During the 1980s, one cartoon series ruled the airwaves... The Transformers. This paragon of consumerism was created with a dual purpose: to entertain and to galvanize children to buy the toys. Somewhere along the line, the show became a cult favorite, so in 1986 they fashioned an epic tale of good versus evil specifically for the big screen. The result looked vaguely like an animated remake of Star Wars. Who are the Transformers? The good guys are the Autobots: Optimus Prime, SoundWave, Jazz, Ultra Magnus, and many more. Their mortal enemies are the evil Decepticons,... led by Megatron and StarScream. The Autobots must save their home planet from an evil entity known as Unicron (voiced by Orson Welles). At the same time, they must defend themselves from an all-out attack from the Decepticons. Along the way, lives are lost, battles are fought, and a new Autobot leader is born as another dies. The story and action never stop in a thrilling ride that often makes you forget that you're watching an '80s cartoon with inferior graphics. The violence will also come as a mild shock to those who haven't seen this film for a while--definitely a movie for the 8 and over audience. For those who grew up on this series, this is a movie that must be watched. Unlike cartoon serials before and after, The Transformers relied on solid stories and interesting characters, a manifesto the film itself upholds with gusto and grace while also being morally responsible. Don't underestimate this movie; there is definitely more to it than meets the eye. --Jeremy Storey, Amazon.com [show more]
Swings and roundabouts they say: It only seems like yesterday that Transformers were consigned to the scrap heap of popular culture, but lo and behold; those robots in disguise are back with a vengeance. 'Transformers: The Movie' was a pivotal point for the cartoon saga, released in 1986, it tanked at the box office after traumatising young fans (though your reviewer loved every minute) with its high body-count and onscreen deaths of popular characters. Its unexpected failure following a media backlash, also thwarted the theatrical release of 'GI Joe: The Movie' (another good film) but in spite of a lot of bad press, 'Transformers: The Movie' went onto become a cult classic on VHS and now, at long last, gets a decent DVD release. Much has been made of the Optimum 2-disc SE tin (which also serves to plug Michael Bay's live-action film), personally, I think that version is somewhat of a cynical, self-important cash-in whilst this 'Re-Constructed' edition has plenty of good extras and retains that all important sense of fun which made the 80s cartoon so popular; even the box is a colourful blue, as opposed to the humourless, corporate greys of the 2-disc tin.
Its 2005 (which seemed like a lifetime away in 1986) and heroic Autobots, led by the Yasir Arafat of Transformers: Optimus Prime, prepare an audacious attack behind enemy lines in the civil war for their homeland Cybertron. The Deceptacons, however, infiltrate Autobot HQ (via Soundwave and Ravage) to launch a devastating, pre-emptive air strike over Autobot city on Earth. After one of the fiercest, and deadliest, battles in Transformers history (and believe me, I misspent my youth staging some with toys), things change forever, and new leaders must rise from within to take up the struggle. 'Transformers' as a concept; is, in all honesty; ridiculous, for its only by admitting to its absurdity that we can still enjoy it on those long, and worryingly frequent, trips down memory lane. Deceptacon leader Megatron makes more of an impact here than he ever did in the series; for this robot (in disguise) killed Prime, Starscream, Centurion, Ironhide, Ultra Magnus, Brawn and any other Transformer whose toys weren't selling. Many of them were resurrected or repaired, but that's beside the point, for Megatron is guilty of being the first corporate war criminal in animation history: "such foolish sentimentality". Featuring a host of celebrity voices, including the late/great Orson Welles in his last role (playing, appropriately enough, an unstoppable colossus called Unicron), Leonard Nimoy provides vocals for Galvatron whilst 'The Breakfast Club's' Judd Nelson voices our hero Hot Rod / Rodimus Prime with animation legends Casey Kasim & Scatman Crothers on board as Cliffjumper & Jazz. Great film, as good as the live action, and in many ways; a lot better. Autobots: roll out.
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