Man, I still remember lining up for Transformers 2009 Revenge of the Fallen back in the day. Hot summer, sticky theater seats, that classic popcorn smell. Half the crowd wore faded Autobot tees. We were all buzzing - could it top the first one? Honestly? It's complicated. If you're digging into this movie now maybe you're thinking about rewatching, showing it to your kids, or just curious why people still debate it fifteen years later. Let's cut through the noise.
What Actually Happens in Revenge of the Fallen?
Okay plot time. Two years after the first movie's battle. Autobots and humans work together hunting leftover Decepticons. Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) heads to college. But uh-oh - he touched that Allspark cube in part one right? Now its remnants download ancient Cybertronian glyphs into his brain. That becomes a massive problem.
The Fallen Shows Up (Hence the Title)
Here's where things get crazy. An OG Decepticon called The Fallen wakes up. Ancient dude, one of the first Transformers ever. His goal? Activate a sun-destroying machine (called the Star Harvester) hidden in Egypt to make Energon. Requires a special key only Sam's scrambled brain can access. So Megatron gets resurrected (using spare parts and Sam's Allspark shard) to hunt Sam down. It becomes a global chase from college dorms to Egyptian deserts.
Side note - remember how weird that "Sam's parents eat magical college brownies" scene was? Yeah. We don't talk about that. Let's move on.
Behind the Scenes Stuff You Might Not Know
Fun fact: The writers' strike hit during pre-production. Michael Bay literally had actors improvising lines on set some days. Explains some of the... uneven dialogue. They built Devastator's sandstorm scene with 8,000 tons of real sand dumped in New Mexico. Crazy practical effects mixed with CGI. Still looks better than some 2024 movies.
Oh and Megan Fox famously called Bay "Hitler" during press tours. Awkward. But hey, she wasn't wrong about some on-set chaos. Production felt rushed at times.
Characters Who Stole the Show (And Who Fell Flat)
| Character | Actor/Voice | Why You Care | Annoying Flaw |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimus Prime | Peter Cullen | Epic forest fight scene (dies but resurrected) | Gets wrecked too easily early on |
| Megan Fox (Mikaela) | Megan Fox | Actual mechanic skills shown fixing Bumblebee | Written mostly as eye candy (Bay's fault) |
| The Twins (Skids & Mudflap) | Tom Kenny & Reno Wilson | Comic relief... supposed to be | Painful racial stereotypes (aged terribly) |
| Jetfire (SR-71 Blackbird) | Mark Ryan | Best new character! Grumpy old bot | Sacrifices himself too soon |
Side rant: Devastator's design? Awesome. Those giant rolling treads! But then they gave him... testicles. Seriously. Why Michael Bay? That CGI monstrosity became an unintentional joke.
Where To Watch It Right Now (And Which Version)
Here's the breakdown:
- Digital HD: iTunes/Amazon ($3.99 rental, $14.99 buy). Convenient but compressed sound
- Blu-ray: Extended IMAX Edition ($18-25) - Only version with taller aspect ratio scenes
- 4K UHD: Dolby Vision remaster ($30) - Best picture quality by far
- Streaming: Paramount+ (included free) or Prime Video (rental)
Pro tip: Skip theatrical cut if possible. Extended version adds crucial robot dialogue explaining the Primes history. Otherwise The Fallen's motivation makes zero sense.
Controversies That Aged Like Milk
Let's be real - Transformers Revenge of the Fallen has issues beyond plot holes:
- The Twins: Jar Jar Binks-level offensive caricatures. Even producers later admitted regret.
- Female bots: Arcee triplets get 45 seconds screen time. Alice the Decepticon pretender? Pure male-gaze nonsense.
- Military glorification: Pentagon gave Bay tanks and jets. Movie becomes a recruitment ad occasionally.
Does it ruin the movie? Not totally. But it feels icky rewatching those parts now.
Collectibles Worth Your Money (And What to Avoid)
Been collecting Transformers toys since ‘84. Here’s the Revenge line breakdown:
Premium Studio Series (2020-present)
- Optimus Prime ($55): Screen-accurate. Complex transformation. Heavy die-cast parts.
- Jetfire ($120): Massive. Combines with Optimus. Worth every penny.
- Skip: Bumblebee Camaro version - flimsy doors & cheap plastic.
Vintage 2009 Toys
Sealed in box? Prices skyrocketed:
| Toy Name | Original Price | 2024 eBay Price | Why Valuable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leader Class Optimus | $45 | $300+ | First movie-accurate design |
| ROTF Devastator Set | $120 | $700-$900 | Complete combiner rare |
| Human Alliance Bumblebee | $35 | $150 | Includes Sam Witwicky figure |
My advice? Buy modern reissues unless you're a serious collector. Those 2009 joints get brittle.
Soundtrack & Score Deep Cut
Linkin Park's "New Divide" defined that summer. But Steve Jablonsky's score? Underrated genius. That theme when Optimus flies into battle? Chills. Buy the 2-disc expanded edition for unreleased tracks.
Frequently Asked Questions (From Real Fans)
A: Plot device mostly. Bay wanted emotional stakes. Canonically he was outnumbered by Megatron, Starscream AND Grindor. Still felt cheap though.
A: Not anymore. Revenge belongs to the original Bayverse continuity. New movies rebooted everything after 2017.
A> Ancient Cybertronian relic only Primes can wield. Sam uses it to resurrect Optimus. Confusing bit: Why did Jetfire’s parts make him a Prime?! Movie logic…
A> Critics savaged it (19% on Rotten Tomatoes). Fans were split. It made $836 million worldwide though so plenty paid to see it! Repeated DVD sales proved lasting appeal.
Why It Still Matters in 2024
Look past the flaws. That forest battle with Optimus taking three cons? Pure robot combat poetry. Sound design rattling theater seats. Practical explosions mixed with CGI. No Marvel quips every five seconds. Just raw spectacle.
Transformers 2009 Revenge of the Fallen represents peak unfiltered Michael Bay. Messy, excessive, borderline nonsensical... but undeniably ambitious. Newer Transformers feel sanitized by comparison. Say what you want - you remember Devastator scaling that pyramid. You don't remember a single frame of The Last Knight.
Final thought? Watch it with low expectations and high volume. Appreciate technical achievements. Cringe at problematic bits. It’s a time capsule of 2009 blockbuster excess. And honestly? We kinda miss that chaos.
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