5.9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.3 |
The battle for Earth continues in this action-packed blockbuster. When college-bound Sam Witwicky learns the truth about the ancient origins of the Transformer robots, he must accept his destiny and join Optimus Prime and Bumblebee in their epic battle against the Decepticons, who have returned stronger than ever with a plan to destroy our world.
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, John TurturroAction | 100% |
Sci-Fi | 59% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1, 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The fallen shall rise again.
Transformers was
a fun, entertaining, and altogether novel moviegoing experience. Though based on
preexisting
characters, Director Michael Bay reworked the look and feel of the world once only realized in the
animated and physical toy realms, creating more robust, lifelike, and fluid robots and pitting them
one against another in terrifically choreographed action scenes that perfectly blended the gritty
tone of modern warfare with a Science Fiction edge. Though the film stirred controversy
amongst longtime fans of the characters for the
redesigned Autobots and Decepticons and suffered through a somewhat
problematic script that relied a bit too heavily on comic relief which mostly fell flat against the
mesmerizing power of the ultra-realistic action and special effects sequences, the movie worked
thanks to the dazzling visuals, decent storyline, and serious tone to be found outside of the
weaker comedy
routines. Considering the smashing box office success of the film, Paramount was quick to
green-light a sequel, and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was born. The filmmakers
and digital effects artists haven't missed a beat in keeping with the original's look and feel, but
Fallen takes Transformers' problems, multiples them a hundred fold, and makes
for a completely underwhelming and mostly disappointing experience.
Optimus has never looked so big.
Arguably the quintessential version of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and it's
available only at Wal*Mart. Presented in a shifting aspect ratio which approximates the film's
IMAX
presentation as seen in select cinemas during its theatrical run, this Blu-ray release of Michael
Bay's
latest mega-blockbuster features the majority of the film in its standard 2.39:1 aspect
ratio -- the same as found on the entirety of the standard and
widely-available
Blu-ray release of the film -- but offers select scenes in a "full screen" 1.78:1 aspect ratio that
opens the frame from the constraints of the scope presentation. Though it takes more than 50
minutes to arrive at the first IMAX sequence, the wait is well worth it. Optimus Prime battles
several
Decepticons in a woodland setting, and the screen transformers to an almost larger-than-life
presentation that truly allows for the grandeur of the moment to be fully realized. The shift in
ratio comes as something of a shock to the system, but shock quickly turns to awe as the footage
-- in conjunction with the incredible sound effects -- dominates the screen and effectively places
the viewer in the midst of the robot-on-robot carnage. The other major sequence comes about
an hour later in the film; those shots featuring the gigantic Decepticon "Devastator" are
presented in the 1.78:1 ratio, making the hulking monster of a Transformer all the more
enormous and deadly.
While the aspect ratio as presented in the IMAX scenes is no different than any other number of
"full screen" 1.78:1 Blu-ray discs, the effect is heightened for two reasons. First, the difference
in aspect ratio between the scope footage and the IMAX footage is startling. Though the 2.39:1
footage never feels cramped, the added sense of height found in the IMAX presentation truly does
make the footage seem bigger than life. Most importantly, however, is the increased resolution
afforded to the IMAX sequences. Make no mistake about it, Transformers: Revenge of the
Fallen's 2.39:1 material is of reference quality for what it is, but the IMAX footage betters it.
It seems brighter, more intricately detailed, and features a far greater sense of depth, all
attributes afforded to the picture thanks to the 70mm film elements. Though most of the
footage is rendered digitally, the higher resolution allows for even greater appreciation of the
artistry that went into making the Autobots and the Decepticons. It's not the sweeping, grand
scale effects that are improved upon here, but the smallest of details that truly sell the quality of
the image. The small scuffs, scratches, dents, and grime on the robots look startling in the
IMAX footage, and natural locations -- the forest and the pyramids in the Egyptian desert -- are
nothing short of breathtaking. This is easily the definitive visual representation of the film.
