Transformers One

3D Movie Review

Movie Review by: Jacob Scarberry

Based on several clips from various social media pages by RealD, this film seemed like it was going to be “more than meets the eye” in its 3D presentation. Sadly, the 3D turned out to be much more subdued than I expected. When considering the potential of 3D, I imagined constant pop-outs, with the bots aiming their weapons directly at the audience, explosions leaping off the screen, and particles hitting us in the face. Instead, we got very few pop-outs. Most of the time, when the bots are about to fire, their cannons aren’t aimed directly at the viewer, but off to the side. However, when we do get a direct view of the barrels, it’s glorious. We also occasionally see particle effects and dust entering the audience, and there’s a great shot during the climax (which would spoil the ending) that’s full of depth and visual flair—it’s simply delicious.

The depth and dimension are fantastic and feel natural, despite the film being a 3D conversion. It’s one of the better conversions in recent memory. Overall, while it’s a bit disappointing that it lacks the impactful pop-outs and immersive moments it could have easily delivered, the film’s depth makes up for most complaints from the average viewer. It’s definitely worth the extra few dollars for the 3D experience, just lower your expectations. In closing, Transformers One looks very good in 3D, but it should look amazing in 3D.

Final 3D Verdict: 7/10

Movie

It’s been nearly 40 years since the last Transformers animated movie hit theaters. 38 years is a long gap between animated Transformers films. While there have been occasional animated series or TV movies to fill the void for fans of the robotic vehicle soldiers, we’ve had a smorgasbord of live-action films since 2007, which have received middling to dismal responses from fans. Yet, that hasn’t stopped people from watching the films in theaters and buying merchandise ranging from video games to action figures and comic books. It seems fans can’t get enough, which brings us to Transformers One, an origin story about how the bots we know and love came to be.

Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) is a lowly miner bot who becomes best friends with fellow miner D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry), a standout in the role. Orion is always trying to be more than what he is, constantly getting into trouble by breaking into the old archives and attempting to piece together what happened to the original Prime Bots. He’s is caught, and D-16 has to save him. While working in the mines under the leadership of Elita-1 (Scarlett Johansson), a collapse occurs, and Orion is promptly demoted.

Meanwhile, Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm), the leader of Cybertron, has been hunting for the Matrix of Leadership without success. He declares the next day a no-work holiday and orders a race to give citizens a break from worrying about the dwindling Energon resources. Orion and D-16 enter the race, despite not having transforming abilities, and they do surprisingly well. Eventually, they meet B-127 (Keegan-Michael Key) and reunite with Elita-1. The four bots learn the secrets of the past and are given the transformation cogs, needing to become “more than meets the eye.” The group works together to save their world from a traitor and fulfill their destiny.

The plot is fairly standard for an origin story, with predictable outcomes, but the journey is fun, treated with reverence for the source material, and serves as a good entry point for newcomers and long-time fans alike. The cast is solid, with Chris Hemsworth being his usual self for most of the film but shining when Orion transforms into the character we know and love (Optimus Prime). Brian Tyree Henry stands out, delivering a layered performance as a friend evolving into a leader. The rest of the cast does well, with Key as the comedic foil and Johansson as the smart, serious partner to Orion. However, Steve Buscemi feels miscast as Starscream, the leader of the High Guard. Overall, I enjoyed both the cast and the story of Transformers One.

Transformers One is a beautiful movie, though a few issues bugged me. The facial animations are a bit odd, with the mouths looking too human and not mechanical, but the film is otherwise visually stunning. The landscapes, especially the breathtaking surface world of Cybertron, are beautiful, with photorealistic shots of the sun. Kudos to ILM Animation for creating such a gorgeous film overall.

The score, composed by Brian Tyler, is typical action movie fare, with familiar beats of action, awe, comedy, and seriousness. It’s predictable and safe, like most blockbuster scores. However, the sound design is top-notch and deserves to be experienced in full surround sound (I wish my theater had Dolby Atmos to really crank up the decibels).

My main gripes with the movie are the excessive exposition dumps and the screenplay’s predictability. Written by three people, the screenplay is as serious as a PG-rated film can be. The comedy doesn’t overshadow the serious moments, and it stays mostly faithful to the animated series and Marvel Comics adaptations.

Overall, Transformers One is a very good movie. I wish it had a less predictable plot, better-handled exposition, and sharper comedic writing. But with strong visuals, great sound, respect for the source material, and a solid cast, it’s easily one of the best Transformers films to date, and I’m definitely ready for a sequel.

Final Movie Verdict: 7/10

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Official Website:

https://www.transformersmovie.com