Movie Review | ‘Transformers One’ – A touching, powerful prequel

With a film franchise spanning almost 40 years, it’s safe to say the general public is pretty well aware of the Transformers. The characters of Optimus Prime and Megatron lead their warring factions in a bitter conflict, leading to the destruction of their homeworld, and their continued fight on planet Earth. What people might not know, is just how these two rivals went from close friends to sworn enemies.

A slick new animation style and an impressive voice cast brings that very story to cinemas. Transformers One is a deep dive into the history of cybertron miners Orion Pax and D-16, and the greater lore of the Transformers. Chris Hemsworth puts aside his hammer, and hopes to be worthy of yet another iconic character. His take on a youthful Optimus Prime is brash with a baritone, rebelliously defying his place in society and dreaming of more for himself and his oppressed robot brethren.

On the other side is Brian Tyree Henry portraying a pre-dictator Megatron who wishes only to follow his directives, whose world is suddenly upended by startling revelations. Those revelations propel the plot forward, but the film never loses sight of its central conflict. A brotherhood doomed to be torn asunder that’s given time to breathe. Henry and Hemsworth have impressive chemistry, making you care about their bond, even if you know how the story ends.

While the film primarily focuses on the twin protagonists, it also features a variety of robots that play significant roles beyond mere background characters. Keegan-Michael Key’s portrayal of B-127 provides comic relief, reminiscent of Donkey from Shrek, as he endears himself to his companions. Scarlett Johansson’s Elita-1 brings a much-needed mature perspective to the unfolding adventure.

Where the film shines the most is with its stellar animation. Mechanical as it may be, the faces of the transformers have a more liquid metal feel, making them more capable of complex emotions. As far as the action goes, it’s a thrilling ride, beginning with some vertigo inducing skydiving, followed by a death defying car race, and culminating into a final battle that’s chaotic yet cohesive. All of this is enhanced with 4DX finally bringing the audience to Cybertron itself.

Transformers One is a compelling new take on a familiar story. It takes its characters from humble beginnings and earns their arc into beings of myth. More than just a toy commercial, Transformers One plays with its history well offering up something fresh for fans new and old alike.

Rating: Big Screen Watch

Damian Levy is a film critic and podcaster for Damian Michael Movies.