Page 18 July 30, 2009 MANHATTAN BEACH SUN Save Money and Water Entertainment director Michael Bay apparently sold his long with Smart Lawn and ago down at the crossroads in exchange for long-standing and mostly mega success. And Garden Tips that’s likely to continue with the inevitable sequel, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” bill in your corner of planet. that easily could have instead been subtitled • Choose drought-resistant native plants for “Bigger, Busier and Burned-Out” due to be- your landscaping needs. Your options won’t ing more of the same, this time on steroids. be limited to cactus, either. From ornamental While the return of battling bots, bodacious grasses to shrub roses, many drought-tolerant babes and juvenile humor (not just one, but TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF two views of dogs vigorously mating for native species also offer bright color and visual THE FALLEN appeal. Look for plants that do well in the your viewing pleasure!) might appease the driest conditions found in your geographic A college freshman, his auto mechanic same sorts who loved the original (namely region. Your local Cooperative Extension girlfriend and others get wrapped up in yet adolescent or like-minded males), whatever office can help you identify plants that are another battle between good and villainous small degrees of charm and fun were present right for your area. You’ll also find plenty of shape-shifting, extraterrestrial robots where the first time around have pretty much been the future of humankind rests in the balance. obliterated by Bay and company. (ARA) - Summer 2009 may be a bit ideas online at sites like www.gardeners.com. Action/Adventure, PG-13. None of which should come as a surprise less dry than last year in some areas of the • Groom soil for optimum water absorp- Several years ago, high school students considering the make-up of the original. Yet, country, according to the National Weather tion and retention. The U.S. Department of Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and Mikaela call me Pollyanna if you will, but you’d still Service’s Seasonal Drought Outlook. But it Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Banes (Megan Fox) found themselves in an think that with the hundreds of millions of still makes sense, both environmentally and Service recommends adding water-retaining unexpected battle between shape-shifting, dollars and ungodly amounts of computer economically, to conserve water as much as organic material to your soil. You can also extraterrestrial robots. The good Autobots, horsepower and processing time stuffed into possible in your gardening and landscaping reduce evaporation by using mulch in land- led by Optimus Prime (voice of Peter Cul- this bloated and once-again overlong spectacle efforts. scaping beds. len), were trying to find a powerful cube just a little more time, energy and maybe even “Nothing shouts ‘green’ quite like a thriv- • Look for alternative water sources other known as the Allspark, and hoped to do money would go into creating a better script ing garden or a lush landscape,” says Susan than the outdoor tap – such as collecting the so before their enemies, the Decepticons, to accompany the visual theatrics. Thayer, an irrigation and water conservation water that drains from your air conditioner. led by Megatron (voice of Hugo Weaving), Yes, it’s undeniably impressive in the latter expert, “. except, perhaps, a beautiful yard Consider collecting roof runoff in a rain barrel used the same to turn ordinary Earth-based regard, but a little of that goes a long way, or garden that’s been nurtured with green for use in flower beds and vegetable gardens. electronics into robots that would rid the and without something substantial behind practices that conserve precious water.” • Irrigate efficiently with low-volume ir- planet of Earthlings. it, the overall effect becomes nothing more While drought in some mid-northern areas rigation systems and smart watering practices. With the help of military figures such as than pomp trumping circumstance. Screen- is expected to improve, dry conditions will Many communities now require all newly Captain Lennox (Josh Duhamel) and Sgt. writers Ehren Kruger, Roberto Orci & Alex likely persist in areas such as California, built homes to use low-volume irrigation in Epps (Tyrese Gibson), Agent Simmons (John Kurtzman provide a semblance of a plot Texas, Florida and North Carolina, accord- their landscapes. On average, micro sprinklers Turturro) of the U.S. Government’s top -- something to do with the usual villains ing the Seasonal Drought Outlook map. One and drip irrigation uses 80 to 90 percent less secret Sector Seven, and various Autobots needing one last piece to complete their thing that isn’t likely to