★★★★
I was not expecting Transformers One to be this good. Like by any means. I didn’t even believe the hype, that is, until I saw it myself. And well…. holy crap. Talk about more than meets the eye; one of the biggest surprises of the year! After a really mediocre marketing campaign, I didn’t have many expectations at all. But trust me when I say the trailers do not do this movie justice. And I’m saying this as someone who has never really been a fan of Transformers! I almost cannot believe I’m saying this, but Transformers One is by far and away the best Transformers film to date. Rich in character and emotion with a deep reverence for the lore, it tells the origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron, tragically transforming once from brothers to enemies. Director Josh Cooley brilliantly adds dimension and poignancy to the traditionally one-note action figure archetypes of the series. It's a shockingly compelling film about oppressive systems, the delusion of a meritocracy, unions, and worker's rights, as well as the freedom of the individual being the driving force behind empowering the collective... ALL OF THIS in a f***ing Transformers movie! And it navigates this mature, surprisingly dark territory with ease for a family-friendly animated film. Josh Cooley directed this animated film to perfection, down to the last comedic and action beat, all backed by an epic score and an excellent voice cast. Despite my doubts, Chris Hemsworth ended up being a fantastic Optimus Prime. The film features absolutely gorgeous kinematic animation by ILMVFX that you want to throw yourself into. While it isn’t anything crazy revolutionary, for this, it really worked, and while I am not a fan of 3D… I feel like this would be a film that benefits from it. Transformers One is the biggest surprise of the year. The animation is not only vibrant, but the characters are also well realized and it feels like a fitting love letter for the franchise while still standing on its own merits. It tells a story we know the ending to but the journey is gut-wrenching and hilarious as differences of leadership take shape — AND it works for both die hard fans and those that know nothing about Transformers. Great voice work, humour and a surprising emotional core that actually makes you care about the characters. It’s shockingly concerned with the nature of power and systems and how the spark of revolution — and radicalization — can ignite, which really worked for me. The series has never felt more exciting, action packed, and alive! Highly recommend - it is way more than meets the eye!
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