I’ve been thinking about this lately. Most people will agree that RotF was the worst part of the trilogy, but just imagine if you hadn’t seen Rotf and watched DotM knowing only what happened in TF1. You probably wouldn’t question anything! Aside from Megatron being resurrected, there isn’t much that needs explaining.

- Most of the characters that were introduced in RotF died before it was over.
- Very little from RotF is alluded to in DotM.
- Optimus explains the role of NEST in the opening of DotM.
- Sideswipe is introduced when he arrives at the base – one could just assume he arrived with the other new Autobots.
- Soundwave introduces himself in Africa – no problems there.
- Simmons explains what the matrix is.
- Mikaela’s absence is still explained, more or less.
- Wheelie and Brains are political refugees – that’s all that one would need to know.

Now here’s the crucial part:

- The twins never existed, so their absence needs no explanation.
- Megatron’s plans in TF1 and TF3 reconcile much better.
- No robot heaven, no Alice, no Devastator, and no Fallen.

So what do you think? Is it better to just ignore Revenge of the Fallen?

 

Yeah, I sometimes think that the best way to get the trilogy story is to watch TF1 and try to ignore the end, find out a few plot points that happened in ROTF and read the DOTM novel.

I sometimes wonder if non TF fans watching DOTM even new that the Mercedes in DOTM was the Satellite in ROTF.

 

What about Megatron? It wouldn't make sense if you igonore ROTF he's just back.

 

ROTF wasn't as bad as people complain about.

 

i just ignore everything in it except magatron's resurrection.

 

I did mention that, and yes, that's just about the only thing that would need to be explained.

 

I've been telling people "no, you don't really need to see the second film to understand the third. All you need to know is that Megatron is alive again."

 

That pretty much sums it up.  

 

Megatron was resurrected and got half his face ripped off at the end, the Autobots found The Matrix, and some random new characters show up without much explanation. That is literally all anyone needs to know from ROTF to be all caught up for DOTM and have it make sense. It's worked like a charm for everyone I know who didn't see ROTF but decided to watch DOTM. In fact, the biggest question I get hit with is "why doesn't Bumblebee talk? I thought he could speak at the end of TF1".

 

While ROTF wasn't as awful as Ebert and some of the other progressive-leaning elitist critics proclaimed, it was bad.

And I, for one, am more than willing to pretend that ROTF never happened. DOTM is all the stronger for it.

 

+1. While I do own the movie solely for the sake of trilogy completion, I pretend it doesn't actually exist for the most part because it was indeed that bad in my opinion.

 

Agreed.

I like ROTF, so I'm not going to ignore its existence.

 

For the most part, I'm ignoring ROTF. Like the OP said, the only thing needed to be explained is Megatron's resurrection.

 

I thought it was okay. Some things in RoTF do go to DoTM (like Megatron's ressurection, the Matrix, and some of the Autobots).

Its not as bad as people say it is. People take it out of context.

 

I remember all the excitement and anticipation I had for rotf. Then the movie finally came and I was dissapointed.

 

The only reason I keep the trilogy timeline whole by including ROTF is namely because of Megatron's resurection, where the Matrix came from, and why Wheelie hangs with Sam. Outside of the first thing (where the Ravage "NEST raid" for the shard works), the other two can be explained through FAR simpler means.

 

How can you ignore that forest battle?!?!?

 

Good luck explaining how Megatron came back, and how he got scarred up.

While I agree that ROTF was a piece of crap, it isn't so bad that you need to ignore it with the whole franchise. Come on, now. Really?

 

The awesome of the forest battle sadly can not keep up with the fact we were subject to staring at Simmons' BUTT in a thong.

Plus, it was Prime in the fight. He kills a whole ton of dudes in DOTM anyway so it's not like he doesn't do any more ass kicking after the forest battle as it is.

EDIT: Also, it removes the plot hole of nobody knowing where the hell Barricade went in ROTF only for him to show back up in Chicago in DOTM.

 

Yes.

Megatron was brought back to life by Soundwave, who was hiding undercover on Earth the whole time. He was rebuilt rather poorly, so he had to take an Earth mode and he looks quite beat-up. Optimus had the Matrix in him from the start (and took Jazz's death really hard).

Boom, you're all set. No horrible characters or disappointing villains necessary.