Movie Review: Transformers 2

I went to go see Transformers 2. Now I hadn't gone to see the first one a few summers ago when it came out but the previews for this looked like I couldn't pass up this franchise any longer. It looked like a legit action movie with some funny parts to it. Overall I think the second movie did its job in the franchise, it was a transition movie to a mores serious plot point and while it seems that earth is truly endangered you always feel like they will find a way to win and that the threat isn't terribly great like in the first movie. In the first movie there a lot of unknowns about what will happen next. This time around the story line seemed to mesh with the first one and made sense. When Sam Witwicky (Shia LeBeouf) goes off to college he attempts to have a long-distance relationship with Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox) this leads to mistrust on her part when he misses their first internet date. This is just the beginning of the trouble as we learn that the Decepticons have transformers all over the world. The clean-up of them ensues and Optimus Prime and the Autobots team up with US Special Forces in an attempt to corral up the evil Decepticons. The plot is somewhat shaky and hard to explain but you don't watch action movies for the plot or intellectual script, especially sequel action movies. For what it was, a sequel action movie, it got the job done. It has some great action sequences and allows the viewers to get a better feel of the first movie and understand some of what happened in it. You also learn along the way the history of the Transformers on Earth and why there are Decepticons and Autobots. We learn that Optimus Prime has a long legacy and he is the natural leader of the good guys. The evil guys of course come after the main characters and their friends, this sequence plays out over Egypt and the pyramids and that there is an ancient evil weapon in one of the pyramids. In the end, Sam give Optimus Prime a second life and saves mankind in the process, and of course he gets the girl in the end. This movie is worth watching if you are a fan of the first or just want to know more about what happened and why in the first movie. I definitely don't recommend it if you haven't seen the first or really disliked the first. It is an action movie with lots of action and a decent enough script to get by. It gets dull sometimes but overall I'd give it 3 and a half stars.

Newspaper Article #4

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-britain-biggs8-2009aug08,0,7700104.story

This article details how one of Britain's most famous criminals has finally been released from custody. Ronnie Biggs has become a British Legend after being a part of the "Great Train Robbery" back in 1963. He was captured and sentenced to prison for injuring the driver of the train but he escaped from jail and fled to Brazil where he lived on beaches and relaxed in a "playboy and luxurious lifestyle". He repeatedly flaunted his fortune and easy lifestyle in Brazil. The Brazilian government refused to extradite him to the British Authorities and his rebellion in full view of the British government led to him being a "cult icon" in the British Isles. He decided to return to Britain and was arrested immediately. He spent the past few years in prison and is no longer capable of taking care of himself. The British government released him being that he is no longer a threat to society.

I think what he did was wrong but his story is humorous, he stuck it to the British government repeatedly and I find it funny just from a personal perspective. I think what they did was right and humane.

Newspaper Article #3

http://www.sj-r.com/news/x2121671158/Springfield-VFW-post-put-in-jeopardy-by-legalized-video-betting

This article from the State Journal-Register is about the new video gambling law that was enacted in Illinois. The purpose was to provide legalized, money payout video gambling in bars, restaurants, and veterans establishments. The end goal of this new program/law was to provide much-needed funds to pay for the capital construction program that is in progress currently. However, in this budget crisis there was an absence of money for the program. The general infrastructure around the capital needed some much needed improvements. The legislature was looking for a way to pay for this plan and the end result was taxes from legalized video gambling. The issue that has arisen from the new law is that bars and veterans halls were already using video gambling to help keep their business afloat. They were taking money for it and paying out under the table and using the revenue to stay in business or for the veterans halls, stay open. This will be an issue to keep an eye on as businesses struggle with the new laws and cuts of their profits are sent to the state. I think that while illegal, in the tough economy it wasn't hurting anything to keep them open with under the table payouts.