Before 2007, it seemed improbable that the cartoon-toy franchise "Transformers" could successfully be brought to the big screen in live-action. And yet, Michael Bay proved that the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons belonged in theaters. Starring Shia Labeouf, "Transformers" impressed audiences, earning a good chunk of change at the box office in the process. A franchise set for success, the follow-ups would have to replicate what worked and provide even more spectacle in the process. However, the much-maligned sequel "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" famously failed to live up to expectations.

Despite having a few great set pieces (that forest battle is a highlight), "Revenge of the Fallen" proved to be a convoluted mess that couldn't recapture the first film's heart. The expanded production quality was wasted on a narrative that lacked any cohesive structure. Moreover, it included some harmful stereotypes that now stick out like a sore thumb. The final result was jarring,...