August 8th, 1986, is a big day for Transformers fans. It’s the date that the fully-animated The Transformers: The Movie would release in theaters, beckoning its many young fans to come see its Autobot hero Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) do battle with archnemesis Megatron (voiced by Frank Welker) on the big screen. Of course, audiences didn’t realize that this film was functioning as a marketing tool meant to signal an official toy shift ending the reign of Optimus, resulting in those excited kids being traumatized by watching their hero die early into the film. Since then, all the official Transformers films have been CG live-action and, even when Optimus dies, he returns better than ever before the finale. Returning back to its animated roots but without the threat of trauma, the new Josh Cooley-directed (Toy Story 4) Transformers One invites audiences to go on a thrill-ride unlike any we’ve seen thus far in the theatrical Transformers universe as the story goes back to the beginning of Optimus and Megatron, before the journey to Earth, and before the war for Cybertron, to a time when the mythical rivals held a friendship that seemed destined to last forever. Via its home release, Paramount Pictures and Cooley offer up 46 minutes of behind-the-scenes goodies that still only scratch the surface of the momentous effort to craft a brand-new and resonate adventure.
L-R: Keegan-Michael Key (B-127), Brian Tyree Henry (D-16), Chris Hemsworth (Orion Pax) and Scarlett Johansson (Elita-1) star in PARAMOUNT ANIMATION and HASBRO Present In Association with NEW REPUBLIC PICTURES A di BONAVENTURA PICTURES Production A TOM DESANTO / DON MURPHY Production A BAY FILMS Production “TRANSFORMERS ONE”
Years since the invasion of the Quintessons saw the defeat of Cybertron’s Primes and the Matrix of Leadership went missing, the remaining Cybertronions live under the surface of the planet under the protection of Sentinel Prime (voiced by Jon Hamm), who regularly goes on excursions above ground to seek out the Matrix of Leadership and restore the flow of Energon to the planet. In the meantime, miners like Orion Pax and D-16 (voiced by Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry) spend their days digging in the planet in order to provide the fuel necessary to sustain the lives of the Cybertronions who reside in the city of Iacon. Wanting to help Sentinel and the people of Cybertron, Orion Pax routinely seeks out whatever information he can find on the war with the Quintessons and the lost Matrix, much to the frustration of his best friend D-16. But when a stroke of luck lands a map into the hands of Orion Pax and D-16, the two set off above the surface to track down what could be the lost Matrix, unaware that this map leads to a truth that would serve as the catalyst for their tragic destiny.
Written by Eric Pearson (Black Widow; Thor: Ragnarok), Gabriel Ferrari (Ant-Man and the Wasp; Die in a Gunfight), and Andrew Barrer (Ant-Man and the Wasp; Die in a Gunfight), Transformers One is a mix of the expected and unexpected and yet you’re not going to walk away disappointed. Regarding the former, for one, it’s a prequel story, so established expectations come from the fact that we *know* where the story’s going to end up. The unexpected comes from the way the fall-out occurs and the pathos the actors insert into the performances so that we actually care when it happens. For two, anyone who’s seen any kind of story in which someone proclaims themselves a protector, we already know they’re a secret asshat, but, between the voicework of Hamm (Confess, Fletch; Baby Driver) and the script’s smart move to make sure we know this early, space is created for the true depths of asshattery to surprise audiences, thereby generating sympathy and understanding to D-16’s path to the Megatron. It’s one thing to know that Orion Pax and D-16 are going to turn into enemies, it’s another to observe the shift occur in front of us slowly so that we ourselves understand the rage that festers and then explodes out of D-16, a rage that’s impressively central with D-16’s self-identity. The whole film, D-16’s POV is of a Cybertronian who is tasked with a job and does it in service of the rules, in service of Cybertron, and in service of Sentinel. With each fallacy pulled away, those notions become more firmly rooted within him, his frustration at the lies he’s been fed only solidifying that the rules must be honored and obeyed, even if it means being the one in charge and using totalitarian violence to restore order. Conversely, the adventure they go on only entrenches Orion Pax’s selflessness and leadership capabilities. He was never searching for the Matrix for himself, to stop being a miner, or some other selfish design; rather, he sought the Matrix to help Sentinel protect and heal Cybertron, to show that miners like him could do more than mine, and, generally, do good. The more of the truth he learned, the more he moved toward social justice and gentleness, preferring mercy and trials over violence. His anger didn’t turn him sour like it did with D-16, it made him more resolute that there was a better way to do things that lifted all Cybertronians. This is what makes Transformers One stand out in a way that we haven’t seen in a Transformers film since Bumblebee (2018), a truly remarkable CG live-action tale that also happened to possess arguably one of the greatest battle scenes (the opening) in all of Transformers cinema.
In the featurette “In the Beginning,” producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura shares that the idea for One had been brewing for some time and that they knew it needed to be animated as the cost to do what they envisioned would’ve been too high to do in live action. In truth, as fantastic as a “live-action” Transformers story is, what Cooley presents to audiences is so refined and dazzling that if this were to be the blueprint, we’d be in good hands moving forward. Across the total of five featurettes, audiences are invited to listen to the cast, crew, and di Bonaventura discuss the making of One and receive tidbits like the one above. While one might notice the slow color change of D-16’s eyes from white-orange to orange to burning red throughout the film, how many notice that Orion Pax, D-16, B-127 (voiced by Keegan-Michael Key), and Elita-1 (voiced by Scarlett Johansson) actually grow in size when they receive transforming gogs? It’s easier to tell the difference between the final forms Orion Pax and D-16 take before the end of the film, but that middle portion? It’s perhaps too small a differential to notice, but you’ll get walked through it all the same. As discussed in the bonus features, it’s important to understand the thought process of what it meant for the characters to undergo such a physical transformation in terms of their relationship to flora, fauna, and the architecture of Iacon, how the transformation also speaks to the unlocking of potential that comes from realizing the true self that gaining their gogs achieves is not discussed. It’s subtext and something which could be explored in a different review, but, for here and now, it’s at least touched on visually when Cooley and his team identify the physical shift and we get shown the storyboards of the different sizes. Likewise, we get to see and hear about the reasoning behind why Orion Pax and friends don’t take on their classic looks, but something more applicable to live on Cybertron and away from human influence. You may not get all of your questions answered, but what we’re given in terms of storyboarding, cinematography, the use of mocap to help establish physical space for the animators while also helping to ensure that the fight elements weren’t designed or executed with human shapes in mind (hence the abundance of Transformer creativity in the final battle) is enough to demonstrate the thoughtful approach to everything that makes it into the film. There’s plenty to learn throughout the 46 minutes of material, but there seems to be far more that could’ve been included, especially learning about the thought process between Iacon, above ground on Cybertron, and the inner systems of Cybertron that welcome Orion Pax.
If this sounds good to you, let’s move on to the different options available so you can make as informed a decision as possible.
4K UHD Blu-ray steelbook edition of TRANSFORMERS ONE. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Paramount Pictures released the digital edition with these bonus features on October 22nd and the film by itself to streamer Paramount+ on November 15th. So, if you just want to see the film solo *or* you want to buy it to access the bonus features without having to worry about physical storage, these are your first two options. If physical is your preference (as it is mine), then you’ve got four options: DVD, Blu-ray, 4K UHD, and 4K UHD steelbook. It’s unclear what, if any, bonus features are included with the DVD, but they are available on the remaining physical formats. Packaging for the 4K UHD Blu-ray Combo edition and Blu-ray features Orion Pax, Elita-1, and B-127 running toward you with D-16 with his Megatron persona looming over them, all with Iacon behind them. As a steelbook edition was provided by Paramount Pictures for home review, what follows can be spoken of with absolute certainty — it’s pretty cool and actually worth the upcharge if it appeals to you aesthetically. The steelbook design leans into the ‘80s aesthetic that so much of the scenery of Cybertron evokes (channeling the energy of the era in which the toys were born), the front cover featuring the title of the film at the bottom with the bulk being Primus (the first Transformer) standing tall while light emanates from where the Matrix of Leadership would be with four figures walking out of it. The back is a fun twist on the standard cover which finds the four central protagonists in their gog-installed forms, each given a shard of color passing through them that connects at the bottom where each of their vehicle forms are presented. On the back cover, D-16 as Megatron is at the center-top with Orion Pax as Optimus center-middle. Inside the steelbook case is a clear plastic liner for two-discs (both on the right) with an image depicting the four protagonists on the surface of Cybertron.
If there’s an issue worth mentioning about this release, it’s the fact that the bonus features are included on the 4K UHD disc, as well as the Blu-ray. In both versions of the 4K UHD release, a Blu-ray is included, which also contains the bonus features. As such, the extras are accessible at least three ways (two physical and one digital) and with the 4K edition two, thereby taking up a lot of storage space on the 4K UHD disc for no sensical reason. Why is this a problem? The inclusion of the bonus features, presented in 4K UHD on the 4K UHD disc, means that there’s reduced space for the data of the film itself. When checking the bitrate of the film, amid the usually bouncing, it generally hovers in the 50s Mbps, which is just slightly above the highest bitrate for a standard HD release (40 Mbps). Very rarely does it get into the 60s and, even then, doesn’t linger for long period. This is a film whose animation walks the line between photo realism and animation creating an experience that feels tactile in a number of surprising ways, whether it’s the design of Cybertron (above, below, and within) or the characters who touch the ground that make up the world. For a fictious world, nothing Cooley’s team created feels false, even for a moment, even as we *know* we’re observing animated creations. It looks incredible on the 4K UHD and it’s not likely going to disappoint anyone not paying attention to the bitrate, but, when one considers an improved video bitrate with the absence of bonus features on the 4K UHD disc, one starts to long for the days when bonus features were kept to the included Blu-ray.
L-R: Brian Tyree Henry (D-16/Megatron), Scarlett Johansson (Elita-1), Chris Hemsworth (Orion Pax/Optimus Prime) and Keegan-Michael Key (B-127), star in PARAMOUNT ANIMATION and HASBRO Present In Association with NEW REPUBLIC PICTURES A di BONAVENTURA PICTURES Production A TOM DESANTO / DON MURPHY Production A BAY FILMS Production “TRANSFORMERS ONE”
Admittedly, upon learning about this origin story, there was little to excite or intrigue me. I know this story. I’ve read the comics, watched the show, and played with the toys. I’ve seen the majority of live-action films, too. Yet, even as the script dips its toes into the expected, the ways in which it dispels audience pessimism through narrative turns and execution not only makes One entertaining, but makes it something worth revisiting. Jokes land better on the rewatch, sure, but the repeated cuts that D-16 endures hurt just a little more. That inevitability can be a bore, sure, but it can also hit you like a hammer, making you wish for simpler times. To that end, while the steelbook may not be to everyone’s taste or pocket book, fans of the film and, certainly, long-time fans of Transformers, won’t regret picking this one up.
Transformers One Special Features:
- In The Beginning — Witness the origin story of Optimus Prime (Orion Pax) and Megatron (D-16) and the evolution of their relationship from brothers-in-arms to sworn enemies. Filmmakers discuss the vision for the film and how it was brought to life. (10:16)
- World Building on Cybertron — Hear from director Josh Cooley, the production design team, and the visual effects team about rendering the colorful world of CYBERTRON in a way that fans have never seen before. (9:38)
- Together As One — Meet the A-list voice cast for each of the Transformers: Chris Hemsworth (Orion Pax/Optimus Prime), Brian Tyree Henry (D-16/Megatron), Scarlett Johansson (Elita-1), and more! (11:02)
- The Iacon 5000 — Behold the most epic Transformers race ever as competitors vie for the ultimate prize! Go behind the scenes with the filmmakers as they break down this breathtaking action sequence. (6:28)
- The Battle for Cybertron — Cast and filmmakers take you through the film’s epic climax as Optimus Prime and Megatron battle for Cybertron’s future. (9:00)
Available on digital October 22nd, 2024.
Available on Paramount+ November 15th, 2024.
Available on 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K steelbook December 17th, 2024.
For more information, head to the official Paramount Pictures Transformers One webpage.
Final Score: 4 out of 5.
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Categories: Films To Watch, Home Release, In Theaters, Recommendation, Reviews
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