Underplayed Gems

The Transformers: The Movie (1986)

The Transformers: The Movie poster
Directed by
Margaret Nichols, Nelson Shin
Genre
action film, adventure film, science fiction film, super robot, Action, Mecha
Country
United States, Japan
Runtime
1h 25m
Rated
PG
Rating
7.1 of 10 from 604 voters
Elsewhere
IMDb
The 3D catalogue: film cases on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalogue in 3D

The film shelves have a room of their own that you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real films from the same catalogue when you tell them what you feel like watching. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this film is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

In 2005, the Autobot robots are on the run from Unicron, a planet-sized Transformer. The film follows their struggle for survival as they face devastating losses, including the death of their leader Optimus Prime.

action-packednostalgicmelodramaticdarkfast-pacedepictragicvisceralbombastic

What happens

The Transformers: The Movie is a 1986 animated science fiction action film based on the Transformers television series. It was co-produced and directed by Nelson Shin, who also produced the television series, and written by Ron Friedman, who created Bionic Six a year later. It was released in North America on August 8, 1986, and in the UK on December 12. The story is set in 2005, 20 years after the TV series' second season. The plot follows the heroic Autobot robots, who are hunted by Unicron, a planet-sized Transformer. The film features the voices of Eric Idle, Judd Nelson, Leonard Nimoy, Casey Kasem, Robert Stack, Lionel Stander, John Moschitta Jr., Scatman Crothers, Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, and Orson Welles, who died 10 months before the film's release, in his final film role. The soundtrack comprises electronic music composed by Vince DiCola and songs from rock and heavy metal acts including Stan Bush and "Weird Al" Yankovic. Hasbro, the owner of Transformers, demanded the film introduce new characters for its toyline, at the protest of some creators of the film and TV series. The decision to kill off many established characters, especially the Autobot leader, Optimus Prime, prompted outcry from fans and a letter-writing campaign. The Transformers: The Movie was a box office disappointment and received generally negative reviews. Over time, perceptions of the film improved and it gained a cult following. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

More like this

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