Long time fans of Transformers can forget about Michael Bay changing everything that’s beloved from the original cartoon series. Instead, it’s Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari who can take the blame on everything that is wrong in Transformers One, rather than director Josh Cooley. When he can write and win an award for Inside Out, he can craft imaginative worlds. But as for getting actors and talent pools to give their all, that part of the film is at least done right. Since he’s not responsible for the story, that’s when things go wrong.
It seems the writers room knows nothing about what makes past takes of this IP, namely Generation One and Prime, great. Bearing in mind this animated take is supposed to be a loose prequel to the live-action movies–and said to eventually morph the voices we hear now to the infamous duo of Peter Cullen and Frank Welker–I suppose some liberties can be allowed. This origin story takes place before the Autobots and Decepticons became a faction. Their war hasn’t even started.
Technically, that history was presented in an excellent trilogy by Alex Irvine and I’ll reiterate this fact time and time again! He improved upon what was established instead of changing a lot of things around. Sadly, this film retcons everything that I believe is sacred. Orion Pax is no longer a clerk/librarian. D-16 (Megatron) never fought in the gladiatorial pits. They are now miners (with Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry as the ‘new’ voices) who get bored with their role, want to figure out where they came from, and understand who the Primes are. Their interest in the Matrix of Leadership sort of drives the story, as only one can possess it, and I feel that’s the reason for their rift.
While the idea of rebelling against the establishment is retconned to saying Sentinel Prime is evil. They learn that he’s been trading their precious energon resources to the mysterious Quintessons. Somehow, in their deal, the people of Cybertron lost their ability to transform. That’s odd, because in the original cartoon series, they developed the skill of subterfuge so that the factions can spy upon one another. Kids won’t necessarily care about these details as this brand new mythology is changing why this world even exists. All the political wrongness that defined my generation’s love for the series is deleted for the sake of who has the better approach to beat someone up, and change the ruling class!
And as for how Orion becomes a Prime, it’s all for different reasons than previously known! D’s fall from grace is because he believes might makes right, and he’s willing to hurt fellow Cybertronians and other creatures to prove a point. An issue with this film really concerns how one was fluent with diplomacy. Through compassion and attribution, he was able to convince the council in how to make the world a better place whereas Megatron thinks like Putin, and it’s best to blow things up.
Another issue concerns Starscream and Shockwave. Their involvement in the formation of a rebellious faction is very underutilised. Although the Decepticons have yet to be formed in Transformers One, their insignia is there! As for who is willing to ally with whom, it seems they’re not even sure if D-16 should be forced to join them! With new faces involved in this animated film, nothing fans know prior is sacred. At least there’s the IDW comics to keep the origin story consistent. As for this work to change everything long time fans know of the lore, that is not prime.
2 Stars out of 5
Transformers One Movie Trailer
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