Review: TRANSFORMERS ONE was much better than I expected

This weekend I managed to catch one of those early fan screenings of Transformers: Oneand I have to admit I went into it with pretty low expectations. Nothing in the trailers really grabbed me.

I didn’t really like the cartoonish animation style, I didn’t like the comic tone and it just didn’t seem right to me. Transformers I grew up with. But, with all the incredibly positive reviews going around, my curiosity got the better of me.

I actually didn’t think it would live up to expectations, especially since people are calling it the best. Transformers movie ever. And while I don’t think it has that title, it definitely exceeded my expectations in ways I didn’t expect.

As a huge fan of the original animated series and in particular Transformers: The Movie of the 80s, I hold them close to my heart. For me, nothing has surpassed that era of Transformers magnificence. So, naturally, I compared this movie to that one. From a purely nostalgic perspective, the original movie is still king. But Transformers: One brings something new to the table that surprised me.

I wanted to make a few funny observations. First, why do robots pant after running? Robots don’t have lungs, so I couldn’t help but find it a little silly. And there were times when the robots were sleeping, which seemed odd – again, machines don’t need sleep!

Some dialogues, clearly intended to pay homage to others Transformers projects, it seemed a bit forced and made me turn up my nose. Then there’s the overly comic tone. It wasn’t my favorite choice for the film and it took me a while to adjust, but I eventually got used to it.

The first half of the movie was honestly a bit of a struggle for me. I wasn’t fully invested and found myself wondering if I would actually like the movie. But things took a sharp turn in the second half.

Suddenly, the story started to pick up speed and by the time we got to the third act, I was completely invested. That’s when the movie really kicked into high gear. The stakes were higher, the action intensified, and I finally found myself connecting with what was happening on screen. By the end, I was genuinely surprised by how much things had escalated.

The final act, in particular, was unexpectedly hardcore. Up until that point, I had been thinking, “OK, this is a fun, lighthearted kids movie.” But the way the third act unfolded made me think, “Wow, this is really hitting some pretty heavy notes.” And I wasn’t the only one who felt it: The audience in the theater was applauding when the credits started to roll.

The story itself is one of the strongest elements of the film. It takes classic characters, reimagines them, and gives them depth in ways I didn’t expect. It’s an origin story about how Orion Pax and D-16 go from being brothers in arms to becoming Optimus Prime and Megatron.

The film focuses a lot on the tragic nature of their friendship, and there’s this underlying tension that lingers throughout the film, knowing that things are going to fall apart.

The character development here is solid. You can see the effort put into making these versions of the characters connect with both longtime fans and newcomers.

My favorite? Bumblebee. He stole the show for me. Every scene he was in brought a certain charm and energy that was impossible to ignore. He’s not just comic relief, he has heart, and he’s a bit of a badass, and that’s what makes him stand out.

Director Josh Cooley did a great job in terms of scale and adventure. The action sequences were big and bombastic, just as you would expect from a Transformers film, but they were also balanced by quieter, more emotional moments that hit hard, especially towards the end.

The voice cast was also impressive. The World of Chris Hemsworth like Optimus, Brian Tyree Henry like Megatron, and Scarlett Johansson like Elita-1 everyone gave their best. But I have a note:Peter Cullen was supposed to voice Optimus Prime.

I understand they wanted a younger version of the character, but let’s face it, robots don’t go through puberty. Optimus should have had that iconic Peter Cullen voice.

Overall, Transformers: One It’s a good movie. It has its flaws, but it also has a lot to offer, especially in the second half. If you’re a fan of the franchise, it’s definitely worth watching on the big screen.

It might not be the best Transformers film of all time, but it is certainly one of the best, and it is a fun experience for both children and adults.