Transformers 3

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Shia LaBeouf returns as Sam Witwicky in the third installment of the Transformers movie franchise, which has Sam teaming up with the Autobots to try to save the world yet again. This time around, Sam has a new girlfriend (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) and a new foe (Patrick Dempsey). The storyline is more streamlined than the previous Transformers films and the action sequences are better than ever. While this release doesn't have any extras, the special edition slated for release later this year will offer special features.

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The Ledge

Liv Tyler stars as Shauna, a woman who has an affair with her neighbor, Gavin (Charlie Hunnam). When Shauna's husband (Patrick Wilson) discovers his wife's infidelity, he lures Gavin to a high-rise, where he gives him one hour to decide whether he wants to save his own life or Shauna's. Terrence Howard plays the cop who races to save both Gavin and Shauna before it's too late. The film premiered at Sundance earlier this year but received mixed reviews from critics.

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Captain America: The First Avenger gave patriotic Americans a reason to rejoice, beating out Harry Potter for the number one spot this weekend. The comic book movie was a definite hero at the box office, bringing in $65.8 million—more than any of Summer's superheroes, like Thor, Green Lantern, and the X-Men in their debuts. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was somewhat of a fallen hero, dropping from a debut of $168.5 million to $48.1 million (that's a 72 percent decrease for the boy wizard). Friends With Benefits opened with $18.5 million, coming in third, followed by Transformers: Dark of the Moon with $12 million. Horrible Bosses finished fifth with $11.7 million.

Photo courtesy of Paramount

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 spellbound muggles all over the world over this weekend, taking in a record-breaking $168.5 million — the most any film has grossed in an opening weekend in history. The film also set new records for biggest midnight opening ever, and now holds the title for best opening day ever. Potter’s success bumped Transformers, which had previously held the biggest opening of 2011, to second place with $21.2 million, while Horrible Bosses moved to third with $17.6 million. Zookeeper slipped to fourth with $12.3 million, followed by Cars 2, which rounded out the top five with $8.3 million.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Not many films have been able to hang on to the box office crown for long this Summer, but Transformers: Dark of the Moon is proving to be an exception. The Michael Bay sequel scored the top spot for the second weekend in a row, taking in $47 million this past weekend. New comedy Horrible Bosses settled for a distant second, taking in a healthy $28.1 million. Kevin James's box office magic seems to be dwindling, as Zookeeper opened in third with $21 million.

Cars 2 slipped to fourth with $15.2 million, while Bad Teacher hung on to the top five by earning $9 million. Though Transformers is the Summer's biggest success so far, next week's release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 should make for stiff competition.

Photo courtesy of Paramount

As expected, Transformers: Dark of the Moon dominated the Fourth of July Weekend, taking in a whopping $97.4 million to secure first place (the film has grossed over $162 million since opening last Wednesday). It didn't just win the crown though; the movie also set a new record for the biggest Fourth of July weekend opening ever, and the biggest opening of 2011.

Last week's champ, Cars 2, settled for a distant second with $25.1 million, while Bad Teacher dipped to third place, taking in $14.1 million. Tom Hanks's romantic comedy Larry Crowne made its debut in fourth with $13 million, followed by new teen flick Monte Carlo, which rounded out the top five with $7.6 million.

Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Transformers: Dark of the Moon, the third film in the Transformers franchise, has to pull off one major feat to please its fans: make up for the huge disappointment that was Revenge of the Fallen. Not only does director Michael Bay rise to the challenge, but he exceeds expectations with the big-budget blockbuster of your Hasbro-toy-loving dreams. The story is better, the jokes are funnier, the action sequences are epic. In a word, it delivers.

Sam Witwicky, the once geeky teenager played by Shia LaBeouf, is all grown up now and seeking his first postcollege job. Unfortunately, saving the world (twice!) and being BFF with the Autobots (aka the good transformers) aren't viable additions to his résumé, and he's plagued with the feeling of helplessness. Even his smokin'-hot girlfriend, Carly (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who never once makes you miss Megan Fox), can't lift his spirits, and he ends up taking a job in a mail room. There, a seemingly cuckoo co-worker passes on some intel — the Decepticons (aka the evil transformers) are back — and thus begins Sam's fight to save the Autobots once again and prove that he's more than just a messenger.

To find out why Dark of the Moon is worth watching, just read more