Transformers (2007): More Than Meets the Eye? (Book Snob Edition)

Okay, so I know, I know. Transformers isn't exactly high literature, BUT bear with me! As a book-lover, I'm always curious how source material translates to the big screen. And while there weren't exactly novels or anything before the cartoon, the cartoon (& the toy line that came first) had lore! I was a kid, but I remember it. So, was the 2007 movie a good adaptation of…giant robots? I think…kinda? Shia Lebouf WAS perfect casting for Sam Witwicky, channeling that awkward teen energy pretty well. And honestly, the CGI for the robots was groundbreaking for the time. Seeing Optimus Prime transform for the first time on screen? Chills. And Bumblebee's loyalty to Sam? Heartwarming, even if it was a bit…on the nose. The action sequences were definitely the highlight – over-the-top and bombastic, but exactly what you'd expect from robots beating the scrap out of each other. I also thought the whole Sector 7 conspiracy aspect added a cool layer, even if it was a little ridiculous. But, BUT! Some things didn't quite land for me. Megan Fox's Mikaela Banes felt like a total afterthought, plot device more than a character. And the humor? Oh god, the humor. Some of it was genuinely funny (like Bumblebee peeing on Agent Simmons, I will admit), but a lot of it was just…cringeworthy. Also, where the heck was Wheeljack (or Que, as he was known later)? And why couldn't they have picked cooler alt-modes for some of the Decepticons? Overall, Transformers (2007) is a fun, if flawed, action flick. As an adaptation, it takes liberties but captures the core essence of the franchise: giant robots, explosions, and a whole lot of cheesy dialogue. I'd say it's a solid 7/10 – worth a watch for the nostalgia factor alone. What did y'all think? Any Bayformers defenders in the house (lol)?