Director Michael Bay confuses exposition with explosions. The plot is incomprehensible at times: endless pyrotechnics and little explanation of what is going on.

The humour in this film is contrived and exaggerated, and the film itself takes too long to set up with little pay-off by its end.

It is frustrating at times to try to tell the Transformers apart or to know which one to barrack for in the countless fight scenes.

But the movie is smashing box office records so something must explain its massive popularity.

People who pay to see Transformers aren't paying for plot lines. They want adrenalin-charged military firepower, incredible looking robots, fight scenes and noise. This movie delivers all those goods in bucketloads.

The amazing photo-realistic computer-generated imaging that enables us to believe that cars, trucks and fighter jets can morph into fighting robots is mesmerising, with Aussie Isabel Lucas adding some sexual tension for good measure.

Even though the movie is primarily a popcorn action flick, it would have been clever if it spent some time developing at least one of the philosophical possibilities that it navigates.

Why does Optimus Prime want to help mankind? Are people evil because they choose to be or because they are forced into it?

The movie clocks a lengthy 147 minutes. If you are feeling the need for an overly long movie that rides fifth gear the whole time, then this is the film for you.