Transformers: Age of Extinction - Movie Review

Directed by     Michael Bay
Produced by     Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Ian Bryce
Written by     Ehren Kruger
Based on     Transformers by Hasbro
Music by     Steve Jablonsky
Cinematography     Amir Mokri
Edited by     Paul Rubell, Roger Barton, William Goldenberg
Production company   Paramount Pictures, di Bonaventura Pictures, Hasbro,  China Movie Channel, Jiaflix Enterprises
Distributed by     Paramount Pictures
Release date    June 26, 2014 (India)
Running time     165 minutes
Country     United States
Language     English
Budget     $165 million

Cast

    Mark Wahlberg
    Stanley Tucci
    Nicola Peltz
    Jack Reynor
    Kelsey Grammer
    Li Bingbing
    Sophia Myles
    Titus Welliver
    T. J. Miller
    Melanie Specht

 After the so called final episode in the franchise, 'Dark of the Moon', comes the next installment in the mega blockbuster Transformers series 'Age of Extinction'. The movie has everything to satisfy a 'Transformer' fan, but nothing new and is agonizingly long. The franchise which hit rock bottom with just its 2nd installment 'Revenge of the Fallen', recovered some of its lost ground in 'DOTM'. But 'AoE' somewhere between 2nd and 3rd in terms of quality and entertainment. 

Years after the 'incident in  Chicago' US Govt are doing a witch hunt of 'Transformers'. With even Autobots declared 'Enemy of the State, an unsuccessful robotics inventor Cade Yeager comes across a scrap trunk from junkyard which turns out to be a hiding, damaged 'Optimus Prime'. A unit of CIA is working with the 'Creators' (of 'Transformers') to help them capture 'Optimus Prime' in exchange of a bomb that will help US Army to make their own Robot Soldiers. Meanwhile a firm, KSI, has made their own transformer, which has traces of Megatron. So what happens to Yeager and his family, Will Optimus Prime once again stand tall and prove Humans wrong, will earth be saved, forms the rest of the story.

If you have seen the past 3 movies in the franchise, there won't be anything exceptional in this to look forward to, unless you are a diehard fan of 'Transformers'. Like the previous movies it offers lots of action, Great CGI/VFX effects, great chase sequences, tongue-cheek humor etc. The film is way too long, running almost 3 hours. The film also offers 'Michael Bay' stamped visuals - low angle shots, ladies in shorts and their butt views, explosions, in brand placements, bad writing, great camera etc. 

Watch the movie in 2D as it offers nothing in the expensive, namesake 3D format. The action sequences are not cluttered or tiresome like ROTF but has a huge DOFTM, Avengers hang over and is long drawn out. There are many unnecessary sequences which could have been cut. Michael Wahlberg is a welcome change and the father daughter relation gives the film a better credibility than previous 2 films. Addition of Dinobots, especially Grimlock (T-Rex Bot) was a good move.

The movie is sure to be a super success. With the entire climax portions set in China, the film is for sure to make a killing there at Box Office, the biggest market for Hollywood films outside North America

In all Transformers: Age of Extinction is just for fans and those who like the huge, CGI heavy, brainless Summer Hollywood blockbusters...... others, catch it on bluray....

Verdict: Average or just a notch above

Rating: 2.65/5

Last Word: Will it be a full on transformer movie next,  with no humans at all ? Hmmmm... !!!!