September is an exciting month for Transformers fanatics worldwide. The latest film, “Transformers One,” became the ninth theatrical film of the franchise and the first full length animated movie since 1986’s “The Transformers: The Movie.”
“Transformers One” is the perfect movie for fans, animation fanatics and general movie goers alike. I’m saying this as a huge fan of the franchise. At first, I wasn’t too thrilled about seeing the movie after the first trailer released in May. However, my opinion changed after the second trailer. It opened my eyes. I truly underestimated this film, and I’m grateful Paramount decided to finally produce a film that takes place before the war between the heroic Autobots and evil Decepticons.
The movie is directed by Josh Cooley with an all-star cast voicing the titular characters.
According to Transformers Wiki, “Transformers One” was originally intended to be a prequel to the Transformers storylines by Michael Bay and written during the development of the final Bayverse films, 2017’s “Transformers: The Last Knight.” The script was later changed to work as a new origin story in a separate continuity.
The film starts off exploring the early friendship between two mining workers who have not yet earned the ability to transform – the rebellious and curious Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) and the conforming, rule follower D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry) – who will eventually become Optimus Prime and Megatron, respectively.
In the overall franchise, Optimus and Megatron are engaged in endless war forever fighting over ideologies to lead their species.
I praise the film for showing off how their different views ended up destroying their friendship entirely forever changing the course of their home planet, Cybertron.
The animation and visuals are beautifully and well animated, even eye pleasing.
When the first trailer was released, a lot of people questioned why Peter Cullen, the original voice actor of Optimus Prime, wasn’t reprising his role as the heroic leader. The film takes place in the early years of Cybertron showing a young Optimus, before becoming the experienced, war-torn and wise leader we know.
According to video game news site IGN, Hemsworth did a fantastic job as a young and inexperienced Optimus – that was the whole point of this casting. I’m used to hearing his Australian accent in multiple films, so it caught me off guard hearing his voice as Orion Pax. He was incredible during the impactful scenes, as well as the humorous ones.
I thought Keagen Michael Key as Bumblebee was going be too obnoxious. But it threw me off how hilarious he was throughout the film causing the audience to erupt into laughter a few times.
Fans will be thrilled with certain plot points that took inspiration from the brand’s past adaptations along with unexpected characters to create this version of Cybertron and its inhabitants.
I praise this film for its animation and storytelling. “Transformers One” is on the right path on reviving the franchise and I have faith they’ll continue writing these kinds of stories for future films moving forward.