As to what makes the majority of the image -- the 2.39:1 material -- it, too, looks fantastic, and
as noted above, it's of reference quality. The video quality seems almost transparent to that
found on the
Blu-ray release of Transformers; flesh tones take on a decidedly red tint, but otherwise,
there's nothing to complain about. Fine detail is exceptional, particularly when the camera slows
down long enough to allow viewers to take it all in. Many such scenes occur in or around the
Witwicky house or Sam's dorm room: small lines in leather furniture; scuffs and scratches in
hardwood floors; the grass, shrubs, and flowers of Sam's father's prized landscaping; or creases in
posters on the wall; all feature fabulous texture and crystal-clear clarity that allows viewers to
absorb every square inch of information that zooms across the display. Even some of the darker
locales -- the inside of an abandoned warehouse as seen in chapter nine, for instance -- reveal
small dents, rust, grime, and other signs of desertion wonderfully. Even so, the Transformers
themselves are the true stars of the show. Megatron's body appears appropriately beaten and
rusted; Prime's windshield shows grime smeared across the glass; and each scrape, dent, and
chip on Bumblebee's body is beautifully rendered and plainly visible, again though only when the
camera slows down enough to catch a glimpse. Colors are rich and natural; bright green foliage,
the red of a fire
engine, Bumblee's yellow paint job, or any other number of hues are exceptionally translated to
Blu-ray. Black levels are
superb, and the Blu-ray retains a fine layer of film grain that completes a breathtaking visual
experience.
Does this section really require analysis? Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen's DTS-HD
MA
5.1 lossless soundtrack is terrific, quite possibly the best currently available on Blu-ray. The
studio logo sequence alone is of reference quality; the Paramount stars sweep through the
soundstage from front to back with a digitized, robotic sound, accompanied by a nice low-end
presence and fully-engaged rear-channel activity. Bass is positively tight and robust
throughout; the entire theater shakes with every heavy robotic footstep, gunshot and explosion,
and percussion beat of the score. Gunshots zip across the soundstage, explosions push objects
from side to side through the listening area, and voices echo about a tomb in chapter 14, all to
startlingly realistic effect. Distant explosions and sound effects, particularly in the film's Egyptian
combat sequence in the final act, do a superb job of placing the listener in the midst of the desert
and the action. What's so amazing about this soundtrack isn't just that it features room-shaking
bass and fully-realized surround activity. Instead, it's the seamlessness of it, its ability to draw
listeners in and create a virtual world of sound where the home theater transforms into a space
hosting a running gun battle, a bustling college campus, a wooded area engulfed by the
destructive
power of stories-tall robots, or an Egyptian desert devastated by brutal warfare. The faultless
dialogue reproduction seems a mere afterthought, but it's the final piece to a perfect soundtrack.
Please note: it does appear that the soundtrack accompanying this IMAX version does lack the
same amount of power and heft as that found on the standard release. This is still an amazing
soundtrack in every regard, but the low end isn't quite as powerful and the sound effects perhaps
not
quite as loud. Two scenes were sampled several times in succession: the opening studio logo
sequence and the forest battle
in chapter nine. The IMAX version's DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack is still loud, aggressive,
crystal-clear, and makes excellent use of the low end
and the surround channels, but it packs just a bit less punch when compared to the standard
2.39:1 release and at the same
reference volume level and utilizing the same settings on the same Blu-ray playback device.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen features plenty of extras, the bulk of which are
found
on a second bonus disc. The lone supplement to be found on the first disc is a feature-length
commentary track with Director Michael Bay and Writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman.
Recorded separately, Bay leads the discussion, sharing a few anecdotes from the set and speaking
on the film's established tone, his thoughts on
the cast, general filmmaking techniques and procedures, Ben Seresin's cinematography and Bay's
own background in the field, and much more. Meanwhile, the writers
discuss their initial hesitation to pen the sequel and the challenge of assembling a story, their
influences, the story's dichotomy of Sam's role in the alien war and his desire to lead a normal
life,
the evolution of the script, tying various themes together, and more.
Disc two begins with The Human Factor: Exacting 'Revenge of the Fallen' (1080p,
2:14:31), a seven-part making-of documentary. The first segment, entitled Seeds of
Vengeance (30:03), features cast and crew recalling the success of the first film, the
structure of Revenge of the Fallen's script, the impact of the looming writer's strike, and
the tone and themes of the story. The piece moves on to examine how the characters are drawn
and designed, ideas gleaned from "Transformers" mythology, and the development of new
characters for the film. The second segment, Domestic Destruction (24:27), takes
viewers behind-the-scenes of the shoot for several of the key sequences filmed in the United
States. The piece also looks at Michael Bay's demanding style and dedication, creating some of
the special effects, on-set accidents, and the grind of shooting the more action-oriented scenes.
