For people born in the ‘80s who grew up watching the iconic cartoon series, or children from today who watched Bumblebee and Optimus Prime take on Megatron on the big screen, the Transformers franchise is one that’s familiar to pretty much everyone no matter the age or generation.
One of the main components of Transformers is the rivalry between the Autobots and the Decepticons, but while it’s a rivalry that’s existed in every form of Transformers media we’ve seen from the comics, to TV shows or the movies, the origins behind each group’s hostilities have not been fully explored—that is, until now.
Transformers One is the latest movie from the franchise that takes us back to the past in new and exciting ways, showing us the epic origins of our favorite robots in disguise and elevating Transformers to brand new heights.
In this review, we’ll take a look at one of the most exciting blockbuster hits of the year in High Five quotable quotes. If you don’t want spoilers, it’s time to transform and roll out!
“At the dawn of time, there was our gracious and powerful creator, Primus.”
Transformers One begins with an agile and tenacious robot that sneaks into the archives of an unnamed futuristic utopia. Soon after, it’s revealed that the robot we’re following is Orion Pax, an immature but goodhearted cogless miner bot with a knack for mischief and a strong sense of justice, who would be known in the future as Optimus Prime.
His purpose at the archives room is stated from the get go—he wants to look for the all-important Matrix of Leadership, an artifact that’s essential for life in a young Cybertron that’s yet to be ravaged by the wars of the future. The holograph footage that Orion plays at the beginning of the movie runs like the typical expositional dump you expect, but for long-time fans of the Transformers franchise, this scene is a big reason why this movie is special.
The explicit introduction of Primus, the creator of the Transformers, and the thirteen Primes perfectly encapsulates why this movie is a must-watch for all Transformers fans—this isn’t just your run-of-the mill prequel movie, this is a love letter to fans who’ve loved the franchise since Generation 1, and an invitation to new fans to discover the lore of Transformers beyond the movies, and explore the comics, TV shows, books, and more.
“It’s time to show that we are more than meets the eye”
In the age of spin-offs and unending prequels, Transformers One was in a position where people could scoff at it with the assumption that it was going to be a typical origin story that’s become saturated in today’s era of movies. However, this prequel blew all expectations aside to forge its own path to blockbuster success.
From the smooth animation and exhilarating action scenes, to the visual eye-candy character designs that take heavy inspiration from the franchise’s Generation 1 era, and the amazing performances from its stellar cast, Transformers One came out swinging and proved to everyone that it’s indeed more than meets the eye.
As the very first Transformers movie that takes place solely in Cybertron, this was a movie that respected its source material, understood the motivations of its principal characters, and executed a well-crafted narrative that not only enhanced the developments of the main characters on-screen, but also enriched the Transformers universe outside of the films with its new addition to the lore.
“BADASSATRON!”
A charming aspect of the franchise that’s seen throughout the history of Transformers has always been its penchant for comedic moments. The gags and comedic moments in Transformers One delivered some of the best moments in a movie that’s filled with so many of them. From Orion Pax’s antics to B-127’s introduction, the comedy in the film was effective and always felt natural, never out of place.
It’s a movie that’s easy to love because each character manages to deliver enjoyable moments that only serve to make them more likable. Even minor speaking characters like Starscream, Shockwave, and Jazz were able to have their own moments of comedy that greatly enhanced an already amazing movie.
“The line between friend and enemy is not as clear as I once believed. Once it is crossed, there is no going back, because some transformations are permanent.”
Transformers One is a prequel movie that explores one of pop culture’s most iconic rivalries—the one between Optimus Prime and Megatron.
While the brotherly relationship between a young Optimus Prime and Megatron before their days as leaders of the Autobots and Decepticons is an already established story that’s canon across the Transformers universe, Transformers One offers a new and refreshing view of their dynamic.
I won’t lie, seeing an amiable, very reasonable and calm D-16 was so weird knowing how intense and angry Megatron always is in the future. The movie showed that D-16 and Orion Pax weren’t just friends, they were best friends that always looked out for each other’s backs. While Orion focused on mischief, D-16 made sure to follow the rules and put his trust on their leader (again, weird). It was refreshing to see this dynamic, but ultimately, it was bittersweet as we also see their friendship’s transformation into something bitter and hateful.
Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry offer an excellent and chemistry-laden performance as Orion Pax and D-16 respectively, but Henry’s performance stands out as he delivers one of the most believable and tragic heel turns we’ve seen in movies. If you’re a genuine Transformers fan, Henry’s performance as D-16 and his vocal transformation into the wrathful Megatron is a must-watch.
“We are the ones who are. Deceptions, rise up!”
As Orion Pax, and D-16 finally reached their final transformations as Optimus Prime and Megatron, their final moments were excellent payoffs to all of the hard-earned developments in the movie. Optimus Prime’s speech against the Quintessons and all threats to Cybertron showed us just the type of leader this Autobot would be. But the after-credit scenes featuring a fully-transformed Megatron rallying his troops was the ultimate goosebumps moment.
You know it’s a good prequel movie when the moment we all know is going to happen still manages to deliver thrill and excitement.
Transformers One is a thrilling, and action-packed prequel that does justice to its premise and source material, and brings more to the table by delivering a compelling and well executed plot that not only brings a surprising amount of depth and substance to a 40-year-old rivalry, but also serves as a fitting and heartfelt ode to its fanbase that have adored the franchise since the ‘80s.
SEA Wave rates Transformers One a 4 out of 5 waves.