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Created Jun 29, 2014 06:42PM PST • Edited Jun 29, 2014 06:42PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Very Good 3.5

   At this rate, Michael Bay should have no fear of sequel burnout with Transformers. What I early on dismissed as a mis-use of turning toys in to movies (G.I. Joe anyone?) has turned in to a reasonably powerful movie entertainment brand. Age of Extinction brings more of an attempt to explain background to it all, and enforces an almost Samurai-like approach of tradition. And of course, the action and the robotic power-mastery ensues non-stop, almost overwhelmingly so. Finally, the cast seems to be well tuned: Wahlberg is one thing, but Kelsey Grammer as a bad guy and Stanley Tucci as a narcissistic inventor were awesome. Newbies Peltz and Reynor seem to be learning from the best. See this one on the big screen – heck go for IMAX and/or 3D. You’ll enjoy that, trust me.

4. Acting

   Great 4.0

   I’m going great due to Stanley Tucci’s well placed humor, Kelsey Grammer’s awesome bad-guy shtick, and John Goodman’s Hound.

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

7. Female Costars Great 4.0

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

    Sometimes there is too much of a good thing, and I actually think they should have toned down the action — just a little bit for character development time.

11. Direction Very Good 3.5

12. Play Very Good 3.5

13. Music Very Good 3.5

14. Visuals Very Good 3.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.9

17. Sex Titillating 1.9

18. Violence Fierce 1.9

19. Rudeness Salty 1.9

21. Reality

    Fantasy 4.1

22. Circumstantial Fantasy 4.1

23. Biological Fantasy 4.1

24. Physical Fantasy 4.1