Transformers One is the latest film in the long running Transformers franchise, a fully CGI film that finally puts the focus on the actual TRANSFORMERS. It is a prequel/reimagining that brings us back to Cybertron, where we follow best friends Orion Pax and D-16 as they navigate the mundanity of their lives while yearning to be more than meets the eyes. When destiny calls, who will answer, who will rise and who will fall?
When Transformers One was first announced, I didn’t really expect much from this film, a prequel for a franchise that has been in cinematic decline for a decade. I am a Transformers fan, but the movies have never been my favorites, so I’ve gravitated more towards the television series. The first trailer dropped and I admit the film looked gorgeous, vibrant, and fun. Never in a million years did I expect this film to floor me the way that it did.
Transformers One very well may be the biggest surprise of 2024, because this movie is a certified hit in every sense of the word. A visually stunning piece of animation that locks you in from the very first frame to the very last. A character piece that leans equally on the chemistry and performances of its actors as it does the breathtaking designs. I walked out of the theater satisfied but also excited to see this story continue.
One cool aspect of the movie is that it is the perfect jumping on point for anyone, it makes the Transformers lore easily accessible while also paying respect to it. We cover a lot of the history of this world, handled in a way that makes it approachable for new audiences young and old while also satisfying to long term fans. There are so many fun easter eggs and nods to the larger Transformers universe, with respect being paid to many different eras of its long history.
It’s interesting because this is the first film in the franchise to drop human characters from the plot, yet it has the most humanity out of any of the previous Transformers films. We drop the unnecessary cringe humor and mindless violence for a story that revolves around belief, friendship and destiny. Transformers One rests largely on the shoulders of its two leads: Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry, and both actors deliver.
After hearing Peter Cullen voice Optimus Prime for Decades, it may be jarring for some to hear Hemsworth taking on the role for this movie. What makes the transition easier is that when we are first introduced to Hemsworth’s Orion Pax, he is young, over eager and yearning for more. Not yet the pillar strength that we have always known the character to be. This gives the actor a way in to make this role his own and I think he does a good job doing just that.
But the true Showstopper is Brian Tyree Henry, who gives a masterful performance as a D-16, a bot that is all about structure and order before a horrific truth takes that security away. His presence lights up the screen as we watch him go through a crisis of conscience and belief that sends him spiraling. His slow descent is powerful, you can feel the ferocity of his words, the heat of his rage as it boils over. A take on Megatron that makes you sympathetic to his cause, while also understanding what he will eventually become.
Scarlett Johansson and Keegan Michael Key are also great but they don’t have nearly as much meat as Henry and Hemsworth. Key’s Bumblebee is lovable and provides much needed comic relief for a film with a surprisingly large amount of tense moments. Johansson’s Elita-1 is the straight man, the no nonsense badass who keeps everyone in check. I loved seeing Jon Hamm as Sentinel Prime, he is a real scene stealer who really disappears into the character who is pivotal to the film.
One negative I have is that I wasn’t a huge fan of Steve Buscemi as Starscream. It was an interesting choice for the character but it was nothing special. Every other actor seemed to be putting a lot into their characters and I just didn’t feel the same coming from Buscemi. It is a minor critique as the character isn’t heavily involved in the film but it was something that felt off to me.
While the film boasts a very impressive cast, I think the real star may very well be the production design and direction. It is evident that a lot of talented artists went in to making this film visual unique to any other Transformers film and they succeed on every level. Cybertron feels like a lived-in world, full of detail and character. I was finding myself at times just adoring the visuals in scenes as they are really stunning. I am not one to advocate for 3D, but my screening was 3D and I very much enhanced the experience. The backgrounds and textures came alive as epic moments unfolded in front of me.
Josh Cooley continues to impress, as he follows up an Oscar-winning film in Toy Story 4, with another major accomplishment in Transformers One. Two projects that were random sequels to beloved franchises, that find a way to add something new while honoring what came before. His directorial voice continues to shine through in this movie and I am excited to see what comes next.
Overall, Transformers One is everything I could have wanted this movie to be and more. A risky move by Paramount that hopefully pays off because after living in this world I don’t think I can go back to old way of Transformers films.
4.5/5
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