Transformers One movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Transformers One

This animated prequel to the beloved Transformers franchise opens in theaters on September 20, 2024.

RATING: PG This is the first Transformers movie to be rated PG since 1986.

LENGTH: 1 hour 44 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: A–

SPONSOR of Today’s movie review:

Optimus Prime action figure on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zgJ1nV

IN A NUTSHELL:

The film was directed by Josh Cooley, his very first one outside of his filmography with Pixar. Screenwriting credits go to Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferrari, Steve Desmond, and Michael Sherman.

The movie gives us an origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, and explains the birth of their motivations.

I was happy to see that Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg served as two of the producers on this film to ensure it had a good blend of action and heart. I was a bit worried that this franchise had petered out, but this new addition really breathes fresh air into it. Well done!

THINGS I LIKED:

This animated version of a Transformers’ movie is a great way to tell the story! Can you believe it has been 38 years since the last animated Transformers movie in 1986? The idea for this movie has actually been in development since 2014 after the success of the movie Transformers: Age of Extinction. It’s amazing how expressive pieces of steel can be!
At the very beginning of the film we’re given information on the history of the transformers. Helpful.
The voice talent for this is terrific and includes Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Laurence Fishburne, Jon Hamm, and Steve Buscemi.
Chris Hemsworth worked hard to disguise his regular voice, but the director actually wanted Keegan-Michael Key to use his real voice for Bumblebee.
There is plenty of visual and spoken humor throughout. Bumblebee steals the show.
The director, Josh Cooley, admitted that he and his generation were somewhat emotionally traumatized by the deaths in the 1986 movie The Transformers: The Movie, so he wanted to create a different film that would do that to kids!
Fun Fact: In order to align the Transformers lore between Hasbro, the cartoons, the video games, TakaraTomy, and the live-action movies, they created the “Binder of Revelations”, a 345-page documentary of the history of all the characters. Unfortunately, it gathered dust for years, but was pulled out of a drawer somewhere and handed to Director Josh Cooley, who studied it before making this movie. While some plot points and characters are different, Josh Cooley loved and respected the franchise, committed to doing the best he could for continuity’s sake.
Fun Fact #2: This is the very first trailer to debut in space! On April 18, 2024, a drone was launched that pointed a camera at a small screen that showed the trailer to a live audience. Cool!
All of the main characters get a good amount of screen time and growth.
This is the first time we get to see a feature film located entirely on Cybertron.
Just like a phrase spoken in the movie, this film is “more than meets the eye.”

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Surprisingly, the movie isn’t doing well in South America. The reason is that the characters Bumblebee and Megatron were voiced by unknown actors who didn’t have any experience with this kind of work. Fans have demanded that Paramount will change the voices and release a new/better version of the film.
If you’re not interested in Transformers, this movie is not for you.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

This is a great choice for a family-friendly movie! My sons would have loved this when they were little!
Robot violence and battles
Various robotic weapons are used.
Some “mild” profanity. Bumblebee says a particular line about him being “Bada$$atron” which your kids might start repeating. Fair warning!

THEMES:

Friendship
Good vs. evil
Sacrifice
Hope
Ambition
Hatred
Power
Ideological differences
Social hierarchy
Having the ability to make your own choices
The ability to make your world better

FUNNY LINES:

“I’m sorry if I gave you the impression that we’re friends.” – Elita-1 (Scarlett Johansson)
“A cave with teeth…nothing scary about that.” – Bumblebee (Keegan-Michael Key)

INTERESTING LINES:

“What defines a transformer is not the cog in his chest but the spark that resides in their core: a spark that gives you the will to make your world better.” – Alpha Trio (Laurence Fishburn)
“The truth is what I make it.” – Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm)
“Nothing can stop us if we stand together.” – Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth)
“We all have the power to transform to become who we were destined to be, to right wrongs, to make our world better, because here, freedom and autonomy are the rights of all sentient beings.” – Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth)