by Wilfred Okiche

Dark of the Moon is the third film in the big budget, money spinning series of ‘Transformer’ films based on the 1980s cartoon series. According to director Michael Bay, it should be the series finale and is the last where he will be at the helm of affairs. The staggering box-office returns since release might suggest otherwise, though.

The premise is really simple although the script might trick you into thinking otherwise. It is the age old battle of good versus evil where good ultimately triumphs. Fix in the players (man and robot alike) on both sides of the divide and gbam!, you get the plot. After a shaky prologue, things start out on a human scale, re-introducing our hero Sam Witwicky (Shia LeBeouf). He has saved the planet on two different occasions but is still as appreciated as roasted corn. The first scene gives us his current state of mind, explains Megan Fox’s absence and introduces her replacement: English model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in a few lines of dialogue.

Who would have thought Megan Fox’s shoes would prove so difficult to fill?

Where Shia plays his routine everyman-as-hero act and receives a pass mark, Miss Whiteley only grades in the hotness department.  Always easy on the eyes, she owns all the right curves, Angelina Jolie lips and is as sexy as they come but even these cannot make up for her obvious lack of acting skills. Also, the director’s idea of letting her loose on the ruins that Chicago streets have become, in killer heels, with nary a scratch on her perfect body did not help her cause at all. Add to that the unnecessary scenes of Whiteley looking up in awe, like some thing big was about to happen – when it obviously – wasn’t were one too many. Suffice it to say, she is not yet ready for her close-up.

What the movie lacks in acting talent, it makes up for though in spunk. A lot of money was sunk into this project, and it shows. The fight scenes are sure to dazzle any hardcore fan but newbies might find it difficult differentiating the Decepticons from the Autobots, especially in battle. Also, the running time is overly long (155mins) for an action film with two prequels already.

It won’t be a Transformers film without a Linkin Park single, and the rock band returns with “Iridescent” off their “A Thousand Suns” album. Paramore, Staind and the Goo Goo Dolls also contribute to the soundtrack.

Mixing cutting edge technology with human drama, Transformers 3 succeeds as a high-octane actioner. Movie goers will definitely enjoy their money’s worth but perhaps the Warner Brothers should pull the plug on the franchise now, while they are still on top. Another film will be stretching their good fortune.

Watch the official trailer below.