Product: The Transformers - The Movie (1986)
Rating: 4.0
Probably the most sober review here- a worthwhile film
`The Transformers' were, as the reader will no doubt already be aware, a brand of toy, comic and television show. A big success with children, as such things normally are, a film was produced. That is a little bit of background to what you are looking at.To try and be helpful, the Movie is anime style- the Japanese animation style (the animation was all completed in Japan) which many people rate as the best for action cartoons- it provides fluid motion and relatively high quality animation without going into over-detail in specific scenes.It has many famous voices, who have been cast as new characters not before seen in the television show, but does not lose any of the old voices; keeping Frank Welker as the lead bad-guy and Peter Cullen as the heroic leader of the good-guys. The film also combines what I would define as a heavy metal soundtrack, although most people refer to it as being rock. That is very much a question of opinion- but the soundtrack would appeal to people who like maybe Pink Floyd, or other mainly synthesised music tracks. In my opinion the music is very good, and very well matches the fluid motion of the animation.The plot is often referred to as being a direct take-off of `Return of the Jedi'. To this I can only say that I have seen both films more than a couple of times, and I honestly could not say I noticed more than a very very generic similarity- to put it bluntly if the Transformers Movie is similar to Return of the Jedi, then one should also say that `The Thin Red Line' is a direct rip-off of `Apocalypse Now'. If it were otherwise, I would tell you.Like many films, the plot has elements which are similar to other films, but it mainly comprises features all of its own.The plot is centred around the waging warrior factions of Autobots and Decepticons, led respectively by Optimus Prime and Megatron. After millions of years fighting on their home world, these gigantic robotic behemoths crash land on Earth. The movie picks up in the year 2005, when the evil Decepticons have control of the Transformer homeworld, Cybertron, but the brave Autobots continue to protect both Earth and Cybertron's moon system. From there on in the film makes sense, but it is only fair to give the reader this little grounding or the film will not make much sense to begin with.Yes it is fair to say that the film's dialogue is somewhat loose- but one can make that criticism of films which are much more acclaimed than `The Transformers Movie'- including Snow White and Star Wars to name but two. However, there are some great lines delivered well by numerous characters.The film succeeds in making the viewer attach his or herself to at least one of the characters. As the major purpose of the entire Transformers spectrum was to encourage toy sales there are many characters, however only about ten are given any noticeable airtime in this film. In that respect it works like most other films- giving the viewer a `crew' of good-guys and bad guys. The characters are given all well developed personalities, a difference between the toy crazes of then and now, and the viewer will soon identify with at least a few of the characters.It is very much a `boys' stereotype film, with lots of shooting and explosions- but that should not deter the reader from giving the film a try. Before you buy it,maybe borrow it from someone. Do try to bear in mind when you watch it that you are watching a kid's film (a somewhat violent kids film, but still a kids film) so do not expect what kid's films do not deliver. Try to watch it with an open mind and remember that it is a film and that it is just a bit of entertainment- if you sit there tearing the film into little pieces saying to yourself `how can a robot X size change into something which is Z size?' you have very much lost the plot. Just enjoy it- the film is a fast moving roller-coaster of anime, the best style for the forte of the film with appropriate music and a world-beating plot. If you grew up with the Transformers, you do not really need to read this, if you did not then give the film a go- what's the worst that could happen? In either case do remember that it is a kiddies film and don't take it too seriously, but bear that in mind and there is no reason why this film should not entertain you as it has done millions of others over the world.Characters of note: Orson Welles (`Citizen Kane'): Unicron, Eric Idle (`Monty Python'): Wreck-Garr, Lionel Stander (`Heart to Heart'): Kup, Judd Nelson: Hot Rod, Leonard Nimoy (`Star Trek'): Galvatron, Robert Stack (`The Untouchables'): Ultra Magnus, Peter Cullen: Optimus Prime, Ironhide, Frank Welker (`The X-Files', cartoons and much more): Megatron, Soundwave.NB- Apparently the DVD version does not contain widescreen (according to the produces, Rhino) but as a piece of advice, possibly wait until a review is written AFTER the release of the DVD, you never know; perhaps Rhino are secretly making it widescreen after all. The DVD does contain, however Dolby 5.1 cjnema surround audio, uncut scenes and storyboards, an interview with the incidental music writer, Vince DiCola and possibly other features.