COUNTDOWN: 10 reasons you should see Transformers One in the cinema!

Though the film isn’t out worldwide just yet, audience reactions for Transformers One are pouring in, and the results are pretty uniformly positive!

In fact, the film maintains a highly impressive 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, arguably even more noteworthy than its illustrious 89% critic rating. Quite clearly, the movie is winning over the people seeing it! Conversely, whilst it still has a long way to go, reports are also circling of a somewhat tepid box office impact thus far, which would be a shame for such a heartfelt new entry in a long-running series.

So today, here are 10 (SPOILER FREE!) reasons you should absolutely go and see Transformers One in the cinema as soon as possible!

#10: It’s a great story

OK, first things first, the film has a tale to tell. In fact, considering this franchise is now four decades old with more reboots, ‘reimaginings’ and retellings of origin stories than you could care to count, it’s notable how compelling and, dare I say, original the storyline in Transformers One feels. Given that robots in disguise adventures typically pick up at least several million years into the ongoing war between good and evil, it’s a treat to watch how it all began, or at least as far as this new continuity goes! More than that, though, it isn’t just a simple case of giant metal beings smashing into one another for mindless mayhem – there’s a genuine adventure at the film’s core that will have you on the edge of your seat come the final act, with plenty of terrific surprises and wonderful moments along the way.

#9: It has compelling character arcs

Transformers One does a terrific job at building out the world of Cybertron and the universe of the robots themselves. Still, at its heart, this is a tale revolving around a surprisingly small cast of characters. Sure, there are plenty of recognisable faces to be spotted by long-term fans, but really, the film excels with a focus on Optimus Prime and Megatron and how they began on their journey to the battle-hardened faction leaders we typically see. It’s hugely enjoyable to see Orion Pax’s evolution into the more level-headed leader of the Autobots, particularly the lessons he learns along the way. However, in many ways, it’s D-16 who is the standout character here. Suffice it to say, I never expected to actually care about Megatron in quite the way this film will have you doing.

#8: It’s fun and has tons of action

At a little over 100 minutes, Transformers One may be the shortest adventure in the series (apart from the 1986 outing, mind), but it packs in plenty of plot to its runtime. Still, at no point does it drag or feel like it outstays its welcome, with the story zipping along breathlessly and plenty of new settings and scenery to keep you intrigued the whole time. There’s a lot of fun and humour to be found throughout, but that’s not to say fans will feel let down by the amount of action on offer, either, as the film sufficiently raises the stakes come the final act. If anything, it finds the right balance of all of these elements to leave you thoroughly entertained throughout.

#7: It looks stunning

Fans of the Transformers movies have become accustomed to the breathtaking visual artistry of ILM. Still, as a fully computer-animated adventure, this film is a different prospect altogether. There have been high expectations for the project ever since it was first announced, and needless to say, the final product absolutely smashes it, as it’s simply gorgeous from start to finish and bears viewing on the biggest screen you can find. Whether it’s the evolving depiction of Cybertron, the robots themselves or the remarkable cinematography on offer, this is a treat for your eyes as much as anything else.

#6: The score is top tier

Music has often been another key component of Transformers adventures, and this latest effort boasts some exceptional work by composer Brian Tyler, who fans will remember from his time on Transformers: Prime. It perfectly sets the mood no matter the scene at hand and swells to become suitably dramatic by the time the story peaks in the last half hour. If you need to be convinced of how epic this film can be without worrying about plot spoilers, listen here.

#5: The voice cast is brilliant

Much was made of the star-studded line-up behind the robots when first announced, with some fans unsure about big-name celebrities being chosen to bring to life roles typically associated with franchise stalwarts like Peter Cullen or Frank Welker. As it turns out, no one had anything to worry about because the cast is exceptional, with all the main players suiting their characters to a tee and turning in an impressive round of performances. Again, the highlights here are Chris Hemsworth, who perfectly portrays the youthful Orion Pax but will have you standing to attention as the commanding Optimus Prime come the end, and Brian Tyree Henry, who is nothing shy of a revelation in how he evolves D-16 towards becoming Megatron.

#4: It makes a four-decade franchise feel fresh

Of all the many accolades one can swing at Transformers One, perhaps the greatest is that it manages to make a longstanding and well-established property feel entirely fresh, both for old and new fans alike. In truth, many of the elements contained within the story might feel familiar in isolation, yet the film so adeptly weaves them together that it entirely avoids feeling like well-trodden territory at any point, whilst also never straying into the blind alley of unbridled fan service. The result is a tale that carves out its own identity despite paying close homage to many varied parts of the franchise’s history and represents a fantastic jumping-on point for younger fans who may not already be au fait with the more prevalent story beats so commonly represented in past media. I know I can’t wait to take my son as I feel very confident he is going to love it.

#3: The trailers don’t tell you everything

Ever since the first trailer for Transformers One debuted, many fans have debated the movie’s tone and feel and how rewarding it is likely to be for all ages. This is essentially due to that initial glimpse having a much more comedic focus and largely presenting in a manner not a million miles off your typical family animation flick, which no doubt left some a little nervous about the final product. Rest assured, the film itself is far from lighthearted fluff and manages to deliver a real knockout story alongside the well-woven gags. It’s funny, sure, but it has major heart and a definite eye for action.

#2: It deserves to do well!

Look, if nothing else, this film truly earns all of the accolades currently being thrown at it. However, it’s no secret that more casual cinema-goers have become somewhat weary of increasingly bombastic Transformers sequels since 2007, and despite some decent attempts to serve up fresh fodder in recent times, there’s an argument to say the franchise has yet to find the correct way forward in terms of finding its feet again on the big screen. Well, Transformers One has all of the ingredients necessary to be that fresh start – it’s exciting, funny, engaging, well-written, gorgeously animated and lovingly produced by people who obviously care for the story they’re telling – so it would be a crying shame if it ended up underperforming. Let’s hope it can deliver!

#1: We need a sequel

And finally (and perhaps most cynically), the idea of this wonderful adventure being a one-and-done affair is unacceptable. It’s not an exaggeration to say this is the *best* we have seen from the franchise on the big screen thus far, and it leaves so much possibility on the table for where the storyline might go next, so to think it could be halted in its tracks is heartbreaking, to say the least. I have no idea exactly what a potential Transformers One 2 (I still vote “Transformers: One Shall Stand” as the best title) might deliver in terms of being a continuation, but I do know that is very much something I want to see happen, given how fantastic this first film was.

So that’s our list! Have you seen Transformers One yet?

TTFN