Transformers (now showing at the Liberty Theatre) — The Hasbro toys inspired an animated TV series and movie 20 years ago, and this version essentially is another cartoon, though it’s live-action seamlessly blended with an overload of computer-generated effects. In case you missed the 1980s, Transformers are giant, sentient robots made up of a gazillion moving parts that shift around to turn the big guys into all sorts of things — vehicles, jet planes, helicopters and such. Director Michael Bay’s tale has the good-guy Autobots and their evil foes the Decepticons duking it out on Earth over a power source the villains want to use to wipe out humanity and create a new race of nasty machines. The robotic human cast includes Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Tyrese Gibson, Jon Voight, John Turturro and Anthony Anderson. Silly as the story is and bland as the characters are, the visuals — particularly the cool robot transformations — are the real stars. PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, brief sexual humour and language. 144 minutes. Two stars. — David Germain