TRANSFORMERS ONE is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever.
REVIEW:
Transformers One (2024) is a surprising breath of fresh air in a franchise that has often been criticized for its lack of depth and over-reliance on explosive action. Directed by Josh Cooley, this prequel takes us back to the origins of the beloved characters Optimus Prime and Megatron, before they became the iconic leaders of the Autobots and Decepticons.
The film introduces us to Orion Pax (voiced by Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (voiced by Brian Tyree Henry), two lowly miners on the planet Cybertron. Cybertron is a world divided by social classes, where those without transformation cogs are essentially slaves. The plot revolves around Orion Pax’s quest to recover the fabled Matrix of Leadership, a mythical artifact that he believes will end the oppression and bring equality to their society.
Cooley, known for his work on “Toy Story 4,” brings a sense of earnestness and innocence to the film, making it feel like a fresh start for the franchise. The movie cleverly balances its action-packed sequences with a deeper, more meaningful narrative. It’s fun to imagine an alternate universe where nobody knows anything about these characters, making their journey from nobodies to leaders all the more compelling.
The film’s strength lies in its ability to humanize these robotic characters, giving them a rich backstory and psychological depth that has often been missing in previous installments. The relationship between Orion Pax and D-16 is particularly well-developed, making their eventual transformation into Optimus Prime and Megatron both tragic and inevitable.
“Transformers One” is not without its flaws. The film occasionally dips into familiar tropes and the ending leans a bit too heavily on the mythological “find the artifact and embrace your cosmic destiny” flavor that has been a staple of the series. However, these minor issues do not detract from the overall experience.
“Transformers One” is a welcome addition to the franchise, offering a fresh perspective and a more nuanced narrative. It’s a film that both longtime fans and newcomers can enjoy, proving that there are still new stories to be told in the world of Transformers.
“Transformers One” gets a 3.5/5 or a B+.
CREDITS:
Directed by
Screenplay by
- Eric Pearson
- Andrew Barrer
- Gabriel Ferrari
Story by
- Andrew Barrer
- Gabriel Ferrari
Based on
Hasbro‘s Transformersaction figures
Produced by
Starring
- Chris Hemsworth
- Brian Tyree Henry
- Scarlett Johansson
- Keegan-Michael Key
- Steve Buscemi
- Laurence Fishburne
- Jon Hamm
Cinematography
Christopher Batty
Edited by
Lynn Hobson
Music by
Production
companies
- Paramount Animation[a]
- Hasbro Entertainment
- BayHem Films
- New Republic Pictures
- Di Bonaventura Pictures
Distributed by
Release dates
- September 11, 2024(Sydney)
- September 20, 2024(United States)
Running time
104 minutes[1]
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$75 million
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