Tranformers One

From the very first frame, the film plunges us at full speed over the imposing towers of Iacon City. The camera then focuses on the central character, Orion Pax, a red Transformer who is secretly consulting archives in a vast library. He is searching for a map that might reveal the location of the Command Matrix, an artifact essential to the survival of his people. His quest, however, is abruptly interrupted by the appearance of guards. Forced to flee, Orion sets off on a frantic race through the city. Only his speed and agility enable him to evade his pursuers, and he finally meets up with his friend D16, who is waiting for him, visibly worried.

The pace doesn't let up for a second, and we're soon transported to the immensity of a stadium in full celebration of Iacon's 5000th birthday. Orion, despite prohibitions, trains D16 to take part in a race, hoping to prove their worth. Their victory earns them punishment, and they are relegated to the basement, among the garbage. It's in this dark place that they meet two other striking characters: Elita, a fearless warrior dressed all in mauve, who doesn't mince her words, and B127, nicknamed “B”, a yellow Transformer with a prankster's wit and a laid-back temperament.

This unlikely encounter creates a welcome interlude in the film's frantic action, adding a touch of humor and emotion. The planet Cybertron itself is magnified through luminous, colorful landscapes. One particular scene, in which metallic gazelles with shiny ears move peacefully about, offers a moment of deceptive tranquility. This apparent peace is soon disrupted by the arrival of the Quintessons, accompanied by a flashback in which Alpha Trion, one of the wise elders, recounts the birth of the events that turned the lives of Cybertron's miners upside down.

The second half of the film is even more intense. One of the Transformers suddenly adopts a darker tone, his eyes turning an icy red. This abrupt change in attitude is intriguing and foreshadows disturbing developments. This change of pace brings unexpected depth to the characters, adding a psychological dimension rare in the Transformers saga.

The film's narrative construction allows novice viewers to dive into this rich universe without having seen the previous episodes. Viewed in Dolby Cinema, the experience is amplified by impressive special effects and an engaging soundtrack. In the auditorium, made up of families and young spectators, attention never wavered; everyone was captivated.

Transformers: The Beginning is an exciting film, punctuated by thrilling action scenes, well-timed flashbacks and high-quality visual effects. The twists and turns in the relationships between the characters, the evolution of their feelings, and the quality of the chases make it an immersive experience. The open-ended ending suggests a promising sequel, but leaves the audience wanting more.

Transformers One
Directed by Josh Cooley
Written by Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferrari
Story by Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferrari
Based on Hasbro's Transformers action figures
Produced by Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Michael Bay, Mark Vahradian, Aaron Dem
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne, Jon Hamm
Cinematography: Christopher Batty
Editing: Lynn Hobson
Music: Brian Tyler
Production companies: Paramount Animation, Hasbro Entertainment, Bayhem Films, New Republic Pictures, Di Bonaventura Pictures
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release dates: September 20, 2024 (U.S.), October 23, 2024 (France)
Running time: 104 minutes

Seen September 18, 2024 at Pathé Beaugrenelle, Dolby Cinéma room

Cookie's Mark:

Transformers: The Beginning (Transformers One) breathes new life into the Transformers franchise with an unexpected but deeply rewarding animated origin story for two of its most iconic characters, Optimus Prime and Megatron. Directed by Josh Cooley and written by Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferrari and Eric Pearson, the film moves away from the chaotic, grandiloquent live-action films directed by Michael Bay and opts for a character-driven narrative that enriches the Cybertron story while delving deep into the emotional heart of the franchise.

Set entirely on the planet Cybertron, the film explores a society divided between those who can transform and those who cannot. Chris Hemsworth stars as Orion Pax, a brainless, enthusiastic young bot who dreams of making something more of himself. Pax works alongside his best friend, D-16, played by Brian Tyree Henry, in the mines of Cybertron, searching for Energon, the planet's dwindling energy source. The film presents these characters not as legendary leaders of opposing factions, but as two miners, bound by friendship and shared aspirations, trapped in a rigid class system that prevents them from realizing their full potential.

The decision to focus on Orion Pax and D-16's early friendship and their rise to become Optimus Prime and Megatron gives Transformers: the Beginning (Transformers One) a refreshing depth. At its core, the film is about the evolution of leadership and the tragic consequences of divergent ideologies. Hemsworth delivers a charming, heartfelt performance as Pax, infusing the character with optimism and a sense of wonder. This youthful, adventurous portrayal is a significant departure from the stoic, battle-hardened Optimus Prime to which fans are accustomed, and allows audiences to see the roots of his transformation into the leader of the Autobots.

On the other side of this emotional spectrum, Brian Tyree Henry plays D-16, the robot who will one day become Megatron. Brian Tyree Henry's performance is imbued with a quiet intensity, as he brings to the character a sense of inner conflict and growing resentment. Unlike Pax, D-16 is more cautious and reserved, reluctant to question the system that has kept him in the mines. His gradual descent into bitterness and anger, as he grapples with the injustices of Cybertron's social hierarchy, is one of the film's most compelling storylines, transforming him from a loyal friend into a formidable adversary. Henry perfectly captures how D-16 ultimately embraces power, and his character arc becomes a reflection on the corrupting nature of ambition and oppression.

The dynamic between Orion Pax and D-16 is the backbone of the film, and their relationship is explored with a surprising amount of nuance. At first, the two are inseparable, supporting each other through the challenges they face as brainless robots. But as Pax's ambition grows, the gulf between them widens. Pax's desire to find the legendary Matrix of Leadership and put his people out of their misery clashes with D-16's conviction that the system is too broken to be repaired. It is this ideological divide that will ultimately drive them apart, setting the stage for the war between Autobots and Decepticons that has defined the Transformers universe for decades.

