The fabled rivalry that drives the Transformers universe traces its origins to ‘Transformers One’. We are taken on a reel journey back to the early years of Cybertron, where we meet a youthful and curious Orion Pax who, along with his friend D-16, stumbles into a perilous world of long-kept secrets and political intrigue.
Curiosity drives Orion to an archive, where he discovers the hardships of Cybertron and the first 13 Primes. Nevertheless, a series of incidents that include the Matrix of Leadership’s discovery, a risky mine rescue, and a tragic race pave the way for a significant metamorphosis. This is certainly not the one that fans might anticipate.
‘Transformers One’ delves deeply into the little-known beginnings of the well-known rivalry between Megatron and Optimus Prime. Before becoming fierce rivals, Orion Pax and D-16 were brothers-in-arms who had a bond that helped to shape Cybertron’s future. Their paths parted due to treachery, ambition, and a desire for power, paving the way for the titanic conflict between the Decepticons and Autobots.
For the first time in a long time, this ‘Transformers’ movie appears to be genuinely interested in the mythology of its characters, who have up until now been caught in a never-ending cycle of mindless action and explosions. It is an entirely animated prequel which proves to be a visual feast for all its onlookers.
Creative characters and landscapes
The beautiful, detailed animation of Cybertron transports you to its colourful and intricate world. The Transformers’ world’s hierarchy and social problems are vividly depicted by the vibrant and creative characters and landscapes. To ground the epic robot saga in relatable human emotions, director Josh Cooley, along with writers Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer, and Gabriel Ferrari, skillfully incorporate themes of friendship, ambition, and betrayal into the narrative. Though the story delves deeply into the dynamics of ambition and power, it lacks the signature spectacle that fans anticipate—transformations. This is obviously intentional, but we still miss it.
High-octane transformation scenes that conflate machine and monster were a hallmark of Michael Bay’s explosive live-action movies. This recognisable element is absent from ‘Transformers One’. Cooley maintains a light yet airy tone throughout. His direction wraps the lore in colourful animation that doesn’t rely too heavily on photorealism, striking a careful balance between novelty and nostalgia. Modern, more expressive Cybertronians have supplanted the overly intricate, overpowering designs of Bay’s movies.
Despite being evenly distributed throughout the movie, the action is devoid of the heart-pounding scenes that characterised the franchise’s previous instalments. This GFX-heavy prequel feels a little removed from the emotional centre of the original saga because it lacks the live-action feel and a human.
Chris Hemsworth, who plays Orion Pax, is a standout member of the voice cast because he embodies the character’s moral compass and idealism as he develops into Optimus Prime. Hemsworth makes the shift from inquisitive young bot to future leader believable by adding warmth and nuance to the part. Hemsworth’s portrayal is matched by Brian Tyree Henry, who contributes depth to D-16’s transformation into Megatron by showing him as a complicated character divided between ambition and friendship. As Elita-1, Scarlett Johansson gives a strong, determined performance that draws attention to herself.
Sense of urgency
Even though the movie moves quickly overall, there are a few slow spots. Something is lacking in the movie’s pacing. ‘Transformers One’ moves so quickly, that its emotional beats don’t always have the time to sink in as deeply as they ought to. The first act in particular moves through the world-building so quickly that it could come across as cliched. The film’s Shakespearean core conflict of ambition, treachery, and regret nevertheless manages to come through despite its hurried moments.
The sense of urgency or surprise is occasionally diminished because the audience can tell where the story is going. Nevertheless, they can evoke astonishment and gasps when pivotal moments occur.
At the end of the day, ‘Transformers One’ is a striking and emotionally impactful entry into the franchise. Although the lack of amazing metamorphoses may leave devoted fans wanting more, both newcomers and fans will enjoy the backstory of the Autobots and Decepticons. Although it is a gripping prequel that foreshadows future conflicts, more of the franchise’s signature visual thrills would have added some substance to the movie.
