On the 40th year anniversary of the airing of the first ever Transformers series episode, it’s only fitting that the popular Hasbro creation has gone back to its roots. It’s not totally new for a film franchise to execute this, but at some point after decades, you just feel that some cycles have to restart anew.

I’ll be the one to admit that my prior knowledge about Transformers is quite limited. That’s even though I am a millennial. I’m no match for those who have absorbed the original series, comics, and more related content.

I am well aware of the general Autobots-versus-Decepticons narrative. I also the some of the biggest characters in the grand scheme of things. And yes, I’ve seen the previous big screen installments —  including five Bayformers movies — which didn’t really do any good in expanding that knowledge database of mine.

So it’s refreshing to finally see a well-written, well-formulated origin story that solves all the loose ends (at least from my perspective) and kind of complements what I already know as a casual, while also getting me giddy excited for what’s about to come.

Yes, Josh Cooley and everyone behind Transformers One were able to be that impactful.

⚠️ Warning: Some spoilers ahead! ⚠️

A Transformers movie about… well, the Transformers

© Paramount Pictures International

While we did get faint mentions of Cybertron’s origins in some of the previous Michael Bay movies, as well as the war that had transpired there in the 1980s (in the big screen continuity) before the Autobots sought refuge on earth, there were just so many loose ends.

The two Mark Wahlberg films, in particular, made it even more confusing for me even if it also mentioned something about the original 12 Primes.

We got a lot more information about Cybertron from the Bumblebee franchise reboot, but it was still limited to the war that had transpired in that world.

It’s just so great to see a Transformers film that revolved around the transformers themselves. No humans. No military (and intelligence) personnel. Not even unnecessary sexual elements. Just good plain transformable robots. It wasn’t even a few minutes into the film when we saw the first transformations to keep us engaged.

That said, it’s quite understandable why there were human-centric narratives in the films that preceded, simply because of the status quo wherein transformers have already been coexisting with humans on Earth.

But still. In Transformers One, we got to know Orion Pax, D-16, B-127, and Elita One in-depth and who they used to be before all the other films.

Well-woven story of origin stories

© Paramount Pictures International

What’s great about Transformers One is that it also interlaced Megatron’s own villain origin story within the bigger plot of Cybertron’s dark secrets and the transformers’ more general origin story. In fact, it looked more of a web of origin stories rather than just one.

We saw how D-16 turned into the sinister, revenge-thirsty Megatron persona that he is after being lied to all these years by who he thought was a role model.

Meanwhile, Orion Pax’s transformation (pun intended) to Optimus Prime was also highlighted towards the end.

Sure, there was some exposition from Laurence Fishburne’s Alpha Trion, but the film’s creators made sure to limit that so that it didn’t take up too long of the screen time. It was forgivable and wasn’t too “explanatory”.

Can we talk about the voice cast for a moment?

Chris Hemsworth is no Peter Cullen, and never will be. But he was able to give Optimus Prime a distinctive voice that’s authoritative and commanding in a good way.

So much so that towards the end, when Prime was already giving his usual goosebumps-inducing speech, it didn’t even feel like it was the Thor actor providing the voice for the franchise protagonist. Instead, it was just Prime being Prime.

Ditto with Brian Henry’s Megatron. Of course, we’ve seen him do the last two Legendary films involving Godzilla and Kong as more of a funnier guy to complement the main actors.

His role in Transformers One was just as impressive. He gave life and personality to D-16/Megatron, especially after the heel turn once he found out he (and the whole of Iacon) was only betrayed by Sentinel Prime.

Keegan-Michael Key, of course, was his entertaining and goofy self as B-127, providing a balance to the chemistry. Naturally, Black Widow star Scarlett Johansson gave authority too to Elita One.

Detailed

Ultimately, the various movie elements were fused together with solid screenplay. I loved how detailed it got, with references to everything about the Hasbro line to the origin of the Autobots and Decepticons’ respective battle cries.

There was even that one specific dialogue that referenced Keegan-Michael Key’s “Substitute Teacher” skit from Key and Peele.

Quite frankly, I’m amazed how the puzzle pieces just fit nicely as the movie progressed. The film made sure to cover everything.

