A cult animated series from Generation X, the Transformers robots are returning to the big screen with great panache… especially since the voices of the planet’s saviors are provided by, among others, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne and Jon Hamm.
In the late 1980s, Transformers reigned supreme in the children’s cartoon charts, generating a spectacular craze made up of all kinds of derivative products. In 2007, Michael Bay took the reins of directing the first feature film, Transformersand hired Shia Laboeuf and Megan Fox, in addition to signing lucrative product placement contracts with companies like General Motors and Burger King.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES
The company was so successful that it quickly became a franchise with mind-blowing revenues, the fourth feature film, The Age of Extinctionaccumulating no less than $1.10 billion at global box offices in 2014.
Unfortunately, moviegoers ran out of steam from 2017 onwards, with box office takings declining precipitously for the three subsequent features.
At the instigation of Paramount Studios, screenwriter and producer Akiva Goldsman began looking for story ideas; Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari therefore proposed a prequel that tells the origins of the animosity between Orion Pax (voice of Chris Hemsworth in the original version), future Optimus Prime, and D-16 (voice of Brian Tyree Henry), future Megatron. We also meet B-127 (voice of Keegan-Michael Key), future Bumblebee.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES
The animation, produced by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), George Lucas’ former company, now owned by Disney Studios, lives up to expectations. The sets are splendid and the robots engaging. The rhythmic scenario is detailed in order to satisfy fans, both adults (with themes such as access to power or betrayal) and children (with subjects such as friendship); the different levels of reading are perfectly adapted to these many audiences. The whole is enriched by a good communicative humor, expressed in the dialogues by turns funny or moving. And under the direction of director Josh Cooley, formerly ofToy Story 4disembodied robots now have human personalities that we can become attached to.
No doubt, Transformers One brings joy to fans big and small!
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Transformers One roars into movie theaters from September 20.
