Back in 1977 I went to see Starwars for the very first time. The whole event, for me, was summed up in one word - “Wow!”

Since then, I’ve sat through a mixed bag of sci-fi, but I’ve never quite found that same thrill. I’ve seen good films. I’ve seen worthy films. I’ve said wow on a number of different occasions. But I never realised it would take me thirty years until my next full blown “Wow!”

I’d love to say that I found this perfect moment watching something worthy. Something literate, or at least something aimed at grown ups. However, at the risk of being eternally cast out from the Brotherhood of Culture Snobbery, I have to admit that I found cinematic Nirvana watching a feature length toy advertisement.

The Transformers movie can be summed up in one word: “Wow!”. It’s a perfect film for the summer holidays. It’s got hardware, explosions, fast cars, tough soldiers, geeky heroes, and cleavage. Lots of cleavage.

In one memorable scene, the overhead camera looks down on the gang of good guys as they step out from their Hummer to look over enormous precipice of the Hoover dam wall which more or less fails to impress at it is preceded by a gratuitous study of Megan Fox’s front fastener.

It’s what’s known in the trade as “know your audience”. When I took smallest boy to see this masterpiece a couple of days ago, the auditorium was packed with dads and lads. The last time I was in such a testosterone rich environment they called me Sergeant.

But what a movie! Driving home, Smallest boy admitted that all he wanted to do was see it again, and I must admit I considered the idea for more than a few minutes. This movie may not be the pinnacle of western culture, but it is certainly the crowning glory for CGI, fight choreography, and tooth rattling explosions.

It was so dazzling that it almost distracted from the act of watching the story. When you start thinking “how on earth have they managed that?” You’ve fallen off the roundabout and you remember you’re sat in a cinema. It takes a few minutes before you lose yourself again, and you find yourself actually caring about whether or not the good robots will beat the bad.

Go and see it. While it’s out on the big screen. Revel in the effects. Thrill to the military hardware. Let them thrill you. Wait for the DVD and you’ll never know how good the real thing would have been. If you’re really lucky I might even let you put Optimus Prime on your Christmas list.