Entertainment : In Depth - Transformers

If you're going to make a movie in which some of your stars are animated toys and much of downtown Chicago is reduced to rubble, this is the way to do it: shamelessly, with no expense spared and no cliche avoided. ~Michael Wilmington, Chicago Reader

We’ve got more thrilling 3D action at the Palace this week with “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” playing Friday, August 10 through Thursday, August 25 at 7 p.m., and Monday, August 22 at 2 p.m.

This third in the series, and many say the best and final installment, again features Shia LaBeouf. Other great portrayals include Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand, Tyrese Gibson, and Patrick Dempsey. That’s a lot of real live stars in a movie about robots!

Despite the encouraging review above, according to www.rottentomatoes.com, critics weren’t as pleased as audiences with this film, which is often the case in some of our favorite films.

LaBeouf returns as Sam Witwicky in “Transformers 3,” the story of a mysterious event from Earth's past that erupts into the present day and threatens to bring a war to Earth so big that the Transformers alone will not be able to save us.

“Transformers 3” is rated PG-13 for intense prolonged sequences of sci-fi action, violence, mayhem and destruction, and for language, some sexuality and innuendo.

This movie runs a whopping two hours and 34 minutes! That definitely rates a SUPER POPCORN on the Mike Hanson Friday night snack scale.

SEPTEMBER

Sorry, the new calendar has not yet arrived. However, I did receive word from Frank the Booker that “The Help” will be on it. J

Also, music legend Gary Morris returns on Sunday, September 4 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 and available now on the Palace website or at the box office.