Transformers

When the first preview for "Transformers" came out, I rolled my eyes and thought, "There's no way I'm going to see that movie." Then more previews started coming and I became intrigued. Now, after having seen this summer blockbuster, I can't stop talking about it. "Transformers" is easily the coolest movie of the summer!

Do I need to explain Autobots and Decepticons? Or does it suffice to say there are good robots (Autobots) and bad robots (Decepticons)? Either way, they are big and extremely awesome. Do I dare declare this to be "The Summer of Shia" just yet? Let's wait until September, but based on his performance here, in addition to "Disturbia" and "Surf's Up", it would be hard to argue against Shia LaBeouf making a name for himself this summer.

LaBeouf stars as Sam Witwicky, the teenager who gets put in the middle of a robot war when it becomes known that he holds the key to saving the human race. The robots, both good and bad, are after a mystic cube that guides their own existence. At the same time, Sam is after Mikaela (Megan Fox) and uses his new Camaro to pursue her. Little does he know that this rundown vehicle is actually a Transformer meant to protect him.

While all of this is developing, we switch gears to the military side of the story as they are just beginning to understand the nature of an attack at a base in Qatar. Director Michael Bay clearly spent a lot of time on his military research as there are some very well developed elements included here. This is where the action is happening while the slower-paced pieces are occurring stateside with Sam. Eventually the stories come together as Sam, the military guys, and a bunch of computer hackers work to avoid annihilation.

That is probably telling you more than you really needed to know. While certainly not an award-winning script, the storyline isn't bad. There are a few very slow scenes that make the movie twenty minutes longer than it needed to be, but the action -- which kicks in only 5 minutes into the movie -- makes up for it. The computer generated robots are simply amazing, and their vehicle forms are equally cool. I am disappointed every time I get into my Civic now and it doesn't transform into a 30-foot robot. While a few of the characters are meaningless to the audience, the main players are well done. LaBeouf proves he's ready to hang with Indiana Jones next summer.

Overall, this is the ideal summer movie where you sit back and watch things blow up and let the action unfold. Even with all of the battle scenes, there is no blood or overly frightening scenes for little kids. There is one awkward scene between Sam and his parents held in Sam's bedroom that didn't seem appropriate for pre-teens, but beyond that it's pretty safe. "Transformers" ends up being much more than what initially met my eyes. I can't wait to go again. I give it an A.

"Transformers" is rated PG-13 with a running time of 143 minutes.