Transformers: The Movie Review

MPAA Rating: PG
Released: 1986

The Transformers cartoon series and toy lines were immensely popular during the 80's, so it wasn't surprising when like most successful children's franchises of that time (i.e., He-Man, G.I. Joe, Care Bears) a feature length film was created to further promote the franchise. What was surprising was the no-holds barred manner in which the film was crafted. Although the Transformers cartoon series was always a bit darker than the mindless action of the G.I. Joe series (where no one was ever shot!), the movie was downright morbid in comparison, resulting in a box office failure. But was the movie unfairly criticized? Read on to find out…

Although it's not uncommon these days for toy or product lines to be crafted in order to capitalize on the popularity of various cartoons or television shows (i.e., The Simpson's), never was the synergy between cartoon and product lines as powerful as it was during the 80's. Kids would be glued to the television sets anytime shows like G.I. Joe or the Transformers were on, and when the cartoons were over they would quickly run to their private collections and play with the action figures.

Yes, it was good to be a kid in the 80's… as well as a marketer. You see, marketers knew exactly how to promote new action figures or product releases: give the newcomers appearances in the popular cartoon series! Few can deny that the cartoons were, for all practical purposes, 30-minute advertisements for the toy lines, but it didn't matter because the cartoons were actually remarkably well crafted and entertaining.

Anyways, I digress from the true purpose of this review: the Transformers movie itself! Before the movie was released the franchise had seen immense success in both toy sales and the cartoon popularity. Two seasons of the cartoon had gone by, and with the introduction of new Autobots and Decepticons pending it was decided that a movie would make the perfect launching point / promo for the new additions.

It was certainly a good idea, but the creators incorporated it in a very controversial manner. Not content to depict another casualty-free battle between the evil oppressors and the honorable Autobots, the movie went all out by killing many of the older characters that children watched and loved over the two seasons of the cartoon. Over a dozen, in fact!

You have to give the writers credit for such a brassy move, because introducing new characters is one thing; killing off a boatload of old favorites is another. The calculated risk failed insofar as box office standards; the somewhat depressing storyline and constant exposure to death was a bit too much for some parents and young children to handle, so interest never really caught on within the theaters.

Yet Transformers: The Movie lives on in the hearts of fans, and has probably held up better over the years than many childhood favorites due to its more mature handling of the robotic wars. Although the movie is acceptable for children (it is a PG, after all), older viewers that grew up with this series (or who enjoy animated cartoons about transforming robots) will also find a lot to appreciate.

Although one doesn't need to be familiar with the series and the participants to watch this film, such background knowledge will prove handy to possess. Characters are introduced and abandoned at a rapid fire pace, while the storyline rockets through a multitude of exciting battles in a frenetic fashion. There is absolutely no downtime with this film; it's pure action from start to finish.

Such a pace makes it very enjoyable for those in the mood for some wild action, but it also leaves little room for character building or plot exposition. The movie is content to let you know the Autobots are the good guys and the Decepticons are the bad guys before tossing you right into the meat of the storyline.

Transformers: The Movie will likely appeal mostly to those who grew up with the film. Nostalgia is powerful, and luckily this film doesn't let you down or make you wonder why the hell you actually enjoyed it as a kid.

But unlike some movies and franchises of the time, the Transformers has retained a strong following in the 90's and 2000's, even seeing the release of new Transformers series that ran from 1996 to 2001: Beast Wars: Transformers and Beast Machines: Transformers. As such, Transformers: The Movie will also appeal to those who grew up with the latter series and would like to experience a trip to the past.

Movie rating: 7 stars

If you enjoyed Transformers: The Movie you may also find the following films to be of interest: