‘Transformers One’ REVIEW: An Engaging Retelling of a Friends-Turned-Enemies Robot Duo
‘Transformers One’ REVIEW: An Engaging Retelling of a Friends-Turned-Enemies Robot Duo
The young Transformers in ‘Transformers One’ | Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures Philippines
Starting as a toy line in the early 1980s, Transformers has literally transformed into a multimedia franchise producing films, TV series, and comic books to this day. You may not be up-to-date with the current lore behind it — because trust me, there is a lot — but you certainly have heard of its renowned characters, like the honorable Autobot leader Optimus Prime, the bubbly and ever-comedic Bumblebee, the violent Decepticon tyrant Megatron, and the home planet of Cybertron.
Its film franchise began with Michael Bay’s 2007 live-action classic and has since produced six more films of the same genre, helping it to become the 14th highest-grossing film series of all time. For its eighth installment, Transformers One and its director Josh Cooley abandoned the live-action concept for a reinterpretation of the original animated cartoons, bringing its audience back to a nostalgic reset as the film retells a pre-Cybertronian war between best buds turned worst enemies, Optimus Prime and Megatron.
Before Optimus Prime and Megatron came Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry), two miners stuck in an endless quest to mine energon in an underground city on Cybertron, led by Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm). Due to a series of events, the two alien robots, alongside their fellow miner Elita-1 (Scarlett Johansson) and a sublevel 50 worker B-127 — more commonly known as Bad-Ass-A-Tron, I mean Bumblebee — embarked on a mission to find the truth about the war against the Quintessons, the fate of the fallen Primes, and the missing Matrix of Leadership.
Bumblebee (Keegan-Michael Key), Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry), Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and Elita-1 (Scarlett Johansson) in ‘Transformers One’ | Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures Philippines
The film begins by establishing both Orion Pax and D-16 and their dynamic as a duo, with Orion as someone who seeks the truth and his purpose in life, and D-16 as someone who just wants to get work done and end it at that. The pacing takes its sweet time establishing the relationship of our protagonists and also building the world of Cybertron — or what’s left of it after the battle against the Quintessons.
Suspicions of what truly happened in the battle linger, but the question of why some Transformers, mostly miners, cannot transform and the whereabouts of the missing Matrix of Leadership become the focus. All of these are addressed in the first half of the film, and the latter half is just an action-packed series of battles between the good alien robots and the bad alien robots.
Besides its world-building, the film is also exposition-heavy, which Hamm and Henry excel at. The antagonist and soon-to-be antagonist have voice-overs that give an air of untrustworthiness that becomes more apparent the longer the film progresses. This is balanced by Key’s comedic delivery and Johansson’s banter with Hemsworth and Henry. Key delivers his lines with such effectiveness that you cannot help but laugh uncontrollably, even when the joke gets repetitive at times. In addition, Johansson’s ability to switch between a strict, narcissistic boss persona and a caring friend who will give a hilariously self-centered motivational speech when needed keeps the movie entertaining until the battle scenes commence. Personally, Hemsworth does not stand out much as a voice actor, but he is a perfect fit with Orion Pax’s reserved nature.
Megatron was previously known as D-16 in ‘Transformers One’ | Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures Philippines
While the film excels in portraying the friendship between Orion Pax and D-16, the same cannot be said of D-16's path to becoming Orion Pax’s worst enemy. His descent from being a nonchalant miner who gets dragged by Orion Pax’s curiosity to know the truth to an oil-thirsty savage who wants to murder those who fooled him after learning the truth feels like it could use more establishing scenes. D-16’s desire to kill couldn’t have heightened to such a degree only a few scenes after the revelation of what truly happened in the battle against the Quintessons.
But this does not take away from the intense emotions felt when D-16 betrays his best friend, as the animation and Henry’s strong voice-over work hand-in-hand to enhance the pivotal moment of the film. The montage of D-16 rampaging, partnered with Orion Pax’s transformation into becoming Optimus Prime, is the necessary scene to get the audience to reach a catharsis after a painful betrayal.
Transformers is known for its spectacular battle sequences, and Transformers One does not disappoint in depicting the barbaric fights among the Transformers, most especially in Sentinel and D-16’s fight scenes. The good guys triumphing in the end makes you excited for the future films to come, as it is now going to be a battle between friends turned enemies, Optimus Prime and Megatron.
Optimus Prime was previously known as Orion Pax in ‘Transformers One’ | Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures Philippines
All in all, Transformers One is a film for both the fans and the casual moviegoers. There are a lot of cameos, Easter eggs, and references scattered throughout the film that only the hardcore fans can recognize, but it also provides a great introduction to the world of Transformers for those who are unfamiliar or just starting with the franchise.
The eruption from both the fans and casual moviegoers during the film’s battle scenes is something you cannot recreate watching alone on VOD, so seeing this movie in theaters with an almost full house is a must. And you better think twice about watching the film with your kids for your wallet’s sake, as they’ll definitely transform into Transformers fans who will force you to go to a toy shop once the film ends.
‘Transformers One’ is now showing in cinemas nationwide.
