Film review-Transformers One

Let’s be honest, with the exception of Bumblebee-the Transformers movies have never exactly been known for their subtlety. Michael Bay gave us five films that were loud, chaotic, and full of explosions, but not much else. So, when they announced Transformers One, an animated origin story for Optimus Prime and Megatron, I wasn’t exactly expecting Shakespeare. But I was wrong.

This film is a breath of fresh air for a franchise that’s always been stuck in second gear. Directed by Toy Story 4‘s Josh Cooley, Transformers One has something that its predecessors often lacked – heart. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still plenty of the metal-on-metal action you’d expect, but this time, there’s actual thought behind it. And the one-note jokes from the trailers? They land.

Set long before the Autobots and Decepticons started wrecking Earth, the film dives into the origins of Optimus Prime (or Orion Pax, as he’s known here), a simple Energon miner with dreams of a better life. Teaming up with hisfriend D-16 (Megatron), Orion sets off on a mission to find the Matrix of Leadership, the lost artefact that could save their dying planet.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “The Matrix of Leadership? Energon? Really?” Yeah, it sounds ridiculous. But the film knows it’s a bit silly and plays into it with a self-aware, tongue-in-cheek tone that works. It’s a fine line between taking the mythology seriously and poking fun at it, but Transformers One nails it.

Visually, it’s stunning. The underground city of Iacon, where most of the action takes place, looks incredible – all jagged, metallic skyscrapers that stretch up and down like something out of a nightmare. The animation style feels fresh, with a hyper-realistic, shiny sheen that somehow manages to make this world of sentient robots feel grounded.

But where the film really surprises is in its world-building. Transformers One delves into Autobot society, which turns out to be a lot more complex than I gave it credit for. It’s a world divided by a rigid caste system – the “Primes” at the top and the miners like Orion at the bottom. It adds some real stakes to the story and makes the eventual rise of Optimus Prime feel earned.

Action fans won’t be disappointed either. Whether it’s an underground street race through Iacon or a daring rescue in the Energon mines, there’s plenty of metal-on-metal mayhem. But unlike the Bay films, it never feels overwhelming. There’s a balance here that the live-action movies often missed.

So, is it perfect? No. But for a Transformers movie, it’s as close as we’ve ever come. It’s funny, it’s smart, and it’s got just the right amount of heart. If you’ve ever found yourself rolling your eyes at this franchise, Transformers One might just change your mind.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Transformers is released in the Uk & Ireland on 11th October 2024.

Listen to our interview with Josh Cooley and Lorenzo di Bonaventura.

Published by

Gerrod

I am a co-founder of the Bad Wilf Podcast, a hard working father of two and a dedicated gamer. As well as hosting the podcast I study IT and am learning French. Twitter: @nerdthropology