Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) - Movie Review for Parents

Bottom line: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen contains action similar to the first movie, but with more violent, metal clashing action scenes and increased sexual material. Parents should preview the movie first if they have concerns about the content, and/or read the content overview below.

MPAA Rating: PG-13, for intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, language, some crude and sexual material, and brief drug material
Genre: Sci-fi/Action/Adventure
Guide Age Recommendation: 14+
Runtime: 151 minutes
Release date:June 24, 2009

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - Summary

In this sequel to the original Transformers movie, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) is going off to college and doing something we never thought we'd see him do -- leaving his hot girlfriend and his hot car behind. Will Sam be a good boy when he's off on his own living the crazy college life?

We don't get much time to find out, because before he knows it, he's seeing funky symbols, getting attacked by an alien robot, and attempting to dissuade his roommate from trying to uncover the conspiracy theory behind recent world events. Things on the planet are obviously amiss, and it isn't long before Sam's old friend Optimus Prime is asking for his help.

Sam doesn't want to get involved in the bot war again, but the Decepticons make a bold move that brings the battle to him and results in a tragic death, leaving the world almost without hope. In a last attempt to save the world as we know it, Sam and his friends, the military, and government agents who are working with him must fight battle after metal clashing battle against the evil giant robots and find an ancient relic that could be the key to victory, or to certain destruction.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - Guide Review

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen can be described as the opposite of a "chick flick." The epitome of a guy film, grown men can see their childhood toys blow up into life on the big screen, fighting loud, metal clashing battles set to pounding rock music -- with plenty of the scenes including hot girls in skimpy outfits, of course. Both men and women who are into high action movies (and don't mind the absurdity of "robots in disguise") will likely enjoy this film, and kids of varying ages will be absolutely begging to go as well.

If you saw the first Transformers movie, Revenge of the Fallen is similar in plot and action, but the violence is more intense, more weapons are used, and more scenes contain sexy girls and sexual content. The campus party scene is shown briefly, when Sam first gets to college and heads out to a party with his buddies. College kids are drinking, and the guys are all about checking out the girls. One of the girls comes on particularly strong, cornering Sam and throwing him on the bed. Also, while at the college Sam's mom unknowingly ingests a brownie laced with marijuana. She isn't a very classy lady to begin with, but you should see her high. The movie also contains a significant amount of bad language and profanity. For more details on the content of the movie, see the "Content Overview" below.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - Content Overview

• Violence (Extreme): Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen contains an extreme amount of violence including giant Transformer bots bashing each other and destroying things. Not much blood and gore is shown, but human casualties occur (one man is show getting stomped, others are presumed to die but the deaths cannot be seen closely). Buildings, cars, homes and other property is destroyed. All manner of weapons are shown including machine guns, tanks, and more causing explosions and all kinds of destruction. One character is tortured by a Decepticon; the bot sends probes up his nose, in his eyes and around his face, but he is not grossly injured.

• Sex/Nudity (High): The movie shows several scantily clad girls, including Sam's girlfriend, and also a very sexy girl at college who throws herself at Sam and forcefully tries to seduce him. At one point, she throws him down on the bed, and when the camera shows her bottom we see a long, robotic tentacle sliding out of her dress. Other sexy girls are shown at a party and in a dorm, and guys are shown talking about the hot girls. The movie is repleat with innuendo and sexual jokes (many of them quite crude).

• Drugs and Alcohol (High): Kids at a college party are shown with drinks. Sam's mom buys a brownie that was laced with marijuana, and she subsequently gets high and begins running around the school making a huge fool of herself and of Sam.

Language (Extreme): The movie contains many usages of profanity such as the "f" word (used often but only partially; like in "f-ing"), the "s" word, the "a" word, the "b" word, "damn," "hell," and several uses of "Oh my God" or variations of the phrase. Sexually profane references are also used.

Disrespectful/Imitative Behavior (Extreme): Characters in the movie use many colorful phrases used as insults and expletives that parents would not likely want kids to imitate. Sexual jokes and references are also used. Kids may want to imitate the violent action scenes, especially if they have action figures to act them out with.

Scary Scenes (High): Content listed under "violence" may be frightening for kids. Kids may be afraid by the continuous peril, the huge and evil Decepticon bots, and the many explosions and load, clanging fighting scenes.

Sad/Unsettling Scenes (Low): Two characters die or appear to have died, causing other characters anguish and remorse.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – Topics to Discuss

• After seeing Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, kids may have questions about the following topics: college life, parties, robots coming to life and endangering humans, other planets/worlds, Egypt and pyramids, relationships.