I went and saw Transformers 2 today. I guess I have mixed feelings.

I know I am no longer in the Transformers demographic, but I used to be. Transformers used to be my favorite cartoon in the 80s. Some liked Go-bots, some liked G.I. Joe. Transformers was my fave (followed close behind by Star Blazers - aka Space Battleship Yamato). I have seen every Gen 1 episode numerous times (including watching them via Netflix a few years back). I watched the 1986 movie a number of times even though that movie seems to be two movies in one (Before Prime and After Prime). It was great childhood/early teen memories.

The first Michael Bay Transformers movie I gave a lot of slack. I knew it was going to be re-imagined for current times. No space ship crashed into a mountain. No Teletraan-1. Heck, not even Spike. I think Bay captured some of the flavor of the first generation in the first film, due mostly to the fact that they got Peter Cullen to do Optimus Prime's voice.

This second movie I am a little more critical of. The big scene where Prime takes on 3 at a time was great. Even Soundwave being re-imagined as a modern day communication device was pretty awesome (I am glad that wasn't spoiled for me). Ravage was pretty sweet. However the other Decepticons really needed some work design wise. For the most part, their robot forms were all silver/gray. It was really difficult to tell any of them apart with all of the action. Even my son commented on that. I didn't even realize that Megatron could not only transform into a plane, but also a tank. When Megatron changed into a tank I thought I was just looking at a different robot. Confusing.

For the real actors, John Turturro was funny in this movie and I even have to admit that Shia Lebeouf was good, but everyone else was just painful to watch. The whole going off to college plot is so overdone. The only chuckle I got was the conflict that happens when Bumblebee was parked in the bushes in front of the frat house.

Other nits.... The twins' stereotype was just atrociously bad, gold tooth and all. Sideswipe, Arcee, and her twins had their small action scenes, but otherwise throwaway characters. All cars being GM based is lame (Sideswipe was a Lamborghini in Gen 1), but I guess necessary to pay/market the film.

I give it 2 our of 4 stars.