I Come From Laos

I saw Transformers tonight @ a special screening (AKA Free).  I am not a transformers fan, I never really watched the show or had any of the toys. Like the title says, I’m a Voltron kind of girl.

It reminded me a lot of ID4.  (take away form that what you will)
Pros:
I can’t nitpick on the how true they were to transformers themselves but the special effects blew me away. Visually and soundwise.  I know it was done with computers but damn, so real.  When the robots were onscreen it was on, I lost myself in it.  The action sequences were insane.  Loved every one. 
the music fit, will pick up the soundtrack
Shia LaBeouf was great; perfect little wisecrack from his Even Stevens days
 
Flaws:
Too much product placement (yeah I know, one of those is how I got the free ticket)
weak plot devices
cheese dialogue
too long

I give it a B- the movie was fun and I had a good time.  I know, summer popcorn movie so flaws 2&3 are to be expected but I feel with a shorter run time it would have made for a much better movie and 2&3 wouldn’t have been so glaring.

I also want to note that I was surrounded by some hardcore transformers fans in theatre and they all loved it and called me a heretic for not giving it an A. 

So fans of Transformers? Go see the movie ASAP (which would be done anyway) everyone else?  A big screen showing is a must to get the full effect but save a bit of coin and make it matinee.