Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen Jaw!!!I'll begin by saying that I expected the film to be inferior to its 2007 original. I couldn't have been more wrong as Michael Bay has created something that is more action packed, emotional and funny. The runtime at almost 2.5 hours never felt too long, I could have watched it all night.

The CGI has improved and there really are some staggering set pieces, namely Optimus Prime's intense forest fight with three Decepticons including Megatron, the Shanghai set opening and the finale in Egypt to name but a few. You would be forgiven for thinking that the novelty of the transformations themselves would wear off after the first film but they are just as spellbinding in this sequel.

The film's beating heart still lies in the bond between Sam Witwicky(the excellent Shia Lebouef) and his loveable Autobot guardian Bumblebee. Their relationship is put to the test as Sam is heading off for college with the intention of leading a normal life. Sam's parents are used more in Revenge Of The Fallen and add teriffically to the human element of the film. In a film about giant alien robots battling it out, it's still very important to have human characters that you can really care about and the two parents are not only consistently funny but in one of the later scenes with their son, Sam very dramatic and emotional, said scene gave me shivers.

I'm not a lifelong Transformers fan but I'm aware that many fans felt a little betrayed by the portrayal of Autobot leader Optimus Prime in  the first film. He came off as a little bumbling in the original, bumbling not being a trait ever associated with the character. Thankfully these fans can breath a sigh of relief as Prime has a much larger part to play in the sequel and to startling effect. He is every inch the Couragious Autobot leader as shown in previous versions. Prime is once again voiced by Peter Cullen.

There are many Autobot and decepticon newcomers in the film, some effective, some not, others possibly just a little annoying. The verbal hip-hop sparring of Autobot twins Skids and Mudflap, while amusing at first does grate slightly, particularly later on when in battle. I think less would have been more with the pair. Megan Fox reprises her role as Mikaela and does a prefectly acceptable job, if not an inspiring one. Personally, and probably rather controversially , I found the mysterious newcomer Alice (played by Isabel Lucas) far sexier but hey, that's just me. The Fallen is the Emperor to Megatron's Darth Vader and is portrayed menacingly, while at the same time Megatron is less imposing than previously for some reason.

I found the film to be a breath of fresh air after the slight dissapointments of X Men Origins: Wolverine and Terminator Salvation( 2 films guilty of taking themselves too seriously). Revenge Of The Fallen doesn't take itself too seriously which is certainly one of its strengths.

Verdict:

Improving on the foundations of the original in every way, this is the perfect summer blockbuster.  Its action packed, epic, funny, sexy and above all great fun, it's pure entertainment that does exactly what it says on the tin, Autobots Roll out another film please!