Action and disaster movies are usually based loosely on potential events that worldwide cause viewer's anxiety. "Transformers 3" offers viewers two different methods of world destruction: human enslavement by aliens and domination by machines.

If the film is taken out of the box you could say that there is a third slightly more mystical anxiety. Early in the film, even before we are reunited with our familiar friends we are privy to a short 'history' lesson. These first minutes are devoted to the secrets behind the 1960's space race. Just weeks after opening day of "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" the Space Shuttle Atlantis landed for the last time marking the official end of the American Shuttle program. The combination of real life events and fictional conspiracies add a new level of anxiety for the viewer while giving the film some depth.

Almost as quickly as is the semi-fictional history lesson started, it was over returning to the film that viewers expected. We were thrown back to our expectations of a Michael Bay film. In typical summer blockbuster fashion there lacked a thoughtful plot but it comes back hard with super-blow 'em up, shoot out style that we have come to expect. In this regard the viewer is not let down.

When it comes to summer blockbuster expectations, "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" does not disappoint. There are gigantic memorizing fight scenes and car chases that defy gravity and many laws of physics. With the final scene that ran what seemed to be an eternity, the entire city of Chicago was decimated in a blur of characters that were barely distinguishable from one another, gunfire, flying parts and explosions.

Per expectations from the previous two installments, Sam Witwicky played by Shia LeBeouf - reprises his role as a young kid who befriended the good guys- the Autobots. Sam who cannot manage much in day-to-day life has the phenomenal ability of saving the world on multiple occasions. Being his loudmouth unemployed twenty something self he was able to find a replacement for Mikaela (Megan Fox) with Carly, played by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, to be his new live in girlfriend.

Through Sam's jealousy of his new-found girlfriends boss Dylan played by Patrick Dempsey he try's to get back with his buddies the Autobots and prove to himself and everyone else that he is still capable of repeat performances. The film continues on awkwardly till the culminating final scene with multiple blatant product placements, copious incoherent yelling, missed one-liners and extreme slow motion scans of the heroin.

The film from start to finish was lackluster overall. With some witty scenes keeping you involved and entertained, the way in which they were brought together was clunky and haplessly connected with confusing fight scenes that took away from the flow of the film. The film was successful in its purpose as a summer blockbuster, getting viewers out of the heat and into an air-conditioned theater for some easy fun. Even with drawn out fight scenes and showdowns it was nice to be reunited with friends from the last two installments for some decent, mindless and easy summer fun.

The author is an English language educator with a background as a chef and a professional writer who loves to explore while enjoying new experiences.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

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