This version, and its sequels for the most part, pretty much nailed what Transformers movies should be. A two hour turn-your-brain-off trip of giant robots, explosions, testosterone, and rock music. Looking back I think it got more criticism than it deserved. Other than Shia and some cringey dialogue from him and the parent characters, the movie is perfectly enjoyable in what I believe are the intended ways.
shareThey were bad movies back in the day. If they were released today, they would be highly praised, such is the decline of modern cinema. Jurassic Park was considered a entertaining but irrelevant popcorn movie when it was released, nowadays it's considered as a masterpiece. That says it all.
shareNo, I think if they were released today they would still be critically panned and yet box office successes. While a critical 'masterpiece' today would be tomorrow's forgotten and irrelevant movie.
I think Transformers is just another example of the divide between what critics and average theatergoers like. Been like that since the days of hack-of-his-time Shakespeare, maybe even earlier. /shrug