I see a lot of Star Wars in this film. From the opening crawl, which we all know originated from the classic action serials from the 1940s to the epic battle between Optimus Prime and Megatron, you can see a lot of the galaxy far far away in this film. Unicron, the planet size cyborg voiced by the late Orson Welles, annihilates planets just tlike the Death Star, and I can't help but hear a little Darth Vader in Welles' tone. As a matter of fact, I was observing a Star Wars documentary the other day and James Earl Jones said that George Lucas was planning on having Orson Welles do the voice for Darth Vader, just before Lucas selected Jones for the job. Interesting, isn't it, and the Star Wars comparisons don't end there. The pink plated lady robot, Arcee, has this Princess Leia thing going on upon her head, large saucer like disks on both sides of her head just like the cinnabuns on both sides of Leia's head. Gee, Padme would be jealous! I also can't help but feel that Optimus Prime is like Obi-Wan Kenobi, this wise old master, teaching noble lessons to each one the Transformers like a jedi master teaching his jedi padawan about the force and what they can do with it. Eventually, the wise old master sacrifices himself to save his pupils, becoming mortally wounded and unable to be revived, going up to the heavens in the sky, becoming one with the matrix, becoming one with the force. The legacy of the wise old master lives within his students, and throughout the Transformers film, we see the Transformers characters constantly recall Optimus's teachings, allowing it to guide them in the right direction and overcome evil, kinda like Luke being guided by the spirit of Obi-Wan, telling him to use the force and take out the Death Star. Agree with me, do you? I can't see why you wouldn't because the impact of Star Wars has inspired many other classic tales, and I often point them out when watching movies, observing their guidelines and life changing lessons.
The voice acting in this film is really fitting for each and every one of the characters. As I said before, Orson Welles does the voice for Unicron, the dreaded "Death Star" like Transformer that blows planets to smithereens and commands the Decepticons to spread evil throughout the universe. Interesting to note that this was actually the final role Welles ever played, "a giant toy that destroys other toys" as he put it. But I think everyone will agree with me when I say that Welles does an INCREDIBLE job playing the menacingly powerful voice of Unicron, giving you that bone chilling feeling and making your heart beat very fast every time you hear that villainous voice. And how fitting, because I couldn't picture anybody else playing the powerful voice of the gigantic Unicron better than Charles Foster Kane, I mean, Orson Welles, for his voice is one of the most recognizable voices of all time, up there with other actors like James Earl Jones and Vincent Price. There are also a lot of other exemplary voice actors in this film as well, some of them the most powerful voice actors of the 1980s. Casey Kasem, who you all know as Shaggy from Scooby Doo, really cuts the cake when playing the voice of Cliffhanger, whose butt-kicking reflexes and agility are enough to make Sylvester Stallone run home to mama. Hong Kong Phooey, Scatman Crothers, also takes part in this film as his respected role from the television series, Jazz, the slick, funky, stylish Autobot who always knows how to put up a fair fight, even it it means being broken into two by Megatron, as seen in Michael Bay's first blockbuster Transformers film. Ironically, this was also his final role as well, looks like we got ourselves a little Tranformers movie curse going on here! Other voice actors include the Micro Machines Man, John Moschitta Jr. as Blurr, Eric Idle as Wreck-Gar, Frank Welker as Megatron, Soundwave, Rumble and several others, Corey Burton as Shockwave, even Leonard Nimoy as the voice of Galvatron. And it looks like Nimoy's Transformers craze doesn't end there, for he will be voicing Sentinel Prime in the upcoming Transformers: Dark of the Moon film, just as long as Sentinel doesn't perform a Vulcan mind meld on one of the Transformers.
And I'm sure everyone has heard about the swearing and curse words said in the film, a little too intense for little youngsters at the time, which is why they were cut out in many later releases of the film. Another thing considered too intense was the violence in this film. Set in 2005, 20 years after the events of the first two seasons of the animated series, this film shows Autobots and Decepticons going at it all the way. They bash each other, they smash each other, even blow each other to dust, some of our most beloved Transformers characters getting the ultimate shaft in this film, including Optimus Prime himself. Only they didn't just scrap his death aside like they did in Revenge of the Fallen, they made a whole segment about it, the dying Optimus lying on his deathbed, passing the all powerful matrix to Ultra Magnus just before croaking. I don't know why so many people were upset over this scene, sure it was sad and all, but IT'S A CARTOON ROBOT. HE COMES BACK LIKE ALL GREAT CHARACTERS DO. Superman came back when he died, Spock came back when he died, so it was quite obvious that Optimus would one day rise from the dead, so I just don't get why people get all puffy eyed and tearful when this scene comes along in the film. But thank God good old Grimlock doesn't get killed off in this film. This mechanical Tyrannosaurus rex, voiced by Gregg Berger is one of my all time favorite Transformers characters, because he just so darn funny, and the other Dinobots are pee pants hilarious as well. But it's Grimlock that steals the show, and even if he's clumsy and dim-witted in a lot of scenes, he still knows how to put up a good brawl, although he's considered a grasshopper compared to a lot of the bulkier, more powerful Decepticons. And speaking of brawls, this film has a lot of them, the iconic fight between Optimus Prime and Megatron being one of the greatest fights between good and evil, both giant robots literally bashing the living lights out of one another. The fight between Hot Rod and Galvatron was also pretty intense, for even though they are robots, they are still capable of pain and agony, both robots stopping at nothing to knock one another into the burning depths of oblivion. That's what I like about films, a lot of hard-core, non stop action and excitement. It keeps the kids entertained, and I really enjoy seeing two people who don't agree with one another duke it out in an all mighty pound down of destruction. Gotta love it!
But hands down, the greatest thing that keeps this film going, and makes it one of the most unique animated films of it's time is the animated style. I think I could sum the whole thing up in one word, STELLAR! This movie has some of the most interesting, intriguing, unique, animated sequences I have ever laid eyes on, for it was colorful, diverse, and fun to look at. It's like a crazy ride at an amusement park, full of lights, interesting sounds, and nonstop movement, sucking you out of reality and into another universe you thought never existed. The best animated scene in this film is undeniable the scene where Unicron is constructed new armor and designs for each and every one of the Decepticons. We are treated to a sketchy combination of lines, blue print effects, and groovy music, playing as each part of each Decepticon is constructed, for we observe each robots' inners, mechanisms and wiring, showing us what exactly is within a Transformer and how Unicron is capable of improving the shape of each and every one of these bad boy Decepticons. Even the opening title sequence has a groovy, "blackhole" like effect to it, sucking us into the action and glamour of the film we were just about the watch.The animated style really does ring 80s goodness, and if I was to pick one animated film from the 80s that was different from the rest, I would surely pick Transformers: The Movie, for it was animation that will make your eyes bleed in fascination. The music that accompanies the animation is also a feast fit for a king. I loved the techno style, the harmonious melodies, and jumpy, overwhelming style to each epic pieces heard throughout the film, for it surely add depth to all the characters, locations and the plot present in the film.The theme for Unicron is laid back, but also menacing and spooky at the same time, saying that you better not mess with Unicron, for he will send you to a place you don't wanna be sent to. The theme played during Optimus' death scene is also pretty satisfying as well, symbolizing Optimus' declining death, his slow heartbeat, and his eventually loss of life. As I said before, the whole scene doesn't get to me that much, but the music played during the scene really makes the scene very somber and gloomy, allowing us to feel pain, sympathy, and sadness over the loss of the most iconic of the Transformers. Vince DiCola really throws the ball throw the hoop composing the music for this film, for it adds profundity, suspense and value to each legendary scene, making them memorable and easily recognizable. But hands down the most cheerful and signature song out of the entire film is Stan Bush's song "The Touch" a song specifically written to promote the film, but has an everlasting appeal on all pop media lovers. Every time you hear this song, you immediately think Transformers: The Movie, you immediately think of Optimus Prime's final battle with Megatron, you immediately think of the action present in the film, which often had you on the age of your seat and had you wondering what would occur next. The Touch defies what the Transformers are all about, what they wanna prove and teaches us not to give up, be brave, be strong, take a couple risks and you can overcome anything thrown in your way. You have the power to do anything if you put your mind to it and keep moving forward. Weird Al Yankovic's Dare to Be Stupid is also a pivotal song from the film, making us think of the clunky action sequences and humor present in the film, particularly in the characters of Grimlock and Jazz. Weird Al Yankovic would later go on to voice Wreck-Gar in the 2008 Transformers Animated Series and even reference the song in an episode. Funny guy, Weird Al Yankovic is, parodying many fabulous songs and turning them into his own creations.
When all is said and done, Transformers: The Movie sticks out like a sore thumb, but has an everlasting appeal, an appeal that will stick with me for a lifetime. This film defines the entire Transformers series, the front gates are open in this film, and they were willing to take any risk at the sake of making a good film. Although some site this as a catastrophe, I think they hit the nail on the head, and this is by far my favorite Transformers film of the bunch. Maybe I'll change my mind when Dark of the Moon hits theaters this week, maybe I won't but Transformers: The Movie is one hell of a ride I would go on any day, a real treat for all people to behold, even if you aren't the biggest Transformers fan on the planet. It's got great action, fighting sequences, blood boiling music that will loom in your head for hours, likable characters that children and adults alike will come to cherish, and a retro 80s filling that can not be matched. I think it's better than any of the Michael Bay films, although I do think they are good films as well, but for one of the first Transformers films to be released in the theater, what more could you ask for in Transformers: The Movie. Sit down and watch this with surround sound and you are in for a journey of a lifetime, and maybe, if we are lucky, they will release this film in 3-D Imax. How incredible would this movie be on the big Imax screen, with loud music and 3-dimensional effects. If they could do it with Toy Story, they could surely do it with this film, because this is the film that really sums up Transformers for me. Robots in disguise that either retain justice, prosperity, and order across the universe or terrorize all soil, bidding to conquer it and claim it as their own, taking all lifeforms into unbreakable slavery. This film displays betrayal, wisdom, revenge, redemption, and restoration, showing that even fictional cartoon robots have feelings, and are willing to do anything to make sure that everything goes smoothly. And who knows, maybe someday, someone will use the power of the matrix to light our darkest hour, you never know, but whatever debacle is upon us in that fictional dimension, the Transformers will be there to make sure all evil is dealt with and given what they deserve.