Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)

The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the moon, and race against the Decepticons to reach it and to learn its secrets.

Director:

Michael Bay

Writer:

Ehren Kruger

Stars:

Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Josh Duhamel

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 26 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Shia LaBeouf	...	Sam Witwicky
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley	...	Carly
Josh Duhamel	...	Lennox
John Turturro	...	Simmons
Tyrese Gibson	...	Epps
Patrick Dempsey	...	Dylan
Frances McDormand	...	Mearing
John Malkovich	...	Bruce Brazos
Kevin Dunn	...	Ron Witwicky
Julie White	...	Judy Witwicky
Alan Tudyk	...	Dutch
Ken Jeong	...	Jerry Wang
Glenn Morshower	...	General Morshower
Lester Speight	...	Eddie
Buzz Aldrin	...	Buzz Aldrin

Storyline

Autobots Bumblebee, Ratchet, Ironhide, Mirage (aka Dino), Wheeljack (aka Que) and Sideswipe led by Optimus Prime, are back in action taking on the evil Decepticons, who are eager to avenge their recent defeat. The Autobots and Decepticons become involved in a perilous space race between the United States and Russia, to reach a hidden Cybertronian spacecraft on the moon and learn its secrets, and once again Sam Witwicky has to come to the aid of his robot friends. The new villain Shockwave is on the scene while the Autobots and Decepticons continue to battle it out on Earth.

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Plot Keywords:

moon | spacecraft | robot | battle | christ allegory | 

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Taglines:

The battles are over. The war begins.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense prolonged sequences of sci-fi action violence, mayhem and destruction, and for language, some sexuality and innuendo

Details

Official Sites:

CJ Entertainment [South Korea] Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 June 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Transformers 3

Filming Locations:

Moscow, Russia

Box Office

Budget:

$195,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$115,886,050 (USA) (1 July 2011)

Gross:

$352,358,779 (USA) (7 October 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Hasbro, Di Bonaventura Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

154 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Autobot who transforms into a Ferrari Italia 458, while unofficially known as Mirage, was named Dino after Alfredo "Dino" Ferrari (1932-56), the son of Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari; this name change was stipulated by the Ferrari Company in exchange for the vehicle being in the film. Fans have also theorized that the term "Dino" is an intended allusion to the Dinobots, a popular faction of dinosaur-like Autobots.

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Goofs

The loss of signal depicted in the movie caused by the Apollo 11 lunar spacecraft being on the "dark side of the moon" is incorrect. The moon rotates and orbits the earth at the same rate so the same side of the moon always faces the earth and the dark side is never visible. The loss of signal depicted, with Walter Cronkite commenting, is actually from when the command module orbiting the moon would pass behind the moon from the earth making radio communication impossible. The landing site for Apollo 11 is located just to the right of center when looking at the moon and just north of the lunar equator, which means that it is nowhere near the far side. However, this is intended to be a NASA Black Op, and since it's shown in the movie that NASA can still communicate with the astronauts after the "signal loss" is announced, it's clear that the loss is intended to give them time to investigate without all of the U.S. listening in, and the general public (of the time) would be none the wiser.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Optimus Prime: We were once a peaceful race of intelligent mechanical beings. But then came the war between the Autobots, who fought for freedom and the Decepticons, who dreamt of tyranny. Overmatched and outnumbered, our defeat was all but certain. But in the wars final days, one Autobot ship escaped the battle. It was carrying a secret cargo, which would have changed our planet's fate. A desperate mission, our final hope...
[the Ark flies from Cybertron into space... and is gunned down]
Optimus Prime: A hope ...

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Crazy Credits

There is a scene in the closing credits: Simmons and Mearing kiss, and then she demands his arrest.

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Connections

References Jurassic Park (1993)

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Soundtracks

"The O'Reilly Factor Theme"
Written & Performed by Phil Garrod, Reed Hays and Scott Schreer
Courtesy of Fox News Network, LLC

User Reviews

Good considering what it is

I have to say I enjoyed watching Transformers 3. If you take it for what it is, a Michael Bay movie with awesome, epic visuals, an over-the- top weak plot, not very deep characters, and classic 'Bay' humor, then it's great. Not as good as the first, but easily better than the 2nd one.

First off, the visual effects are amazing. One of the best, if not the best, that I've seen, both in details on the transformers, in action/fighting sequences, and in more general landscape shots - the views of Chicago when it was being attacked by decepticons were great. I watched it in 3D in the theater, and it was arguably the best 3D effects I've seen, and best use of 3D cameras, and that is including Avatar which i also saw in 3D. This is what Michael Bay is really good at, and this movie shows he is arguably the expert in visual effects and composition.

visual effects and presentation - 10/10

The plot isn't great. When it starts out, it seems like it might develop nicely into a moderately complex story rooted in some historical events that happened very differently than how we thought (kind of like the hoover dam part in the first transformers), but in the end not much is made of that and the plot is relatively direct and over-the-top. However, it does have a few good moments that offer a bit more complexity or emotion, and anyways I didn't watch the movie hoping for a subtle, complex, and nuanced plot.

Plot - 6/10

The characters and acting aren't Oscar-worthy either, to say the least. Rosie Huntington-Whitely is not a great actress, in fact she isn't really an actress, and it shows, but, to be honest, I have seen worse performances. Shia Labeouf is decent in his role as usual. and again there are some new characters, including some for Michael Bay- esque comic relief (which in my opinion is actually funnier than much of the humor in revenge of the fallen, which felt a little too forced to me).

Characters/acting - 6/10

Fun - 8/10

If you're expecting a layered, nuanced movie with deep characterization and a complex and well-written plot, well, then, don't watch this. If, though, you want a fun blockbuster with truly amazing visual effects, a decent (but forgettable) storyline and characterization, and an easy to follow dynamic, well you'll probably like Transformers 3.