Joint Operations (9:59) looks at the U.S. military's cooperation in making Revenge of
the Fallen. Wonders of the World (13:19) takes viewers to the various shooting
locations in the Middle East and examines the challenges of filming in foreign lands. Start
Making Sense (9:24) is an all-too-brief look at the editing process. Under the Gun
(29:00) looks at the intense work that went into getting the finished product completed, and
completed on time. The piece examines the complexity of the effects shots, the design of the
characters, Michael Bay's involvement in the effects process, the technologies used to create the
effects, and more. Finally, Running the Gauntlet (16:36) looks at the finishing touches
applied in post-production -- including the sound design and the last few effects shots -- and the
film's premiere.
A Day with Bay: Tokyo (1080p, 13:23) looks at the hectic day of the film's Tokyo
premiere as Bay deals with the stress of finishing the film and handling his first major press
interviews. 25 Years of Transformers (1080p, 10:44) is next. The piece looks at the
evolution of the product, Hasbro's designs, creating a toy line based on the movie, the evolution
of the toys between films, and more. NEST: Transformer Data-Hub (1080p) is an
interactive features that allows users to select from a list of Transformers robots; read their bios;
learn about their history in the "Transformers" animated series, the Marvel comics, and the IDW
comics; and view concept art, still galleries, and where applicable, the evolution of the character
in the toy lines. Robots included are Optimus Prime, Jetfire, Ironhide, Bumblebee, Skids &
Mudflap, Megatron, Starscream, Devastator, Soundwave, Ravage, and The Fallen. The
Allspark Experiment allows users to customize a selection of vehicles and watch what
happens when the Allspark is unleashed on the creation.
Deconstructing Visual Bayhem (1080p, 22:46) looks at the importance of computerized
previsualization sequences to the filmmaking process. Viewers are presented with the
option of viewing the 15 previsualization sequences either by themselves or
side-by-side with the finished product. The sequences are accompanied by commentary from
Michael Bay and Pre-Vis Supervisor Steve Yamamoto. Next up is a collection of three deleted and
alternate scenes: Sam and Alice at the Dorms (1080p, 2:10), The Witwickys in
Paris (1080p, 2:54), and Leo Refuses to Go to Egypt (1080p, 0:56). Giant
Effing Movie (1080p, 24:03) is an extended montage of various moments from the set,
most of which are played with a humorous overtone. Linkin Park - New Divide (1080p,
4:40) is a music video tie-in with the film. The Matrix of Marketing contains a pair of
Revenge of the Fallen theatrical trailers (1080p, 2:18 & 2:32), six TV spots (1080p, 2:12
combined runtime), and two still galleries, one each for theatrical posters and promo/marketing.
Finally, users may "unlock an exclusive augmented reality experience" by placing the Blu-ray
packaging in front of an active webcam.
Excessively bloated, lacking in focus, far too kinetic, and hedging its bets on inane comic relief, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a borderline disaster of a movie. Though it retains a similar look and feel to its vastly superior predecessor, Fallen accentuates the negatives in an effort to mask the weak plot, and worst of all, the movie just isn't much fun. With a third installment supposedly in the works, one can only hope that it will forego the bad comedy in favor of a leaner, meaner, more aggressive picture that also returns the sense of wonder and fun found in the first film. Still, there's an artistry here that transcends the bad script and excessive runtime; Michael Bay's style might be a bit too much when taking into account all that's going on in most every frame, but there is no denying that the man is a talented filmmaker and knows how to put together a movie that people want to see. Though the movie may not be up to par, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen arrives on Blu-ray as a two-disc package that represents the pinnacle of the format, and this IMAX edition of the film is THE one to own. It may not come with any added gimmicks that only drive the price up, but for those film fans looking for simply the best visual presentation of the film, this is it. Also featuring one of the best lossless soundtracks yet (though it seems to lack the same power as that found on the standard version), and a plethora of bonus materials that truly convey the grand scope of the Herculean effort that goes into making a movie like this, the technical specifications make this package a winner, even if the movie could have been better. This IMAX edition of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen comes highly recommended.
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