The Ultimate Guide to Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

With the help of skilled directors and award-winning cinematography by Enrique Chediak, the Transformers franchise has finally reached the level of serviceable blockbuster entertainment. What was once the subject of ridicule has now become just another IP marketing strategy. While there are enjoyable moments in Rise of the Beasts, it fails to ignite the same spark as its predecessors.

Michael Bay has taken on the role of producer, passing the directorial baton to Travis Knight in the well-received Bumblebee installment, and now to Steven Caple Jr. of Creed II fame in the seventh entry. Despite Harold's involvement and the collaboration of four other screenwriters, the lack of creative vision is a noticeable weakness in a film based on toy commercials.

The opening scene of Rise of the Beasts establishes the high stakes and introduces new heroes in a predictable and unoriginal manner. The characters are underdeveloped and rely heavily on overused storytelling tropes, creating a disappointing tone that persists throughout the remaining two hours. Unicron, one of the franchise's most captivating villains, desires a powerful MacGuffin that will allow him to access Earth. To retrieve his prize, he sends his emissary, the formidable Scourge, to Earth. The MacGuffin is safeguarded by the Maximals, robotic organisms that transform into animals. The Autobots, robotic organisms that transform into cars, seek the MacGuffin to return home, while Unicron wishes to continue consuming planets, and the Maximals aim to keep the MacGuffin out of Unicron's grasp. This simplistic, conventional structure is reminiscent of previous Transformers films and will be familiar to fans.

Noah Diaz, a struggling former soldier, enters the interstellar war with the intention of stealing a car to fund his brother's medical needs. However, he unwittingly chooses a robot in disguise named Mirage and forms a bond with him, ultimately becoming the Autobots' go-to for small tasks. With the help of underappreciated ancient civilization expert, Elena Wallace, Optimus Prime leads the Autobots to join forces with the Maximals against Unicron's army. The film's climax aims to be the Transformers' version of Avengers: Endgame, but lacks the emotional connection that audiences have with Marvel superheroes. While some Transformers, like Optimus Prime and Mirage, stand out beyond their visual designs, others are underdeveloped and rely on one-dimensional jokes or recycled movie quotes. Despite these shortcomings, Anthony Ramos delivers a noteworthy performance as Noah, and Michelle Yeoh shines as the Maximal Airazor.

The action sequences in Rise of the Beasts are a mixed bag. While some of the exchanges between characters are impressive, there are also instances where highly trained robotic warriors mindlessly shoot lasers at each other, resembling children playing with Super Soakers. However, the car chase featuring Noah and Mirage stands out as one of the film's highlights, even though the Maximals, who are not particularly interesting characters, add a certain element to some of the action scenes. Watching a robotic gorilla fiercely pummel smaller robot insects is always entertaining. Unfortunately, the final battle loses its charm as all the bots transform into bland humanoid designs. Though the visuals are an improvement over the Michael Bay films, they are still too busy and cluttered at times. While Bumblebee showed promise for the franchise, Rise of the Beasts seems to be moving backward. This does not bode well for any potential sequels.

The 90s rap soundtrack in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts provides a refreshing update to the franchise's usual formula, but it feels like a band-aid solution to the film's larger issues. The attempt to build towards an Endgame falls flat, leaving the movie feeling more sad than epic. While some fans may enjoy the film and its mindless action, it ultimately represents a step backward for the franchise after the transformative success of Bumblebee.