-Character building( all of the characters, human and machine could've used more backstory)
Backstory I would agree on since I really wanted to know more about Mikaela's past and Banacheck, but alas this sort of film was one that was fast and to the point if you read the script or novelization of it. But for the human and robots current status as characters I again found them, enjoyable and lovable and saw enough development of their perosnalities and through the visual information gathered as well as good looks into some of their niches. The kids are alright here.
-Less camera shake.
I didn't mind Michael Bay's "Bay-hem" style of things in the action scenes but I guess that would be because I'm use dot stylish action scenes but hey at least Paul Greengrass didn't direct, huh?
More robot screentime.
I see you're point Autobot032 and I as well was dissapointed by the lack of screentime for the bots but we both know that the budget iot what held them back and the writing team of Orci & Kurtzman are also dissapointed by this including Bay, hopefully the sequel will have much more robot screentime. As for the first film's screentime for the bots while things weren't entirely strecthed out we got good enough glimpses of their personalities which made them likable and dislikable. I maybe in the minority but I actually felt the Decepticons got enough screen time, their introduction scene when Frenzy contacts Starscream gave me a presence of their strength and power as a unit to make me concerned enough to be worried about both our human and robot characters. My family and freinds also felt the same way for the bots( especially for Bumble Bee) and I'm sure quite a few did. Funny thing, I read the novelization before seeing the movie as well as the comic book adaptation of the film and even though I knew the outcome I was still enagged and was oncerned for not only the humans but especially the bots, I got nervous and hoped Prime and Bumble Bee didn't get hurt and didn't want Jazz to die.
Less foul stuff
I found those scenes to be quite funny actually. As said in my previous post it gave off this juvenille feel for me but that is just me alone. I see you're point on it being family oriented material but the question is how many families were that mad at the film? I've met plenty of kids and know plenty of parents who liked/loved the film and haven't heard any complaints coming from them personally so I don't know. But correct me if I'm wrong but didn't scrrenings for the movie, I think prior to before it was released, say it tested wlel with kids and got the "it's okay for the kids" sign from parents who went to those screenings?
I personally am just fine with how this movie turned out, it lacked, but it was good for what it was and I don't see why for the future it needs to learn from others to be a good series on it's own. I like both Animated and the 2007 movie equally as well as most other TF incarnations. To me there is no defiante version, all have their own charms and are good for their own reasons.
All in all to each thier own.