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Feature: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

"It's called summer fun; it's a robot movie," says director Michael Bay with a smile.

Michael Bay made a bigger and better robot movie than before with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. There are more explosions, more laughs and more Megan Fox. What more could Transformers aficionados and movie fans want?

However, through once again utilizing real American soldiers in the film instead of actors, Bay also emphasized a degree of authenticity within the landscape of high-octane all-out bot-war.

For star Fox, that was comforting. She explains, "The members of the military were so chivalrous and so respectful. They were so much better behaved than the rest of the cast was [Laughs] including myself. They listen and take direction really well while we're just fucking off. It definitely adds authenticity to the movie. Michael consults with the military to make it real. I enjoy walking on the set and it's 100 real soldiers instead of actors from Orange County or L.A. in fatigues. It was a very pleasant experience. I have enormous amount of respect for the soldiers."

Bay also respected the fans' "adoration" for Fox, keeping her wardrobe minimal. She laughs, "I didn't have much of a say in the process of picking those outfits. Michael was auditioning Ramon and some of the other characters. There was a room full of men in his office, and I had to come up and down and knock on the door trying on all of my wardrobe—like 18 different outfits [Laughs]. It was like white jean shorts, pink belly shirt, motorcycle boots. We went through a whole thing and Mike was collecting them in the process [Laughs]. I had no say. Clearly, he has an eye for what should and should not be in the movie, so I just trust him."

There's also more heart in this go around. Shia LaBeouf's Sam Witwicky gets closer to Optimus, but his dad Ron (Kevin Dunn) gets some great zingers and some heartfelt moments too.

About the parallels between his character and Optimus, Kevin chuckles, "Well as far as I know, Sam was conceived by my character. I don't think Optimus got in there [Laughs]. I guess there is a parallel in the script that Sam needs the guidance of Optimus and he blows my character off like kids regularly blow off their dads. There's a paternal aspect to both characters though."

Michael continues, "Kevin is actually playing my father. That's very much how my parents were growing up. What makes the movie accessible to everybody is the humor in it. It's not just a fanboy movie. Most women hone in on the humor, but there are a lot of young women that say, 'I just want to see robots kicking ass.'"

Don't we all? Transformers certainly delivers on that front.

—Rick Florino
06.24.09