Review: TRANSFORMERS ONE Was a Lot Better Than I Expected It to Be

This weekend, I managed to catch one of those early fan screenings of Transformers: One, and I have to admit, I went into it with pretty low expectations. Nothing from the trailers really hooked me.

I didn’t really care for the cartoony animation style, the comedic tone didn't sit right, and it just didn’t feel like the Transformers I grew up with. But, with all the amazingly positive reviews swirling around, my curiosity got the better of me.

I didn’t actually think it would live up to the hype, especially with people calling it the best Transformers movie ever. And while I don’t think it holds that title, it definitely exceeded my expectations in ways I didn’t see coming.

As a huge fan of the original animated series and especially Transformers: The Movie from the '80s, I hold those close to my heart. To me, nothing has topped that era of Transformers awesomeness. So, naturally, I was comparing this film to that. From a purely nostalgic perspective, the original movie is still king. But Transformers: One brings something fresh to the table that surprised me.

There were some amusing observations I wanted to make. For one, why are robots breathing heavily after running? Robots don’t have lungs, so I couldn’t help but find that a bit silly. And there were moments where robots were sleeping, which seemed odd—again, machines don’t need to sleep!

Some of the dialogue, clearly meant to pay homage to other Transformers projects, felt a bit forced and made me roll my eyes. Then there’s the overly comedic tone. It wasn’t my favorite choice for the film and took some time for me to adjust to, but I eventually just rolled with it.

The first half of the movie was honestly a bit of a struggle for me. I wasn’t fully engaged, and I found myself questioning whether I was even going to end up liking the film. But things took a sharp turn in the second half.

Suddenly, the story began to pick up speed, and by the time we hit the third act, I was fully invested. That’s where the film really shifted into high gear. The stakes were higher, the action ramped up, and I finally found myself connecting with what was happening on screen. By the end, I was genuinely surprised by how intense things got.

The final act, in particular, was unexpectedly hardcore. Up until then, I’d been thinking, “Okay, this is a fun, light-hearted movie for kids.” But the way the third act played out had me thinking, “Wow, this is actually hitting some pretty heavy notes.” I wasn’t the only one feeling it either—the audience in the theater was cheering by the time the credits rolled.

The story itself is one of the film’s strongest elements. It takes classic characters, reimagines them, and gives them depth in ways I didn’t expect. It’s an origin story about how Orion Pax and D-16 go from being brothers-in-arms to becoming Optimus Prime and Megatron.

The film really leans into the tragic nature of their friendship, and there’s this underlying tension throughout, knowing that things are going to fall apart.

The character development here is solid. You can see the effort put into making these versions of the characters connect with both longtime fans and newcomers.

My personal favorite? Bumblebee. He stole the show for me. Every scene he was in brought a certain charm and energy that was impossible to ignore. He’s not just comic relief, he’s got heart, and he’s kind of a badass, and that’s what makes him stand out.

Director Josh Cooley did a great job in terms of scale and adventure. The action sequences were big and bombastic, just as you’d expect from a Transformers movie, but they were also balanced with quieter, more emotional moments that hit hard, especially toward the end.

The voice cast was impressive too. Chris Hemsworth as Optimus, Brian Tyree Henry as Megatron, and Scarlett Johansson as Elita-1 all brought their A-game. But I do have one nitpick—Peter Cullen should’ve voiced Optimus Prime.

I get that they wanted a younger version of the character, but let’s be real, robots don’t hit puberty. Optimus should’ve had that iconic Peter Cullen voice.

All in all, Transformers: One is a good movie. It’s got its flaws, but it’s also got a lot going for it, especially in the second half. If you’re a fan of the franchise, it’s definitely worth watching on the big screen.

It may not be the best Transformers movie ever, but it’s certainly one of the better ones, and it’s a fun ride for both kids and adults alike.