Transformers One

The first theatrical film in the franchise since the first one in 1986, Transformers One is separate from the live action films since 2007 and tells an original story of how Optimus Prime and Megatron became who they are. While Michael Bay still serves a producer, the feel and tone are absolutely different from the previous entries that came before. The animation from Industrial Light & Magic is incredible, especially with its mix of modern and Generation 1 era character design from when the franchise first started. Director Josh Cooley puts together a well crafted and thoroughly enjoyable love letter to the origins of these characters. The script is put together thanks to Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer, and Gabriel Ferrari who manage to take an overdone franchise and give writing that makes the now 40 year old characters seem fresh, an often untold aspect of the franchise's mythology an epic take, and manages to know when drama and comedy should be well placed. But the biggest praise to their writing definitely goes to Megatron as so much of his fall to evil is so complex and very mature in ways no one would have expected from an animated family film. It wasn't just the writing though, as without Brian Tyree Henry's performance then it wouldn't have worked as well. He makes the role his own, while adding certain inflections from Frank Welker's original as the movie goes. The same goes for Chris Hemsworth as Optimus, who manages to grab that special charm that Peter Cullen is best known for. While the rest of the cast, including Jon Hamm, Scarlett Johansson, and Keegan-Michael Key all give great supporting performances. While the live action films can often be fun, Transformers One easily outshines all of them and needs to be seen as a step in the right direction for the franchise. Over all: 100%

2024 top list so far:

1. Dune: Part 2

2. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

3. Deadpool & Wolverine

4. Transformers One

5. A Quiet Place: Day One

6. Inside Out 2

7. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

8. The Fall Guy

9. MaXXXine

10. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

11. Abigail

12. Monkey Man

13. Late Night with the Devil

14. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

15. Alien: Romulus

16. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

17. The Book of Clarence

18. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

19. Drive-Away Dolls

20. Kung Fu Panda 4

21. Lisa Frankenstein

22. Argylle

23. Mean Girls 2024