One by one, the masterpiece was able to touch on how the cogs were taken away from the residents of Iacon, to how talkative B-127 was while serving as a worker of the lowest possible class.

Honestly, I’d lose my mind too and just start talking a lot. But it also reminds us of the stark contrast between this B-127 and the Bumblebee that came to Earth who eventually became mute.

Even how Starscream got his distorted voice from a Megatron chokehold was something I didn’t know prior. He also apparently led his bandit group as a third side in the film, before becoming subordinates to Megatron in future stories along with Soundwave and Shockwave.

© Paramount Pictures International

Well-written

But what’s great about all these is that they weren’t just introduced in random spurts throughout the film. There was an appropriate order, and they were all still glued to the main plot. Considering how much details were incorporated; I was impressed as it didn’t need to get too expository.

Towards the end, Orion Pax became Optimus Prime, being handed the Matrix of Leadership by the original Primes for his sacrifice. Optimus and his group renamed themselves as the Autobots, having the power not only to transform but to also be autonomous and make their own decisions.

On the other hand, Megatron was banished from society. That’s in spite of what he felt was a heroic deed by standing up against Sentinel Prime. These events irked him even more. Eventually, the Decepticons were born, with the mission to “rise up” against what they felt was a deceptive brand of leadership from Optimus.

Now, a revolt-against-the-tyrant narrative isn’t something we haven’t seen before from other franchises, but aids in telling the characters’ individual origin stories.

No Linkin Park song, sadly

As expected, this movie also didn’t have a Linkin Park song unlike the distinctive credit scenes from the previous Michael Bay offerings.

However, this element from those movies was something I would have wanted retained here. Linkin Park’s new song, “The Emptiness Machine” actually encapsulates the betrayal. Just peep this excerpt from the lyrics:

Let you cut me open just to watch me bleed
Gave up who I am for who you wanted me to be
Don’t know why I’m hopin’ for what I won’t receive
Fallin’ for the promise of the emptiness machine
The emptiness machine (I only wanted to be part of something)

Of course, Sentinel Prime misled Iacon, especially the miners, into thinking he was a role model. Yet in the end, the “leader” turned out to be a fake, only spewing false promises while being a sellout for the Quintessons.

And Megatron was among those who fell for that scheme and took it to heart. It’s unfortunate, because if you think about it, he did just want to be part of something.

But I know the movie was already in production prior to the release of this song. It would have been difficult to have it added in the last minute.

Hopefully, if there is a next installment, it can complement the dejected Megatron’s vengeful quest. Because we all know that’s where we’re headed, right?

Prequel trilogy in the making?

© Paramount Pictures International

It’s exciting times for the Transformers franchise as far as its big screen presence is concerned. Transformers One could well set up a prequel trilogy in the making.

The movie itself already revealed hints. None of which was bigger than the end-credits scene where Megatron is staging a revolt of his own against the now leader of Cybertron.

There could be a transition film as well that may focus on Elita One as well. The resolution also showed Scarlett Johansson’s character becoming Optimus’ deputy. But from what I’ve read, she’s also his love interest.

Neither did she have prior big screen presence. So, it would be interesting to see if the next film would revolve around her, before the imminent war on Cybertron.

Your Cinematch?

Let’s just pull up our managing editor’s Watch scale:

• Watch ASAP
• Watch at your convenience
• Wait for crowd/ hype to trickle down
• Wait on streaming
• Skip

Transformers One isn’t just a prequel about Cybertron’s pre-war state. What we saw on the trailers before the film came out was just the tip of the iceberg. I’m saying it’s at least a Watch at your convenience movie for casuals and Watch ASAP for those who are really into Hasbro’s iconic toys.

The movie took us for a ride — from the depths of Iacon to the surface. It truly walks the “more than meets the eye” talk. There’s Optimus Prime and how always viewed things from a larger scale.  There’s also the dark origin to Megatron’s villain story. And there’s everyone else around them who played a part.

I left the cinema knowing more about the entire saga than when I entered, and despite all the prior films I’ve watched.

And yet, Transformers One isn’t just about the two ex-best friends’ story either. In its entirety, the film gives us what we need to know and keeps us glued for what’s about to come.