The worst thing one could do headed into Transformers is to expect a good movie. After all, the cartoon itself was based on a single paper-thin gimmick: combating robots disguised as automobiles and appliances. That being said, the film is essentially a two and-a-half hour excuse to show off the morphing machines while letting Bay indulge in his lust for pyrotechnics. Audiences purely seeking visceral thrills will not be disappointed, as the CGI vehicles/robots in the film look absolutely spectacular. Less impressive, however, is the rest of the film. As with most other Bay films, Transformers is infused with juvenile humor, a drastically uneven screenplay, and an overlong running time. Furthermore, while there is no shortage of action in the film, much of it is far too choppy and over-edited for viewers to follow.

In the end, I wasn’t disappointed with Transformers, because quite frankly, I wasn’t expecting much from the film. At no point did I see how a movie about dueling robots disguised as vehicles on Earth could possibly make for a “good” film, in the traditional sense of the word. Instead, I enjoyed the incredible special effects and had fun revisiting a small part of my childhood. In fact, due undoubtedly to lowered expectations, I enjoyed this film far more than last week’s Live Free or Die Hard. As for the infamous Bay himself, Transformers is sure to divide his fans and haters even further. Detractors will say his latest is big, loud, and dumb, while his supporters will say the exact same thing – except they’ll have a smile on their face.