Transformers Beast Machines - The Complete Series
The animated adventures of theTransformerstook a dramatic turn with the 1999-2000 seriesBeast Machines; the complete series set, which compiles all 26 episodes of its two seasons, will give fans either a chance to re-examine this controversial series, or more fuel for their particular likes or dislikes.Beast Machinespicks up where the previous (and well-liked)Transformersseries,Beast Wars, left off, with Optimus Primal and the remaining Maximal team returning to their home planet of Cybertron, and still in their animal forms. There they discover that the planet is without power, and a race of drone machines known as the Vehicons on the prowl for the surviving heroes. Optimus consults with the super computer Oracle, who reveals that Predacon villain Megatron is behind the power loss and the Vehicons, and is using two re-wired Maximals to uncover the Key to Vector Sigma, the mega-computer that gave life ("sparks") to robots, and destroy the Maximals by transforming organic matter into "technomatter." What follows is an epic (and often convoluted) struggle between the forces of Megatron and Optimus that, as withBeast Wars, frequently touches on decidedly mature subjects as spirituality and racial identity. However, the liberties taken with the depiction of many of the characters, as well as the somewhat downbeat ending (which were in part the sources of much division among fans during its broadcast) may turn off those who particularly enjoyedBeast Warsor carry fond memories of the original animated series, from which this is far afield. The four-disc set includes commentaries on three episodes, one with story editor Robert N. Skir and legendary Marvel Comics artist Marv Wolfman, who helped developBeast Machines, and two with Skir and writer Steven Melching; Skir and Wolfman are also featured in separate interviews, as are voice director Susan Blu and voice actor David Kaye (who essays Megatron).--Paul Gaita