Transformers One – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Transformers One – Robots of Friendship / Disguises of Foes: An Origin Tale

As we stand in the present, what is it that makes us … us.  Within our identities, there is a reflective layer that encompasses wonder, hardship and pain.  These steps become a building block for any journey, especially in film.  No matter the genre, if the journey becomes a mirror … then it will become a gratifying escape.  In this review, I look at the latest animated/origin film.  Through the aspect of friendship, we become witness to the reasons behind the fight for Cybertron.  For all that could be said, Transformers One is an amazing journey that is truly more than meets the eye.

This is the story of how two best friends led down different paths, becoming the leaders of the feuding group: Autobots and Decepticons.  Within any story, what will make or break an experience boils down to character and journey.  For a medium like animation, this experience is driven within an additional level of imaginative detail.  With this animated tale, the creative display is put on full force … but it is brought up a notch because of characterization.  In the beginning, we are given a brief history about the origins of Cybertron through the eyes of our main duo, Orion Pax (Voiced: Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Voiced: Brian Tyree Henry).  From here, the story builds through their friendship, a subtle complexion of connection through their lives as mining robots on Cybertron.  After a series of conversational and comical relief moments, specific plot driven elements push the duo into a situation that showcases their prowess of ‘wanting more’ from their current lives.  Through some convenient setups, they eventually discover a map (MacGuffin), that will lead them to the surface and the truth of certain details behind the current social structure (on the planet).  This leads into a quest-like journey, built through a blend of self-reflection and coming-of-age moments.  Through the twisting scenes of circumstance, predictability (of the lore) is driven to the wayside for a strong examination of trust, friendship and personal worth.  It is through these themes that you see the certainty of emotions, creating a genuine line that broadens a singular motive in the concept of leadership.  This ideal provides a building block of motives, driving a fracture in our main characters’ friendship.  As each moment continues to build that wedge, the endearment of philosophies develops further into a branch of opposition to a common goal.  For all clichés that are relative on the surface (of the lore), it is characterized tales like this that showcase how genuine depth, and complexity can be brought through creativity of animation. 

As things continue to unravel through their common goal (saving Cybertron), it foreshadows a certainty of new things within the fracture of old ties.  Within the obvious truths, it is the leveling of emotional worth that drives you to feel empathy for Orion’s cause, but an understanding of the animosity D-16 has for certain revelations of the current social structure.  When Orion and D-16 make their stand, it leads to a third act of emotional moments that build towards what everyone knows about Transformers (in the present).  Transformers One is an animated film that provides unique depth to the typical origin tale.  If you are fans of the IP, animated or character driven films, this is one for you.  There is a lot of fun here, definitely worth the full price of admission.  

Full Score – 4 out of 5 (Full Price)