283. Transformers - Rise Of The Beasts; movie review

 

TRANSFORMERS - RISE OF THE BEASTS

Cert 12A

127 mins

BBFC advice: Contains moderate action violence, threat, language

In 2011, I wrote: "Originality in Hollywood has yielded to the need for bucks. I can't abide the thought of Transformers 4."

Twelve years later, the franchise has become more unstoppable than Unicron, having raked in £5.2bn at the box office.

No surprise, therefore, that the eighth in the series will be in cinemas in the summer of 2024.

Indeed, Steven Caple Jr.'s Transformers Rise Of The Beasts set it up.

The franchise will continue so long as it makes its studio the $200m+ box office profits this film did.

I have been critical of the direction of cinema, but I have to concede that movies such as this help it survive because they give younger audiences what they want - loud, explosive special effects.

They will also be happy with the storyline as long as there are no continuity mistakes with the history of Autobots, Maximals and Terrorcons.

In this latest version, set in 1994, the planet-eater Omnicron, leader of the Terrorcons, is gearing up to devour the earth and bring an end to humanity.

However, he needs an artefact known as the transwarp key to make it possible.

Thousands of years ago, people-loving transformers hid the key to keep humanity safe.

However, the threat returns when a museum intern and artefact researcher (Dominique Fishback)  found half of it.

Thus, a terrible train of events is set in motion.

Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) calls on the Autobots to avoid disaster, while a former army electronics expert (Anthony Ramos) is reluctantly roped in.

But forget about all of that - this is a movie in which cars, vans and planes turn into metal giants and vice-versa.

And they are trying to save the world against other more powerful metal giants.

The humans are only making up the numbers - added to the mix for a bit of fun.

It is typically noisy and unsubtle, but fans of Transformer movies will not care a jot.

That's why it has made such a lot of money.

Reasons to watch: If you are a fan of the franchise

Reasons to avoid: Huge slice of deja vu

Laughs: None

Jumps: One

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 6/10

Did you know? During filming in Peru, a Peruvian child showed his Transformers drawings to director Steven Caple Jr., and in response, Caple invited him to the premiere and paid to renovate his school's roof.

The final word. Steven Caple jr.: "I grew up watching the Autobots and the Maximals. So, I was super excited to be a part of this franchise, leave a stamp on the legacy, but at the same time bring the Maximals to life on the big screen in live action." Showcase Cinemas

Lokasi: Beeston, Nottingham NG9, UK

Berbagi :