Toyland tales

You will not find Michael Bay’s name under the list of filmmakers who changed the world. His movies hardly go where no man has gone before. Michael Bay, however is the badshah of the big bang. His movies, especially those he made with maverick producer Jerry Bruckheimer, provide more than enough bang for your buck.

From his debut, “Bad Boys” through “The Rock” and “Armageddon,” his films were testosterone-driven, special-effects heavies. Two years ago Bay turned his gaze on a 20-year-old toy line, Hasbro, with “Transformers”. The movie told of a nerdy boy, Sam Witwicky, who saves the world from being pulverised by warring aliens. Let’s not even go into why the Autobots (the good aliens) and the Decepticons (the bad ones) chose the earth to fight their battle. Maybe Alien and Predator told them earth is a good arena for pyrotechnics and humans are good cannon fodder, or maybe they got a good deal from their travel agent — the possibilities are as usual endless.

The film, though slightly long, was the greatest fun. Steven Spielberg executive produced the star-studded extravaganza. Shia LaBeouf played the clueless Sam, while Megan Fox was his sultry arm candy, Mikaela. Jon Voight, John Turturro and Tyrese Gibson lent their considerable star power to the venture.

The real stars however were the transformers — the aliens who could convert themselves into the coolest gadgets.

The Autobots transformed into the most happening cars and trucks while the evil Decepticons morphed into sneaky gadgets. There were jaw-dropping scenes of annihilation and special effects were of the highest order. At the end of “Transformers,” Sam managed to save the world to the accompaniment of whirling choppers, swirling sands and a flurry of CGI images.

Now comes the news of the sequel, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.” The film opening today, has Sam going off to university hoping to lead a normal life. Alas, that is not to be as he is plagued by nightmarish visions. Apart from trying to get on with his pushy roommate and an attractive but pushy acquaintance, Sam has to once again leap into the universe-saving business. He has to embrace his destiny and reveal his Witwicky legacy and save the world as we know it.

Apart from Bay, Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Turturro as Agent Simmons, Gibson as Epps and Josh Duhamel as Lennox return as does Sam’s guardian robot, Bumblebee.

In these gloomy days of economic downturn, a warring aliens slug fest might just be what the doctor ordered.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu