Michael Bay is one of the most polarising filmmakers in Hollywood. His films always manage to evoke strong reactions from both audiences and critics. Cinephiles have varied opinions about his feature projects, and many maintain a safe distance from his directional works. Despite this, the controversial helmer has a huge fanbase, especially because of his Transformers movies. Yes, Age of Extinction (2014) and The Last Knight (2017) tortured viewers with their excessive runtime, overreliance on CGI, lack of character development and emotional impact. However, the live-action franchise also has some truly enjoyable entries, one of which is the film that started everything, Transformers (2007).
The first Transformers flick revolves around Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf), who buys an old-looking yellow 1976 Chevrolet Camaro, only to discover that it is an Autobot (an alien race of robots) named Bumblebee. As the story progresses, we see Sam becoming a part of the ongoing conflict between the honourable Autobots and the deadly Decepticons. Both races try to get their hands on an ancient artefact hidden somewhere on Earth. Decepticons give their all to get the artefact due to its immense power. This forces Sam to team up with Autobots to stop Decepticons at all costs.
Nearly 16 years have passed since Transformers’ release, yet its visual effects look like a work of art. Say what you want about Bay, but you must admit he has an eye for splendid visuals. Also, the film has tons of breathtaking action sequences and just enough nostalgia to cheer us up. The film’s voice cast, particularly Peter Cullen (Optimus Prime), does an outstanding job. Steve Jablonsky’s epic score adds an emotive layer to the film’s emotional and action sequences. Overall, it is a fun and exciting watch!
Helmed by Michael Bay, Transformers stars Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Peter Cullen, Hugo Weaving, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, and many more talents. It is currently streaming on Netflix.