Opinion: “Junky” Transformers: Rise of the Beasts a lackluster prequel

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts – A Movie Review

Introduction

The latest addition to the Transformers franchise, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, directed by Steven Caple Jr., is a movie that showcases what content created by AI could look like. The franchise, which is based on toys, is about space robots that transform into vehicles. Though these movies are entertaining, they feel like intellectual property cynically programmed into content that a fanbase submits to.

Plot Summary

Noah, played by Anthony Ramos, is a former soldier living in New York and struggling to pay for his younger brother’s treatment for sickle cell disease. He teams up with Elena, an intern at a New York museum, to locate a key that has the power to tear open wormholes. The key is protected by the Maximals, Autobot descendants that take the form of animals. The villain Unicron wants the key, so he can use it to feed his hunger for planets.

Evaluation of the Movie

The movie has a fair share of good and weak points that make it average. The most thrilling scene in the movie is a car chase that shows Noah struggling to take control of the steering wheel in a vehicle that is a robot in disguise. However, the movie loses its momentum in the middle when Noah gives up and relinquishes control to the Autobot named Mirage, as the movie seems to have submitted to being just another Transformers movie.

Though the movie has elements that make it engaging, it feels like a calculated attempt to pander to a more diverse audience with the inclusion of characters from diverse backgrounds. The engagement made in this regard feels more decorative than engaging, and it’s too bad. The movie also works in an allegory to immigration and colonization, with a significant fight taking place on Ellis Island. While that may make the brand more personal and socially engaged, the inclusion of these details seems like a calculated way to connect with the audience.

The movie also has a great soundtrack with excellent hip-hop songs that are rare in tent-pole movies. However, some of the song choices seem careless as they weren’t released during the movie’s timeline.

Conclusion

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is an average movie that has some great moments but loses its momentum in the middle. Though it tries to connect with a more diverse audience through its character selection and social issues, it feels more like a calculated move to keep pace with the changing times. It’s a good example of what a movie created by an AI could look like, entertaining but lacking the heart and soul of human creativity.