Transformers DVD Review

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"Transformers - The Movie" reviews

DVD

Transformers - The Movie

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2007-06-01 14:50:25

Provider

DVD Review

Long before Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay decided to make a live action movie, Transformers were simply children's toys. The only means of bringing these shape shifting robots to life back in the '80s was via animation.

The success of the Japanese / American TV cartoon series meant a full length feature film was commissioned and the result was a surprisingly decent movie in 1986, which blended the best of Japanese Manga style animation with the more family friendly story telling of US cartoons.

In Transformers - The Movie, it is the year 2005 (yes things have dated a little) and the war between The Autobots and Decepticons has escalated all the way to Cybertron, the robot's home planet, which the Decepticons have reclaimed. Meanwhile a planet guzzling robot monster known as Unicron is threatening the Transormers' very existence so it's up to lone Autobot Hot Rod to wield the power of The Matrix and save his chums.

Surprisingly sophisticated for an '80s animation, particularly one aimed at children, Transformers - The Movie hinted at a future where computers would be used by all the big studios to make animations while retaining the charm of a hand drawn cartoon.

This two disc version features five hours of extras including alternate footage, interviews, commentaries, Japanese episodes and character biographies.

DVD

Transformers

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2007-12-07 15:50:15

Provider

DVD Review

The iconic '80s toy brand was always begging to be a major feature film and despite there having been one already, featuring the voice of Orson Welles no less, this one is truly the Hollywood version.

Anyone familiar with the cartoon series will already know that on the planet of Cybertron, a war has been raging between the Autobots (good guys) and the Decepticons (boo!). They've been fighting for control of the Allspark, a magical cube that grants unlimited power to whoever possesses it. Years ago the Autobots managed to smuggle it onto the seemingly secure planet called Earth. But the Decepticons have finally twigged and begin their search by attacking US military bases. The boy who may hold the key to the Allsparks' whereabouts is student Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf), who has just bought his first car, an old banger that turns out to be one of the Autobots, Bumblebee. The Autobots must keep Sam alive until they can find the Allspark before the Decepticons get their dirty fingers on it.

Looking similar in places to Terminator 2, Transformers is visually breathtaking with great effects while the script, surprisingly, isn't half bad, which must surely owe something to a certain executive producer. Shia LaBeouf is convincing in the lead and there are a few decent jokes thrown in too. Perhaps it's about fifteen minutes too long and while Michael Bay must take the credit the film's epic feel and look, it's heart definitely owes a great deal to Exec Producer, Steven Spielberg.

All in all, this is what big modern family movie entertainment is all about.