Originating from Japan’s toy line, the Transformers series evolved into a major Hollywood production. The 2009 sequel, produced with a larger budget thanks to its predecessor’s box office success, achieved significant commercial results despite generally unfavorable reviews.
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes shows low scores: Tomatometer (19%, 248 Reviews) and Popcornmeter (57%, 250,000+ Ratings).
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is much bigger in scale than the first movie. While the original mostly took place in the U.S. and Qatar, this one shows Transformers all over the world. The story also ties in ancient civilizations, with Egypt becoming the main setting for the second half. The battles at famous sites like the pyramids highlight the clash between new technology and the old world.
And it’s not just the locations that got bigger. This film featured more Transformers than the previous one. With several characters popular from toys and anime making appearances, fans familiar with them must have been thrilled. As was the case with the previous film, multiple voice actors who voiced characters in the anime also provided voices for Transformers in the live-action version, showing respect for anime fans. The sheer number of robots can make it hard to tell who’s who if you’re not familiar with them, but it really drove home just how deep the world of “Transformers” is.
Autobots
| Robot Name | Transformation | Main Appearance/Action Scene |
|---|---|---|
| Sideswipe | Chevrolet Corvette Stingray | Shanghai | Made a striking debut. Split Sideways in two. |
| Skids & Mudflap | Chevrolet Spark & Trax | Teamed up with Sam, providing comic relief. |
| Arcee / Chromia / Elita-1 (Bike Mode) | Bike Mode | Teamed up in Shanghai to pursue Sideways. |
| Jolt | Chevrolet Volt | Combined Optimus and Jetfire. |
| Jetfire | SR-71 Blackbird Reconnaissance Aircraft | Assisted Sam and ultimately entrusted his parts to Optimus. |
Decepticons
| Robot Name | Transformation | Main Appearance/Action Scene |
|---|---|---|
| Demolishor | Giant wheeled construction vehicle | Destroys the city during the opening battle in Shanghai, clashing fiercely with Optimus. |
| Sideways | Audi R8 | Attempts escape in Shanghai but is sliced by Sideswipe. |
| Ravage | Jaguar-type mech | Acquired Allspark shards related to Sam’s university. |
| Soundwave | Satellite | Monitored from Earth’s orbit. Deployed Ravage for sabotage. |
| Constructicons | Various construction vehicles | Assembled near the pyramid and combined into Devastator. |
| Devastator | Combination of Constructicons | Destroy the pyramid and unleash a colossal battle. |
| Grindor | An MH-53 helicopter | They attack Optimus Prime in the forest but are defeated. |
| The Fallen | One of the Prime Clan | He declares war on humanity and clashes with Optimus Prime in the final battle. |
Memorable CG and Action
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen isn’t just bigger—it also steps up its CG and action scenes. Unlike the first movie, where the Transformers took a while to appear, this one throws them into the action right away. Even with more robots on screen, the CG still looks great. For example, Alice’s early transformation is especially creepy and well done.
It was interesting to see such a diverse range of Transformers this time. The variety made the CG feel fresh, not just a repeat of big robots fighting. It probably wasn’t easy for the filmmakers to pull off, but for viewers, it kept things visually exciting.
The fight scenes really lean into the fact that the Transformers are machines, showing oil instead of blood, and feature some pretty intense moments, such as faces getting crushed or arms being ripped off. This level of violence isn’t what you’d expect from a family movie, but fans of more graphic action might enjoy it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkKRn1b2EAg&ab_channel=Wongie%27sVIPAccess
Michael Bay described the filming pressures and shooting at the Egyptian pyramids, noting the pursuit of realism through intricate CG by 150 animators and military collaboration. His fast-paced style aimed for a “grand adventure” for viewers.
How to Handle the Human Drama Section
The human drama is probably the weakest part of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Sam goes to college and meets new people, but they don’t get much focus compared to the Transformers. Instead, the movie spends more time on the main characters from the first film. Sam and Mikaela’s relationship is still awkward, and Sam’s bond with his dad gets a bit more serious, hinting at the movie’s focus on continuing their stories rather than introducing new ones.
On the other hand, the movie adds more comedy, which often breaks up the tension from the drama and action. This change in pacing can make the film feel uneven. Since the story addresses significant topics such as ancient civilizations and Egypt, the jokes sometimes feel out of place. At two and a half hours, these extra scenes also make the movie feel longer than it needs to be.
Summary: The End of Scaling Up
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen earned even more money than the first movie, but people were divided on their opinions about it. Many appreciated the larger action scenes and impressive effects, but the constant comedy often disrupted the mood and made the film feel unbalanced. This mix of great visuals and uneven tone is why fans are so divided.
By going global and introducing numerous new characters, the movie expands the Transformers world even further. The battles at the pyramids are especially impressive. Still, many people criticize the movie for its awkward comedy and for not giving the human characters enough depth.
Even with its problems, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen stands out for its technical achievements, especially the CG, and for making the Transformers universe feel bigger. However, the movie’s uneven tone, largely due to the forced comedy, holds it back. Ultimately, it showcases what the series excels at and where it still falls short, leaving its legacy both impressive and controversial.
