Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Here I am, two months late reviewing this movie, without any links or any other fanfare. Why? Well, because I did not want to add to the original debate, and because the I am not really a movie critic. My opinion on this matter is hardly important. Of course, neither am I a book critic, so there we are.

First of, the basics: Did I enjoy the movie? Yes! A lot. And not in a fan-boy sort of way. Did I enjoy it as much as the first movie? No! The movie did not have the freshness of the first Transformers movie or the originality. Yet, it maintained the spirit of the Transformers franchise.

Now, at this point, you'll say, you lost me, "what are you talking about?" Please understand, that I have been watching Transformers since 1984. Yes, I realize that at the time I was in High School, but call me a "Nerd" if you want, it was something to take my mind off things back then, including my mother's cancer (she passed away that year), and the pressures of High School in the big city, having grown-up in a small town. So I adored, the Autobots, as protectors of the weak humans, just as I adored other superheroes whose adventures I read about in Comic Books (Batman, Daredevil, Spiderman, X-men and Superman come to mind). So, Transformers and I go way back.

I got (as in, I understood, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"), maybe because I am clued-in into the mythology, or maybe because I like the special effects, or maybe because I want to be taken to a special place once in a while, where only movies can take us.

But, how did the movie fare as a movie, and how does the plot hold-up to examination? Well, it doesn't... At best, the plot was no better than a three part episode of the original series -- seriously! At worse, let's not go there.

The movie does not deserve to be ranked as some kind of monumental movie making achievement. You can't sit and watch it and think, "well it's between this one and 'Citizen Kane' for best of all time." Not even close. It's not that kind of movie.

But boy, did I enjoy this movie. And, as such mindless, pointless, fun movies go, there was another such movie that Michael Bay made called "Armageddon". I hated that movie. I hated it with a passion. I still do. Maybe because a similar movie had opened earlier that summer called "Deep Impact" which was thoughtful and more realistic. At least, "Transformers 2," while NOT realistic in any way, has this 'mythology' to fall back on, this history to fall back on -- and that, I enjoyed.

One last point: Will I be buying the DVD when it comes out? Yes. For me it was save-worthy.

But, if there is a third movie in the franchise, I expect something a lot more thoughtful, a lot better than what we just experienced. We shall see.

1029. Plague War

I don't know why anybody would say: "...part George Romero, " when describing Jeff Carlson's follow-up book to "Plague Year", second book "Plague War". There is nothing in it that reminds me of "Night of the Living Dead."  Then again, when you're living in the future without hope, it might seem that the "Living Dead" are roaming the land. Me? I just don't see the comparisons.  I mean, nanotechnology infected people are not zombies. There is hope for them. Isn't there? This book is the second book in Carlson's Plague Year trilogy.

So, does Jeff Carlson succeed in continuing his Nanotechnology-cum-Post-Apocalyptic tale? This, the second book, is a good yarn, taking place immediately after the events of the first book. Events take place at a break-neck speed, and as such leave little room to think. Can Ruth Goldman unlock the secrets of the "snowflake" as the nanotechnology is called? Can Cam Najarro protect her from countless adversaries? What is in it for himself? And let us not forget that the title of this book is "Plague War" so what is this War about?

Events in this book escalate rather quickly. The people that were on the International Space Station with Ruth in the first book go their own ways in the second book. One of them, Ulinov, the Russian commander is instrumental in the events that lead for domination and ultimate war. But, while I can the see the logic that led this author down the path of this sequence of events, I still don't understand why he does not embrace showing us the road to salvation. There are hints at what the nanotech can accomplish. These are the private thoughts of Cam Najarro whose point of view we are treated to always. But if these things and more are possible, why is the hero at least not willing to discuss them openly with Ruth?

Still, because of the expanded exposition and lots more action - Jeff Carlson truly paints on an international canvas this time  - I enjoyed this book more than the first.

I give it 3 stars out of 5.