Transformers One (2024)

The critic praises the film as a refreshingly smart and energetic origin story with sharp wit and strong voice performances, while delivering the expected metal-smashing action.

The review highlights the film's visual pizzazz, stop-motion-like tactility and energetic action sequences in an animated adventure that feels like pure pop spectacle.

The critic sees the film as an effective animated origin story that returns to the Transformers' roots on Cybertron, focusing on the friendship between young Optimus Prime and Megatron before their rivalry. It singles out the heartfelt love for the universe and the thrilling, punchy action sequences toward the end for praise.

The film is serviceable and well-executed in its character-driven origin story and visuals but feels overly familiar and predictable, succeeding mainly as a kid-oriented entry rather than reinventing the franchise.

The critic finds it an earnestly enjoyable animated prequel that strips back the characters and rebuilds them, praising the likeable voice cast and clear action while noting predictable plot turns.

It is consistently pretty entertaining with good voice work and character development, though some action is hard to follow; likeable enough to win over a new generation.

Praises the film's ideas about Cybertron's social structure and class warfare parable, along with effective comic timing and Hemsworth's voice work. Complains that the glossy realistic animation clashes with the blocky toy-like character designs, holding it back from greatness.

The review finds the animated prequel rusty around the edges, noting it follows familiar friends-to-enemies tropes without much innovation despite solid voice work and animation.

The critic calls it a thoroughly entertaining origin story that even non-fans can enjoy, with witty jokes, genuine emotion, strong visuals, and a well-crafted story that revitalizes the franchise.

The critic finds the film surprisingly good with lovely stylistic touches and admirable politics, despite being loud and garish like other Transformers entries.

Finds the film a cut above most predecessors in the franchise. Highlights its fresh take and engaging elements while noting it stands out positively from prior entries.

The critic calls it the best Transformers movie in decades for its effective brothers-to-enemies origin story and stunning ILM animation. The main complaint is that the 104-minute runtime cannot fully accommodate the ambitious plot and worldbuilding.

Transformers One is the best and most fun Transformers movie in ages: funny, sometimes sweet, occasionally heartbreaking, and utterly convincing in telling an origin story for friends turned foes Optimus Prime and Megatron. The action scenes greatly benefit from the chunky, brightly colored look of the characters, and the film is inclusive, charming, and hopeful.

It's a strong and engaging film with excellent vocal talent, a breezy pace, action and comedy that largely lands, and great contributions to franchise lore. The animation style is beautiful, adding new details to the characters and a great look at Cybertron.

The critic finds the animated prequel a genuinely moving robot tragedy that succeeds as an origin story by showing the deep friendship between Orion Pax and D-16 before they become enemies. The review singles out the emotional depth and operatic tragedy of Megatron for praise, along with the expressive character animation.