Product: The Transformers - The Movie (1986)
Rating: 5.0
transformers animated movie in HD
We probably all know how much this animated movie rocks by now. The pathos, the drama, the transforming robots! They are all here just like you remember them, from Unicron to Prime.So the question is, is the HD transfer worth it?In my opinion, the answer is a resounding yes.But as with anything HD it always depends on your equipment and your expectations. We all know by now that Blu-ray is the only way to get 1080P, which is "true" HD. But you only really need this much resolution if you are going for the big format displays (44" or above). Other than that you are fine with 720 probably or even DVD which is around 480. But if you are planning to watch this movie in a larger-format TV that brings the experience closer to an actual film viewing, you want to go with the highest format available, which is blu-ray right now.Actually, there is no 720p (HD-DVD) release of this movie as far as I know. There is only the DVD release. Which is fine for most instances.But if you are a devoted Transformers fan, which I am, you are probably interested in seeing this film in the best possible format possible. There are significant gains to watching this on Blu-ray as compared to DVD. I have watched both on my Samsung 50" LCD and at a friend's house on a Plasma 50" and the Blu-ray looks significantly better at the large format, which is to be expected. There is just more data on the Blu-ray disc which makes for a better, clearer picture. Upscaling the DVD helps but still does not compare to the Blu-ray.Regarding the Blu-ray Transfer:This is a very good blu-ray transfer, especially considering how old the material is (This movie was released in 1986). The spot colours in the animation look great. The only problem with it is the scratches on the source material which are very difficult to remove anyway but as most of the film is in space you can't really see it anyway. These are not problems that can be easily resolved until someone plunks down significant money to pay for an in-depth digital "restoration" rather than just a transfer. If someone wants to start a petition to get this done feel free to let me know, I will sign on! But it is unrealistic to expect a perfect transfer from such an old original at this point unless expensive digital magic is applied. Like I said, I am all for it, this movie deserves restoration. Let's just be glad we can watch this movie in HD at all, right now.Extras: PoorThere are no extras on this set. I am not going to remove a star for this as I do not see it as an issue. If you already own the DVD you can just watch them there. There was a Blu-ray release with the extras, but it was for Region 4 only (Australia). So unless your DVD player is aussie you are outta luck mate : ) Which brings us to the next point...Unavailable Release in North America:This All-Regions version is the ONLY Blu-ray or HD release of this movie which can be watched in NA at all. Why is that? I have heard that a certain company owns the rights and is not re-releasing the movie so as not to compete with a certain big budget blockbuster, but that is just a rumor. Anyway, there is no other way to watch this movie in HD in the US. This is it. But the good part is that it is decent and All-regions so you can watch it on any Blu-ray player in the world. Just check your firmware and keep it updated. This disc is getting rare these days so I wouldn't wait too long if you are interested in a copy.Some general background info:The Transformers - The Movie was released in North America on August 8, 1986. The film was directed by Nelson Shin, who produced the original Transformers television series, and features the voices of Eric Idle, Judd Nelson, Leonard Nimoy, Casey Kasem, Robert Stack, John Moschitta, Jr., Peter Cullen and Frank Welker. It was also the final role for both Orson Welles[1] and Scatman Crothers. The story takes place in 2005, 20 years after the events of the TV series' second season and is a bridge to the third season.This was the tagline: "Beyond Good. Beyond Evil. Beyond Your Wildest Imagination." Classic : )Anyway, if you are a hard-core fan of Transformers then this is the best (and ONLY) way to watch the movie in true HD. The DVD is fine for most, but if you ever wore autobots underoos or still have haunting visions about the ominous voice of Unicron in your dreams you might have to go for this one : ) Cheers.