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Transformers One Review
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures
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Directed By: Josh Cooley
Written By: Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer, and Gabriel Ferrari; Based on Hasbro’s Transformers Action Figures
Runtime: 104 minutes
MPA Rating: Rated PG for sci-fi violence and animated action throughout, and language
Chris Hemsworth – Orion Pax/Optimus Prime
Brian Tyree Henry – D-16/Megatron
Scarlett Johansson – Elita-1
Keegan-Michael Key – B-127/Bumblebee
Jon Hamm – Sentinel Prime
Laurence Fishburne – Alpha Trion
Vanessa Liguori – Airachnid
Steve Buscemi – Starscream
Jason Konopisos-Alvarez – Shockwave
Jon Bailey – Soundwave
Evan Michael Lee – Jazz
Isaac C. Singleton Jr. – Darkwing
The Transformers franchise undergoes the reboot treatment with the new CG-animated feature, Transformers One. Set completely on the transforming robots’ home planet of Cybertron, Transformers One ditches humans and earthbound storytelling for a refreshing origin story, showcasing the lives of Optimus Prime and Megatron, the Transformers destined to become the greatest of enemies and the torch-bearers of their respective factions, the Autobots and Decepticons.
Transformers One depicts a declining Cybertron. There are no Autobots, no Decepticons, and no factions. Instead, Cybertron divides its resident robots into classes: those with the ability to transform and those without. The Cybertronians who came online without transformation cogs (t-cogs for short) are treated as second-class citizens, forced into servo-breaking manual labor. Cybertronians without t-cogs toil away in the mines to harvest Energon, the life fuel required to sustain all of Cybertron’s bots. Unfortunately, Cybertron’s Energon reserves are nearly depleted after the loss of the Matrix of Leadership. The Matrix was mysteriously lost during a historic war between the Primes, the elite class of first-generation Transformers, and the Quintessons. Orion Pax (Hemsworth) and D-16 (Tyree Henry) work as Cybertronian miners, lacking options to rise above their stations. However, the troublemaking Pax believes the secret to recovering the Matrix of Leadership lies somewhere in Cybertron’s archival databanks, hoping the recovery of the precious artifact can restore Cybertron and offer the discriminated miners a chance to do something more with their lives.
Whenever Pax finds himself in trouble, D-16 grabs his trusted friend out of the scrap heap. While Pax likes to leap before he looks, D-16 prefers to stay on protocol, content with his lot in life and worshipping one of the original thirteen Primes, Megatronus Prime. After a wayward attempt to compete in the Iacon 5000 race, the duo gets unfairly busted down to the bowels of Cybertron with the eccentric young trash disposal bot, B-127 (Key). Among B-127’s junk, Pax discovers a map that contains a mysterious message recorded by one of the original Primes, Alpha Trion (Fishburne). Together, the trio embarks on a dangerous mission to Cybertron’s restricted surface. Along the way, they inexplicably draw in another waste disposal bot, Elita-1 (Johansson). The cybertronic quartet discovers the truth behind the loss of the original Primes and the Matrix of Leadership. They might be the only ones with the touch and the power to restore Cybertron to its past greatness and liberate it from its true tyrannical masters.
Director Josh Cooley adeptly reinvents the Transformers mythos, mixing elements from the original G1 animated series and classic comics published by Marvel. Transformers One finds its emotional core in the close bond between Orion Pax and D-16 in their days as youthful bots full of hope and fresh circuits. Transformers One depicts their origin story as they transition into Cybertron’s ultimate savior and destroyer. The story begins with Pax and D-16’s bond at its strongest. They start as close as brothers, but events soon galvanize both bots, chipping away at their bond as they move in opposite directions, until it severs
Writers Eric Pearson and Andrew BarrerTransformers One take a fascinating, biblical approach to the Megatron and Optimus Prime’s relationship, basically depicting the duo as a sci-fi, cybertronic version of Cain and Abel. Transformers One presents the primordial story of the iconic heroes and villains of the Transformers mythology. Cooley takes great care in showcasing the tragic loss of Optimus Prime and Megatron’s once-great friendship. The film reinvents the Transformers lore, mixing the best elements from classic source material to create a newly unique universe that still scratches that gloriously nostalgic itch.
Transformers One wonderfully showcases a new version of Cybertron that simultaneously, looks classic and immersive. At this point in Cybertron’s history, the bots must live in Iacon underground, and travel to the surface is forbidden. The secrets behind Cybertron provide some compelling reveals, taking a unique approach to envisioning the desolate surface world. Industrial, Light & Magic pulls off stunning work redesigning Cybertron and bringing it to life. The Transformers’ homeworld looks vibrant and teeming with detail, existing as the alt-mode of the god of the Transformers race, Primus. This version of Cybertron looks like it has existed for millions of years.
One major drawback found in the plot is how it utilizes the Quintessons. The Quintessons appear deadly, vicious, menacing, and dangerous whenever they appear. However, the film opts for a less compelling villain, who acts as little more than a puppet in servitude to the Quintessons. Unfortunately, the Quintessons only have a small role, which makes no sense considering the truth behind Cybertron. At only 104 minutes, Transformers One lacks suitable time to let the Quintesson storyline play out properly.
In terms of the voice cast, Brian Tyree Henry delivers the film’s best standout vocal performance. Tyree Henry displays a nuanced, layered performance, displaying the gradual descent of the once bright, optimistic young bot, D-16, into the monstrous Megatron. Tyree Henry displays every level of D-16’s transition, so by the time he finally embraces his new identity, he sounds like a completely different character.
Hemsworth provides a serviceable performance as Orion Pax, despite his shaky American accent. He demonstrates some flashes of strength as Orion Pax begins his journey to becoming the iconic Autobot leader. Some scenes feature Hemsworth’s vocal work channeling Peter Cullen, but his Orion/Optimus tumbles slightly short. Hemsworth is a tremendous acting talent, but voice-over and animation work are not his forte. Keegan-Michael Key’s Bumblebee provides the typical comic relief. Some of Bumblebee’s humor and jokes are hit-and-miss, but at least he still can speak in the film.
Besides Tyree Henry, Steve Buscemi presents the film’s other vocal standout performance as Starscream in a no-brainer casting move. Buscemi does such a great job at Starscream, and it’s too bad he comes into the story so late because it’s pitch-perfect casting. He sparks a desire to see more Starscream in future installments. Airachnid (Liguori) emerges as the story’s most intriguing, formidable villain and provides some of the best action beats.
As an experienced animation director, Cooley exceptionally highlights the Transformers in their full glory. The camera presents immersive, dynamic action, following the Cybertronians as they race into battle. The action scenes take full advantage of the Cybertronians’ abilities, and things pick up once the main characters receive new t-cogs, unlocking their transformation abilities and alt-modes. Cooley and ILM’s approach to the animation style looks sharp, crisp, and fluid. The Cybertronians are beautifully designed, paying homage to their classic G1 designs, yet still providing new flourishes and details.
Transformers One provides a positive step in the right direction for the Transformers film franchise. An entirely Cybertron-based storyline allows more depth to the characters fans truly care about and want to see: the transforming robots. For Cooley and the writers, these characters are truly more than just mere action figures. They’re more than meets the eye. They’re robots in disguise. Transformers hasn’t looked this good on the big screen since 1986.
