Film Review - Transformers 3: Dark Side of the Moon

Decepticon transporter ship in Chicago

Michael Bay's third film in the Transformers series fits nicely as a sequel to the second of the series, Transformers II: Revenge of the Fallen. The film has high production values in sets, design, CGI and has been filmed in 3D with some post production 3D work as well. It has high action content and some small level of political messages contained within its narrative as well as some thinly disguised social critique reflecting director Bay's own experiences (main character, Sam Witwicky, should be seen as a stand-in for Michael Bay himself). The lack of good acting, thin storyline (even for a sci fi film of this genre), poor characterisation and the mis-casting of Rosie Huntington Whiteley (a mobile shop front mannequin would do just as well) as Carly, Sam's love interest, all distract from the film.
 
The story commences in 1961 when an alien spacecraft crash lands on the far side of the moon. Referred to as the Ark, it was the last ship to escape the war devastated planet, Cybertron and it is carrying Cybertron’s most prominent scientist and leader, Sentinel Prime and technology known as "the Pillars", which can transform and rebuild Cybertron.  On Earth, the crash of the Ark is detected and President John Kennedy authorizes a mission to put a man on the moon as a cover story. Apollo 11 thereupon lands on the surface of the Moon to investigate the crashed spaceship in 1969.

Many years later during a mission to Chernobyl at the request of the Ukrainian government, Optimus Prime discovers a fuel cell from the Ark which the former Soviet Union had attempted to use as a power source, resulting in the Chernobyl disaster. Discovering the origin of this power source, Optimus launches his own mission to retrieve the Pillars and revive Sentinel Prime.

Elswhere, Sam Witwicky frustrated after graduating from college with no job but a Presidential Medal is finally given a post in the mailroom of a technology company. To his discomfort his current girlfriend, Carly Spencer has a close relationship with her playboy boss, Dylan Gould. A work colleague passes information to Sam about  the coverup on what is on "the dark side of the moon" but is assassinated by Laserbeak, a condor-like Decepticon which then tries to kill him as well.

Sam uncovers information which shows the Decepticons have returned and are systematically killing scientists connected to the space missions of the US and Russia. He realizes that the Decepticons have already been to the Ark decades beforehand and have set a trap to lure the Autobots into reviving Sentinel Prime and activating the Master Pillar.  On revival, Sentinel Prime reveals his own deal with the Decepticons and betrays both the Autobots and the humans. Sentinel uses the Pillars to establish a space bridge with the Moon, where hundreds of Decepticons have lain in wait for decades and they descend on the Earth.

Dylan Gould is revealed to be the Decepticons' agent on Earth, kidnaps Carly and with his help, the Decepticons establish themselves in Chicago and start to fortify the city. Gould reveals to a kidnapped Carly that the Decepticons intend to rebuild Cybertron, strip mine the Earth for resources and use humans as slave labor. The Decepticons have placed Pillars around the world and are using them to bring Cybertron itself through a space bridge.

Following this betrayal, Sam locates USAF chief Robert Epps and the disbanded NEST team is reformed and heads to Chicago to confront the threat and rescue Carly. Sam, the Autobots and NEST advance on Gould's penthouse to retrieve Carly and disable the Master Pillar before Cybertron appears in the sky. Battling through the city with the autobots, NEST progressively destroys  the Decepticon leaders until Sam reaches the Master Pillar where he confronts Gould. Gould is electrocuted by the Pillar when it is destroyed by an Autobot. The connection to Cybertron now broken, the half-formed planet collapses inwards. With Cybertron seemingly destroyed, Optimus and Sentinel battle in the ruins of Chicago until Megatron intervenes against Sentinel. With a three way contest, Optimus finally defeats both Megatron and Sentinel. The Autobots accept that Earth is their home now that Cybertron is gone.

The film overall is reasonable escapism but tends to be too long in the battle sequences. The 3D effect also in a number of scenes reduces the CGI animation to appearing to be exquisitely designed models rather than to- scale or true-to-life machines of destruction. Definately a cinema only experience which would be reduced on the small screen.