Because the “action” sequences looked like two gray spiders batting at each other ineffectually at high speed?
Not just that, but taking the basic premise behind a cartoon meant for kids almost three decades ago and using it as the basis for a “serious” movie is absurd. Stuff like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles gets away with it because TMNT was originally a comic, and because the movies have a sort of tongue-in-cheek approach to the subject material.
But you’re right, the action sequences were terrible. There are better ways to do “large machines fighting each other.” Reference Macross Plus and Gundam 0083. (The staff of Transformers sure as hell didn’t.)
The first one really did suck. I tried watching it (God only knows why)and gave up after what seemed and eternity. How anyone made any sense out of it I’ll never know. 1st somebody trekked across the Artic then some kid got an old car then big pieces of metal started banging and clanging around and then lots of things ‘blowed up’.
I wouldn’t tick off the redneck audience if I were her.