all other superhero related things. Published in The Independent, always looking for interesting things to write about...Follow me on Twitter at @samclements1993, and check out my blog: http://samuelclements.wordpress.com/
