I am a person who was born in 1983 (however take into account myself a ‘90s child), so I have to be an enormous fan of Transformers, proper? Properly…not precisely.
Thundercats? You betcha. G.I. Joe? You realize it! And do not even get me began on the Ninja Turtles, as a result of I’ve in all probability written extra about them than anything on this web site. However, relating to Transformers, I’ve by no means actually been that huge of a fan, even after seeing each single Transformers film (which, now that I give it some thought, is likely to be the explanation why I am not that huge of a fan, given how the movies have had such lopsided high quality).
Nonetheless, after not too long ago watching Transformers One, I feel they’ve lastly made me right into a bona fide believer, and I’ve a couple of the explanation why.
Oh, and minor spoilers up forward for Transformers One.
The Thought Of Transformers Not Being Ready To Rework Surprisingly Humanized Them For Me
What do Transformers do? They rework! Duh. However, like, what in the event that they didn’t? That’s the query posed in Transformers One, and it type of blew my thoughts after I first realized that that’s the place this film was heading.
As a result of that’s what actually jumpstarts the entire narrative. The bots live underground on Cybertron, and so they’re being fed false lies about their heroes. Not solely that, however a few of the bots can rework, whereas others – those that toil within the mines for Energon – can’t. This creates a story about class hardships that I undoubtedly wasn’t anticipating from a Transformers story.
It’s additionally one in all many the explanation why this movie is simply as superior for teenagers as it’s for adults. The truth that this can be a story in regards to the haves and the have-nots (for a minimum of part of the film, anyway) is past fascinating to me.
Personally, Transformers has at all times type of simply appeared like this dumb franchise that solely existed to promote toys. And whereas sure, most cartoons from the ‘80s had been created for that sole goal, this appeared like probably the most (Optimus) prime instance of that.
Nonetheless, the concept of a phase of them being KEPT from remodeling (on goal!) simply extremely humanized them for me. So, when Orion Pax ultimately turns into Optimus Prime, and D-16 turns into Megatron, it simply hit in another way this time round, and in the perfect type of method!
Additionally, Making This A Story About A Friendship Falling Aside Was The Proper Name
Forgive me if that is frequent data, however had been Megatron and Optimus Prime ever associates? As a result of that’s what we get right here on this story, which I feel is an effective name.
Associates-to-enemies is a trope that I a lot desire to enemies-to-friends, and I really like that Megatron as soon as had Optimus Prime’s again till he realized that he’d been duped by anyone that he as soon as admired.
I really like that about this film. Essentially the most I’ve ever been invested in Transformers was with the bitching Beast Wars cartoon (which was partly the idea for the current film, Rise of the Beasts, which our very personal Mike Reyes reviewed as being fairly good). In that cartoon, Optimus Primal and Megatron had been sworn enemies, and there was by no means the trace of any friendship concerned.
In reality, if there’s something I do learn about these characters, it’s that Megatron hates Optimus Prime, and that Optimus leads the Autobots.
That mentioned, we don’t actually get that narrative right here till in regards to the final half hour or so. The remainder of the movie is primarily in regards to the disintegration of Megatron’s friendship with Optimus, and the way they’ve really come to be these characters within the first place.
It’s a riveting story, and undoubtedly one which felt unfamiliar to me as a 41-year-old man who has recognized Transformers for just about his total life.
I Additionally Like That There Wasn’t A Single Human In The Whole Story
I’m going to be trustworthy with you. I don’t wish to see any human characters wherever close to one in all these films ever once more. That is likely to be why I appreciated Beast Wars a lot, because it was simply the Transformers.
1986’s The Transformers: The Film, is one other good instance. Sure, there have been a couple of human characters in that animated movie, however the main characters had been those within the title (not Megan Fox, and undoubtedly not Shia LaBeouf).
Which is why I feel I actually beloved Transformers One, since I imagine human characters actually sap the power out of the opposite movies. It is a story the place we do not see a single human character for all the 1 hour and 44 minute run-time, which is superior.
Paradoxically, seeing people work together with them has at all times made these narratives really feel much less life like for me. However, with a narrative targeted totally on Transformers, I really feel like I can lastly be invested in these characters who, fairly frankly, have at all times felt extra fully-fleshed out than a lot of the human characters we have gotten so far within the live-action movies.
The Motion Was Means Extra Thrilling Than I’ve Ever Seen In A Transformers Story
One other factor that has type of at all times bugged me about Transformers is the motion. As huge robots, they’ve at all times appeared so clunky to me.
And, I’m a person who loves his Godzilla. I’ve additionally at all times beloved when the Energy Rangers would take down enemies of their Megazord. Not solely that, however I am additionally a reasonably large fan of Voltron. All of that is to say that I like huge monsters and large robots combating one another, however I’ve by no means appreciated Transformers combating one another. It is simply by no means been satisfying for me.
That’s, in fact, tillTransformers One, the place the motion is intense and superior. I feel an enormous a part of that’s simply how they transfer on this film, since they don’t really feel heavy in any respect, however somewhat, smooth and cellular.
This may appear to be an issue in case you’re used to the Transformers being these huge, lumbering hunks of steel like within the live-action films. However, I’ve by no means been keen on that, and I am completely satisfied that they are capable of actually transfer and combat on this film, because it makes every little thing look a lot extra epic. I simply want they at all times fought this fashion!
Lastly, It Makes Me Re-Consider The whole lot That I’ve Ever Identified About The Transformers
You realize what’s bizarre? I’ve felt like I’ve been on the fringes of figuring out in regards to the Transformers for just about my total life. Positive, I’ve heard of issues like Energon, or their house planet, Cybertron. I’ve recognized about characters like Starscream, Jazz, and Soundwave. All of this I do know.
But, it wasn’t till I watched Transformers One that I felt like I actually didn’t know something in any respect. As a result of after I watched this film, I lastly realized that Cybertron just isn’t solely the Transformers house planet, but in addition the BODY of what’s primarily their god, Primus. I additionally didn’t perceive the lore behind any of those characters, or in regards to the Matrix of Management earlier than I noticed this movie.
Within the 1986 film, they stored speaking about “The Matrix,” however I had no concept what they had been speaking about (to be truthful, I used to be fairly younger after I first watched it). Now, all of this appears an entire lot extra attention-grabbing due to the way in which the characters on this movie reply to those issues.
In each method, Transformers One has gotten me to re-evaluate this universe as an entire, which is fairly unbelievable to me since I really feel like I’ve been watching the characters my total life and am now simply beginning to absolutely perceive them. It solely took a 2024 film to get me to that place.
That’s why I now love the Transformers! Have you ever seen this film but? Should you’re even casually into the model, then you need to undoubtedly test it out. You received’t be disenchanted.