Reawakening Childhood Memories!
I walked into animation, Transformers One, with a bit of hesitation, and for that, I blame Michael Bay. Aside from the first, his Transformers films don't exactly hit the mark in my opinion. So, you can imagine my surprise when 2018’s Bumblebee not only exceeded my expectations, but became my favourite film of the year.
As for Transformers One, while it doesn’t quite take the top spot for 2024, it still comfortably lands in my top five – which is far better than I had anticipated.
Growing up, Transformers was a huge part of my childhood. I loved the cartoons, and I had the toys – though they rarely lasted more than a week thanks to my clumsy, overly-enthusiastic hands. Watching Transformers One brought all those memories rushing back, and my inner child was fully alive throughout the movie.
The story takes us back to the origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron, focusing on their early lives as Orion Pax (voiced by Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry). Starting as low-ranking miners on Cybertron, they set out on a quest to find the Matrix of Leadership, a relic believed to restore Energon to their ailing planet. Along the way, they uncover dark truths about their leader, Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm), and as they fight to save their world, they begin to evolve into the iconic leaders of the Autobots and Decepticons we know today.
For long-time fans, Transformers One offers a refreshing new take. It explores a pre-war era of Cybertron that’s rarely touched on in previous films, adding depth to characters like Optimus and Megatron by diving into their backstories. The movie is full of subtle nods to the franchise’s rich history, but it also brings in new ideas, such as the Cybertronian caste system, that add a surprising layer of complexity.
For newcomers, the film works perfectly as an introduction. You don’t need prior knowledge of the franchise to enjoy it – the story is self-contained, and the strong voice cast (also including the likes of Scarlett Johansson and Laurence Fishburne), and well-developed characters make it an engaging watch. It can be enjoyed on its own or serve as a gateway for anyone wanting to explore more of the Transformers universe.
I took my young son to the screening – his first real exposure to Transformers. He absolutely loved it, which says a lot about the film’s ability to capture a younger audience. If you can keep my six-year-old engaged for almost two hours, you’ve done something right.
The script is witty, packed with humour, and the nostalgia is ‘through the roof’ for fans like me.
My son rated the film: “one hundred thousand out of a million”. Which, while mathematically a terrible score, was his way of saying he loved it too – trust me.
He’s now a massive fans of the ‘robots in disguise’ – and there’s no disguising this comes highly recommended.
ESP Rating: 4/5
Mike Clarke
Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough, Out Now
Voice Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Brian Tyree Henry, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne & John Hamm
Running Time: 1 Hr 44 Mins
Director: Josh Cooley
Go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk for all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux
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