Transformers

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Action & Adventure

For a kid growing up in the 1980s, there was probably nothing cooler than playing with robots. When these robots could actually transform into vehicles, guns, cameras, etc, the coolness factor went up by a factor of 50. “Transformers” was one of the best cartoon series of the decade, and it gave thousands of kids the unbridled happiness of seeing giant robots transforming into everyday things while trying to conquer or defend the Earth. The toys were just as cool as the cartoon if not more so. Thus, when rumors first hit of a live action “Transformers” movie being made, there were a lot of varied reactions.

Some were excited at the prospect of the heroic Autobots and evil Decepticons actually being rendered beside normal human actors. After all, today’s movie-making technology could possibly finally make that scenario a reality. However, there were also those who wondered out loud if their childhood memories might be tainted by Hollywood tampering with these great robotic icons. Producer Steven Spielberg was a popular choice of course, but director Michael Bay left “Transformers” fans with a bit of a bad taste in their mouths. This is of course the same Michael Bay who gave us explosive testosterone-fests like “The Rock” and both “Bad Boys” films… as well as stinkers like “Pearl Harbor”. I’m glad to report that for his version of “Transformers”, Bay redeems himself.

Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) is a geeky guy who finally convinces his dad to buy him a car. With their meager savings, they get a beat-up, used 1978 Camaro. Sam starts noticing strange things about his car (including changing radio stations automatically to set the mood for him) but isn’t prepared when the yellow car actually transforms into a giant robot. Sam then finds himself being hunted by another robot disguised as a police car as he and friend Mikaela (Megan Fox) meet more robots who have been sent to Earth to both protect humans, stop the evil Decepticons, and destroy a cosmic device known as “the Allspark”.

I’ll say it now and I will keep saying it: “Transformers” was very, very, very cool. There is no other way to say it. This is the film I and my fellow fanboys have been waiting over 20 years to see hit the big screen. Bay didn’t overextend himself with the action scenes and the plot actually moves at a fast pace. Actors like LaBeouf, Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Jon Voight, and Anthony Anderson do enough while they are onscreen, but they are keenly aware that the real stars of this film are the Transformers themselves. A big part of what made this film work was getting original Optimus Prime voice actor Peter Cullen to reprise his role. Hearing Cullen’s voice coming from Prime’s ultra-cool CGI-body gave a lot of credibility to the film, and he looked awesome too!

Though I was among those who were apprehensive about Prime as a blue Peterbilt truck with red flames, I was completely swept up in seeing Prime, Megatron, and the rest of the Transformers moving and interacting with each other, as well as the humans. The animation was seamless, and the gears that were constantly in motion made you believe these robots could actually exist and work in this day and age. Though Sam and Prime provide crucial to the story, it is Bumblebee (voiced by Mark Ryan) who steals the movie. Therein lies the secret of Bay, and screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman: they made you care about Bumblebee and his fellow Autobots like they were living, breathing human beings.

The premise of alien robots trying to conquer Earth while having the ability to change into CD players, cellphones, or stealth fighters is really out of this world. However, that’s why the old “Transformers” cartoon and comics worked in the first place. In the realm of science fiction, anything is possible. To finally be able to translate all of what we grew up with to a three-dimensional computer-generated character left me breathless at certain points of the movie. Indeed, when Prime and company first show up and change from their vehicle modes, all I could recall saying was “Cool!”

This film was so cool that it got me to dust off my classic Generation One Optimus Prime toy (actually the Japanese variant known as “Convoy”) from his box and play with one of my favorite childhood toys. I’m even thinking of going out and buying the new version of Optimus Prime being sold at toy stores today! The old toys with the tagline “More than meets the eye” promised us almost two toys for the price of one, so the new ones have to live up to that. If this film is any indication, “Transformers” are going to be a successful film franchise for the foreseeable future, and I couldn’t be happier.