change anytime soon, water than traditional irrigation systems. -- such as Bumblebee (voice of Mark Ryan) megalomaniacal domain -- but it’s just a bare however, is the need to cut costs and conserve “The key is to apply water only exactly who has the ability to near instantaneously bones skeleton upon which Bay hangs all resources during an economic recession. when and where it is needed,” Thayer says. convert into Sam’s sports car, like the other of his gee-whiz visuals like so many gaudy Conserving water makes sense environmen- Drip and micro spray irrigation provide Transformers with similar powers -- the good Christmas decorations. tally, and can also help your family reduce optimum efficiency with minimum waste guys prevailed and Megatron was sunk deep Much of the original cast returns, but there your water utility bill this summer. and over spray. into the ocean. are no improvements in what’s essentially It is possible to grow a thriving garden and • Design your landscaping to minimize Now, as the humans and Autobots have more of the same. Shia LaBeouf is just going nurture a lovely landscape while minimizing evaporation. Windbreaks and fences slow formed an alliance to keep Earth safe from through the motions (about the only inter- water consumption and saving money on your the movement of the wind over the ground the Decepticons, Sam’s saying goodbye to esting thing with him is waiting to see how water bill. A combination of native-friendly and the evaporation it causes, according to both his parents, Ron (Kevin Dunn) and his real-life busted wrist issue is woven into plants, smart agricultural practices, alterna- the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Judy (Julie White), as well as Mikaela as the storyline), and the first view of co-star tive water sources and efficient irrigation can To learn more about low-volume irrigation, he heads off to begin his freshmen year in Megan Fox (bent over and partially astride help keep gardens and lawns growing healthy visit www.misterlandscaper.com. For more college. There, he meets his high tech room- a motorcycle in small denim shorts) is really throughout dry summer months. information on water conservation, go to mate, Leo (Ramon Rodriguez), but before all you need to know about her character. Here are some tips for conserving water www.nrcs.usda.gov. the day is done, Bumblebee and Optimus Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson seem- and saving money by reducing your water Courtesy of ARAcontent.com. • Prime have arrived, with the latter asking ingly have less to do this time around on the for Sam’s help. U.S. military side and Kevin Dunn and Julie It seems that one of the original Prime White again do their comic relief parents bit Colorado from front page Transformers, The Fallen (voice of Tony (this time she gets high rather than tipsy for Todd), has arrived and wants vital informa- laughs). John Turturro tries to liven things Kansas and Texas. We on the other hand Nepal, all normal concerns just rolled off tion that now resides inside Sam’s head from up a bit upon his return in the second half, have no motivation to escape the comforts my back. That is probably while people his brief contact with a leftover sliver of the but new to the fold Ramon Rodriguez does of Manhattan Beach. In fact the minute we like camping, or at least put up with it, to Allspark. With Mikaela joining him, Sam goes little as the protagonist’s college roommate, leave, the June gloom’s coastal fog lifts and be away from the urban frenzy and enjoy on the run with the aide of Bumblebee and and some jive-talking Autobots additions becomes a splendid July, our friends can’t the grandeur of nature. Durango is not jive-talking Autobots Mudflap (voice of Tom are certain to go down with Jar Jar Binks wait to e-mail us. Happens every year. But quite that removed. We still have to get in Kenny) and Skids (voice of Tom Kenny), as shockingly racist computer-generated we still love the mountains for a while in the the car to go anywhere. Activities at Fort and some unexpected help from ancient caricatures. summer. So while the happy homeowners Lewis College, a summer concert series, Transformer Jetfire (voice of John Turturro). Considering that and the rest of what’s of- are often stuck mowing the lawn or wait- and lots of charming restaurants beckon From that point on, another massive battle fered, I’m guessing ol’ Beelzebub is enjoying ing patiently for the plumber to show up, us as well as being a good thing for the looms on the horizon, with the U.S. military his buy one, get one free deal with Bay. You we wiz by to hike among the wildflowers permanent residents. And if you are married -- despite being hampered by the arrival of know, that’s where the director will end up along yet another mountain trail.