Movie Thoughts: Transformers The Last Knight

So I just got back from seeing this big budget action film:


Now before I give my complete and honest thoughts on this movie, I'm going to give you a bit of an insight to my experience with the live action Transformers films.  In 2007, I was invited by one of my neighbors to see the first Transformers film and I liked it so much I saw it twice.  With Megatron dead and the Allspark destroyed, I thought that was the end of it. 

Then 2009 came and I saw the trailer for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.  I was surprised as I wasn't aware the first film was popular enough to get a sequel.  Since I liked the first one, I ended up seeing it with one of my sisters, one of my cousins and my Grandmother.  At first, I was loving it, then as reality set in, I came to the conclusion that it wasn't very good but it did have its moments. 
Because not many people liked Transformers 2, I thought there would be no sequel but I was proven wrong yet again in 2011, when Transformers: Dark of the Moon came out.  When I saw it, I was already liking it way more than Revenge of the Fallen.  The final act alone was what made the film worth the price of admission.  At the time, I listened to reviews to hear others thoughts and to my surprise, people were giving the film crappy reviews and saying it was complete and utter garbage.  This caused me to rethink why I liked the films a lot and when I would step in and defend them, many insults would ensue but I didn't care on what I was called. 

In 2014, Transformers: Age of Extinction was released and this time, I was hesitant on seeing the film as I knew for a fact that it would be hated by the public.  In the end, my Dad took me and my brother to see it and, once again to my surprise, I ended up liking it. 

As for waiting for the next one, I was ready this time.  The trailers immediately caught my interest with Anthony Hopkins narrating, some gigantic planetoid looking like it was going to destroy the moon and Optimus acting like the bad guy, saying, "Forgive me," before the camera cut away from what looked like a killing blow.  In keeping with my little tradition, I saw the film, not expecting much.  My only major expectation was that Grimlock, my favorite transformer, not get killed as, to my knowledge, he has not died in any continuity.

I only have this to say (and I may lose some respect and watchers for this):  This is my second favorite Transformers film BAR NONE.  It expands the lore, it has better writing, better action, better music, better effects and some of the coolest one liners I've heard in an action film.  I liked the Shia Lebauf cameo, John Turtoro's appearance and I liked Cogman, voiced by Jim Carter.  This movie actually made my heart race in some scenes and just like Dark of the Moon, the final act was worth the price of admission.  Oh and *SPOILER ALERT* Grimlock lives.

I've got it!  I think the main reason why I like the Transformers movies is because I know what I get into when I see one.  These are NOT Oscar worthy films in the slightest but like my Thoughts on the Power Rangers Journal, they are pure dumb fun.  Now Michael Bay is not a good director, but he does have some skill when directing and when he sets out to make an action movie, he can deliver.  All in all, Transformers 5 is a fun movie with a lot of incredible moments.  If you are at least willing to try it, do not let the media tell you otherwise.  You are your own critic.  Plus I think we all need a little mindlessness from time to time.

6.5/10 (seems fair)

To properly close this out, I will give a list of my favorite Transformers films from weakest to strongest.
 

5.  
4.  
3.   
2.  
1.