Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, language, some crude and sexual material, and brief drug material

reviewed by Christopher Lyon

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The Story

To get your head back in the game: Autobots are good. Decepticons are bad. They are metal robot aliens with the ability to transform into any kind of machine, and they’re locked in a civil war because the Autobots believe it’s wrong to harm other races and the Decepticons really like to do that—especially to humans.

After helping the Autobots defeat the Decepticons two years ago, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) is off to an East Coast college, hoping to become “normal” by leaving behind his colorful parents and the robot wars—but still maintaining his relationship with motor-loving girlfriend Mikaela (Meagan Fox).

But then the few surviving Decepticons manage to steal the remaining piece of the “allspark” and reawaken their fallen leader Megatron from his watery grave. At the same time, Sam finds another shard of alien technology that implants in his brain visions of ancient symbols. He is quickly attacked by the Decepticons (including one in the form of a human co-ed that apparently wants to have sex with him).

Soon, Sam, Mikaela, Sam’s new college roommate Leo (Ramon Rodriguez), and Sam’s trusty Autobot buddy Bumblebee (a yellow Camaro/giant robot) are on the run for their lives again, looking for answers to stop the Decepticon plot to destroy the earth before it’s too late.

Content Issues

Writer/director Michael Bay is known for his cinematic excesses, and he has amped up both the sex and violence for this sequel. That includes lots of swearing and crude sexual humor, as well as constant action violence with a huge human and robot body count (though not much blood). Two sex-object girls in skimpy clothes are used as set decoration for guys to look at when the robots are off-screen; both girls get physical with Sam, especially the one that straddles him twice before revealing herself as a killer robot with a lethal 6-foot-long metal tongue. Finally, Sam’s mom gets high on pot, talks about hearing him have sex with Mikaela to a group of college girls (“He just got his cherry popped!”), and says other gross stuff for laughs.

Worldview Talking Points

Michael Bay’s first “Transformers” film back in 2007 was well reviewed by critics and did huge box office around the planet. His new film will probably draw an even larger audience, though critics are gleefully dismissing it. “Revenge of the Fallen” is louder, longer, more sexual, and much less fun (in our view). But teens and some tweens who haven’t already seen it will likely be eager to do so, especially guys looking for a summer event outing with their buddies.

Worldview issues within the storyline are big and obvious, but may still be worth talking about. Other discussable issues could involve the philosophy of the film itself, especially its obvious use of sexual images to attract guys and its obvious use of ad placements as a marketing effort.

If your child sees “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” we hope a few of the following questions might help to pull a little productive energy from the film in the form of a conversation with your child that will have benefits after the hype has faded.

• Which “Transformers” movie did you like better? Which of the robots are your favorite? Which of the human characters?
• During the movie someone says about the Transformers, “If God made us in His image, I wonder who made them.” How would God fit into the worldview of these movies? Is there a God in this story? Does He have any impact on the outcome of events?
• Sam’s parents are having a little trouble letting him go. His mom cries, but it’s also tough for his dad. Do you worry that we’ll have trouble letting you grow up and be on your own? Does it bother you to think about going off to college or moving out of our house? [Parent: Don’t be afraid to be honest about your feelings on this topic; it’s helpful to start talking about it casually sooner than later.]
• At the beginning of the film, Sam just wants a normal life. He tries to leave behind Bumblebee and tells Optimus Prime to leave him alone. What were the consequences of trying to turn his back on his “calling” or obvious mission in life?
• Would you say that you have a calling in life, yet? If so, what do you think it is? Do you ever feel like resisting it, doing something else? [Parent: Share your own experience with the idea of feeling called to do something and then doing it or walking away.
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• All Christians are called to do things as the children of God. What is our calling? [Parent: Our Christian calling includes things like making a break from worldliness, sacrificing ourselves to obey God, and using our spiritual gifts to serve other believers. See Romans 12.]
• What are the consequences when Christians refuse to follow their calling as a child of God because they just want to live a “normal” life? What do they lose? What do those around them lose?
• What do we gain when we jump into God’s calling to follow Jesus with everything we’ve got?
• While high on marijuana brownies, Sam’s mom tells some people she heard Sam and Mikaela having sex—and she seems fine with that. Do you think that’s a healthy attitude for a parent to have?
• The Bible teaches that sex is meant for marriage. That’s obviously not the worldview of Sam or his parents or Mikaela—or the filmmakers, apparently. How would you describe your worldview about sex and marriage? When you see movies like this, do you feel like people trying to save sex for marriage are missing out on something good? Or are they saving themselves from painful consequences? Why?
• The two girls in this movies are both very sexual in how they dress and act. Do you think our media culture encourages the girls you know to try to be sexy in similar ways? Do you think that’s healthy? Why would a girl want to be so sexually appealing to guys? Why wouldn’t a girl want to be seen in that way by guys?
• Do you think guys sometimes get the wrong idea of how women should look and act in the real world from watching movies and TV shows and stuff on the Internet? What are the consequences of those unhealthy expectations?
• Does it bother you how many obvious “ad placements” show up in the movie for products like GM, Chevy, and others? Should it bother us—or is it just a normal part of our media culture now? How do product placements and the corporate sponsorships of stories help or hurt the storytelling process?
• What are your favorite 3 movies of the summer so far?

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