Tom Tackles Transformers 3

I did not coumt myself among those who truly loathed Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen--but I would be lying if did not admit that the film did not have it's share of issues--thanks in part to a rushed screenplay due to the writers strike....Thankfully Transformers: Dark of the Moon brings the series back in better shape--As long as you keep in mind that it's a movie about warring bots and not The Godfather--you should have a good enough time...

In 1961, a Cybertronian spacecraft crash lands on the far side of the moon. Known as the Ark, it was the last ship to escape Cybertron devastated by war. Piloted by Sentinel Prime (voiced by Leonard Nimoy), it carried "the Pillars", technology that could save the Cybertronians once and for all. On Earth, the crash of the Ark is detected byNASA, and President John F. Kennedy (using some creepy looking CG) authorizes the mission to put a man on the moon as a cover. In 1969, Apollo 11 lands on the surface of the Moon to investigate the Ark.

In the present day, the Autobots have forged a military alliance with the United States, but largely act independently in stopping humans from destroying themselves. During a mission to the Chernobyl disaster site at the request of the Ukrainian government, Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) discovers a fuel cell from the Ark (which awakened Shockwave, voiced by Frank Welker) that the Soviet Union attempted to use as a power source, resulting in the Chernobyl meltdown Knowing this, Optimus launches his own mission to retrieve the Pillars and revive Sentinel Prime. Just five Pillars remain on-board the vessel, which the Autobots describe as being the means to establish a mobile space bridge between two points and transport matter through. U.S. National Intelligence Director Charlotte Mearing (Frances McDormand) is horrified at this revelation as the Pillars could be used to bring an invading army to Earth.--recreating Cybertron

Meanwhile Sam (Shia LaBeouf) may have saved the world twice, recieved a medal from the President, and have a new smoking hot girlfriend (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) named Carly--but he is without a job--wanting very much to matter again.

Soon after he is hired as a mail clerk  in a tech division of the same company Carly works for Sam meets her boss Derek (Patrick Dempsey) and finding himself once again drawn into a war to save mankind.

Dark Of The Moon has all of the ingredients that one would expect a Michael Bay film to have; Big booms lots of prpererty damage insane stunts and a good looking chick around a sweet mode of transport Ehren Kruger's script has the feel of a trilogy capper since both Shia and Bay have both nixed the idea of doing another one of these movies....The attempts to surprise the audience with a few plot twists falls flat though as they are easy to spot ahead of their reveals.

Huntington-Whiteley makes me forget all about Megan Fox from her first few seconds on screem--Thanks Mike!! Moving on....

Franchise muscle is once again provided by Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson who do their part for King and Country. as does John Turturro who returns as Simmons While John Malkovich Ken Jeong Kevin Dunn and Julie White provide most of the film's comic relief--Some gags work better than others but hey this war after all

The film boasts some truly spectacular stunts and effects sequences--Particularly on a freeway and in the city of Chicago, Yes they defy all logic and comoon sense of surrvival...But as we know summer movies often mean we must turn off our brain anyway.

The sequel's running time is long just like the other 2 films in the series but at least unlike last time this one turned out better.