Watch and Read: Spotlight on Media Tie-ins

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Joy Fleishhacker -- School Library Journal, 6/8/2009 2:47:00 PM

Battle of the 'Bots: Round Two 

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PG-13), a live-action sci-fi thriller from DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures, rampages into theaters on June 24, 2009. For this sequel to Transformers (2007), Michael Bay returns as director, Steven Spielberg as executive producer, and Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman as screenwriters (with the addition of newcomer Ehren Kruger). Shia LaBeouf reprises his role as Sam Witwicky, an unassuming teenager who once again finds himself caught in the middle of a war between two factions of aliens from the planet Cybertron, robotic beings with the amazing ability to disguise themselves by transforming into commonplace machinery. 

After helping the benevolent Autobots save Earth from the evil Decepticon army in the first movie, Sam is ready for his life to settle down and heads off to college on the East Coast, vowing to keep in close contact with his girlfriend Mikaela (again played by Megan Fox). Before long, however, Sam begins to receive inexplicable visions from a remaining shard of the AllSpark—the artifact that is the source of life for all Transformers. Meanwhile, far from vanquished, the Decepticons are rebuilding their forces under the leadership of a mysterious and malevolent ancient robot known as The Fallen. Optimus Prime, the Autobot commander, asks a reluctant Sam for his help. Can the teenager once again embrace his role as hero?

The action spans through human history as well as across the globe, culminating at the Giza pyramid complex. The special effects look to be dazzling, with plenty of focus placed on the ‘bots. Fans of the first movie will happily greet familiar characters and be intrigued by an array of new Transformers. Kids can visit the official site to watch trailers and browse the Fan Art Gallery.

Book Tie-ins

HarperCollins presents a lineup of Revenge of the Fallen titles that are sure to be hot items for movie viewers as well as youngsters who watch the Transformers Animated series on TV. All of the offerings have colorful covers that echo the production artwork and feature the iconographic logo and Autobot or Decepticon insignias. Two staple-bound storybooks zoom in on specific events with fast-moving narrative and energetic comic-book-style illustrations. In When Robots Attack!, a sliver of the AllSpark transforms the kitchen appliances in Sam’s home into an army of small but ferocious 'bots that can only be stopped with the help of Bumblebee (a Transformer disguised as a yellow Camaro) and his plasma cannon. Humorous touches abound throughout the detailed illustrations. Operation Autobot depicts an all-out brawl between Optimus Prime and his good-guy cohorts and a contingent of deadly Decepticons. Filled with blasts of color, the vibrant artwork clearly conveys the action (PreS–Gr 2).

Two “I Can Read!” (Level 2) titles (HarperTrophy) will grab beginning readers with their short sentences and dynamic illustrations rendered by two veteran Transformers comics artists. In I Am Optimus Prime, Guido Guidi’s bold lines and shifting perspectives delineate the Autobot commander and his allies as they combat The Fallen and other Decepticons. Illustrated in dazzling hues by Marcelo Matere, Rise of the Decepticons describes the reawakening of Megatron (the Decepticon leader, defeated and deep-sixed in the first movie) and introduces other members of his army. Though formatted as easy readers, these superbly illustrated titles can be shared aloud with nonreaders or mused over by older fans (PreS–Gr 3).

From a prologue that explains important Transformers mythology to the final climatic battle scene, The Last Prime covers the action in a clear, fast-paced narrative. The brief, edge-of-your seat chapters, supplemented by black-and-white movie images of the monumental robots, will captivate both newly confident and reluctant readers (Gr 2–5). The Junior Novel (both HarperEntertainment), with its lively dialogue, touches of humor, and hard-driving combat action, will satisfy kids who want a deeper retelling of the plot. An eight-page inset provides full-color movie images of the Transformers in battle-ready poses (Gr 3–6).

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: The Movie Universe, a handsome guidebook from DK, is penned by Simon Furman, whose enthusiasm and experience as a Transformers writer shines throughout the text. Beginning with a bit of Cybertron lore, the lusciously illustrated spreads introduce the larger-than-life characters, depicting and detailing their different incarnations: robot mode, vehicle mode (their Earth disguises), and weapon mode. Brief paragraphs and captions describe each 'bot’s history and motivations, strengths and weaknesses (in terms of both moral fiber and mechanical ability), and technical features. Incorporating quotes, “Did You Know?” facts, and down-and-dirty statistics, the content will satisfy even the most knowledgeable Transformers devotees. The writing is consistently colorful (for example, Constructicons are hailed as “maestros of mayhem and purveyors of panic and pandemonium”), and the tone combines traditional warrior attitude with cutting-edge techno punch. The book is illustrated with full-color movie photos and diagrams that carefully label specific robot parts—from hyper-coil musculature to tri-titanium fingertips (Gr 4 Up).      

Pub Info

SANTOS, Ray, adapt. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: When Robots Attack! illus. by MADA Design, Inc. HarperEntertainment. 2009. pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-06-172965-2.

KORMAN, Susan, adapt. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Operation Autobot. illus. by MADA Design, Inc. HarperEntertainment. 2009. pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-06-172966-9.

FRANTZ, Jennifer, adapt. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: I Am Optimus Prime. illus. by Guido Guidi. HarperTrophy. 2009. pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-06-172969-0.

_____. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Rise of the Decepticons. illus. by Marcelo Matere. HarperTrophy. 2009. pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-06-172970-6.

WEST, Tracey, adapt. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: The Last Prime. HarperEntertainment. 2009. pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-0-06-172972-0.

JOLLEY, Dan, adapt. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: The Junior Novel. HarperEntertainment. 2009. pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-06-172973-7.

FURMAN, Simon. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: The Movie Universe. DK. June 2009. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7566-5172-5.