They’re back, they’re live action, and they’re primed for the big screen. The Transformers have been successful toys and once upon a time were a well-loved cartoon, but are there enough kids at heart out there to make the movie a success? The toys have been top sellers for two decades, and there was a time when every kid watched the Transformers cartoon. But does that mean former fans of the animated action will take to a live action version of these Transforming heroes and villains? Special effects technology is what brings Transformers out of the drawing room and into the real world of movie making, and it’s the effects that will leave audiences wide-eyed and wowed as they stare at the big screen.

The movie features two sides of the Transformers coin, the Autobots (including leader Optimus Prime) as the “good guys”, and the Decepticons (led by Megatron) as the power-crazed villains. In the movie, the Transformers come to earth after battling it out for many years on their home planet. The reviews are in, and while the robotic toys-come-to-life look great, the script leaves a lot to be desired.

To fill the time in-between big robotic battles and fascinating transformations, flesh-and-blood actors were shoved into the big picture, with a somewhat lackluster script serving as their “in” to this larger-than-life Transformers world. Though Shia LaBeouf plays eleventh grader Sam Witwicky (who finds out his dream car Camaro is really an intelligent being) plays a somewhat heroic nerd-turned-savior, his role leaves a little something to be desired. Teenage Sam and his High School’s hot girl will try to save the world – because, sure, wouldn’t teenagers be the most likely candidates for heroism? Think you can sit through Transformers for two and half hours? Go and see this cartoon-turned-box-office-smash in the theatres, if you dare.