Transformers One

My wife and I watched Transformers One (2024) in theaters last night. The storyline follows two minor Transformers on Cybertron who want to help their leader find "the Matrix," a powerful artifact that could restore energy to their people, end their reliance on mining, and possibly change the course of their future. As they search for the Matrix, they uncover secrets from their past, revealing that not everything is as it seems, and a dark truth about Cybertron could alter existence as they know it.

This film is directed by Josh Cooley (Toy Story 4) and features the voices of Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Brian Tyree Henry (Bullet Train), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Keegan-Michael Key (Wonka), Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), and Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix).

Transformers One is a brilliant new direction for the franchise. The animation is top-notch, and the character dynamics, dialogue, and voice casting are spot-on. The story has clever twists and turns as the heroes discover their true selves, their abilities, and how they fit into the broader Transformers universe. The chemistry between the characters is fantastic, and once the transforming begins, the film really takes off. The movie features smart subplots and two epic concluding battles that were fantastic. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

In conclusion, Transformers One is a fantastic relaunch for the series, and I hope it gets plenty of sequels. I would score it an 8-8.5/10 and strongly recommend it.

Transformers One is not a cliché, nor is it a typical story where we see the often shallow battle between good and evil that's prevalent in most films. Here, we finally get a fantastically told story. We are given the chance to see what Optimus and Megatron were like as ordinary robots, exploring what their personalities were like when they were nobodies.

Optimus's noble character is portrayed brilliantly, along with his sacrifice, hope, and longing for something greater. On the other hand, Megatron is depicted as a depressed figure who, after learning the real truth, grows increasingly bitter and filled with hatred as he gains more power. As their power grows, the paths of these two friends diverge further and further. Optimus Prime is rewarded for his nobility, while Megatron is consumed by hatred to the extreme.

The film is very well-written, with no forced humor, and the humor that is present works perfectly. Additionally, the other characters in the film have depth and personality, which makes this animated movie feel much more serious than it might initially seem.

All in all, it's a film that you are guaranteed to enjoy.

I never expected an animated movie to be this good! I wanted to watch this for the nostalgia and I got it. There were no characters I found annoying or disliked...they were all amazing and fun to watch on the big screen! The plot was incredible and the pacing was just spot on. There was not one second that was wasted and the story moved pretty quickly without sacrificing the necessary character arcs.

I loved Chris Hemsworth's voice acting - who would've thought that Thor would be great as Optimus Prime? And Scarlet Johansson as Elita was fabulous. Jon Hamm certainly fit the role as Sentinel but the scene stealer was definitely Key as B aka Bumblebee!

Definitely worth watching. I miss those Saturday morning cartoon extravaganza and this really reminded me of the good old days back in the 80s.

The writing is superb! The animation is gorgeous. And the voice acting is top notch.

There are plenty of Easter eggs to appeal to long time fans. There are new story elements that reshape the lore of the Transformers franchise, but it feels organic and more refined than prior origin stories.

A pre-Civil War Cybertron is beautifully rendered. We are introduced to a planet that contains both technological and organic life. You will see familiar faces throughout the movie. Aside from the main characters. The film is great to see.

Kudos to the writing, production, and acting.

I can't wait to see it again!

Transformers One Review by flexarts

Why is it GOOD?

1) After a long wait, there is finally a Transformers film set entirely on Cybertron without any human presence.

2) Even though Peter Cullen's voice is more charismatic, Chris Hemsworth still does an excellent job of portraying young Optimus Prime.

3) The depth given to each of these iconic characters is spot on and executed extremely well.

4) The animation is Fantastic with the G1 character designs given a modern touch. Wait... Say that again?

5) Everything about the sound here is superb, from the incredibly detailed sound design to Brian Tyler's impressive score.

6) Bumblebee sets the mood when it comes to comedy, even his friend STEVE is BETTER than MINECRAFT STEVE.

Why is it BAD?

1] The character development feels rushed, especially D-16's transition into Megatron which is not smooth.

In conclusion: Transformers One has become the best Transformers film so far by offering a more substantive story than the live-action films. 9.1/10 :D.