Transformers: Dark of the Moon IMAX 3D

Pulse-Pounding Thrill Ride

Director: Michael Bay
Writers: Ehren Kruger
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley,Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Patrick Dempsey, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich

SYNOPSIS: As they defend our planet, Optimus Prime, his Autobots and Sam Witwicky may finally have come across a Cybertronian foe they cannot defeat.

REVIEW: Director Michael Bay, using a script from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen scribe Ehren Kruger, returns to the world of Autobots, Decepticons and Sam Witwicky. What happens when a young man helps sentient machines save the world twice from Decepticon threats, receives a medal from the President of the United States, graduates from college, but can't get a job and just wants to feel like he contributing something to the world greater than delivering from the mailroom? What happened on the dark side of the Moon during the first successful manned landing that attracts the attention of the Russian and United States governments, eventually leading to a possible race between the Autobots and Decepticons to get back to the Moon first?

To say anything more about the story would be to give too much away. To suffice to say, Transformers: Dark of the Moon intertwines government conspiracies, a high-tech war epic, and a story of an attempt to overcome insurmountable odds against overwhelming forces into a heart-pounding, non-stop bullets and explosions robo-actioner.

New characters abound in this third outing for the Transformers. The departure of Mikaela (Megan Fox) and the introduction of Carly (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley adds a fresh dynamic to Sam Witwicky's (Shia LaBeouf) personal life, adding a renewed belief and wonder of discovering Optimus Prime and his Autobots for the first time. Patrick Dempsey comes onboard as Carly's boss Dylan and perceived rival for Carly’s affections. As Sam’s boss, Bruce Brazos, John Malkovich brings his Malkovich-y self to alpha-dog self-absorbed yellow-loving role, Bruce Brazos. Director Meade, played by Frances McDormand, brings a tough as nails female to the role of NEST Operations overseer. Epps (Tyrese Gibson) and Lennox (Josh Duhamel) reprise their roles as senior field agents for NEST, getting in the trenches with their teams against a foe so superior they certainly can not hope to defeat it alone – although they never give up. For levity, Bay replaced the annoying Skids and Mudflaps from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen with the return of Agent Simmons (John Turturro), the addition of Simmons personal assistant Dutch (Firefly's Alan Tudyk), researcher Jerry Wang (The Hangover's Ken Jeong) and pint-sized Autobots Wheelie (voiced by Tom Kenny) and Brains (Reno Wilson).

As with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, some of the Cybertronian characters could have been expanded on. Of course, Optimus Prime, Bumble Bee, Megatron and a couple others get plenty of exposure, but Sideswipe and other Autobots seem like little more than glossy, high-detailed window dressing. The armies of Decepticons are certainly mechanical minions in the battle for the planet, but only Starscream, Shockwave and Soundwave getting any evil doing screen-time. At a runtime of 2 hours 37 minutes, Bay must have had more to cut out than he could keep, but he did manage to develop the secondary characters as best he could – to fine effect.

The IMAX presentation in 3D brought bone-vibrating sound and in-your-face graphics. The dust and debris hung in the theater, the explosions rocking the seats and the arm cannon blasts blinding the senses. The entire third act is an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride worthy of a movie all its own. Along with the typical classic Michael Bay slow motions and cheesy adrenaline-fueled one-liners, we get a few Autobot/Decepticon Quentin Tarantino moments, and a Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan reference. In IMAX 3D, regular 3D or good ole-fashion 2D, Transformers: Dark of the Moon will renew your faith in the franchise, the three films as a complete trilogy, and the humanity of both man and machine!

WORTH: Friday Night Opening and Blu-Ray

Cars 2 (3D)

Finely Tuned

Director: John Lasseter, Brad Lewis
Writers: Ben Queen, John Lasseter, Brad Lewis, Dan Fogelman
Cast: Owen Wilson. Larry the Cable Guy, John Turturro, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Eddie Izzard, Thomas Kretschmann

SYNOPSIS: Renowned race car Lightning McQueen travels overseas to compete in the World Grand Prix with races in Tokyo, London and Porta Corsa. Along the way, Mater gets mistaken for a spy and get embroiled in international espionage involving a new fuel alternative.

REVIEW: Pixar and Disney return with their followup sequel to 2006's Cars. John Lasseter and crew took audiences and driven-to-win Lightning McQueen to Radiator Springs along the historic Route 66 in the original, but open up the lightning fast red race car and his tow truck pal Mator to the world in this sophomore effort. As Sir Miles Axlerod (voiced by Eddie Izzard) develops an alternative biofuel, Allinal, he invites the best race cars from around the world to race against each other using his fuel in the World Grand Prix. During the races, Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) runs into tough competition in the form of Formula 1 racer Francesco Bernoulli (voiced by John Turturro).

McQueen reluctantly invites Mator along to work as part of his pit crew. True to form and to McQueen's expectations, Mator's small town ways - and the fact that Mator is mistaken for an American spy - embarrasses McQueen and causes him to lose the first leg of the race. So even though Lightning McQueen learned the importance of friends and home, Cars 2 shows that he still has a lot to learn. Telling his friend Mator that he doesn't need his help just proves the fact.

But the story of Lightning McQueen takes a back seat to a Tow Truck, the global settings, and international espionage in Cars 2. Center stage is Tow Mator (voiced by Larry the Cable Guy), a small town tow truck from Radiator Springs trying to spend time with his best friend McQueen once the Piston Cup racing season ends. Passed sensitive information by a real spy during the kick-off party before the first leg of the World Grand Prix, Mator is eventually approached by British agents Finn McMissle (superbly voiced by Michael Caine) and Holly Shiftwell (smoothly voiced by Emily Mortimer) to figure out the underhanded evil plans that threaten all of the racers and the new fuel. In true James Bond form, the monocled Professor Z (voiced by Thomas Kretschmann) and his henchmen Grem (Joe Mantegna) and Acer (Peter Jacobson) deepen their nefarious plot headed up by a unknown puppet master. Should Mator acts like someone different in order to fit in? Can he actually pull off being the spy that everyone thinks him to be? Can Tow Mator, Average Intelligence, be true to himself?

Celebrating their 25th anniversary, The Pixar Animation Studio continues to exceed the excellence that audiences expects. Moving from the one stop light dusty desert town to a world stage brings with it new challenges and new visual wonders. Tokyo glimmers like a reflective neon carnival, Lightning McQueen anime plush toys in the stores and Lightning McClean vacuum billboard ads everywhere you look. Porta Corsa, cut from the Italian countryside is a fictitious Monte Carlo, complete with casinos, yachts and clear waters. London is rendered with spot-of-tea time charm and tradition.

Some adults may find the story of international intrigue a far cry from the journey of self-discovery in the deserts off of Route 66 in the small forgotten town of Radiator Springs, finding the 007 fuel-injected nitrous-thrill ride as foreign as the exotic locales that McQueen and Mator find themselves. But repeating the same story, or winning another Piston Cup just wouldn't be as interesting as the first time around. In true sequel forms, the explosions are bigger, the gadgets are shinier and the stakes are higher. Taken as a standalone film with back-story ties to the original, Cars 2 may not be Pixar's best effort but does run like a finely-tuned, precision machine that most will want to take for a spin.

WORTH: Matinee and DVD