Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen finds us back in the battle over the future of the human race, as Autobots control the spread of the deadly Deceptacons across the world.

In a sometimes tense partnership with their human allies, Autobot leader Optimus Prime keeps the human race safe and ignorant of the alien race sharing the planet.

But, of course, sequels were never meant to be peaceful affairs. A shard of the All-Spark, an alien life-source able to create life from inanimate objects that was destroyed in the first installment, has survived, and it is not long before our old enemy Megatron is back and aiming for total control over the human world.

Standing in his path, like last time, are the Autobots, and the jittery, smart-mouthed American teenager, Sam (Shia LaBeouf). This time, Sam has a secret that could defeat the Deceptacons, or doom the world forever.

This is all a bit tough for a kid who just wants to start college and keep a long-distance relationship going with his ridiculously sexy high-school sweetheart Mikaela (Megan Fox).

Most of the cast is back for this action-packed sequel, including Josh Duhamel, John Turturro and the vocal talents of Hugo Weaving as Megatron. Look out for a new appearance from Home and Away honey Isabel Lucas.

There isn’t much time to draw breath as the plot unravels, and there are more machine-crunching fight scenes than ever before. Director Michael Bay has kept the key element of success from his first film: Transformers 2 never takes itself too seriously.

Snappy one-liners and gags from a new cast of Autobots and the old crew make this easy viewing, and nicely break up the tension and energy lulls between big fight scenes.

Be prepared for the huge length of this film – it goes for a monster two-and-a-half hours, but that time never drags, between the laughs and the shrieks of twisting metal.

While thinner on plot, and a little less persuasive than the original film, Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen is a dead-set winner for the action-junkie.

Rated M, it is now showing at Nambucca Cinema Centre.