Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Transformers One’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

The Vocal Talents of Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry as Orion Pax and D-16 in Josh Cooley’s TRANSFORMERS ONE. (Photo Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.)

One particular aspect of storytelling that the Transformers franchise outright excels at, is worldbuilding. Simply because over the course of its illustrious run on film and television, we’ve been treated to incredible stories that flesh out this universe. Wherein we’ve been able to travel to stunning locales and meet amazing new Transformers and learn their stories. Which has made for an enriching experience that truly captivates the imagination and leaves us eager for more. But while that has made for quite the enjoyable ride through the galaxy, it has also… done the franchise a great disservice.

Mainly because, it hasn’t allowed for the franchise to dive deep into its own mythos. For we know little of Cybertron before the Cybertronian Wars, and of course… we know little of how our heroes and our villains chose their respective side. We just know that Optimus Prime is the leader of the Autobots and will do what he must to stop Megatron and the Decepticons. But somewhere along the line, someone noticed this gap in the story and opted to speak up, allowing for at long last… a Transformers story to come to life that looks at how good and evil came to be in this universe in Transformers One.

A feat that this film accomplishes by transporting us to Cyberton, long before sides were formed to introduce us to a pair of hard-working Transformers that are eager for more in life. For Orion Pax and D-16 are best friends, that aren’t happy with just being everyday Energon miners, they want to do something worthwhile and be seen and contribute to a world of that is outright struggling. For Energon, the power source for their species, is in short supply and life is hard for all after a brutal battle, with a brutal enemy. But an impromptu decision to be seen, puts them on an incredible path that will indeed change their lives forever. One that will force them to choose opposing sides courtesy of a shattering truth that has been hidden for far too long. 

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All of which brings forth, an amazing exploration of the mythos and the world that gave life to this franchise in the first place. Wherein we are privy to incredible lessons about the planet’s history, its troubles and more importantly, we learn how the past shaped the future and gave life to Optimus Prime and Megatron, and their two factions, and that leads… to a powerfully tragic tale. One that is steeped in lessons about interpersonal relationships and how hard it is to understand, at any age, that not all of our friends will be our friends forever. Some will come, some will go, and some will indeed become enemies because of differences in ideological beliefs, because we grow apart or because we simply were in each other’s lives for a specific reason in a specific moment. Which is a lovely lesson to find here, one that adds newfound depth to the franchise for certain.
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But while the origin story of the two biggest names and factions in the franchise makes it seem as though this is a vastly different kind of Transformers movie, make no mistake about it… the stuff we love is present here as well. For there is a grand sense of adventure present in this feature, courtesy of the fact that we get to explore Cybertron like never before, and there is plenty of high-stakes action for the hardcore fan as well. In fact, the action sequences are so well thought out and so well executed that you simply cannot take your eyes off the screen, and the wonder of this film doesn’t end with the fact that it is filled to the brim with action and adventure and plenty for us to chew upon when it comes to interpersonal relationships.

For it is also, lighthearted when it needs to be. For there are jokes that break the tension perfectly, and it also features… some stellar voice acting. Thanks in large part to the fact that this film netted some huge names to play some iconic characters, and they really do incredible work here. With Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry leading the charge as Orion Pax and D-16, and they supported by such talents as Scarlett Johansson (Elita-1), Keegan-Michael Key (B-127), and you’ll even hear the talents of Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne and John Hamm in roles we won’t reveal here. Because you need to experience the brilliance of this amazing film, firsthand, and the good news is you don’t have to wait much longer to do so. For Transformers One hits theaters this Friday, and we here at NTG hope you give it a look, for this really is a magnificent entry in this storied franchise.

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