I think the only opening line fitting of this movie is this:

Wow.

Now that it is out of the way, I can get into the film - don't worry, no spoilers.

First the gripe: There are several points in this film (note the word choice, this is not a movie, it is cinema) where severe, dramatic events occur that grab and entangle the viewer but then cut too quickly. It would have been nice in some instances to digest the information and magnitude of the scene, to see the reactions on the characters faces, and really feel the weight of what is occurring. In a longer directors cut, it would be grat to extend these scenes just a little - by seconds - to increase the dramatic impact and let the scene really sink in.

That's it as far as serious gripes go. Now the fun stuff:

The battle sequences, as one can imagine from Michael, are absolutely magnificant. The special effects, unique angles and colors are simply fabulous. Many scenes remind me of the opening Gladiator scene and Saving Private Ryan, where the chaos, confusion, and tragedy are relayed through frantic, chaotic filming. However, they up the ante with Bay and Schwartzman's vivid, color rich depiction style.

I worried about this film not accurately displaying the battle (or sabatoge as it was) and trying to overly Hollywoodize it. While there is much heroicism and bravery, none of it is over the top; it works into the scenario at hand and doesn't have the feel of the average shoot 'em up action flick. The men are True Heros, not the Hollywood type.

After watching a bit of CNN the other night, I also worried about the film depicting Japan too aggressively and negatively, which they managed not only not too, but gae excellent motives as well as a very human element. While they are called Bastards and Japs throughout the movie, the authenticity of the film allows for it. The Japanese leaders and pilots are given proper respect and veered away from the one dimensional savages we seem to have desperately clung to in the years after the attack.

I almost want to guarantee that you will love this movie. The film is absolutely spectacular, the storyline would have been outstanding and intriguing without the backdrop of the attack, and the action "epic" sequences make this movie the best of the Bay crop. At least until his next film.

I am sure it will be panned by the critics, and it is unfortunate. It has a strong message and I didn't hear a person in the packed theater say a negative word about it.

-Nate Z.