Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' continues this franchise's fine tradition of (mostly) underwhelming me, though to be honest it does match predecessor 'Bumblebee' in at least making its plot more than just robots smashing into each other. I wouldn't file it under 'bad', to be fair. The brotherly bond between the characters of Anthony Ramos and Dean Scott Vazquez is this movie's best element, in my opinion. I found that to be touching, even if the film doesn't utilise it as much as it perhaps could have. Aside from those, Dominique Fishback is the best of the humans. As for the voices, Pete Davidson is good in this as Mirage - I think he might be my 'favourite' robot from this whole series. Davidson is lively in the role, amusing too. Peter Dinklage is a mini positive as well, even though I would've preferred if they didn't alter his usual voice as much. Looks like I am going to have to now watch the 'G.I. Joe' franchise at some point, at least that only has three flicks. Well, for now. I best be quick before they pump them out as quickly as 'Transformers' did.

Quite a while since I watched the last Transformers movie. About five years. I cannot say that I had really high expectations for this one. A Transformers movie is a movie you watch almost entirely for the special effects after all. It is an okayish movie but I have to say that I was less impressed with this one than with the previous ones. It is clearly a movie directed to a somewhat younger audience. Still at times it was a bit cringeworthy. Especially the small “speeches” from Optimus Prime. I know it is a PG-13 movie but I think Hollywood underestimates the intelligence of young adults. But then, given the political bias Hollywood has these days maybe it is not surprising that they expect below average intelligence. Still, there were some cool special effects, a lot of Transformer fights and such like stuff making the movie not feel like a complete waste of time. The story is of course on the thin side and the title of the movie is misleading hyperbole. Yes, the beast Transformers are introduced but I would hardly call it “rise” . Just a few more Transformers stranded on Earth. One thing I didn’t much like was the appearance of Optimus Prime. He looked like a has-been bum with his shabby truck and shabby appearance when not in his truck mode. Optimus Primal was much more cool. As I wrote, overall a watchable movie but nothing really to write home about. Oh, by they way. Remember that useless woke far left tomato site? On the page for the movie the “critical consensus” says “Thanks to some genuine human drama between the set pieces and palpable affection for the title characters, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is one of the franchise’s more enjoyable outings.” and then they put a rotten tomato side by side and claims the movie is rotten. They cannot even get their own bullshit straight .

**Transformers: Rise of the Beasts rescues the franchise from the all-out goofy mess it had become and gives it a fun and promising new beginning.** Transformers: Rise of the Beasts recaptures some of the fun and charm of Bumblebee and the early Transformers films and blends it with the aesthetics and nostalgia of the old 80s cartoon. Rise of the Beasts establishes some decent human leads that aren’t annoying while keeping the focus on the robot conflict. The voice cast was fantastic! Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime will always be the greatest of all time. Peter Dinklage’s Scourge sounds and looks vicious. Ron Perlman, Michelle Yeoh, Pete Davidson, and Cristo Fernández provide solid performances, giving their characters a little fun and even some heart. Rise of the Beasts reels the franchise back in from the outrageous goofiness of the Wahlberg entries but still has a good time recognizing its primary audience is kids and parents who grew up on the cartoon. The intensity and pacing of the first 2 acts are superb! The final act gets a little cheesy and starts to feel generic, but it is no worse than the climax of recent Marvel films. Rise of the Beasts isn’t perfect but it sets the Transformers back on the right path.