Josh Cooley's direction is precise and assured, balancing the film's action sequences with quieter, character-driven moments. The decision to animate the film, rather than revert to live action, proves to be a masterstroke. Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) produced breathtaking animation that allows for fluid transformations and action scenes that are both visually coherent and emotional. The transformation sequences, which were often a visual cacophony in Michael Bay's films, are handled here with grace. The robots move with determination and precision, their transformations reflecting their inner struggles and personalities. The attention to detail in the animation is exceptional, from the texture of Cybertron's industrial landscapes to the emotional expressions on the robots' faces.

The world-building in Transformers: The Beginning (Transformers One) is equally impressive. Cybertron is depicted as a dystopian society on the brink of collapse, with its energy reserves almost exhausted and its citizens divided into social classes. The lower-class robots, unable to transform themselves, work in the mines, while the upper-class Transformers enjoy a privileged life. The social commentary is clear, but it's integrated into the story with enough subtlety to never seem heavy-handed. The screenplay cleverly uses this class struggle as a backdrop to the personal journeys of Pax and D-16, making their final confrontation not just a clash between friends, but a battle for the future of their society.

Scarlett Johansson plays Elita-One, a no-nonsense supervisor who oversees Pax and D-16's work in the mines. Scarlett Johansson brings a quick wit and authority to her role, offering a strong female presence in a franchise that has often sidelined its female characters. Elita-One's interactions with Pax and D-16 help anchor their characters, and her own journey from ordinary manager to key player in the rebellion adds a new layer of complexity to the story. Keegan-Michael Key, as B-127 (Bumblebee's precursor), provides much of the film's comic relief, but even his character is deep enough to feel fully realized rather than just a joke machine.

The voices are all excellent, with Jon Hamm bringing a regal arrogance to the role of Sentinel Prime, the ruler of Cybertron, and Laurence Fishburne lending gravitas to Alpha Trion, the wise elder who guides Pax and D-16 on their journey. Steve Buscemi also delivers a remarkable performance as Starscream, adding a layer of treachery and cunning to the iconic Decepticon.

Transformers: The Beginning (Transformers One) is a visual spectacle, but it's also a film that's not afraid to slow down and explore the emotional weight of its characters' decisions. The central theme of friendship torn apart by ambition and ideology is handled with care, and the film gives Pax and D-16 ample space to grow and evolve over the course of the story. The final act, which sees the two friends face off as enemies, is as heartbreaking as it is thrilling. Cooley and his team manage to balance grandiose action sequences with intimate character moments, creating a film that is both epic and deeply personal.

The film's pace is steady, and although some might argue that D-16's descent into infamy happens too quickly, it's the strength of Henry's performance that makes the transition believable. The filmmakers could have spent more time fleshing out D-16's turn into darkness, but the story is so well crafted that these moments of rapid character development don't detract from the overall story. In fact, they serve to heighten the emotional stakes, as the audience is swept up in D-16's growing disillusionment and anger.

Transformers: The Beginning (Transformers One) also succeeds in creating a lighter, more accessible tone than previous installments in the franchise, without sacrificing the emotional core. The humor is well placed, with Key's B-127 providing much-needed levity amid the darker themes of revolution and betrayal. The film is also full of clever references to Transformers mythology, from Elita-One's GoBots joke to the use of the classic tagline “More than meets the eye”, in moments that feel earned rather than forced.

In terms of aesthetics, the film's animation style combines the blocky, toy-like designs of the original G1 series with modern CG animation techniques, giving it a nostalgic yet avant-garde feel. The film's action scenes are fluid and dynamic, with a sense of scale and movement that has often been lost in live-action films. Whether it's the thrilling Iacon 5000 race or the final battle on the surface of Cybertron, Cooley ensures that each action sequence serves the story rather than overwhelming it.

At just over 100 minutes, Transformers: The Beginning (Transformers One) is fast-paced, but never feels rushed. The film covers a lot of ground, from Pax and D-16's days in the mines to their eventual rise to leadership, and while some of the broader themes of class struggle and revolution could have been explored in more detail, the focus remains clearly on the characters and their relationships.
Transformers: The Beginning (Transformers One) succeeds in doing what so many prequels fail to do: it enriches the franchise's mythology while telling a story that stands on its own. By focusing on the emotional journey of its characters rather than the spectacle of giant robot battles, Josh Cooley and his team have created a film that will appeal to long-time fans and newcomers alike. This film reminds us why these characters have endured for decades, and it does so with heart, humor and surprising depth.

In Transformers: The Beginning (Transformers One), there's more than meets the eye. This isn't just a movie about robots in disguise; it's a story about friendship, loyalty and the cost of leadership. It's a story about friendship, loyalty and the cost of leadership, about the choices we make and the paths we take, and how those choices define who we are. For a franchise that has often been criticized for prioritizing spectacle over substance, Transformers: The Beginning (Transformers One) is a welcome return to form - proof that with the right story and characters, Transformers can still surprise us.

Transformers: The Beginning (Transformers One)
Directed by Josh Cooley
Written by Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferrari
Story by Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferrari
Based on Hasbro's Transformers action figures
Produced by Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Michael Bay, Mark Vahradian, Aaron Dem
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne, Jon Hamm
Director of photography: Christopher Batty
Editing: Lynn Hobson
Music: Brian Tyler
Production companies: Paramount Animation, Hasbro Entertainment, Bayhem Films, New Republic Pictures, Di Bonaventura Pictures
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release dates: September 20, 2024 (U.S.), October 23, 2024 (France)
Running time: 104 minutes

Seen on October 13, 2024 at Gaumont Disney Village, Room 5 seat A19

Mulder's Mark: