Maincast:
Shia LaBeouf - Sam Witwicky
Mikaela Banes - Megan Fox
Josh Duhamel - Maggie Madsen
Jon Voight - Defense Secretary John Keller

Watch the 'Transformers' Trailer

CONTENT REVIEW:

Violence:
“Transformers” has a lot of shooting violence and is not for the faint of heart.

Sex and Nudity:
'Transformers' has a scene where the mother encourages her son to masturbate sending the wrong message to anyone watching the movie.

Language:
'Transformers' has a few 'S' words in it and only one 'F' word.

Drugs & Alcohol:
'Transformers' shows a dog taking drugs!

Issues:
'Transformers' addresses issues such as freedom, friendship, sacrifice, hedonism (encourages masturbation), death, and destruction!

Overall Content Rating:
“Transformers” is an electrifying movie about the morphing robotic aliens! It addresses issues such as freedom, friendship, sacrifice, hedonism, death, and destruction but can be watched over again because of the multiple themes in it that give rise to discussion. It receives 4 out of 5 stars.

PLOT SYNOPSIS:
“Transformers” is about the morphing robotic aliens known as the Decepticons and Autobots who fight each other on earth to save the humans from destruction. The humans fight along side of the Autobots to prevent more carnage caused by the Decepticons. Optimus Prime is aided by Sam Witwicky (played by Shia LeBeouf) and Megan Fox (played by the beautiful Mikaela Banes).

Spiritual Commentary – SPOILER ALERT

'Transformers' can be used as an analogy to address our spiritual lives! The Decepticons remind me of Satan and his demons because Satan is deceptive and is all about selfishness, death, and destruction. The Autobots remind me of Christ and His followers, the body of Christ because the Autobots are about selflessness and sacrifice. They are willing to give up their own lives to save humanity.

The Decepticons are led by Megatron who represents all that is evil just as Satan is.

“Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.’” (John 8:42-47, NIV)

The Autobots are led by Optimus Prime who represents all that is good just as Jesus Christ is. Optimus Prime is willing to give up his life so humanity can be saved just as Jesus Christ was willing to give up His life so humanity could be saved when they turn to Him.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45, NIV)

Both the Decepticons and the Autobots are aliens living on earth who transform to fit into their surroundings. This is very significant because in our own lives we can be transformed too as we live here on earth. The transformation will occur whether we like it or not.

The question is not if we are going to be transformed because everyone will be but who will transform us. We can either be transformed by Satan or by Jesus. If we allow Satan to transform us then we will belong to the Decepticons where selfishness, death, and destruction will become our means to make a living. However, if we allow Jesus Christ to transform us then we will belong to the Autobots where friendship, love, sacrifice, and selflessness rule for the sake of others.

“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (1 Peter 2:11-12, NIV)

The Autobots were sent to protect humans from the enemy. Jesus was sent to protect us from Satan. The Autobots live on earth to take care of the humans. Jesus Christ has given us His Spirit to lead us and guide us to take care of the humans on earth.

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:9-10, NIV)

Let us be transformed by Christ for His honor and glory! Let our battles be against the forces of darkness and evil. Christ wants to transform us.

Just as the Autobots had armor on to fight Megatron and the Decepticons, let us put on the Armor of God to fight Satan and his demons.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:10-18, NIV)

Jesus has already paid the price to set us free! Let us be a living sacrifice for Him!

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV)

Questions to Ponder:
1. What specific reason based on the movie does Optimus Prime want to save the humans from destruction, while Megatron wants them destroyed?

2. What comparisons and contrasts can be made between Optimus Prime and Christ based on the scenes in the movie?

3. What comparisons and contrasts can be made between Megatron and Satan based on the scenes in the movie?

4. If you could transform to anything, what would you like to transform to and why?

5. What kind of transformation has Christ given humans the ability to have?

6. Who will you serve as you think about this movie and the Bible verse: "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!” (Joshua 24:14-16, NIV)

7. What does being a living sacrifice mean to you?

Express Your View

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ENTERTAINMENT

"'Transformers' Thrusts Towards Truth'

Ramesh C. Reddy Pittsburgh Standard

Ramesh C. Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard