The showdown with Smaug, the final boss of Part 2, was surprisingly brief. It was resolved early on, and the protagonists weren't even involved in the conclusion. But what really feels unsatisfying is Thorin’s character. The noble character we saw in Part 2 suddenly turns arrogant as soon as he gets his wealth back. There’s no real psychological build-up. Thorin doesn’t even defeat Smaug himself. The moment he gets his gold, he becomes arrogant. It feels out of character for the main hero. Why? That question sticks with you. The reason given is “dragon sickness.” So it really was a sickness? But the film never clearly shows how he got sick or how he overcame it. As soon as he recovers, he rushes straight into a massive orc army. It feels more reckless than heroic. It doesn’t have the same bold energy Aragorn showed when he led the Ringwraiths to the rescue in the earlier film. This last film left me feeling uneasy.

This film comes after Peter Jackson's 2002-2004 Lord of the Rings trilogy. Watching it reminded me of that world. I liked seeing familiar characters again, but the enemy monsters seemed too silly and not very threatening, which sometimes made the movie feel more like a comedy. That wasn't very pleasant.

The second Transformers movie pushes Michael Bay's style even further, packing in more action and over-the-top moments than before. Early in the film, Megan Fox’s character Mikaela is shown in a shot that focuses on her as she leans against a motorcycle, emphasizing sexuality in a manner not typically expected from a family film based on children’s toys. Other scenes include a honey trap aimed at Sam, the return of the Transformers' "ball gag" from the previous film, dog mating jokes, the hip-shaking of the small Transformer "Wheely," and John Turturro's thong. These recurring crude gags make the film's comedic style distinct, though their appropriateness within the context of a family-targeted franchise may be questioned.

The 2007 film brought Japan's Transformers toys back to life in Hollywood. With Steven Spielberg producing and Michael Bay directing, the movie utilized advanced CGI and thrilling action to transform a once-unfilmable idea into a global hit. Audiences loved seeing vehicles change into robots, and the story of a regular high school student saving the world gave it a timeless charm. Its fun style and impressive sound made it the beginning of a much-loved series.

It may seem long until Captain America is born. Still, that is good because it is carefully produced so that people who do not know Captain America can enjoy it.