Transformers

OK, folks, prepare yourself for another look at Michael Bay's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The first trailer was full of explosions, but this time around, we get a look at more of what you might call "the plot," with Sam heading off to college and starting to see creepy symbols in the middle of lectures.

That said, there are still explosions. There's Megan Fox being hot. There's Shia LaBeouf being intense — and understandably so, since big, scary robots seem to want something that's physically inside his brain. It's about what you'd expect from this franchise, I'd say. The movie hits theaters June 24, and to watch the new trailer, just read more

Transformers fans were all a-flutter earlier this week with the news that Paramount has set the date for the third movie: July 1, 2011. Though neither Shia LaBeouf nor director Michael Bay was confirmed for the third movie (and there's still no writer), apparently "Paramount insiders . . . said the studio wanted to claim the date before a competitor did, considering that the 2011 summer release calendar is filling up."

But if you ask Michael Bay, there's no need to worry about 2011 competition — Transformers 3 won't be ready by then! Bay has responded to the release date news with the following:

Wait a minute! I said I was taking off a year from Transformers. Paramount made a mistake in dating Transformers 3 — they asked me on the phone — I said yes to July 4 — but for 2012 — whoops! Not 2011!!! That would mean I would have to start prep in September. No way. My brain needs a break from fighting robots.

There's something a little bit satisfying about Michael Bay getting somewhat punked by his own studio. But I digress. It's probably best for Transformers 3 to avoid the Summer of 2011, as Thor, The First Avenger: Captain America, and Spider-Man 4 are all scheduled to release then. And for now we still have to get through the second Transformers movie, opening this June 26, which many of you are totally stoked to see.

Photo courtesy of Paramount

When they're not saving Earth from intergalactic destruction, they're terrorizing unsuspecting shoppers at Sears.

The LA set of Transformers experienced some real-life action yesterday when an accidental fire broke out in a house where Shia LaBeouf had been filming. The cast and crew stood out on the lawn while the fire department took care of the blaze, and Shia even took refuge underneath his shirt. Shia may be becoming a big-time action star, but he was probably content to leave yesterday's drama to trained professionals.

Ability Films

When I first started watching this dramatic reenactment of the Transformers theme song, I was gonna make fun of these guys for being too old for this sort of thing. But the longer I watched, the more I was transfixed by their awesomely choreographed moves, perfectly synched sound effects, and "transforming" thrift-store wardrobes. Hey, it's more entertaining than the Transformers movie.